20th October
MID-ARGYLL: An adult Bonaparte’s Gull off the front green at Lochgilphead after 11am today (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: Another 1CY Mediterranean Gull at Machrihanish today – this time at the holiday park (Eddie Maguire).
COWAL: The Little Egret is still at the Holy Loch (Alistair McGregor).
19th October
MID-ARGYLL: Bill Allan saw 3 Brambling (2mm + 1f) in his Scammadale garden today.
COWAL: A Little Egret was back again at the head of the Holy Loch today (Alistair McGregor).
MULL: The Cattle Egret is still around – in the Calgary graveyard area today (Anand Prasad).
18th October
MID-ARGYLL: A Kingfisher was on shore at Crinan Ferry at 08.30 today then flew over to canal (John Halliday). Movement of thrushes over Cairnbaan heading SE with around 300 Fieldfare and 100 Redwing (Jim Dickson). A Kingfisher and a Dipper were on the shore just south of Ardrishaig last Sun 14th (Alan Dykes).
COLL: A Snow Bunting at Totronald the last few days (David Andrews per John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Alasdair Paterson had a Brambling and a Blackcap in his Carradale garden yesterday.
COLONSAY/ORONSAY: reports of a Little Egret at Loch Fada from 4th Oct – it has a broken leg (Margaret Keirnen per David Jardine). Also a (largish type) Cackling Goose on the Oronsay reserve today (Patrick Styles).
MULL: The Cattle Egret was still at Dervaig yesterday (per Mullbirds).
17th October
COLONSAY: Received a report today of a Kingfisher seen at Loch Fada on Thurs 11 Oct (Steve Bentall) – only one previous unconfirmed report of a record in 1945 (per David Jardine – Birds of Colonsay & Oronsay).
MID-ARGYLL: A male Pintail at the Add Estuary today – also tremendous views for 10 mins or so of ad White-tailed Eagle (David Pearson).
COWAL: Thousands of Fieldfares and Redwings arriving in Cowal today (Neil Hammatt).
MULL: A Yellow-browed Warbler was on Iona today by the Heritage Cafe with lots of Coal Tits, also 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap on the island (Tony Disley per Alan Spellman).
16th October
MID-ARGYLL: Feedback from several folk now appears to indicate an excellent breeding season for Bullfinch with good numbers widespread in Mid-Argyll at least. A Nuthatch has been an infrequent visitor to an Ardrishaig garden in last few weeks and a Magpie has been seen in the Cairnbaan forest at top of the road carpark up from Letterdail (Lynsey Gibson).
KINTYRE: Probably two different 1CY Mediterranean Gulls at Machrihanish SBO today – one on the shore at 11:02 and the one >S at 12:12 (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler at Carnan Mor this evening – also 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Goldcrest there. 1 Chiffchaff at Balephuil. 1hr Sea-watch from Hynish (0745-0845hrs) in SSE7-8 with highlights of – 1 Grey Phalarope, 2 Arctic Skua and 2 Storm Petrel (John Bowler).
15th October
MULL: The Cattle Egret reported at Dervaig on 12th has been re-found today at Calgary machair (Anand Prasad).
ISLAY: Highlights on Mike Peacock’s Loch Indaal WeBS count today included 32 Great Northern Divers swimming out of the loch at 16:00 and a Little Egret flying down the loch towards Nerabus. Also 2 Fieldfare on the Bolsay track.
MID-ARGYLL: John Aitchison reports seeing at Keills a flock of 35 Jackdaws (he’s never seen them there before) and upto 25 mixed Blue and Great Tits moving (migrating?) down the Keills peninsula today.
TIREE: The drake Pochard has moved to Loch Bhasapol today (John Bowler).
