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)
AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU) – FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE LINKS BELOW
https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-bird-flu/pages/dead-or-sick-wild-birds-what-to-do/
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/disease-and-garden-wildlife/avian-influenza-updates/
2024 Spring Migrants Table: update 13 Apr: SPRING MIGRANTS 2024
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2024
16th April
MID-ARGYLL: A male GOLDEN ORIOLE heard & sound recorded at Fearnoch, nr Taynuilt this morning (Greg Smith).
5th April
MID-ARGYLL: A female (prob 2cy) AMERICAN WIGEON at the Add Estuary this afternoon. Difficult to determine to what extent it is pure or a hybrid as view quite distant (Jim Dickson).
2nd April
COLL: A HOOPOE this afternoon – in paddocks behind Coll Medical Practice, Arinagour (per Birdguides).
1st April
TIREE: A suspected/unconfirmed 2cy CASPIAN GULL today at Sorobaidh Bay (Dylan Daunt).
NORTH ARGYLL: A STOCK DOVE at Ardtur, North Appin today (David Jardine, Frank Cavanagh).
27th March
TIREE: A SNOW BUNTING at Balinoe today, also the GREY-BELLIED BRANT is still around (John Bowler).
21st March
MULL: Two STOCK DOVES together in the Gruline area (Arthur Brown). A less than annual species to Mull. Also a 2cy LITTLE GULL at Killiechronan, Loch na Keal (P & A Brown) and presumably the same as bird there on 15 Mar (Tim Dixon).
11th March
MID-ARGYLL: A male GREEN-WINGED TEAL today on Luing at Lochan ILitter (per Birdguides).
TIREE: The 1w GREY-BELLIED BRANT has moved to Ruaig today (Jim Dickson).
9th March
TIREE: A first-winter Brent Goose was in with a Barnacle Goose flock at Vaul – showing features of GREY-BELLIED BRANT (still of uncertain taxonomic status). Jim Dickson
4th March
TIREE: An adult LITTLE GULL was at Loch Bhasapol this morning (Jim Dickson).
3rd March
MID-ARGYLL: The male RING-NECKED DUCK was re-found in Oban today at Luachrach Loch (Theo de Clermont, Jack Waldie).
2nd March
TIREE: Juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL at Greenhill/Kilkenneth today (Jim Dickson) and reports of a juv on ISLAY still at head of Loch Indaal.
27th February
KINTYRE: A TODD’S CANADA GOOSE with other geese at East Machrihanish this morning (Tom Lowe).
21st February
ISLAY: A RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE with Greenland birds at Gruinart Flats today (Jonathan Farooqi).
18th February
MULL: A surprise find of 3 GREEN SANDPIPERS photographed at Linndhu – they flew in very briefly before heading off again heading North West (Scott Robinson). Always a scarce species in Argyll and most past records relate to single birds.
12th February
TIREE: The SNOW GOOSE is still at Caoles and a male GREATER SCAUP was found on Loch Bhasapol (John Bowler).
7th February
MID-ARGYLL: The male RING-NECKED DUCK is still present at Glenfeochan.
ISLAY: A report of a LAPLAND BUNTING at the east side of Loch Gruinart at Killinallan today.
4th February
MID-ARGYLL: The male RING-NECKED DUCK is still at Glenfeochan Loch, Kilmore (Frank & Patrick Cavannagh).
3rd February
MID-ARGYLL: The male RING-NECKED DUCK has appeared back again at Glenfeochan Loch, Kilmore (Jack Waldie).
29th January
MID-ARGYLL: A LITTLE AUK flew NE up Loch Fyne past Port Ann late afternoon (David Jardine, Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A juv ICELAND GULL at Sorobaidh Bay, the SNOW GOOSE again at Caoles, a LAPLAND BUNTING was at Salum and a LITTLE EGRET (rare on Tiree) at Loch Riaghain (John Bowler).
27th January
MID-ARGYLL: A likely male RING-NECKED DUCK (probably same bird in this area of Argyll recently) was with Tufted Ducks at the Angus Garden, Barguillean, Glen Lonan, nr Taynuilt (Margaret Keirnen).
18th January
ISLAY: A male GREEN-WINGED TEAL was new today on east side of Loch Gruinart today and the returning adult male AMERICAN WIGEON from last winter was found again at Loch Gorm on 17 Jan (Dan Beadle, Max Hellicar, Jack Morris).
10th January
KINTYRE: An adult male SURF SCOTER today off Rhunahaorine Point – also 2 VELVET SCOTERS (David Jardine, Jim Dickson).
8th January
MULL/HIGHLAND: An adult ICELAND GULL at Fiunary today – opposite Salen, Mull (Scott Robinson).
4th January
COWAL: A juvenile ICELAND GULL again at the Holy Loch (Neil Hammatt).
MID-ARGYLL: A single WAXWING today near Ford (Dani Elle Frea Ney)
3rd January
COWAL: A white GYR type falcon was seen well but briefly just south of Ardgartan campsite Loch Long on 1st Jan. Unable to rule out an escaped falconer’s bird or very white large hybrid falcon (David Wauddy).
KINTYRE: A RED KITE flew over Lephenstrath Bridge this afternoon (Ann Hand).
1st January 2024
TIREE: The SNOW GOOSE last seen on Dec 13 has reappeared today at Miodar (Hayley Douglas).
ISLAY: A SPOTTED REDSHANK was at east side of Loch Gruinart (Phil Edwards).