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
24th March
KINTYRE: A ‘RUSSIAN’ WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Rhunahaorine and nearby 30 Slavonian Grebe at Ballochroy (Tom Lowe).
MID-ARGYLL: A RED KITE was reported over Achnabreck, ne Cairnbaan Hotel. An unconfirmed report of an ALPINE SWIFT – seen for a few minutes high over Crinan Harbour (Adam Gull et al).
TIREE: Two GLAUCOUS GULLS (juv & adult) at Loch Bhasapol (Keih Gillon).
23rd March
MID-ARGYLL: An ALPINE SWIFT passed briefly over Oban town centre at 11.20 an (Bob Grove). Also another report, of 2 ALPINE SWIFTS at Ganavan Sands at 08.30 flying low over beach for several minutes then went high off north (David James) and again at Ganavan Sands at 4-4.15 pm 2 were (presumably same) seen at close range (Margaret Anne Young). The male LESSER SCAUP is still at St Mary’s Loch nr Ford.
ISLAY: The male AMERICAN WIGEON is still at Loch Gorm.
TIREE: A female VELVET SCOTER was at Sorobaidh Bay (Keith Gillon/John Bowler).
21st March
The ARGYLL BIRD REPORT for 2022 has now been published – again as a PDF. Subscribed members of the ABC will be sent their copies today. Anyone who is not a club member and would like a copy are warmly encouraged to join the Club – details on this website under heading – The Club > Membership.
20th March
MID-ARGYLL: a male LESSER SCAUP this morning at St Mary’s Loch near Ford (David Jardine, Jim Dickson).
16th March
MULL: An ALPINE SWIFT was seen over Dun I cairn at north end of Iona mid-afternoon (Will Miles et al). Only the third for Argyll – last two were singles were in April 1993 & July 1994.
10th March
TIREE: A RED-NECKED GREBE appeared at Balephetrish Bay today (John Bowler) – his first sighting of one on Tiree in 21 years! Also an adult GLAUCOUS GULL was at Loch Bhasapol.
2nd March
TIREE: A juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL at Traigh Bhi today (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Adult male SURF SCOTER & two male VELVET SCOTER still at Sound of Gigha, seen from Ballochroy.
ISLAY: Adult male AMERICAN WIGEON still at Loch Gorm (Jim Dickson, David Jardine). Also still on the island – RED-BREASTED GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE & fem MARSH HARRIER in the Gruinart area, female/imm SURF SCOTER still at Loch Indaal, seen from Bowmore, a juv GLAUCOUS GULL at Uiskentuie and a notable count of 6 LITTLE EGRETS at Gruinart floods.
24th February
KINTYRE/MID-ARGYLL: A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on the sea from the Kennacraig to Port Askaig ferry early afternoon (Luke Marriner).
ISLAY: A GREAT WHITE EGRET flew off RSPB flood towards Gruinart Farm at dusk over north hide (Steve Percival).
20th February
MID-ARGYLL: A male RING-NECKED DUCK was found this morning at Glenfeochan Loch, near Kilmore (Bob Grove).
13th February
ISLAY: Another 2 adult ‘RUSSIAN’ WHITE-FRONTED GEESE were found just east of Port Ellen this morning (Tom Lowe).
KINTYRE: The adult male & 2cy SURF SCOTERS were seen again off Rhunahaorine Point – also 2 male VELVET SCOTERS still there and a LITTLE AUK corpse found nearby at Point Sands (Jim Dickson).
12th February
ISLAY: Another adult ‘RUSSIAN’ WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was found today at Gruinart, the adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE showed well at Gruinart, the female SURF & VELVET SCOTERS were off Blackrock, juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL at Uiskentuie and 60 Purple Sands at Ardnave (Tom Lowe).
11th February
ISLAY: The male AMERICAN WIGEON again at Loch Gorm & a LAPLAND BUNTING NE of Sanaigmore (Tom Lowe) and the 2cy fem SURF SCOTER again off Bowmore Pier, Loch Indaal – also a female VELVET SCOTER there (Dan Pointon).
