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:
The 2023 ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 35 with Systematic List for 2023 is now published as a PDF – (available to ABC members only by an emailed link)
2024 Spring Migrants Table: SPRING MIGRANTS 2024 to 1 July
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2024
18th December
MID-ARGYLL: A male RING-NECKED DUCK was at Glenfeochan Loch, Kilmore today – presumably the returning bird from last winter and also seen at Scammadale on 1 Dec (David Jardine).
13th December
ISLAY: A male GREEN-WINGED TEAL again at RSPB Loch Gruinart – seen from the south hide – two were there on 18 Nov (James How).
KINTYRE: The adult ROSS’S GOOSE was relocated again today and is now near Machrihanish airfield in the company of Greenland White fronts (Bob McMillan). Note; this bird has been seen at the same time as the Ayrshire bird therefore is a different individual.
8th December
KINTYRE: A fem-type COMMON ROSEFINCH was seen & photographed in the garden at Lephenstrath Bridge this morning by Ann & Noel Hand.
6th December
KINTYRE: An adult ROSS’S GOOSE was in fields just NW of Peninver (Jim Dickson, David Jardine) having been seen briefly the previous day from a passing bus and suspected as a Snow Goose (Alasdair Paterson). It seems most likely this is the same un-ringed bird that had been in Ayrshire 40 miles to the east between 26 Sep and 19 Nov. It will be for the BBRC to determine if this counts as a wild bird and become a new species for Argyll. Since the 1950’s when the global population was only 2,500 birds, legal protection and provision of refuges has seen numbers rise to over 3 million birds and there have now been 18 accepted records in Great Britain – however they are widely kept in collections and escapes are not infrequent.
24th November
MID-ARGYLL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was noted in with a small influx of Black-headed Gulls at Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson).
19th November
MID-ARGYLL: Two GREAT WHITE EGRETS were seen during WeBS counts at Loch Craignish/Loch Beag today – also 6 Little Egrets noted. (Phillip Price).
ISLAY: The adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE is still present in the Gruinart area and the CACKLING GOOSE is still at Cornabus.
18th November
ISLAY: The female LESSER SCAUP was noted again at Loch Skerrols – after a gap of a few weeks (Derek Coleman) and two drake GREEN-WINGED TEAL were together – seen from south hide at RSPB Loch Gruinart (James How).
KINTYRE: On the WeBS count at the Sound of Gigha two fem/imm VELVET SCOTERS were in with the Common Scoters there, also 5 Long-tailed Ducks noted (David Jardine, Jim Dickson).
15th November
ISLAY: A CACKLING GOOSE was found in with the Barnacle Goose flock at Cornabus (Ed Burrell). A 1cy LITTLE GULL was seen off Bruichladdich yesterday & again today (Gary Turnbull).
12th November
COLL Good numbers of GREAT SHEARWATERS & SOOTY SHEARWATERS remain, also 3 Manx in the sea area around Hawes Bank with 815 & 263 respectively (Sea Life Mull team, Stuart Gibson et al). This will be the last SLM trip of the season as weather becomes unsuitable for further excursions.
MID-ARGYLL: A GREAT WHITE EGRET was seen & photographed on the mud out from the front green at the head of Loch Gilp (Leonie Sweeney).
11th November
TIREE: A male & female RING-NECKED DUCK are still present at Loch Bhasapol – also now 5 male POCHARD and male & female GREATER SCAUP at Loch a’ Phuill. A ‘SIBERIAN’ CHIFFCHAFF again at Balephuil. Also, an immature POMARINE SKUA and 1,800 Kittiwakes off Milton (John Bowler).
10th November
ISLAY: A female BLACK REDSTART was reported at Bowmore Harbour (Mary Redman et al).
COLL: At least 15 GREAT SHEARWATERS noted between Coll & Ardnamurchan from the Tiree ferry today (Chris McInerny, Keith Hoey).
9th November
ISLAY: A juv PALLID SWIFT was seen and photographed at Tighncachia, Coullabus around 1pm and remained in the area for several hours allowing a few Islay birders to see it. (Frank & Partrick Cavanagh, Jacob New et al). This will become the first record for Argyll if accepted by the BBRC. A male BLACK REDSTART was reported at Bowmore Harbour (David Coleman).
MID-ARGYLL: A GREAT WHITE EGRET was seen & photographed at the Add Estuary mid-morning then it flew off to SE (Andy Paton). A juv OSPREY was seen & photographed by the River Add at Dalvore, Moine Mhor (Jim Dickson)
7th November
COLL/TIREE: A count of 30+ GREAT SHEARWATERS between Coll & Tiree (per John Bowler).
MULL: A report of a GREY PHALAROPE (Harry Revell) – Sound of Mull area?
MID-ARGYLL: A drake PINTAIL in with the Wigeon flock at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).
