The RSPB: The Oa

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Sea cliffs at The Mull of Oa, Islay

Golden eagle adult in flight, Scotland

Sheep grazing on cliffs, Upper Killeyan RSPB reserve, Mull of Oa

Chough about to land

Basking shark

View from Dun Athad towards Beinn Mhor, RSPB The Oa nature reserve

American Memorial, The Oa

Marsh fritillary butterfly amongst grass

Greenland white-fronted goose

Short-eared owl quartering grassland

Tree sparrow feeding on seed

Coastline of The Mull of Oa, Islay. Bay below Lower Killeyan.

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

Season

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Weather today

8°C

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The Oa

Wildlife awards

The Oa is one of the best places for wildlife in the UK.

SSSI

Top things to do in Spring

Walk along the sea cliffs to see the golden eagles displaying
Listen for choughs as they call and tumble like acrobats above the sea
Join one of the weekly guided walks

Top things to do in Summer

Watch choughs feeding their young along the cliff tops
Enjoy the fantastic scenery and magnificent views across to Rathlin Island and Northern Ireland
Look for seabirds, bottle-nosed dolphins, minke whales and basking sharks

Top things to do in Autumn

Look out for the arriving Greenland white-fronted geese around Loch Kinnabus
Watch for the golden eagles as they teach their young how to ride the thermals
In late summer and early autumn, look for marsh fritillary butterflies along the footpaths

Top things to do in Winter

See large flocks of farmland birds feeding on the cover crops and stubble fields, including twites, linnets, reed buntings and even the occasional snow bunting
Look for birds of prey - such as golden eagles, hen harriers, merlins, peregrines, sparrowhawks, kestrels and short-eared owls - hunting farmland birds
Enjoy wild seas, fantastic panoramas and bands of weather racing by. Shelter by the monument and wrap up warm!

What's on?

28 May to 29 October
Reserve Guided Walk
Guided walk
5 June
Flutterbies and Flowers
Guided walk
10 July
Oa-zone Wildlife
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

Find other attractions nearby at Visit Scotland
Find accommodation at Cottages4you

Other places to visit

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

Loch Gruinart

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

Southern cliffs of Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island

Rathlin boasts Northern Ireland's largest seabird colony and panoramic coastal views

Brown hare running

Hesketh Out Marsh

Instead of featureless fields, we now have a thriving tidal wetland full of wildlife

Golden eagle

Islay's golden eagles

Let us introduce you the powerful golden eagles of The Oa.

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