Please send your sightings to Jim Dickson (Argyll Bird Recorder) to:
More detailed species reports for Islay, Kintyre and Mull can be viewed at the following websites: Islay: (Ian Brooke): http://islaybirds.blogspot.co.uk/ Kintyre: (Eddie Maguire): http://www.machrihanishbirdobservatory.org.uk/reports.htm Mull: (Alan Spellman) http://www.mullbirds.com/
SPRING MIGRANTS 2017 : SPRING MIGRANTS 2017 updated 22 June
Recent Reports 2017
22nd June
KINTYRE: at Machrihanish SBO today; a Whimbrel flew south calling, a Little Tern was by the Arctic Tern colony and the regular 2CY Iceland Gull was seen many times (Eddie Maguire). Yesterday at Balloch Farm (Laggan) 2 Quail were heard and one was seen and a belated report of a pair of Garganey at Strath Farm (The Laggan) on 25 May (Malcolm Blanchflower per Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: an adult Curlew Sandpiper was new at Loch a’ Phuill, also 2 Great Skuas there and 1 Woodpigeon was new in at Balephuil (John Bowler).
21st June
KINTYRE: at Machrihanish SBO today the long-staying 2CY Iceland Gull (from 16th May) is still present. The May / June duckling productivity so far includes 8 broods / 55 ‘Shelducklings‘ (mean brood size = 6.8) and the Common Eiders now have 5 broods / 19 ducklings (mean brood size = 3.8) (Eddie Maguire).
ISLAY: a report of a Rose-coloured Starling at Laphroaig today but require further details (per Ian Brooke).
20th June
MID-ARGYLL: a Little Egret has been at the north end of Loch Craignish lagoon, Ardfern for the past two days (Jan Brown). At Cairnbaan today a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, singing Garden and Grasshopper Warblers and a Blackcap but the highlight was an imm White-tailed Eagle over the house at mid-day. A pair of Spotted Flycatchers in Jon Close’s garden at Carsaig.
ISLAY: the drake Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Finlaggan (per Ian Brooke).
18th June
MID-ARGYLL: a report of a Short-eared Owl seen in the Moine Mhor area on 17 Jun (John Halliday). A report of a Hobby from 15 Jun has been submitted – seen chasing a martin in the Loch Leathan area (Chris & Rob Blackwell/Jock Hunter).
COLONSAY/ORONSAY: reports coming in of up to three different Quail sightings in the last week or so, one from Oronsay, two from Colonsay (per David Jardine).
17th June
TIREE: photos have now appeared of the Rose-coloured Starling that was reported from The Green on 3 Jun (Iain Macdonald per John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Malcolm Chattwood noted a distant tern at his inland BBS square this morning, about 5 miles N of Lochgilphead however the identity is not certain. No further sign of the Common Rosefinch nr Crinan today. Now 4 Bar-tailed Godwits at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: three Puffins were noted in Loch Fyne opposite Minard today.
16th June
MID-ARGYLL: a report of an adult male Common Rosefinch seen yesterday at about 4pm near Crinan ( towards end of at the B841 at NR792936). It was on the road and initially looked injured but flew off when approached to within 1 metre (Robin & Rachel Hamilton).
TIREE: a 2CY Little Gull at Loch a’ Phuill with ca 120 Kittiwakes (many 2CY birds) and 40 Arctic Terns (8 x 2CY birds) (John Bowler).
15th June
COLONSAY: a Greenish Warbler was seen and recorded singing at Loch Turraman this morning (Ian Fisher, David & Janet Jardine, Martin Davison, Anne Middleton). There are two previous Argyll records both in Kintyre, in 1983 and 1987.
14th June
MID-ARGYLL: at Loch Gilp today 3 Long-tailed Ducks (summer male and female and a female type in transition) also 4 Gannets feeding in the loch, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, several Eiders with ducklings, 2 Red-throated Divers and 14 Red-breasted Mergansers. At least 70 Common Guillemots off Ardrishaig flying up Loch Fyne (Jim Dickson).
COLONSAY: breeding of Great Skua was confirmed for the first time on Colonsay (it has bred on Oronsay) (Martin Davison/David Jardine).
13th June
MID-ARGYLL: at the Moine Mhor (from Drimvore to Crinan Ferry) several parties of Whinchats and Stonechats with juvs, also juv Grey Wagtail and several juv Pied Wagtails about now. Still 2 Bar-tailed Godwits at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).
