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/
Recent Reports 2018
The Argyll Bird Report for 2016 has now been published. Details on how to purchase a copy can be found under ‘Publications’
21st September
MULL: A Red-backed Shrike briefly this morning at Treshish farm wood beside the farm road (Anand Prasad). Update – Prasad was unable to relocate the bird later and feels not enough seen on it to be certain.
TIREE: 1 Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 1 Ruff at Loch a’ Phuill late pm – both using floods on the far (N) side of the loch. 1m Blackcap, 8 Common Redpoll, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Willow Warbler at Balephuil (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: 20 Pink-footed Geese over the Add Estuary at 9.30 am, also 60 Wigeon there and this evening 3 Whooper Swans over at 7.40 pm (John Halliday). Also an ad + juv Peregrine there today and a Tufted Duck or perhaps Scaup (Simon Niederberger).
20th September
MID-ARGYLL: Pink-footed Geese heard calling over Cairnbaan at 06:30 hrs today. At the Add Estuary late morning 3 juv Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Sanderling, 8 Goosander and a juv Peregrine (Jim Dickson).
NORTH ARGYLL: At Loch Laich (Appin) highlights today: 20+ Redshank, at least 5 Greenshank, 10+ Ringed Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot and a White-tailed Eagle (Mr & Mrs Niederberger – visiting from Switzerland).
19th September
TIREE: A Leach’s Petrel and 7 Sooty Shearwaters SW off Hynish today (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Four Arctic Terns (ad + 3 juvs) at Loch Crinan (Jim Dickson).
18th September
Colonsay: On Oronsay today 30 Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Also a Minkie Whale washed up here on 16th (Patrick Styles).
MULL: A juv Pectoral Sandpiper was at Iona golf course today (Laurence Potter per Alan Spellman).
17th September
TIREE: Adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig today, 10 juv Black-tailed Godwits at Balevullin, 500+ Snipe in flocks of up to 80 scattered around the island in the rain, 4 Pink-footed Geese new in at Balemartine, 12 Sooty Shearwaters headed SW off Hynish in 1hr at lunch-time in SSW6 (John Bowler).
15th September
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this morning – still 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Knot, also 1 Greenshank at Loch Gilp. A male Mandarin was at Loch Ederline yesterday (David Jardine).
TIREE: Ad American Golden Plover still at Sandaig today – also 1 juv Black-tailed Godwit and 450 Golden Plover there. 4 juv Willow Warbler, 1m Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest and 2 big dark rostrata-type Common Redpolls at Balephuil / Carnan Mor (John Bowler).
14th September
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this afternoon – 1 Golden Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwit (4 juvs + 1 ad), 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 1 Greenshank, 11 Dunlin and a male Hen Harrier (also an Osprey yesterday) – Jim Dickson.
TIREE: Adult American Golden Plover again at Sandaig today with 550 Golden Plovers (this is the bird that has been here since July) – the second bird has not been seen again since 12 September (John Bowler).
12th September
TIREE: Two juv Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Vaul Golf course at 0910 hrs (Keith Gillon), 2 juv Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Kenovay at 1230 hrs, 2 adult American Golden Plovers at Sandaig – the long-staying bird from July plus a new bird (John Bowler/Keith Gillon), 1 Ruff at Greenhill, 6 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in-off at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A first-winter (1CY) Mediterranean Gull at Crinan Ferry, Add Estuary at noon today (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: First autumn reports of Pale-bellied Brent Goose with 14 flying S at Loch Indaal today (Gary Turnbull per Ian Brooke) and also 9 at Loch Gruinart (James Butcher).
11th September
MID-ARGYLL: A flock of 57 Mistle Thrush on the road to Crinan Ferry this morning., also 80 Goldfinch there. Now 41 Wigeon at the Add Estuary. At Loch Gilp – 1 Greenshank, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 39 Wigeon (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: 3 Greenshank at Kennacraig on 8th Sep (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: A single Whimbrel at the head of the Holy Loch and a charm of 100+ Goldfinch feeding on the grass on the foreshore also 12 Wigeon (Alistair McGregor).
