The RSPB: Loch Gruinart

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Cattle grazing above Aoradh, the Paps of Jura in the background, RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve

Young lambs lying on grass

Redshank calling from fencepost

The Flats, head of loch, flowering thrift on Salt marsh, Loch Gruinart

Portrait of singing corncrake, Scotland

Otter looking back over its shoulder

Feeding flock of barnacle geese, RSPB Loch Gruinart reserve, Islay

Male and female wigeon swimming

Redwing gobbling hawthorn berries

Loch Gruinart at dusk

Greenland white-fronted goose: adults and juveniles feeding on grass, Islay

Hunting barn owl

The place to watch thousands of geese in winter, or displaying waders in spring

Season

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Weather today

14°C

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Loch Gruinart

Wildlife awards

Loch Gruinart is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK.

Top things to do in Spring

Breeding birds begin displaying and calling - look for hen harriers, skylarks, lapwings and snipe. From the hides watch the 'mad March hares' boxing, and for tiny young roe deer hiding in the long grass
From mid-May, corncrakes arrive from Africa and start calling. Why not join one of our evening walks to hear them? You could even see one!
You can see our new lambs and calves

Top things to do in Summer

Join us on our guided walks through woodland and moorland to see the variety of species on the reserve
Hen harriers are seen hunting over the moorland by day, while corncrakes can be heard calling all night
Watch out for otters playing in the flooded pools and ditches

Top things to do in Autumn

Thousands of barnacle and white-fronted geese arrive from Greenland to winter on the reserve
Listen from the viewing platform for roaring red deer stags during their rut
Search through the spectacular autumn migration from our hides for whooper swans, waders like ruffs and knots, and ducks like pintails and shovelers. In the fields, watch for redwings and fieldfares in huge flocks

Top things to do in Winter

Make the best of the short days. Come and watch the amazing dawn departure of thousands of geese from their roost on the reserve. Enjoy a hot drink in our warm visitor centre afterwards
Look for both golden and white-tailed eagles as they hunt among their 'buffet' of geese
Dunlins, godwits, turnstones and redshanks are some of the waders found on the reserve

What's on?

22 May
Corncrake Chorus
Course, class or workshop
23 May to 31 October
Reserve Guided Walk
Guided walk
29 May
Calling all Corncrakes
Guided walk

Downloads

Map of Loch Gruinart and The Oa

685Kb, PDF

Date: 2 June 2011

WildSquare Bingo

2.8Mb, PDF

Date: 21 June 2010

Extend your stay

Islay Info
Find other attractions nearby at Visit Scotland
Find accommodation at Cottages4you

Other places to visit

Coastline of The Mull of Oa, Islay

The Oa

A circular walk along stunning sea cliffs, with magnificent views across to Northern Ireland

View across marsh towards hills, RSPB Mersehead

Mersehead

Wander through rich wetlands to a wild and atmospheric shoreline

Woodland at Coombes Valley

Coombes Valley

A peaceful discovery through stunning woodland - a palette of colours, sounds and textures

Corncrake in the grass

Islay wildlife

Let us introduce you to spectacular wildlife and stunning scenery on Islay.

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