10th February
ISLAY: An adult “RUSSIAN” WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was a new find at Corsapol today and the RED-BREASTED GOOSE was re-found at RSPB Loch Gruinart (Tom Lowe).
9th February
ISLAY: A male SURF SCOTER was a new find off Ardnave Point today, also the male AMERICAN WIGEON was refound at Loch Gorm and the CACKLING GOOSE was at Carnain (David & Janet Franklin, Tom Lowe et al).
7th February
KINTYRE: The adult male and fem/imm SURF SCOTERS are still present off Rhunahaorine Point – also, nearby at Ballochroy 2 male VELVET SCOTERS and the ‘NORTHERN’ EIDER again at Campbeltown harbour (Tom Lowe).
4th February
MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was at Loch Gilp this pm (Jim Dickson).
29th January
ISLAY: The juvenile PALLID HARRIER was seen again – this time from Margaret Brooke’s garden at Kilchoman and confirmed by James How.
27th January
KINTYRE: The ‘NORTHERN’ EIDER was still showing well at Campletown Loch this morning – head of loch & harbour area (Jim Dickson, David Jardine).
26th January
KINTYRE: A drake NORTHERN EIDER with the Common Eider flock at Campbeltown harbour today – also 2 first-winter RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE behind school at Drumlemble (Tom Lowe).
25th January
MID-ARGYLL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was off Inverneil – feeding with huge movement of Kittiwakes & Common Gulls – 4,000+ total (Jim Dickson).
23rd January
KINTYRE: Now 2 SURF SCOTERS off Rhunahaorine Point (ad male with f/imm type). Also the CACKLING & TODD’S CANADA GOOSE still opposite Campbeltown airport entrance (Tom Lowe).
ISLAY: A GREEN SANDPIPER was seen at the RSPB Loch Gruinart flats (Mark Shields).
20th January
ISLAY: The female type SURF SCOTER was noted again off Blackrocks, Loch Indaal today and the adult RED-BREASTED GOOSE was seen again in fields near Mulindry.
KINTYRE: an adult male SURF SCOTER seen distantly off Rhunahaorine Point at middday (David Jardine).
15th January
TIREE: A juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL at Balemartine and a fem GREATER SCAUP at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
13th January
TIREE: A dark KUMLIEN’S GULL this am at Sorobaidh Bay (John Bowler).
12th January
KINTYRE: A report of 2 SNOW GEESE near the road running down to Parkfergus Farm, Machrihanish (Jimi McCallum).
7th January
COLONSAY: An ICELAND GULL seen on the island today (David Jardine et al).
MID-ARGYLL: One WAXWING in Kilmartin today & COOT still at Loch Seil (Jim Dickson).
3rd January
ISLAY: No sign of the PALLID HARRIER since 1st Jan however the RED-BREASTED GOOSE was again at Gruinart, CACKLING GOOSE at Lyrabus, SURF SCOTER off Blackrocks, AMERICAN WIGEON at Loch Gorm – also Marsh Harrier, 2 Pochard, 2 Greater Scaup, 1 Little Egret still around (Jonathan Farooqi, Jim Dickson et al).
1st January
ISLAY: A RED-BREASTED GOOSE on the Gruinart flats with Barnacle Geese, a male AMERICAN WIGEON on Loch Gorm, also 2 male POCHARD and a MARSH HARRIER there, the fem type SURF SCOTER still at Loch Indaal and a first-winter PALLID HARRIER at Machir Bay – also juv GLAUCOUS GULL there (presumably same as found on 6th Nov) – (Jonathan Farooqi).
MID-ARGYLL: A juv GLAUCOUS GULL at Loch Gilp late morning (Jim Dickson). Two sightings of a WAXWING around Kilmartin this afternoon (Janet & David Jardine, Frank Cavannagh).