KINTYRE: At MSBO today – 5 Knot and a Great Skua >S (Eddie Maguire).
7th September
TIREE: An Icterine Warbler was found in rose bushes on the road leading to Loch a’ Phuill by Keith Gillon today and seen by John Bowler this evening. The American Golden Plover is still present at Sandaig.
MID-ARGYLL: A Nuthatch at Stonefield was a first record for this area (Anne Lavelle).
5th September
TIREE: Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 250+ Golden Plover this pm – also 1 Ruff and 4 Black-tailed Godwits there – (John Bowler with Keith Gillon). Rosy Starling still at Kenovay today (John Bowler).
ISLAY: 2W Mediterranean Gull in Bowmore this morning, Reeve still at Loch Gruinart, 70 Goldfinch at Carnain and 3 Mediterranean Gulls together at Rubha Ban/Carnain, Loch Indaal this evening – 2 x 2W and a juv/1W (Jim Dickson).
4th September
TIREE: The Rosy Starling is still visiting feeders at Kenovay (John Bowler) – and was seen at Balephetrish yesterday by Keith Gillon
ISLAY: Two more Mediterranean Gulls today (both second-winters) to add to the two juv/first-winters in the last few days. All birds being seen between Carnain and Gortan (Jim Dickson).
3rd September
KINTYRE: Bill Allan has sent in photos of his “Polish” Mute Swan record – at Ronachan Bay on 22 Sep 2013 and so far only the second report in Scotland.
NORTH ARGYLL: A male Velvet Scoter was at Ardmucknish Bay, Benderloch today (David Jardine).
MID-ARGYLL: Highlights at the Add Estuary today – 7 Whimbrel and a Peregrine and also a White-tailed Eagle hunting at Loch Gilp (David Pearson).
TIREE: 30 juv Black-tailed Godwit and 4 juv Knot on arable silage stubble at Kenovay, 10 juv Black-tailed Godwit at Loch a’ Phuill, 4 juv Knot at Gott Bay – although 15 juvs there at the weekend – Keith Gillon, imm Merlin showed well at Ben Hynish, White Wagtails quite widespread on the beaches (John Bowler).
2nd September
ISLAY: both the first-year Mediterranean Gulls still at Rhubha Ban, Loch Indaal this morning. Also 11 juv Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Ruff at Loch Gruinart, 1 Gadwall, 41 Tufted Duck and 1 Scaup at Loch Gorm (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 200+ Golden Plover. Garden Warbler and Robin new in at Balephuil with 1f Blackcap still there. 1 Kestrel new at Balemartine. 5th dead Cuvier’s Beaked Whale arrived at Traigh Ghrianal after the 4th at Hynish on 30 Aug (John Bowler).
1st September
ISLAY: From the ferry this morning 5 Common Dolphin nr Texa island. At Blackrock, Loch Indaal – 2 juv/1W Mediterranean Gulls this morning and 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Greater Scaup, 3 Great Northern Diver, 39 Wigeon and 49 Common Scoter on the loch. Also 18 Knot, 2 Golden Plover and 1 Greenshank at Loch Gruinart plus 25 alba wagtails (inc 10+ White Wagtail) nr the new hide at Gruinart. (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: An American Golden Plover and a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sandaig this afternoon (Keith Gillon).
31st August
JURA: On David Jardine’s ABC trip to Jura on Sat 25th Aug he re-found a ‘Polish’ Mute Swan cygnet first noted at Inver, Jura (opposite Port Askaig / Bunnahabhain on Islay) in July. This white-morph juvenile is rare in the UK and apparently only one previous Scottish record. It is likely they are under recorded and my memory was jogged – recalling Bill Allan’s report of a ‘polish’ cygnet in a family group off Ronachan point a few years back and hopefully Bill will get back with his photo and date. Any additional historical records would also be valuable. Please send all sightings and reports by e-mail to or by post to Moss Taylor, 4 Heath Road, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8JH (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: 3 Sanderling and 60+ Turnstone at Kirn , and a Kingfisher reported to me by Paul Kent on the Little Eckaig near Dalinlongart farm (Alistair McGregor).
