Please send your sightings to Jim Dickson (Argyll Bird Recorder) to:
Posts on this page are for scarce & rare sightings. Descriptions will be required for species listed by the Argyll, Scottish & British rare bird committees prior to their acceptance. Rare bird forms are available from Jim.
The Argyll Bird Club has a Facebook group if you wish to post your own sightings and photographs for all other reports. In addition, please submit any relevant records to BTO BirdTrack or the Argyll bird recording system. Contact Malcolm Chattwood email:
SPRING MIGRANTS 2021
Please report sightings you have of spring migrant arrivals to Jim at the email above.
A table for the migrants reported so far (please click): ARGYLL SPRING MIGRANTS 12.4.2021
The 2020 Argyll Bird Report PDF (please click): ARGYLL BIRD REPORT 32 2020
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2021
13th April
COLL: A 2cy male MARSH HARRIER at RSPB Totronald today – thought likely to be a different individual to the bird there on 4th Apr (Mark Mitchell).
12th April
MID-ARGYLL: A 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL was at Slatrach Bay, Kerrera today (David Jardine).
TIREE: Two LAPLAND BUNTINGS in machair SW of Loch A’ Phuill in with 300+ Meadow Pipits and 20+ Skylarks (John Bowler).
11th April
COWAL: A vocal GREEN WOODPECKER reported near Clachaig/Sandbank this morning.
ISLAY: A RING OUZEL at Lower Killeyan, The Oa today (David Wood).
31st March
Argyll: Quite a few spring migrants arriving today. Please see Spring Migrant Table above for details. Also good numbers of Whooper Swans as well as some Pink-footed Geese on the move north through Argyll today…
27th March
MID-ARGYLL: The male PIED-BILLED GREBE reported again today at Loch Ferolin.
22nd March
TIREE: A STOCK DOVE was at Loch an Eilein today – only second on Tiree in 20 years, also a male POCHARD at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler). Note – A STOCK DOVE was at Long Walk, nr Poltalloch MID-ARGYLL yesterday 21 Mar and 2 were there on 9 Mar (Jim Dickson/David Jardine) – a very scarce species in Argyll and all records welcomed.
WHOOPER SWANS – Heavy passage through Argyll since 19 Mar with totals in the hundreds now.
20th March
MULL: First NORTHERN WHEATEAR of the spring today – reported from Black Beach, Kilninian (Pam Brown).
16th March
MID-ARGYLL: A new juv (2cy) ICELAND GULL at Loch Gilp today (Jim Dickson).
15th March
TIREE: Single TODD’S CANADAD GEESE are still at Ruaig and Balephetrish. Also 2cy male VELVET SCOTER off Caoles (John Bowler).
11th March
TIREE: Male and 2 female RING-NECKED DUCK still at Loch Bhasapol, also 4 Manx Shearwater, and 1 Puffin past Aird today (John Bowler).
10th March
COLONSAY: Report of a CACKLING GOOSE at Machrins this morning.
8th March
MID-ARGYLL: The juv ICELAND GULL and adult LITTLE GULL are still at Loch Gilp today – also 2 Little Egret & 2 Slavonian Grebe still there (Jim Dickson).
4th March
TIREE: A male GREEN-WINGED TEAL was new at Loch Riaghain today. Yesterday 1m and 2f RING-NECKED DUCK still at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
24th February
MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile (2cy) ICELAND GULL at the head of Loch Gilp this afternoon – found by Tom Lowe.
23rd February
MID-ARGYLL: Two 2cy LITTLE GULLS were at the head of Loch Gilp this afternoon. Also around 40 Kittiwakes flew up the loch and headed inland with one of the Little Gulls (Andrew Russell).
19th February
TIREE: A male and 2 female RING-NECKED DUCK are still at Loch Bhasapol – to 15th at least (John Bowler)
COWAL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL at Toward point – with metal ring and similar to the bird at Otter Ferry recently (Neil Hammatt).
12th February
ARGYLL: We have been getting several reports of small numbers of SNOW BUNTINGS from across Argyll in the last week. There are likely to be many more birds around and could be a good time to find your own while out exercising. Please let us know if you find any.