14th October
MID-ARGYLL: Highlight of today’s WeBS at the Add Estuary was a imm/f Pintail in the Wigeon flock. Also 8 Whoopers there (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A Yellow-browed Warbler in garden at Balephuil late pm (calling frantically) – also 1 imm Ring Ouzel, 5 Fieldfare, 70 Redwing, 1 Brambling, 1 Siskin, 6 Common Redpoll, 3 Chaffinch, 1m Greenfinch and 1 Goldcrest there. 1m Pochard at Loch a’ Phuill also 11 Black-tailed Godwits there. 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Wheatears, 18 Goldfinch, 1f Greenfinch and 1 Purple Sandpiper – Balemartine to Hynish (John Bowler).
NORTH ARGYLL: A Nuthatch at sunflower feeder today in Barcaldine (Doug Fontaine).
13th October
COLONSAY: A Hoopoe was at Seaview – Lower Kilchattan on Thurs 11th Oct – first confirmed record for Colonsay (Carol & David Paterson per David Jardine).
TIREE: 2 Brambling at Balinoe, 1 Brambling, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Siskin, 3 Goldcrest, 70 Redwing and 1 Fieldfare at Balephuil. Also 100+ Whoopers over south 0830-1000 in groups of up to 24 and 280 Barnies over SW (John Bowler). 50 Greenland White-fronts and 5 Barnies over Vaul early on (Jim Dickson).
12th October
MULL: A report of a Cattle Egret today at Dervaig (per Birdguides).
MID-ARGYLL: 5 Fieldfare at Slockavuillin this morning (David Pearson).
ISLAY: Mike Peacock saw an adult Iceland Gull with other gulls today fly past Port Charlotte.
TIREE: 1 Ruff and 3 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch a’ Phuill, 1 Wheatear at Hynish, 1m Blackcap, 5 Common Redpoll and 50 Redwing at Balephuil with 1 Water Rail in a garden pond there (John Bowler). 1 Wheatear at Heylipol, 1 Swallow and 2 Chaffinch at Vaul, 40 Redwing elsewhere around Tiree including 25 at Whitehouse (Jim Dickson).
11th October
TIREE: A Grey Wagtail and male Hen Harrier here after the rain stopped this evening (John Bowler). A Brambling at Sandaig today in a flock of Twite (Richard Whitson). A juv Black-tailed Godwit at Barrapol (Jim Dickson).
10th October
KINTYRE: A female Brambling in Alasdair Paterson’s garden in Carradale today.
ISLAY: A Juv Little Stint was at Machir Bay today with Sanderling and Ringed Plover (Gary Turnbull).
TIREE: 1CY Red-backed Shrike still at Heylipol church for its 17th day! 1 Greenland Redpoll, 7 Common Redpoll, 1m Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chaffinch and 20 Redwing at Balephuil / Carnan Mor (John Bowler). More groups of Whooper Swans (including 18 dropping in at The Reef) and Barnacle Geese dropping in (33 in 4 groups), 1 Wheatear at Balemartine, 1 Swallow at Vaul, 32 Redwings elsewhere (Jim Dickson).
9th October
ISLAY; A Leach’s Petrel on the crossing back from Islay this morning – also single Arctic Skua and Manx Shearwater (Dave Lamacraft).
TIREE: The long staying 1CY Red-backed Shrike is still at Heylipol Church but looking very wet/bedraggled in the heavy rain…(Jim Dickson).
8th October
TIREE: At least 1,000 Snipe around the island in groups of up to 120. 1 Greenland (NW) Redpoll with Linnets at the Reef (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Eddie Maguire reports that the regular 1CY Mediterranean Gull was at the Machrihanish SBO again today (see pics).
29th September
KINTYRE: A well-attended Argyll Bird Club field trip to Campbeltown and Machrihanish Seabird Observatory produced a good list of species and some of interesting sightings. A female Long-tailed Duck on Campbeltown Loch and a party of 7 Whooper Swans on a lochan near Stewarton were unexpected highlights along with a 2CY Iceland Gull at Drumlemble.(Malcolm Chattwood).