30th August
MID-ARGYLL: Now 30 Teal at the Add Estuary, also still 2 Greenshank (Jim Dickson). A nice sighting reported of 2 adult White-tailed Eagles at An Oitir, off Minard. Also 4 White-tailed Eagles over Castle Sween (all at the same time) today (Alastair Ross).
ISLAY: At Loch Gruinart – Dunlin 1700+, Sanderling 300+, Black-tailed Godwit 67, Knot 5, Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Golden Plover 8 (James Butcher).
29th August
TIREE: Moulting adult American Golden Plover in flock of 550 Golden Plovers on the machair at Sandaig today, also 1 juv Ruff there. Now 3 different Cuvier’s Beaked Whales to have washed ashore here in the last week (John Bowler).
COLL: A single Sooty Shearwater was seen in the waters off Coll today (Neil Hammatt).
28th August
TIREE: A flock of 205 juvenile Black-tailed Godwits and 4 juv Knot on arable silage stubble at Kenovay today. 2 Dunnock new at Balephuil – also 6 Common Redpoll there (John Bowler).
27th August
MID-ARGYLL: A Golden Eagle being harried by a buzzard, at Kames (just south of Kilmelford) mid-afternoon today (Ju Randall).
TIREE: 4 juv Knot and 14 White Wagtails at Gott Bay, 1 Whimbrel at Ruaig, 145 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 juv Knot at Kenovay. A dead Cuvier’s Beaked-whale at Scarinish, 1 of 2 here just now (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: An Osprey, perched for a good half hour + at West Loch Tarbert opposite the pier (Steve & Ruth Herrington).
26th August
MID-ARGYLL: An adult Little Gull at Loch Crinan this morning (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A sea-watch in S7-8 with rain at Hynish today 1210-1310hrs produced (all birds heading SW): 1 Balearic Shearwater, 3 Great Skua, 8 Storm Petrel, 376 Manx Shearwater, 418 Kittiwake, 457 Gannet, 74 Fulmar, 42 Shag, 1 Puffin and 15 large auk. The Rosy Starling still present at Kenovay to 25 Aug at least (John Bowler).
25th August
ISLAY: Autumn in full swing early this morning at Port Charlotte – lovely photo from Mike Peacock.
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this evening – 26 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 3 Red Knot and a 1CY Kittiwake in with the other gulls. Also a male Hen Harrier over the Moine Mhor (Jim Dickson).
24th August
Sound of Jura: From the Islay ferry today – 350 Manx Shearwaters, 420 Kittiwakes inc 370 on An Dubh Sgeir, Gigha, 1 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua. Only a few Common Guillemots – some flying and 20+ Razorbill. 5 Sandwich Terns in West Loch Tarbet (Jim Dickson).
23rd August
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Crinan mid-morning: 2 x 1CY Mediterranean Gulls – also 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, 16 Dunlin and an Osprey there. Nearby at the Add Estuary 2 juv Greenshank and 2 Wigeon (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: Malcolm Ogilvie has reported that a Monarch butterfly was seen on a buddlea in Bridgend, Islay, on 19th. Possibility of a transatlantic migrant although usually noted in the UK later in the autumn. Also being noted that some of these are now being released at weddings…..
22nd August
ISLAY: A note from James Butcher (one of the RSPB wardens at Loch Gruinart) saying waders there now include: 2000+ Dunlin, 200+ Sanderling, 43 Black-tailed Godwit and 23 Red Knot.
TIREE: Rosy Starling still at Kenovay today also 120 juv Black-tailed Godwits on the shore at Balephetrish Bay.
MULL: A report of a Goshawk at Calgary beach today (Matt Francis).
