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’
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).
30th July
MID-ARGYLL: A belated report of an adult (female?) Rosy Starling behind the school at Ardfern found on 23rd Jul and seen again there on 26th Jul – reported to Ju Randall by Colin Smith. At the Add Estuary yesterday 2 Wigeon – first of the autumn there, also a male Hen Herrier (Jim Dickson).
27th July
TIREE: Now 3 Rosy Starlings at the east end of Traigh Bhi, Balephuil today – 1 very pink male and 2 paler bodied birds – coming to feeders but also in amongst Starling flocks at Meningie. 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Gadwall, 11 Pintail and 1 Greenshank at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: 1 Bar-tailed Godwit at Loch Gilp and 1 Greenshank and 5 Common Sandpipers at the Add Estuary (Jim Dickson).
26th July
TIREE: 12 Sooty Shearwater headed SW off Hynish this evening in 1 hr in SE 6-7 together with 372 Gannet, 380 Manxie, 112 Kittiwake, 48 large auk, 16 Puffin, 9 Fulmar and a flock of 15 Sanderling. 1 juv Cuckoo at Balephuil (first seen on 22nd). 1 Rosy Starling still at Balephuil last night (John Bowler).
24th July
TIREE: Update re. Rosy Starling – now 2 birds at east the east end of Traigh Bhi, Balephuil last night – the long-staying rather pale presumed female plus a much pinker-bodied bird (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: No sign of the Rosy Starling in Kilmichael Glen this morning.
KINTYRE: Eddie Maguire managed to photograph a possible Roseate Tern at the Machrihanish SBO – it arrived at 15:00 hrs. Hopefully better photos tomorrow.
23rd July
TIREE: Adult American Golden Plover again at Barrapol today – in with 70 Golden Plover – another 75 Golden Plover at Sandaig. Adult Rosy Starling at Balephuil – presumably last week’s bird from Meningie. 4 Greenshank at Loch a’ Phuill also 140 Sanderling at Gott Bay (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A report of another Rosy Starling from Rob & Christine Blackwell at Leckuary, Kilmichael Glen..seen at 18:30. A Nuthatch was at feeders in Inverinan today (Ruth Ritchie).
22nd July
MID-ARGYLL: A great photo below from Morag Rea at Tayvallich. 15 adult Dunlin and 46 Redshanks at the Add Estuary this afternoon (Jim Dickson).
19th July
TIREE: A moulting adult American Golden Plover was found at Sandaig yesterday with the Golden Plovers there (Toby Green). Re-found at the north end of Loch a’ Phuill around mid-day today (John Bowler).
18th July
MID-ARGYLL: An adult Black-tailed Godwit new in at the Add Estuary, also 5 Greenshank, 5 Common Sandpipers and an Osprey. At Loch Gilp – a non-br Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrels and 5 juv Redshanks. Also a juv Black Guillemot off Ardrishaig and 80+ Common Terns around Duncuan Island (Jim Dickson/David Pearson).
17th July
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this morning – 6 Greenshank and 9 adult Dunlin. A female Red-breasted Merganser with 17 ducklings was presumably from one duck however a female with 25 ducklings was more likely from 2 laying ducks (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Rosy Starling found along south edge of Loch a’ Phuill this morning (Andy Robinson) and still showing well there this afternoon (John Bowler/ Toby Green). 67 Golden Plover at Sandaig (Toby Green).
16th July
TIREE: 6 Sanderling and 175 Dunlin at Gott Bay, 71 adult Little Terns at 2 sites plus at least 12 fledged birds, 1 Black-tailed Godwit at Cornaigmore, 9 Greenshank around the island plus 1 Sandwich Tern (Toby Green), 2 Wigeon at Loch a’ Phuill – first of the autumn (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: At least 15 Common Swifts over High Street/Tesco car park in Oban this evening (Mike Anderson).
14th July
ISLAY: The Rosy Starling at Ardnave was refound this morning (Peter Roberts/Mike Peacock/Roger Broad) in a large flock of Starlings but distant and flighty.
COLL/TIREE: 3 Sooty Shearwaters from the Oban to Tiree ferry this evening near Gunna Sound (Toby Green).
13th July
ISLAY: A report of a Rosy Starling at Ardnave yesterday afternoon (per Islaybirdblog).
