E-mail to a friendE-newsletterContact us
HomeAbout usAdviceBirdsJoinOur workReservesSupport usShopThings to do
  • Overview
  • Awards & recognition
  • Contact us
  • Facts and figures
  • History
  • How we are run
  • Inspiring work
  • Job vacancies
  • Looking to the future
  • Media centre
  • Offices
  • The RSPB view
  • What we do
  • Overview
  • Farming
  • Gardening
  • Green living
  • Helping birds
  • Land management
  • Law
  • Watching birds
  • Overview
  • Aren't birds brilliant!
  • Birds by name
  • Birds by family
  • Bird identifier
  • Features
  • Reserves
  • Webcams
  • Wildlife garden guide
  • Overview
  • Campaigns
  • Corporate membership
  • Credit card
  • Donations
  • Fundraising
  • Gift Aid
  • Shop
  • Green energy
  • Holidays in the UK
  • Join the RSPB
  • Leave a legacy
  • Recycle your mobile phone
  • Share giving
  • Vehicle breakdown cover
  • Overview
  • Join now
  • Why join?
  • Membership as a gift
  • Membership benefits
  • Renewals
  • Other ways to support us
  • Overview
  • Great days out
  • By habitat
  • By name
  • By location
  • Recent sightings
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Around the UK
  • Conservation
  • Document library
  • Farming
  • International
  • Job vacancies
  • News
  • Media centre
  • Policy
  • Reserves
  • Science
  • Teaching
  • Shop homepage
  • Binoculars
  • Bird care accessories
  • Bird feeders
  • Bird food
  • Bird tables and baths
  • Books, DVDs and CDs
  • Garden
  • Homeware
  • Prints and canvases
  • Toys
  • Virtual gifts
  • Wildlife care
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Near you
  • Events
  • E-newsletter
  • Fundraising
  • Local groups
  • Reserves
  • Surveys
  • Volunteering
  • Webcams
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Coastline of The Mull of Oa, Islay. Bay below Lower KilleyanIris bed at Lower Killeyan, Mull of Oa RSPB reserve, IslaySheep grazing on cliffs, Upper Killeyan RSPB reserve, Mull of Oa
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
The Oa

The Oa

  • About The Oa
  • Star species
  • Seasonal highlights
  • Events
  • Facilities
  • Accessibility
  • How to get here
  • Our work here

Print this page

Home > Reserves > Reserves by name > T > The Oa > Star species

Star species

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

Chough

The chough is the rarest member of the crow family in the UK. They can be found feeding in fields on Islay, probing for invertebrates with their curved, red bill.

Chough (illustration)

Golden eagle

The best time to see golden eagles at The Oa is during spring and summer when they are at their most active. You could see adults carrying nest material or, later on, young eagles taking their first flights.

Golden eagle (illustration)

Hen harrier

Hen harriers can be seen here at any time of year. To see a 'ghostly' grey adult male can be especially thrilling.

Hen harrier (artwork)

Peregrine

Keep an eye out for a commotion among birds at The Oa - a peregrine may be making a fly-past. They are a regular sight overhead when a pair is nesting in the area.

Peregrine (illustration)

Snow bunting

Watch for snow buntings among the flocks of farmland birds during autumn and winter. The flashes of white on their wings are especially noticeable.

Snowbunting (illustration)

Contact us

01496 300118

the.oa@rspb.org.uk

Nearest town: Port Ellen, Islay

Grid reference: NR282423

Directions

For directions, please see our How to get here page.

About the RSPB

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. We rely upon memberships and donations to fund our work. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way. More...

Contact us

Visit our Contact us section for telephone numbers, office addresses and more.

Latest news

It could be all Wight on the night

A rare wildflower is boosting the chances of an Isle of Wight farmer winning the first national award for wildlife-friendly farming.

Spoonbill scoop for Scotland

A pair of spoonbills have successfully bred for the first time in Scotland and for only the second time in the UK in the last four centuries.

Hard choices at Titchwell

The RSPB has been forced to take radical action to save one of its best-loved reserves from the sea.

More news...

Add your voice for nature

As a charity, we rely on the support of members to continue our work protecting birds and wildlife.

Join now from only £2.84/month.

Free e-newsletter

Over 200,000 people enjoy our monthly e-mail newsletter.

Why not sign up?

Contact us
© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
Privacy policy
Last published: 20/07/2007 16:40:15
Show/hide picture credits
Coastline of The Mull of Oa, Islay. Bay below Lower Killeyan. - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1014944)
Iris bed at Lower Killeyan, Mull of Oa RSPB reserve, Islay - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1010208)
Sheep grazing on cliffs, Upper Killeyan RSPB reserve, Mull of Oa - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1009330)