20th August
KINTYRE: A juvenile Mediterranean Gull again today but appears to be a new/different individual. Also 30 Black- tailed Godwits >S bringing this months passage total so far to 246 >S on 6 dates (a well above average showing). An American Mink was very active around the point this morning (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp this morning – an big increase in Oystercatcher with 356 birds, also 1 Greenshank, 1 Lapwing, 2 juv Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits (ad + 2 juvs), 1 Wigeon, 11 Herons. At the Add Estuary – inc: 4 juv Black-tailed Godwit, 2 juv Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 2 Wigeon, 10 Teal (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: The Rosy Starling is still at Kenovay at lunch-time – also seen there on 18 and 19 Aug (John Bowler).
19th August
KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO today – a juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Best of the rest was 144 Black-tailed Godwits >S (5 flocks / largest 60) and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit >S (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Crinan/Add Estuary – 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Knot (first of autumn there) and f Hen Harrier (Jim Dickson).
17th August
SOUND of JURA: An early morning seawatch from Kennacraig to Port Ellen, Islay produced – 2 Sooty and 225 Manx Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrel, 2 Great Skua, 162 Kittiwake, 1,420 auks (mostly Common Guillemots but inc at least 28 Razorbill), 10 Black Guillemot, 2 Fulmar, 110 Gannet, 1 Arctic and 1 Sandwich Tern (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Rosy Starling showing well on feeders at Kenovay at lunch-time – apparently been there since at least 14 Aug (Alex and Dolina MacDonald per John Bowler). Nick Wall saw an adult Grey Plover at Greenhill today and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit at Gott Bay yesterday.
16th August
TIREE: Nick Wall has kindly provided photos of the adult Ring-billed Gull he found near Hough Bay on 14 Aug. 1 Merlin at Vaul – first of autumn here (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A Kingfisher was at the Crinan Canal (nr Fraser’s wagon at Crinan wood) – also 4 Moorhen there (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: A juv Ruff at Machrihanish SBO today (Eddie Maguire).
14th August
TIREE: An adult Ring-billed Gull at Rubha Hanais at the north end of the Maze at lunch-time today (Nick Wall per John Bowler). No further sign of it in the evening (John Bowler).
COLONSAY / ORONSAY: Patrick Styles (RSPB warden on Oronsay) kindly sent through some images he took recently.
COWAL: Alistair McGregor reports that wader numbers now building up at the Holy Loch e.g. now 30 Ringed Plover, 16 Turnstone but no sign of the Little Egret recently. Gearge Newall got a quick reply about the ringed LBB Gull he saw in Dunoon today – BLUE M:132, Larus fuscus metal ring M41005, ringed in the rehabilitation center CRAMQ, in Quiaios, Portugal, and released at 23 of December of 2016.
13th August
TIREE: A juv Little Stint, 6 Knot (2 juvs), 115 Dunlin, 2 Little Tern and 372 Sanderling at Gott and Vaul Bays including 1 French-wintering Icelandic leg-flagged Sanderling. 1 Greenshank at the Reef and 78 juv Black-tailed Godwits at Vaul/Salum (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A Kingfisher was seen on the River Add (Moine Mhor) today (James Lehmann).
12th August
TIREE: 3 Orca reported off Milton on 12 Aug – (Christian Verstraete per John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Still 7 Swifts over Lochgilphead (Joe Parham).
COWAL: A count of at least 80 Goosander at Loch Riddon (Tom Callan).
10th August
MID-ARGYLL: A probable Quail was heard to call once briefly from the Crinan Ferry road today (Sandy Mitchell)
9th August
ISLAY/KINTYRE: A sighting of a probable Great Shearwater from the Islay ferry – flying not far from the ferry, seen well but very brief (Joe Parham).
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp today – 1 Greenshank, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Sandwich Tern – ad with a juv (Jim Dickson).
8th August
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Crinan/Add Estuary this morning – 21 adult Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank also fem + 4 juvs Goosander new in (Jim Dickson).