4th November
COLL/TIREE: A phenomenal gathering of c6000+ GREAT SHEARWATERS & 300+ SOOTY SHEARWATERS, also 3 Manx Shearwaters – mostly in the sea area around Hawes Bank in an area roughly 10km x 5 km and (Sea Life Mull team, Jim Dickson, Stuart Gibson, Bob McMillan Jack Waldie et al).
3rd November
TIREE: A new ‘SIBERIAN’ CHIFFCHAFF was at The Glebe, Scarinish today (JohnBowler).
COLL/TIREE: A count of 600+ GREAT SHEARWATERS and a 1cy LITTLE GULL, also c2,000 Kittiwakes & an Arctic Skua from the Oban-Tiree Ferry in the area between south Coll & Tiree (Jim Dickson, David Jardine, Josh Harris).
2nd November
COLL/TIREE: A count of 765 GREAT SHEARWATERS and 5 SOOTY SHEARWATERS from the Oban-Tiree Ferry in the area between Coll & Tiree (Andrew Russell et al).
MID-ARGYLL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson, David Jardine).
1st November
MULL: Two fem/imm VELVET SCOTER were at Salen Bay.
COWAL: A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER was in a garden in Dunoon (Frauke Thornton) – first record for Cowal.
30th October
TIREE: Ad male & 1cy fem RING-NECKED DUCKS still at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler)
ISLAY: The adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE again at Gruinart, also 3 male POCHARD at Loch Gorm.
COLL: At sea NE of Coll from SeaLifeMull – 70+ GREAT SHEARWATER, 5 SOOTY SHEARWATER, 1 POMARINE SKUA & 2 ARCTIC SKUAS.
28th October
COLL: At sea NE of Coll from SeaLifeMull – 66 GREAT SHEARWATER, 20 SOOTY SHEARWATER and a 1cy LITTLE GULL.
TIREE: Male RING-NECKED DUCK again at Loch a’ Phuill.
MID-ARGYLL: A GREAT WHITE EGRET at Cairndow, head of Loch Fyne (David Jardine).
25th October
ISLAY: 1cy female LESSER SCAUP still at Loch Skerrols. A YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER at Loch Kinnabus (David Wood et al).
MULL: A LESSER WHITETHROAT was noted on Iona (Neil McMahon/Naturetrek).
COLL: At sea NE of Coll from SeaLifeMull – 5 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 10 SOOTY SHEARWATER.
23rd October
TIREE: A CURLEW SANDPIPER was at Balinoe (John Bowler)
ISLAY: The adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE again at Gruinart.
21st October
MULL: A GREY PHALAROPE was inland at Torloisk Road, Dervaig (Ewan Miles).
ISLAY: Ad male RING-NECKED DUCK and 1cy female LESSER SCAUP still at Loch Skerrols.
20th October
ISLAY: Ad male RING-NECKED DUCK and 1cy female LESSER SCAUP at Loch Skerrols.
MID-ARGYLL: Ad male RING-NECKED DUCK at Loch Nell – probably a returning bird (Jack Waldie).
17th October
COLL NE sea area: ‘Sea Life Mull’ trip today had 5 GREAT SHEARWATERS and 40 SOOTY SHEARWATERS (
TIREE: A LAPLAND BUNTING at Sandaig and the male & 1cy fem RING-NECKED DUCK still at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
16th October
TIREE: A juv female RING-NECKED DUCK has joined the adult male and the male Greater Scaup at Loch a’ Phuill today (John Bowler).
ISLAY: A CACKLING GOOSE reported at Gruinart today.
14th October
COLL/HIGHLAND REGION at sea: A count of 600+ GREAT SHEARWATERS was made from the Oban-Barra ferry (per Birdguides) and 20+ were seen off the Cairns of Coll (Stuart Gibson/Sealife Mull).
KINTYRE/MID-ARGYLL: 2 GREAT CRESTED GREBES were seen in West Loch Tarbert from the Islay ferry (Theo de Clermont et al).
12th October
COLL/HIGHLAND REGION at sea: A count of 1,000+ GREAT SHEARWATERS was made from the Oban-Barra ferry (Mark Lewis) and 4 GREAT and 1 CORY’S SHEARWATERS were noted from Aird TIREE (John Bowler).
ISLAY: An adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE (returning bird) was back at Loch Gruinart today (Theo de Clermont et al).
10th October
NORTH ARGYLL: A juvenile SPOTTED REDSHANK was reported from Loch Laich today (per Birdguides) – more details are required please.
ISLAY: An adult male RING-NECKED DUCK was found at Loch Skerrols today (Theo de Clermont).
TIREE: The RING-NECKED DUCK is still present at Loch a’ Phuill and a 1w RING OUZEL was at Balephuil (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL/MULL: A LITTLE GULL and a POMARINE SKUA were reported from the Mull ferry (C Taylor).