12th June
KINTYRE: at Machrihanish SBO more seabirds moving than of recent with good numbers of Manx Shearwaters and Common Guillemots, also 4 Storm Petrels. The 2CY Iceland Gull is still present (Eddie Maguire/Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: the drake Ring-necked Duck is still present at Loch Finlaggan (Toby Green).
MID-ARGYLL: 2 Bullfinch, 35 Siskins and a group of 10 Long-tailed Tits were at Cairnbaan.
11th June
MID-ARGYLL: a Garden Warbler in song and also carrying food beside the Crinan canal bird hide at the Add Estuary (Jim Dickson).
9th June
COWAL: on the crossing from Tarbert to Potavadie Neil Hammatt saw 2 adult Arctic Skuas (originally posted as Long-tailed, now re-id’d from photos) flying N up Loch Fyne.
KINTYRE: 300+ Manx Shearwaters in waters between Arran and Skipness late morning (Jim Dickson).
8th June
JURA: Angela Harrell has sent through some sightings from Jura over the last few days and include 2 male Hen Harriers, 2 Short-eared Owls, 6 different Cuckoos and today a Whimbrel at Ardfin with another Short-eared Owl there.
KINTYRE: Clive McKay has sent in a photo of the Reed Bunting nest with a Cuckoo egg he found near Campbeltown in late May.
COWAL: Neil Hammatt has just been told of two areas where Pied Flycatchers have nested this year; at Glenbranter and at Kenmore, Loch Lomond (Clyde)….presumably they are very under recorded in Argyll so all reports very welcome.
7th June
KINTYRE: a Lesser Whitethroat was heard singing (and was recorded), in hawthorn next to Cnoc Ban, 100 yds north of Southend church (Neil Hammatt).
COWAL: the Rose-coloured Starling was seen again at Kirn, Holy Loch area on Tues 30 May with excellent photos taken by Lizzy Owen (per Alison Ireland).
5th June
TIREE: 1 ad Little Stint again at Loch a’ Phuill also 1 ad Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Knots, 22 Redshanks and 12+ Dunlins there and 2 Sandwich Terns at The Green. A report of a “pink” starling at The Green on 3 June and awaiting photos that were taken of it (John Bowler).
4th June
KINTYRE: no further sign of the Sooty Tern at the Machrihanish SBO, which will be only the third Scottish record if accepted by the BBRC, but the bleached 2CY Iceland Gull is still hanging around there (Eddie Maguire).
3rd June
MID-ARGYLL: Mike Murray reports that nesting Barn and Tawny Owls appear to be doing well this summer. Mike was also out on Lunga, Treshnish Isles recently and got a photo of a ringed Puffin…presumably one of the birds ringed by the auk ringing group that visit each summer. Numbers there fluctuate each year around 3,000 or so apparently occupied burrows (per Robin Ward).
2nd June
KINTYRE: Eddie Maguire managed to photograph a Sooty Tern (at 100 metres at 11.04 am) as it flew S past the Machrihanish SBO. Quite an astonishing record for the west of Scotland and an excellent UK record. Well done Eddie (Jim).
TIREE: 1 Curlew Sandpiper at Gott Bay this morning (Mark Mallalieu per John Bowler).
1st June
MID-ARGYLL: the 2CY (first-summer) Little Gull is still at Loch Gilp, also 2 Bar-tailed Godwits there (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: 1 Pectoral Sandpiper and 1 Little Stint with ca 10 Dunlins and 10 Ringed Plovers briefly on mud in front of the hide at Loch a’ Phuill this evening but all flushed off by a Great Skua, also 2 Sandwich Terns and 167 Kittiwakes there. Off Hynish in SE6 as the rain eased at midday (totals for 1hr): 5,880 Manx Shearwaters, 1,440 auks (mostly Razorbills), 405 Gannets, 128 Fulmars, 90 Shags, 49 Kittiwakes, 36 Puffins, 4 Black Guillemots and 12 Storm Petrels (John Bowler).
31st May
KINTYRE: a bleached 2CY (first-summer) Iceland Gull was at Machrihanish SBO at 13:35 hrs today (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 1 Barnacle Goose at Loch na Gile, 1m Chiffchaff at the Glebe, 1m Chiffchaff and 2 Common Redpoll at Balephuil. Also 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth at Traigh Bhi, first Marsh Fritillaries (50+) and Four-spotted Chasers out on central sliabh (John Bowler).