MID- ARGYLL: 2 Greenshanks at the Add Estuary this afternoon (Jim Dickson). An Osprey hunting over the shallows of Ardmaddy Bay this afternoon and a White-tailed Eagle over Cuan Sound yesterday (John Sedgwick).
NORTH ARGYLL: A Nuthatch, thought to be a first-year bird was at feeders in Barcaldine today (Doug Fontaine).
12th July
MID-ARGYLL: a few more birds around the Moine Mhor late morning today including – 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 41 Redshanks, 8 Common Sandpipers, 1 Kestrel and 1 Osprey at the Add Estuary, a pr of Moorhen with 2 young near Crinan, 2 prs Common Whitethroats with fledged juvs, 2 prs Whinchats with fledged juvs, 1 pr Spotted Flycatchers with fledged juvs and 8 Lesser Redpolls around Dunadd hill fort (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: A Nuthatch was seen and photographed at Inveruglas (Arrochar/Succoth) by Morgan Kain -visiting birder from Canada.
11th July
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this morning – 3 juvenile Greenshank also 7 Common Sandpipers. At Keillmore (Loch na Cille) – 1 Swift, 7 House Martins. At Loch Gilp this afternoon – 2 adult (male & female) Bar-tailed Godwits – different from the 2 non-br plumaged birds yesterday (Jim Dickson).
10th July
COWAL: 3 Common Scoter off St Catherine’s today (Neil Hammatt).
MID-ARGYLL: Still 1 Whimbrel at Loch Gilp, also 15 Curlew, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and now 9 juvenile Black-headed Gulls. Also 12 Greylag Geese which are unusual there – maybe ties in with a recent breeding expansion near Castleton (Jim Dickson).
9th July
MID-ARGYLL: Today at Loch Gilp – 4 Whimbrel and 10 Curlew. At the Add Estuary 3 juvenile Black-headed Gulls (David Pearson).
COWAL: A Nuthatch was at Ormidale yesterday (Bob Furness).
7th July
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp today – a single Whimbrel and also first juvenile Black-headed Gull (Jim Dickson).
4th July
TIREE: 1 Swift at Carnan Mor (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A colour-ringed Sandwich Tern (Right leg = metal Left leg c/r = tall white) at Machrihanish SBO was Eddie Maguire’s first there and perhaps first c/r bird noted in Argyll.
3rd July
TIREE: 1 Crossbill flew south at Balephuil also 1 adult Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Whimbrel at the Reef (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: 10 Swifts flying around the Mid-Argyll and A&B hospitals this afternoon (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: 2 Swifts over Alexandra parade, Kirn today (Andrew Webster).
2nd July
COLONSAY: On Oronsay yesterday the long staying 2CY Iceland Gull from Kiloran turned up again (Patrick Styles). This year has seen imm Iceland Gulls into late June also on Islay, Tiree, Mull and Kintyre…..
MID-ARGYLL: A Common Scoter off Crinan yesterday (David Jardine) is a good record for that area.
1st July
MID-ARGYLL: Paul Finnigan at Finn falconry, Taynuilt has kindly sent through an image of the dark morph female type Honey-buzzard found at the roadside near Dalavich on 15 June but sadly died shortly afterwards in care. It has been sent for a full post mortem.
26th June
KINTYRE: At least 290 Red-breasted Merganser in a single flochk and 51 Common Scoter – also 1 Black-throated Diver at the Sound of Gigha today (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: An adult Curlew Sandpiper was at Loch a’ Phuill this evening (John Bowler).
NORTH ARGYLL: A Nuthatch was actively calling in oak woodland at Lochawe today. Also a pr of Ring Ouzels bred this year at Cruachan (David Fotheringham).
COLONSAY: A single Whooper Swan on Oronsay today (Patrick Styles).
ISLAY: The male Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch Finlaggan.
24th June
TIREE: A female Marsh Harrier flew south at Sandaig to Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
ISLAY: Mike Peacock and Peter Roberts have been studying one and probably more Common (Mealy) Redpolls in breeding habitat at Gortantaoid (NE of Loch Gruinart) in recent days.
21st June
COLL: An adult Rosy Starling was seen and photographed at Sorisdale today (Iain Fergus).
