The Birds of Islay and Jura Published February 2026


Monday, 28 February 2022

Monday 28 Feb

 



Last day of February and the first day of the meteorological Spring comes tomorrow.  It is very spring-like with pairs of mallards visible in the nearby lochs of Claddach and Ellister, pairs of birds courting such as 2 chough in sync over Port Wemyss this morning and the local pair of raven at Claddach; oystercatchers and lapwing back in territory; skylarks singing at Claddach and the Oa; and Margaret reported a lot of frogs and spawn in the ponds at Kilchoman.  The weather next week finally looks settled, here's hoping a bigger gap to the next gale.

Chris Mills has had an eventful day, the highlights as follows:

Purple sandpiper at Port Ellen shoreline, plus 10 great northern diver in the bay.  2 adult WTE seen on the drive there.   At Kinnabus on the Oa, 2 golden eagle and nearby a lesser black back gull seen among the herring gulls. At Kilchoman later he enjoyed a view of 2 WTE being moved by a peregrine, then a sparrowhawk hunting nearby.  In the dunes 12 chough and a displaying pair of ravens.  Driving back from Kilchoman to Bowmore this evening, 2 barn owl and 2 woodcock. The first of the barn owl seen perched on a gravestone at the old Kirk.

Kathy reported an adult WTE in the Ardbeg area, and Mike located the red-breasted goose near Coullabus. 

Todays photos are more from local enthusiast Billy Stitchell, of the Caol Ila black guillemots and a great Northern Diver in yesterdays choppy waters.

Thanks to all for your sightings. 

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