TIREE: 1CY Red-backed Shrike still at Heylipol church today (Jim Dickson). 1 Redwing and 1 Chiffchaff at Carnan Mor, 1 Willow Warbler, 1m Blackcap, 12 Common Redpoll and 3 Goldfinch at Balephuil (John Bowler). Now 48 Tufted Duck at Loch a’ Phuill (Jim Dickson).
28th September
COLONSAY: Over Oronsay today 32 Barnacle Geese headed for Gruinart on Islay! (Patrick Styles).
TIREE: 1CY Red-backed Shrike back in the bushes at Heylipol Church this afternoon (Richard Whitson). 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest and 1f Blackcap at Carnan Mor, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff and 6 Common Redpoll at Balephuil (John Bowler).
COLL: Lots of Goldcrests have arrived on the island today (Neil Hammatt).
MID-ARGYLL: A Common Guillemot feeding around the fish farm at Braevallich, Loch Awe today (Alan Dykes).
27th September
TIREE: A distant but very vocal Pectoral Sandpiper with Curlew and Snipe at Loch a’ Phuill this evening (John Bowler).
26th September
TIREE: 1CY Red-backed Shrike still at Heylipol Church today, also 2 Chiffchaff (first of the autumn) at Balephuil (John Bowler).
24th September
MULL: The 1CY Red-backed Shrike was still at Treshnish this morning (Anand Prasad).
TIREE: The 1CY Red-backed Shrike is still at Heylipol church today, also the adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig/Middleton (John Bowler).
23rd September
TIREE: A first-winter Red-backed Shrike new today at Heylipol Church – flycatching for bumblebees, 2 Lapland Bunting at Sandaig and 3 juv Willow Warbler at Balephuil (John Bowler).
22nd September
MULL: Prasad was able to relocate his first-winter Red-backed Shrike this morning around the Treshnish old schoolhouse – NW Mull.
MID-ARGYLL: A Short-eared Owl was at Balvicar bog (Seil) today (John Sedgwick).
21st September
MULL: A Red-backed Shrike briefly this morning at Treshish farm wood beside the farm road (Anand Prasad). Update – Prasad was unable to relocate the bird later and feels not enough seen on it to be certain. Photos seen later and look fine for 1w Red-backed Shrike (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: 1 Buff-breasted Sandpiper and 1 Ruff at Loch a’ Phuill late pm – both using floods on the far (N) side of the loch. 1m Blackcap, 8 Common Redpoll, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Willow Warbler at Balephuil (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: 20 Pink-footed Geese over the Add Estuary at 9.30 am, also 60 Wigeon there and this evening 3 Whooper Swans over at 7.40 pm (John Halliday). Also an ad + juv Peregrine there today and a Tufted Duck or perhaps Scaup (Simon Niederberger). Just N of Braevallich (Loch Awe) 8 Whooper Swans flew south mid-morning (Alan Dykes).
20th September
MID-ARGYLL: Pink-footed Geese heard calling over Cairnbaan at 06:30 hrs today. At the Add Estuary late morning 3 juv Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Sanderling, 8 Goosander and a juv Peregrine (Jim Dickson).
NORTH ARGYLL: At Loch Laich (Appin) highlights today: 20+ Redshank, at least 5 Greenshank, 10+ Ringed Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot and a White-tailed Eagle (Mr & Mrs Niederberger – visiting from Switzerland).
19th September
TIREE: A Leach’s Petrel and 7 Sooty Shearwaters SW off Hynish today (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Four Arctic Terns (ad + 3 juvs) at Loch Crinan (Jim Dickson).
18th September
Colonsay: On Oronsay today 30 Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Also a Minkie Whale washed up here on 16th (Patrick Styles).
MULL: A juv Pectoral Sandpiper was at Iona golf course today (Laurence Potter per Alan Spellman).
17th September
TIREE: Adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig today, 10 juv Black-tailed Godwits at Balevullin, 500+ Snipe in flocks of up to 80 scattered around the island in the rain, 4 Pink-footed Geese new in at Balemartine, 12 Sooty Shearwaters headed SW off Hynish in 1hr at lunch-time in SSW6 (John Bowler).