30th May
TIREE: a c/r Sanderling seen at Vaul Bay on 26 May (Jim Dickson) now has details back per John Bowler: Colour code: Y/GWR Ring: T075507 ESI Age: 6 Sex: – Date: 26/05/2015 Catching place: Punta Balea, Cangas (Pontevedra), Spain 42º14’55″N 08º47’27″W Anilladores/ringers: Antonio Fernández Cordeiro.
29th May
TIREE: 2 Sandwich Terns new at Loch a’ Phuill today, 1m Chiffchaff and 14 Collared Doves at Balephuil, 1m Pochard at Loch na Faing, 2 House Martins at Cornaigmore, 5m Ruff on a ploughed field at Balephetrish, 6 Storm Petrels off Balemartine early am (John Bowler).1 Little Stint at Balephetrish Bay (Mark Mallalieu).
28th May
TIREE: 1f Black Redstart was at Heylipol Church (Mark Mallalieu). 1 Dunnock new at Carnan Mor with 4 Common Redpolls there, 1 House Martin at Balemartine, 1m Pochard at Heylipol Church loch (John Bowler). 1 Storm Petrel between Coll and Mull (Jim Dickson).
27th May
TIREE: 1f Siskin, 1f Redstart, 4 Common Redpolls, 2 Woodpigeons, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 3m Orange-tip Butterflies at Carnan Mor / Balephuil (only 1 previous Tiree record of this butterfly). 1 Woodpigeon and 1 Spotted Flycatcher at The Glebe (John Bowler/Jim Dickson).
MID-ARGYLL: Nine Swifts over the Tesco car park after the rain stopped this evening (Elspeth and Michael Anderson).
26th May
MID-ARGYLL: a Little Egret was found at the Add Estuary this evening. Other good birds there were a pair of Lapwing and an Osprey (Lynsey Gibson).
COLONSAY: a pale-phase Arctic Skua was off the NE island (David Jardine).
25th May
COWAL: an adult Rose-coloured Starling was found in a garden this morning at Hunters Quay (Paul & Ruhi) and seen again later by George Newall and Alistair McGregor.
MULL: a Little Egret was at Knock, Loch na Keal yesterday (per Alan Spellman).
24th May
MID-ARGYLL: a second-year Little Gull today at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson). The Nuthatch in Ardrishaig has been sighted again this week (Lynsey Gibson).
TIREE: a Red-rumped Swallow at Gott Bay today found by ABC chairman Mike Harrison then stayed around the ‘pink house’ area bring seen by John Bowler and later by Graham Todd.
23rd May
MID-ARGYLL: a Little Egret was at Castleton, nr Lochgilphead yesterday (Grace McLeod per Lynsey Gibson). Two Magpies were in Kilmichael Glen nr Lochgilphead today (Norma Whyte/Christine Blackwell per Lynsey Gibson)….one has been there since 6 May.
MULL: a Green Woodpecker was reported at Lochbuie on Sunday 21 May (per Alan Spellman).
ISLAY: a Quail was on the reserve in Glen Astle, The Oa (David Wood).
22nd May
TIREE: after the rain stopped this evening: 1f Pied Flycatcher, 1 Wood Warbler (not singing), 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Goldcrest at Carnan Mor (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: a Little Egret came in off the sea at 13:00hrs from the direction of Islay / Jura and landed in front of the Machrihanish SBO hide! (Eddie Maguire). A second-year Iceland Gull was near the MSBO near to the marine research buildings (Bob Relph).
ISLAY: reports per Ian Brooke….there was a Little Egret at RSPB Gruinart reserve yesterday evening (possibly the bird seen at Machrihanish today?), the Ring-necked Duck was still at Loch Finlaggan yesterday and today a male Garganey was at Gruinart.
19th May
TIREE: an immature Glaucous Gull at Vaul Bay – pale iris so presumably a 3CY bird. 1 Spotted Flycatcher at Vaul and 1 at Carnan Mor – also 1m Cuckoo there (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: a ‘Yellow’ Wagtail was near the Machrihanish Observatory on 16 May and had a grey head therefore likely a Grey-headed or perhaps Blue-headed type (Bob Relph). Today Eddie Maguire reported flocks of Sanderlings and small tundra type Ringed Plover at the Obs (Uisead Point) and passing through.
18th May
COWAL: the imm/non-breeding Great White Egret is still at the head of the Holy Loch. The breeding adult has not been seen since Monday. It is feeding on small crabs and when it catches a flounder it flies off with it in the direction of the old gravel pits (Alistair McGregor).
