The Birds Of Islay
We present the information on this and the following page by kind permission of and with grateful thanks to Malcolm Ogilvie who's book 'The Birds of Islay' is our local birding bible and available from ourselves. A systematic list of species is available by following this link.
Divers and grebes: some present, especially in Loch Indaal, all year, but largest numbers present from October to April, with peaks in midwinter and, for Great Northern Diver, April.
Shearwaters, petrels, Gannet: present in water round island May-October, with maximum passage of shearwaters passing Frenchman’s Rocks in August-September.
Swans: Mute present all year. Whooper peak in October –November, at Lochs Gorm, Gruinart and Indaal, with small return passage in Spring.
Geese: Barnacle and Whitefront arrive from first week October and stay to at least mid-April. Peak numbers October-November, concentrated at Gruinart, some decline in midwinter, up again in March. Brent and Pinkfoot on passage in September-October and April-May, with small numbers wintering. Greylag breed and present all year, July –September peak at Gruinart.
Ducks: Mallard, Teal, Tufted, Common Scoter – all year. Wigeon, Shoveler, Pintail, most months, but peak October-March. Scaup, Goldeneye, Longtail – September- April, with peak December-January, Loch Indaal. Red-breasted Merganser all year, but largest flocks in July-August.
Birds of prey: all seven species present all year, though Merlin commonest October-April and Hen Harrier April-September.
Waders: main passage March-May and July-September, with peak wintering numbers November-February, especially in Loch Gruinart and Loch Indaal.
Gulls: Glaucous and Iceland Gulls any month, but greater likelihood November-February. Other common species present all year, except Lesser Black-backed, February-October.
Terns: all species (Common, Arctic, Little) present April-May to September-October. Sandwich turn up in Spring and, more regularly, Autumn.
Owls: Barn and Tawny all year, Short-eared commoner in Summer than Winter.
Chough: resident throughout year – larger flocks in July-February at eg Kilchoman and Ardnave.
When to see the birds - a monthly guide
Tel: 01496 850010 or 07810 460 175
Email: info@islaybirding.co.uk
The Old Byre Main Street, Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, PA48 7TX
