Notable sightings roundup 29 April to 5 May

COLONSAY: An Iceland Gull and 2 Great Skuas from Balnahard on 30 Apr (David Hatfield).

COWAL: First report of a Spotted Flycatcher was at St Catherines on 30 Apr (Graham Thomas). A Little Egret was at the head of Loch Riddon on 2 May (Allister Hamilton).

ISLAY: A Common Whitethroat and a Whinchat were at RSPB Gruinart (James How) also a count of 119 Common Scoter in outer Loch Indaal on 30 Apr (Mike Peacock). A Grey Plover was in fields at Ballinaby with 43 Golden Plovers and 81 Linnets there on 1 May (Jim Dickson). 22 Sandwich Terns were in the Bruichladdich area of Loch Indaal with several courting and mating pairs, also from there 16 Red-throated Divers on the loch. 12 Wigeon (pr mating), 9 Black-tailed Godwits, male Pintail, a pair of Ruff, 10 Barnacle and 1 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Gruinart, 61 Pale-bellied Brents at Bridgend and 2 Greenland White fronts at Ballinaby all on 2 May (Jim Dickson) also a late Fieldfare was near Feolin, Jura same day (per Ian Brooke). On 3 May: 2 Velvet with 100+ Common Scoters in outer Loch Indaal and an Arctic Skua there. A minimum of 162 Whimbrels around the north of the island (most being 67 at Ardnave), 23 Red Knot, 2 Sanderling, 160 Dunlin and 52 Bar-tailed Godwits at Loch Indaal, also 4 Iceland Gulls (3x 2CY and a 3CY) and 2 x 2CY Glaucous Gulls between Loch Indaal/Gruinart/Rockside and Coull Farm (Jim Dickson) also an Osprey seen fishing at Loch Finlaggan (Richard Belter/Gary Turnbull). A Pectoral Sandpiper was found with Dunlins at Ardnave Point on 4 May (James Butcher).

KINTYRE: 20 Whimbrels were on the beach at Bellochantuy on 2 May (Tom Lowe). 18 Sandwich Terns were at the entrance to West Loch Tarbert on 4 May (Jim Dickson). 30 Whimbrels past Machrihanish SBO on 4 May and 43 past there on 5 May (Eddie Maguire).

MID-ARGYLL: The male Pied-billed Grebe was still present Loch Feorlin this week. 2 juv Glaucous Gulls south of Ardrishaig at the fish farm at Stronachullin on 2 May (Tom Lowe). 500 Kittiwakes were counted flying out of Loch Gilp on 3 May and a Garden Warbler was at Strath Brenfield on 4 May (Andrew Tongue). An adult Little Gull was at Loch Gilp on 5 May (David Jardine).

MULL: First Sedge Warblers appearing from 1 May (per Alan Spellman). 11 Black-tailed Godwits at Treshnish House on 4 May (Anand Prasad) and a pair of Shoveler at Lochdon on 4 May (per Alan Spellman). A Wood Warbler was at Aros Wood on 5 May (P &A Brown).

NORTH ARGYLL: No notable reports received.

TIREE: A male Pied Flycatcher was at Scarinish on 30 Apr (Simon Young) also the first arrivals of Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler today (John Bowler). 1 Fieldfare at Balephuil on 3 May – the latest-ever record there (John Bowler). 1 Snow Bunting and 6 Whimbrels at Traigh Bhagh on 4 May and a 3CY Glaucous Gull at the Green on 3-4 May (John Bowler). 3 adult Pomarine Skuas off Gunna Sound from the Tiree ferry (Andy Robinson) and 5 adult Pomarine Skuas and 1 Arctic Skua off Hynish (John Bowler) all on 4 May.

SANDWICH TERNS – Loch Indaal, Islay 2 May (Jim Dickson).
WHIMBREL – MSBO, Kintyre 3 May (Eddie Maguire).
GLAUCOUS GULL – Saligo, Islay 3 May (Jim Dickson).
WHOOPER SWAN – Gruinart, Islay 1 May (Jim Dickson).
LESSER REDPOLL – 4 May (Alan Forsyth).