15th September
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this morning – still 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Knot, also 1 Greenshank at Loch Gilp. A male Mandarin was at Loch Ederline yesterday (David Jardine).
TIREE: Ad American Golden Plover still at Sandaig today – also 1 juv Black-tailed Godwit and 450 Golden Plover there. 4 juv Willow Warbler, 1m Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldcrest and 2 big dark rostrata-type Common Redpolls at Balephuil / Carnan Mor (John Bowler).
14th September
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this afternoon – 1 Golden Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwit (4 juvs + 1 ad), 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 1 Greenshank, 11 Dunlin and a male Hen Harrier (also an Osprey yesterday) – Jim Dickson.
TIREE: Adult American Golden Plover again at Sandaig today with 550 Golden Plovers (this is the bird that has been here since July) – the second bird has not been seen again since 12 September (John Bowler).
12th September
TIREE: Two juv Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Vaul Golf course at 0910 hrs (Keith Gillon), 2 juv Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Kenovay at 1230 hrs, 2 adult American Golden Plovers at Sandaig – the long-staying bird from July plus a new bird (John Bowler/Keith Gillon), 1 Ruff at Greenhill, 6 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in-off at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A first-winter (1CY) Mediterranean Gull at Crinan Ferry, Add Estuary at noon today (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: First autumn reports of Pale-bellied Brent Goose with 14 flying S at Loch Indaal today (Gary Turnbull per Ian Brooke) and also 9 at Loch Gruinart (James Butcher).
11th September
MID-ARGYLL: A flock of 57 Mistle Thrush on the road to Crinan Ferry this morning., also 80 Goldfinch there. Now 41 Wigeon at the Add Estuary. At Loch Gilp – 1 Greenshank, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 39 Wigeon (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: 3 Greenshank at Kennacraig on 8th Sep (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: A single Whimbrel at the head of the Holy Loch and a charm of 100+ Goldfinch feeding on the grass on the foreshore also 12 Wigeon (Alistair McGregor).
KINTYRE: At MSBO today – 5 Knot and a Great Skua >S (Eddie Maguire).
7th September
TIREE: An Icterine Warbler was found in rose bushes on the road leading to Loch a’ Phuill by Keith Gillon today and seen by John Bowler this evening. The American Golden Plover is still present at Sandaig.
MID-ARGYLL: A Nuthatch at Stonefield was a first record for this area (Anne Lavelle).
5th September
TIREE: Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 250+ Golden Plover this pm – also 1 Ruff and 4 Black-tailed Godwits there – (John Bowler with Keith Gillon). Rosy Starling still at Kenovay today (John Bowler).
ISLAY: 2W Mediterranean Gull in Bowmore this morning, Reeve still at Loch Gruinart, 70 Goldfinch at Carnain and 3 Mediterranean Gulls together at Rubha Ban/Carnain, Loch Indaal this evening – 2 x 2W and a juv/1W (Jim Dickson).
4th September
TIREE: The Rosy Starling is still visiting feeders at Kenovay (John Bowler) – and was seen at Balephetrish yesterday by Keith Gillon
ISLAY: Two more Mediterranean Gulls today (both second-winters) to add to the two juv/first-winters in the last few days. All birds being seen between Carnain and Gortan (Jim Dickson).
3rd September
KINTYRE: Bill Allan has sent in photos of his “Polish” Mute Swan record – at Ronachan Bay on 22 Sep 2013 and so far only the second report in Scotland.
NORTH ARGYLL: A male Velvet Scoter was at Ardmucknish Bay, Benderloch today (David Jardine).
MID-ARGYLL: Highlights at the Add Estuary today – 7 Whimbrel and a Peregrine and also a White-tailed Eagle hunting at Loch Gilp (David Pearson).
