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 2022 ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 34 with Systematic List for 2022 was published on 21 March 2023 as a PDF – (available to ABC members only by an emailed link)
SPRING MIGRANTS TABLE 2023 : SPRING MIGRANTS 01.06.2023
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/
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2023
25th September
TIREE: A Juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER found today at Barrapol and the juv BAIRD’S SANDPIPER still present at Vaul Bay (David Jardine, Stuart Gibson, Jim Dickson).
24th September
TIREE: The juv BAIRD’S SANDPIPER is still at Vaul Bay. A POMARINE SKUA & GREY PHAPLAROPE off Hynish – also 2 Arctic Skuas (David Jardine, Stuart Gibson, Jim Dickson).
23rd September
MULL: A juv AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER on Iona early afternoon and a dark adult POMARINE SKUA off Craignure this evening (Andrew Russell).
TIREE: The juv BAIRD’S SANDPIPER again at Vaul Bay this evening (Jim Dickson, Stuart Gibson, David Jardine).
22nd September
TIREE: A juv BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was found at Vaul Bay (Iain Livingstone et al).
KINTYRE: Two SOOTY SHEARWATERS off Machrihanish seabird observatory (Kev Cuthbert et al)
21st September
MULL: Another juvenile LONG-TAILED SKUA and a BALEARIC SHEARWATER off Caliach Point this morning (Theo de Clermont).
19th September
MULL: A juvenile LONG-TAILED SKUA heading NE off Caliach Point this morning plus 9 Arctic Skuas and 14 Great Skuas (Theo de Clermont).
15th September
TIREE: The juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER still present and now at Kilkenneth. Also CURLEW SANDPIPER and GREATER SCAUP at Loch a’ Phuill (Keith Gillon).
13th September
TIREE: A juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was found at Middleton (Keith Gillon). A LAPLAND BUNTING calling in flight over the Reef at midday yesterday 12 Sep (John Bowler).
9th September
ISLAY: A PECTORAL SANDPIPER and 3 CURLEW SANDPIPERS at Loch Gruinart (James How). A 1cy male AMERICAN WIGEON with the Eurasian Wigeon flock off Gartnatra, Loch Indaal and 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL again at Uiskentuie (Jim Dickson).
8th September
ISLAY: First returning Pale-bellied BRENT GEESE with 2 off Carnain, Loch Indaal (Jim Dickson).
7th September
MULL: A EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE was at Treshnish Farm NW Mull (Somerset Charrington).
ISLAY: A juv CURLEW SANDPIPER and 2 juv LITTLE STINTS at Loch Gruinart (Jim Dickson).
6th September
TIREE: A Juv BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER at Loch a’ Phuill this evening and 1 juv CURLEW SANDPIPER at Miodar (John Bowler), 4 juv CURLEW SANDPIPERS at Balephetrish Bay (Mark Newell).
MULL: Three SOOTY SHEARWATERS were off NW Mull (Theo de Clermont et al).
4th September
ISLAY: A juv CURLEW SANDPIPER at Cairnain, Loch Indaal (Jim Dickson).
3rd September
TIREE: A Juv LITTLE STINT at Clachan (Keith Gillon).
ISLAY: A MARSH HARRIER at Gruinart (Bill Sutherland) and juv RUFF at Craigens (Jim Dickson).
2nd September
TIREE: A RED KITE was at Barrapol (John Bowler).
ISLAY: A YELLOW WAGTAIL and a GREEN SANDPIPER were both by pools just inland from Bun-an Uillt, Loch Gruinart, also first returning SLAVONIAN GREBES with 3 at Loch Indaal (Jim Dickson).
20th August
MULL: Highlights on a seawatch from Caliach Point NW Mull this am inc. 1 GREY PHALAROPE, 10 ARCTIC SKUAS, 4 GREAT SKUAS – also 2 COMMON SWIFTS. The adult BONAPARTE’S GULL is still at Duart Bay.
TIREE: A moulting adult BLACK TERN passed Urvaig (Arfon Williams).
19th August
TIREE: A GREEN SANDPIPER was at Loch a’ Phuill, 1 POMARINE SKUA & 1 SOOTY SHEARWATER off Hynish (John Bowler).
