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 2024 ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 36 with Systematic List for 2024 is now published as a PDF – (available to ABC members only by an emailed link)
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2025
29th March
ISLAY: The PIED CROW (of unknown origin) was still present in gardens at Portnahaven this morning.
MID-ARGYLL: The male BLACK REDSTART was again along a track near Inverliever, Loch Awe today (Dani Elle Frea Ney).
28th March
ISLAY: A PIED CROW (of unknown origin) was photographed in a garden at Portnahaven and has apparently been there for a day or two. The HOOPOE at Gruinart was last noted on 26 March.
MID-ARGYLL: A male BLACK REDSTART was photographed along a track near Inverliever, Loch Awe today (Dani Elle Frea Ney).
24th March
ISLAY: A first-winter (2cy) MEDITERRANEAN GULL was found at Bridgend, Loch Indaal today (Clive McKay).
15th March
ISLAY: Two GREAT CRESTED GREBES were noted off Ardbeg today (S & L Rogers) and the RED-BREASTED GOOSE is still present in the Gruinart area.
KINTYRE: Three VELVET SCOTERS were at the Sound of Gigha today during WeBS count (David Jardine).
13th March
MID-ARGYLL: A SWALLOW was seen at Kilmory Road, Lochgilphead this morning – an early one & looks like first in Scotland this year, although quite a few reports further south in Britain from Feb (L Jenkins). n.b. as usual, we will post spring & summer migrant arrivals in a table over the next few weeks.. Reports already of Chiffchaffs, Wheatears & Blackcaps.
10th March
MID-ARGYLL: A female HAWFINCH was at a bird table in Ardrishaig this morning (Lynsey Gibson).
KINTYRE: A brief sighting (seen from moving car) of a 2cy ICELAND GULL in flight at Glenrioch, Stewarton (David Jardine/Jim Dickson).
7th March
ISLAY: A distant male SURF SCOTER with 90+ Common Scoters off Port Charlotte at midday (Peter Roberts).
KINTYRE: A male MARSH HARRIER was seen flying over the dunes at Carskiey yesterday 6th Mar (Neil Brown).
5th March
ISLAY: A GLAUCOUS or ICELAND GULL at Machir beach (Gary Turnbull), the adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE & the CACKLING GOOSE a Gruinart Flats area today (Theo de Clermont).
1st March
MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile (2cy) ICELAND GULL was at the head of Loch Gilp this morning – very likely the same individual that has been at the Add Estuary recently (Jim Dickson).
28th February
MID-ARGYLL: An adult LITTLE GULL was at the head of Loch Gilp this morning – bird has metal ring on right leg (Jim Dickson).
26th February
KINTYRE: A juv (2cy) GLAUCOUS GULL was found at Westport Beach – north end (Andrew Russell).
22nd February
ISLAY: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Skerrols today (Clive McKay).
MID-ARGYLL: The juv (2cy) ICELAND GULL was seen again at the Add Estuary (Jim Dickson).
18th February
ISLAY: A first-winter (2cy) MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Bridgend Merse today (Clive McKay).
16th February
ISLAY: The RED-BREASTED GOOSE was now up at Ardnave today and a RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was at Coullabus (Steve Percival).
MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile ICELAND GULL was seen in flight off Crinan Harbour – presumably same as the bird at Add Estuary on 14th Feb (Jim Dickson).
12th February
ISLAY: A CACKLING GOOSE was at Kinnabus, Oa (Henry Wyn-Jones). Two RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were at Gruinart (Nick Parsons).
8th February
MID-ARGYLL / KINTYRE: A report of a possible WHITE-BILLED DIVER seen in flight from the Islay ferry at mouth of West Loch Tarbert (Frank Cavanagh).
ISLAY: Another report of the CACKLING GOOSE – at Leorin (Will Scott).
7th February
ISLAY: Another sighting of the adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE at Gruinart today (Will Scott). Update: An ICELAND GULL was seen to fly over the Oa on 4th Feb (David Wood).
27th January
MID-ARGYLL: Adult male RING-NECKED DUCK is now back at Glenfeochan Loch again, near Kilmore and a first-winter (2cy) YELLOW-LEGGED GULL was showing well early afternoon at the head of Loch Gilp – although no sign of the second-winter bird there today (Jim Dickson). Three LITTLE AUKS were seen from the Colonsay ferry this afternoon off the Garvellach Is. (David Jardine).
25th January
MID-ARGYLL: A 3cy (second-winter) YELLOW-LEGGED GULL made an appearance in with other gulls at the head of Loch Gilp early afternoon (Jim Dickson).
20th January
MID-ARGYLL: An adult BONAPARTE’S GULL was found in with 40+ Black-headed Gulls at the Add Estuary at midday (Jim Dickson).
14th January
ISLAY: A 2cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL was found at the loch at Cornabus – only 10th record for Islay (Ed Burrell).
13th January
ISLAY: Two LITTLE AUK were seen from the Islay ferry SE of Texa island. Later – a STOCK DOVE (rare in winter in Argyll) was found in with WOODPIGEONS at Sunderland Farm (David Jardine).
10th January
KINTYRE: A recent report that slipped us by – a first-winter WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was found on 25th Dec by Stu Crutchfield at Machrihanish Bay where the Machrihanish Water enters the bay.
3rd January
MID-ARGYLL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson) and the male RING-NECKED DUCK now at Luachrach Loch, Oban (David Jardine).
2nd January
KINTYRE: The adult ROSS’S GOOSE was refound today at Clochkeil Farm, N of Machrihanish (Jim Dickson, David Jardine, Frank Cavanagh).
1st January
ISLAY: The male GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen again at RSPB Loch Gruinart (James How, Peter Roberts).
MULL: Four BRAMBLING seen around NW Mull today (Scott Robinson).