TIREE: 30 juv Black-tailed Godwit and 4 juv Knot on arable silage stubble at Kenovay, 10 juv Black-tailed Godwit at Loch a’ Phuill, 4 juv Knot at Gott Bay – although 15 juvs there at the weekend – Keith Gillon, imm Merlin showed well at Ben Hynish, White Wagtails quite widespread on the beaches (John Bowler).
2nd September
ISLAY: both the first-year Mediterranean Gulls still at Rhubha Ban, Loch Indaal this morning. Also 11 juv Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Ruff at Loch Gruinart, 1 Gadwall, 41 Tufted Duck and 1 Scaup at Loch Gorm (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 200+ Golden Plover. Garden Warbler and Robin new in at Balephuil with 1f Blackcap still there. 1 Kestrel new at Balemartine. 5th dead Cuvier’s Beaked Whale arrived at Traigh Ghrianal after the 4th at Hynish on 30 Aug (John Bowler).
1st September
ISLAY: From the ferry this morning 5 Common Dolphin nr Texa island. At Blackrock, Loch Indaal – 2 juv/1W Mediterranean Gulls this morning and 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Greater Scaup, 3 Great Northern Diver, 39 Wigeon and 49 Common Scoter on the loch. Also 18 Knot, 2 Golden Plover and 1 Greenshank at Loch Gruinart plus 25 alba wagtails (inc 10+ White Wagtail) nr the new hide at Gruinart. (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: An American Golden Plover and a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sandaig this afternoon (Keith Gillon).
31st August
JURA: On David Jardine’s ABC trip to Jura on Sat 25th Aug he re-found a ‘Polish’ Mute Swan cygnet first noted at Inver, Jura (opposite Port Askaig / Bunnahabhain on Islay) in July. This white-morph juvenile is rare in the UK and apparently only one previous Scottish record. It is likely they are under recorded and my memory was jogged – recalling Bill Allan’s report of a ‘polish’ cygnet in a family group off Ronachan point a few years back and hopefully Bill will get back with his photo and date. Any additional historical records would also be valuable. Please send all sightings and reports by e-mail to or by post to Moss Taylor, 4 Heath Road, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8JH (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: 3 Sanderling and 60+ Turnstone at Kirn , and a Kingfisher reported to me by Paul Kent on the Little Eckaig near Dalinlongart farm (Alistair McGregor).
30th August
MID-ARGYLL: Now 30 Teal at the Add Estuary, also still 2 Greenshank (Jim Dickson). A nice sighting reported of 2 adult White-tailed Eagles at An Oitir, off Minard. Also 4 White-tailed Eagles over Castle Sween (all at the same time) today (Alastair Ross).
ISLAY: At Loch Gruinart – Dunlin 1700+, Sanderling 300+, Black-tailed Godwit 67, Knot 5, Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Golden Plover 8 (James Butcher).
29th August
TIREE: Moulting adult American Golden Plover in flock of 550 Golden Plovers on the machair at Sandaig today, also 1 juv Ruff there. Now 3 different Cuvier’s Beaked Whales to have washed ashore here in the last week (John Bowler).
COLL: A single Sooty Shearwater was seen in the waters off Coll today (Neil Hammatt).
28th August
TIREE: A flock of 205 juvenile Black-tailed Godwits and 4 juv Knot on arable silage stubble at Kenovay today. 2 Dunnock new at Balephuil – also 6 Common Redpoll there (John Bowler).
27th August
MID-ARGYLL: A Golden Eagle being harried by a buzzard, at Kames (just south of Kilmelford) mid-afternoon today (Ju Randall).
TIREE: 4 juv Knot and 14 White Wagtails at Gott Bay, 1 Whimbrel at Ruaig, 145 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 juv Knot at Kenovay. A dead Cuvier’s Beaked-whale at Scarinish, 1 of 2 here just now (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: An Osprey, perched for a good half hour + at West Loch Tarbert opposite the pier (Steve & Ruth Herrington).