17th May
COWAL: two Great White Egrets apparently turned up at the Holy Loch on Mon 15 May! Alistair McGregor and George Newall managed to see one of them the following day however no sign of them this morning. (update: one seen this evening). There had been two of this species at Baron’s Haugh, Clyde until late Sun 14 May….a full breeding adult and a non-breeding/imm therefore most likely the same birds. They may well turn up elsewhere in Argyll! in addition a Little Egret was reported from the head of Loch Riddon also on 15 May and Alistair McGregor managed to see it there yesterday. Swifts are back at Hillfoot, Dunoon this evening (George Newall).
MID-ARGYLL: a Garden Warbler seen and heard at Taynish early morning (Jon Close). 3 Swifts over Lochgilphead meadows this evening (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: three Spotted Flycatchers at Kinnabus, The Oa today….first of the year there (David Wood).
TIREE: 1,700 Sanderlings and 900 Dunlins at Gott Bay including several leg-flagged Sanderling, over 2,100 Sanderlings on the island today.1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1m Cuckoo, 1 Goldfinch, 2 House Martins and 1 Chiffchaff at Balephuil. 1 Chiffchaff at Sorobaidh Bay creek. 1 Whimbrel at Loch an Eilein (John Bowler).
16th May
MID-ARGYLL: a belated report of a Magpie at Bridgend (north of Lochgilphead) on 6 May (John McInally)…always a good record in Mid-Argyll. At Kilmartin this evening a Spotted Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, a pair of Grey Wagtails, Redpolls and Common Sandpipers (Jim Dickson). Six Swifts over Oban (above Tescos) this evening (Anne-Lise Dickie).
ISLAY: a report of a male Ring-necked Duck today at Loch Finlaggan (Andrew Greenwood per Ian Brooke).
TIREE: 1 Knot and 7 Bar-tailed Godwits at Gott Bay (Zul Bhatia). 1 Pink-footed Goose at Balevullin. 1 Purple Sandpiper, 220 Ringed Plovers and 1 Whimbrel at Hough Bay (John Bowler).
15th May
COLONSAY: on Oronsay today, a fleeting view of a Garganey (Morgan Vaughan).
TIREE: 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Swift at Loch a’ Phuill. 1 Arctic Skua (dark phase) off Hynish.1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff at Balephuil (John Bowler).
14th May
TIREE: a Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 House Martins new at Carnan Mor (John Bowler).
13th May
NORTH ARGYLL: 34 Dunlins at Tralee Beach and a well grown juv Moorhen at the gravel pits (Robin Harvey). At Loch Tulla, Neil Hammatt noted Greenshanks and Wigeon there yesterday.
COLL: a Pomarine Skua was seen from (flew over) the Oban – Tiree ferry on Wed 10 May (Neil Hammatt). Today, 1 Swift over the Lodge plantation and 2 White Wagtails, 2 Sand Martins and 6 Purple Sandpipers on Gunna (John Bowler).
ISLAY: a male Ruff again at RSPB Gruinart reserve (per Ian Brooke).
MULL: the first spring Redstart on the island was at Ardura (Bryan Rains per Alan Spellman).
12th May
COLL: two Spotted Flycatchers this morning at the Lodge plantation (John Bowler). Singing Wood and Garden Warbler in the Lodge plantation this afternoon (John Bowler).
COWAL: a photo of a Cuckoo from Glen Massan recently from Alistair McGregor who notes numbers down a bit in the area this year….
11th May
MULL: a Turtle Dove was found at Kintra (Deargphort) at mid-day but not seen later (Jeremy and Margaret Roberts).
TIREE: this evening, John Bowler saw an adult male Ruff on the shore at Mannal and a Spotted Flycatcher at Balephuil.
COWAL: two Sanderlings at Toward today (Alistair McGregor).
10th May
COWAL: five Purple Sandpipers at Dunoon crazy golf, plus 1 Turnstone (George Newall). Five Common Swifts around Dunoon primary School this afternoon (Tom Callan).
MID-ARGYLL: three Sedge Warblers around Ormsary today (Stu Crutchfield).
TIREE: a Wood Sandpiper on pool at Kilmoluaig this afternoon (David Palmar per John Bowler).
ISLAY: at Kilchoman, Ian Brooke continues to create a feeding and nesting an area attractive to many species. An upgrade of the feeding station is proving popular with Golfinch at present. The drake Garganey is still at Gruinart, also a Ruff in breeding plumage and our first report of a Spotted Flycatcher (per Ian Brooke).
