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
17th May
JURA: A TURTLE DOVE this evening at Tarbert (Louise & Gordon Muir).
MID-ARGYLL: A GREAT WHITE EGRET seem & confirmed today at N end of Loch Sween – our first report of one this year.
MULL: The 2cy male SURF SCOTER still present at Calgary Bay today.
15th May
ISLAY: A distant possible male AMERICAN WIGEON seen in poor weather at Cornabus yesterday by Ed Burrell is still present there today – still distant but looks fine for a 2cy male AMERICAN WIGEON. A male GARGANEY again at RSPB Loch Gruinart (Linden Kingston).
TIREE: A 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL at Loch Bhasapol today and belated news received today of a fem BLUE-HEADED type YELLOW WAGTAIL at Balephetrish & a WOOD SANDPIPER at Loch a’ Phuill both on 9 May (John Bowler), also a CURLEW SANDPIPER reported this week (Iain Livingston & group).
11th May
NORTH ARGYLL: A report of a CATTLE EGRET at Port Appin (per Birdguides).
MULL: The 2cy male SURF SCOTER is still at Calgary Bay.
4th May
MID-ARGYLL: A small agile ring-tail type harrier – most likely a PALLID HARRIER was seen distantly over fields at Barsloinoch this evening – mobbed by Lapwings before disappearing. Unfortunately not enough seen on it to confirm the ID (James Lehmann).
3rd May
TIREE: A BEE-EATER at Balephuil this evening. Report from John Bowler: Very luckily I was out in the garden at 2025hrs sorting out my moth-trap and it flew over south calling loudly. I was able to pick it up in my bins, as it drifted slowly south along the hillside at Carnan Mor towards Hynish and I could see quite a bit of plumage detail on it.
1st May
ISLAY: Two male GARGANEY at RSPB Loch Gruinart (James How, Linden Kingston).
MULL: Still a male GARGANEY at Bunessan (Tony Jeffree).
27th April
ISLAY: A report of a GOSHAWK today in south side of the island (Linden Kingston).
TIREE: A female BLACK REDSTART at Balephuil early evening (John Bowler).
21st April
ISLAY: Two TREE SPARROWS were in the Kinnabus area, Oa today – were noted breeding there back in 2009 (David Dinsley).
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).