NUTHATCHES – As many of you will be aware – this species has been increasing in Argyll over the last 20 years and especially in the last few years – with perhaps 100 prs now. This spring the Argyll Bird Club will be conducting a survey of them and trying to cover as many suitable areas across Argyll as practicable. There will be full information given ahead of the spring survey – both on this website and in the next ‘Eider’ in early March. It is hoped that a good number of folk will monitor this species both in their gardens, local areas or perhaps volunteer to check out suitable areas elsewhere. More information soon…
29th January
MID-ARGYLL: A 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL at the head of Loch Feochan this afternoon – also 2 Greenshank there (Jim Dickson)
COWAL: A 2cy GLAUCOUS Gull at the Holy Loch and a 3cy ICELAND GULL at Gairletter today (Neil Hammatt).
27th January
TIREE: Two TODD’S CANADA GEESE today, with 1 at Ruaig and 1 at Balephetrish, probably both birds on the island since at least 30 Dec. Also a fem VELVET SCOTER in Gunna Sound off Caoles – only the fourth John Bowler has recorded on Tiree in 20 years.
ISLAY: A 3cy GLAUCOUS GULL at Uiskentuie, Loch Indaal today (James How).
23rd January
COWAL: A juv 2cy ICELAND GULL today at Gairletter (Neil Hammatt).
20th January
KINTYRE: A 3cy GLAUCOUS GULL was seen yesterday on the floods opposite Kilmichael farm – N of Campbeltown (Tom Lowe).
19th January
TIREE: A male GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Loch a’ Phuill, 1 male and 2 female RING-NECKED DUCK at Loch Bhasapol and the TODD’S CANADA GOOSE with Barnacle Geese at Ruaig (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: The adult LITTLE GULL again at Loch Gilp during late afternoon roost (Andrew Russell).
17th January
COWAL: An un-ringed adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL and a 2cy LITTLE GULL at Otter Ferry today – the latter is Neil Hammatt’s 151st species ‘in Cowal’ since moving there five years ago.
15th January
MID-ARGYLL: A new un-ringed adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL at Loch Gilp this afternoon – also adult LITTLE GULL still there (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: A ringed (metal on R leg) adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL at Otter Ferry this morning (Neil Hammatt).
14th January
MID-ARGYLL: An adult LITTLE GULL again at Loch Gilp – last seen there on 16th Dec (Jim Dickson).
13th January
COWAL: A 2cy ICELAND GULL at Blairmore, Loch Long today (Neil Hammatt).
MULL: A 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL was at Caliach yesterday (P & A Brown).
9th January
ISLAY: A RED KITE (prob juv) flew over Conisby late morning (Fiona MacGillivray). A SNOW BUNTING was at Kinnabus this afternoon (David Dinsley).
MID-ARGYLL: An adult ICELAND GULL was just N of Craobh Haven briefly this afternoon (David Jardine).
6th January
MID-ARGYLL: A first-winter (2cy) YELLOW-LEGGED GULL was at Loch Gilp this afternoon (Jim Dickson/David Jardine). Two WAXWING were in a garden at Minard today (Karen Taylor).
TIREE: A male and two female RING-NECKED DUCK at Loch Bhasapol today (John Bowler).
5th January
TIREE: A male RING-NECKED DUCK at Loch a’ Phuill today. Also a juv GLAUCOUS GULL at the Maze on 3rd Jan and another juv at Balemartine on 2nd Jan.
MID-ARGYLL: A presumed 3cy YELLOW-LEGGED GULL at Loch Gilp late afternoon (Jim Dickson).
4th January
MID-ARGYLL: A probable SPOTTED SANDPIPER was seen distantly at the Add Estuary this afternoon. Also an adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL and an adult LITTLE GULL were at Loch Gilp after 3pm (Jim Dickson).
1st January
HAPPY NEW YEAR
KINTYRE: A RED KITE was seen just south of Machrihanish SBO being mobbed by two Buzzards (Errol Crutchfield).