MULL: A POMARINE SKUA was off Caliach Point NW Mull (Theo de Clermont). The 2cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL is still at head of Loch na Keal (Jim Dickson, David Jardine).
16th August
MID-ARGYLL: A 2cy (second-winter) MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Loch Gilp today (John Boyd).
13th August
MULL: The adult BONAPARTE’S GULL was seen again at Duart Bay today (Theo de Clermont).
COLL/TIREE: From the Clansman ferry – 3 ARCTIC SKUA, 7 STORM PETREL, 600+ MANX SHEARWATER, 4 SOOTY SHEARWATER (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Sea watch from Hynish 12.30-13.30hrs produced (heading SW): 2 GREY PHALAROPE, 2 BALEARIC SHEARWATER, 2 SOOTY SHEARWATER, 12 STORM PETREL, 1 ARCTIC SKUA, 1 GREAT SKUA & 2,315 MANX SHEARWATER (John Bowler).
MULL: A sea watch from Caliach Point in the pm produced 5 ARCTIC SKUAS, several STORM PETRELS and high nos of MANX SHEARWATER (Theo de Clermont).
MID-ARGYLL: 3 GREAT SKUAS were noted out in Loch Fyne between Ardrishaig and Inverneill (Alan Dykes).
ISLAY: 1 ARCTIC SKUA was off the Oa (David Wood) and 2 ARCTIC SKUA were off Frenchman’s Rocks (Alistair Hart).
11th August
MID-ARGYLL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was on the shore at Inverneill (Jim Dickson, David Jardine).
2nd August
MULL: The BONAPARTE’S GULL is still in the Craignure, Scallastle & Duart Bay areas, also the 2cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL was seen again at Knock.
1st August
MULL: The adult BONAPARTE’S GULL was again at Scallastle Bay until late morning then move to Craignure Bay.
30th July
MULL: An adult BONAPARTE’S GULL was found at Scallastle Bay late afternoon (Theo de Clermont, Jack Waldie, Ewan Miles).
26th July
MID-ARGYLL: Two adult POMARINE SKUAS late afternoon off south Ardrishaig in Loch Fyne (Alan Dykes), also – at least 450 Manx Shearwaters and smaller numbers of auks – rain & poor visibility (Jim Dickson).
25th July
MID-ARGYLL: A 2cy LITTLE GULL in the Sound of Luing – between Scarba and Luing late morning (David Jardine).
17th July
KINTYRE: The adult ROSY STARLING is still around gardens on the south side of Carradale (Jim Dickson, Alasdair Paterson).
16th July
KINTYRE: An adult ROSY STARLING found in a garden at Carradale this evening (Sarah Moorcroft).
TIREE: A 2cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL at Cornaigmore today (John Bowler, Rob Still).
12th July
MULL: A first-summer (2cy) as well as the adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL now at Knock, Loch na Keal (Theo de Clermont).
11th July
MULL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was found at Knock, Loch na Keal early afternoon (Theo de Clermont). A rare bird on Mull…
7th July
KINTYRE: A pair of breeding BLUE-HEADED WAGTAILS at a private confidential site in the Southend area of Kintyre. Last recorded breeding record of Yellow Wagtail in Argyll was on Islay in 1922..
3rd July
KINTYRE/ISLAY: A report of a BAROLO’S SHEARWATER seen well a c50 meters together with several Manx as it flew alongside then across the bow of the MV Isle of Arran ferry returning from Islay in the afternoon (Frank & Patrick Cavanagh).
28th June
COWAL: A first-summer (2cy) HOBBY was observed for over 90 mins hawking insects to west of Bishop’s Glen, Dunnon.
16th June
TIREE: A MARSH WARBLER in song (recorded) from early morning and on and off all day since in the garden at Balephuil and only seen it briefly a few times (photos added from sighting on 18 Jun). This afternoon it was joined by a singing ICTERINE WARBLER (John Bowler).
14th June
KINTYRE: A male GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Lussa Loch this morning together with 11 Teal (Jim Dickson). It was first noted there on 8 Jun by Andrew Matthews & Sean Kerr. Also a pair of GREATER SCAUP at the loch today and a Greenshank.