6th August
TIREE: Unusual gathering of 340 Gannets sitting on the sea off Hynish this pm, plus 1 Pomarine Skua there. 31 adult Black-tailed Godwits and 150 Golden Plover at Middleton. 1 Whimbrel, 2 adult Black-tailed Godwits and 410 Common Gull on cut silage at Ruaig. 538 Sanderling (all adults) on the main beaches today – still no sign of any juveniles (John Bowler).
COWAL: 30 Swifts above Dunoon early evening yesterday (easily the most I have seen this year). An adult and a juvenile Sandwich Tern on the shore at Kirn this evening (George Newall).
KINTYRE: On Gigha at Ardminish Bay yesterday – 140 Ringed Plover, 70 Dunlin and 1 Osprey (David Jardine).
MID-ARGYLL: a Monarch butterfly was seen on the shore at Dunstaffnage (Clive Craik).
4th August
COWAL: 36 Sandwich Tern at Toward today (Cherry Cook). The Little Egret is still at the Holy Loch (Alistair McGregor).
KINTYRE: Another decent southerly wader passage at Machrihanish SBO today with 118 Oystercatcher, 9 Curlew, 39 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Red Knot, 115 Sanderling, 52 Dunlin, 6 Common Sandpiper and 97 Common Redshanks. Also, the first juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake >S and 4 Black-tailed Godwit were on Machrihanish links (Eddie Maguire).
3rd August
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary/Loch Crinan this morning – 6 ad Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank, 74 Redshank, 145 Oystercatcher, 210 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 1ad Turnstone, 8 ad Sanderling, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Teal and 1 m Tufted Duck which was also seen later (6pm) at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).
A Green Sandpiper was watched feeding at a roadside pool south of Ardrishaig (Ben Reavey et al).
TIREE: John Bowler noted less waders on the island yesterday than the larger nos noted on 31 Jul when – 410 Dunlin, 381 Sanderling and 120 Ringed Plover counted at various sites (most at Gott Bay) – and yesterday at Loch a’ Phuill were 7 Greenshank, 32 Dunlin and 9 Ringed Plover.
COWAL: A Little Egret at the Holy Loch this afternoon also 8 Sandwich Tern of the coal pier Dunoon (Alistair McGregor).
2nd August
MID-ARGYLL: Arrival of waders today with: at Loch Crinan – 247 Dunlin, 22 Sanderling 16 Ringed Plover, 112 Redshank and 1 Black-tailed Godwit with a further 64 Dunlin and 22 Redshank nearby at the Add Estuary – also 1 Kestrel there. At Loch Gilp – 4 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Whimbrel (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: Superb southerly wader passage at Machrihanish SBO 08:00 -15:00hrs with most going through mid morning in overcast conditions / light drizzle. totals included 27 Oystercatcher, 33 Ringed Plover, 22 Curlew, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Ruddy Turnstone, 9 Red Knots (adults) 270 Sanderlings (11 flocks / largest ca. 90), 170 Dunlin (8 flocks / largest ca. 75), 7 Common Sandpiper and 65 Common Redshanks (Eddie Maguire).
NORTH ARGYLL: At Ardtur/Loch Laich today – Redshank – 85 (a great count for this location), Osprey, Little Grebe – 3 broods b/1, b/2, b/3), Moorhen – 15 (!) – 4 ads with 4 broods and Water Rail – large chick (David Jardine).
31st July
ISLAY: A Green Sandpiper this morning on moorland pools along the Bolsay track above Port Charlotte (Mike Peacock). The Rosy Starling was seen again at Ardnave yesterday (James How per Ian Brooke).
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this pm – m & f Hen Harrier, 3 Greenshank and 14 ad Dunlin (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: At least 1 Rose-coloured Starling (paler-bodied bird) still at east end of Traigh Bhi this afternoon. 1 juv Ruff at Loch a’ Phuill. 6 Sooty Shearwater SW off Hynish this afternoon (John Bowler).
