The Birds of Islay and Jura Published February 2026

Friday, 8 May 2026

Thursday 7th & Friday 8th May

Winds still mostly light, but swinging round in all directions, but with continuing mostly bright and sunny weather throughout.

Yesterday Janice and Tim Scott  were at Saligo and Smaull where they counted 18 Whimbrels, had singing Whitethroat and Willow Warblers and heard 2 Corncrakes. David Shallcross found a Grey Wagtail at Bridgend and Kate Butterworth had a Grasshopper Warbler singing near Port Charlotte and a Golden Eagle on The Oa. I did a quick count of birds up on Loch Indaal finding 125 Bar-tailed Godwits at Gartnatra and a concentrated feeding group of 60 Red-breasted Mergansers just off Bowmore harbour.

Today, George Pike and David Shallcross noted sngle Whinchat, Hen Harrier and Golden Eagle on The Oa, while Clive McK. had 35 Whimbrel up towards Ardnave. James How gets the prize for "Bird of the Day" with a sighting of a Wood Sandpiper from the North Hide at RSPB Gruinart - a species far from an annual occurrence on Islay.


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