8th May
TIREE: More Dotterels passing through Argyll today with 4 found on Tiree (John Bowler with Robert Coleman)
6th May
COLONSAY: Following the earlier sightings on 5th May the handsome pair of Dotterels were fortunately captured by the camera of Alan Davis.
5th May
COLONSAY: A male and female Dotterel were feeding on the short grass of the golf course and showing well (Mike Peacock per J & A Smith)
1st May
MULL: A pair of GARGANEY at Craignure golf course today (Lizzy Grieve – Mull eagle ranger).
28th April
TIREE: An adult GREATER YELLOWLEGS was on west side of Loch a’ Phuill today in the drizzle from 12.20 to 14.00hrs when it headed off high to the west (John Bowler). Two previous Argyll records – in 1985 and in 2002.
26th April
COLONSAY: A 2CY SABINE’S GULL was seen with c200 Kittiwakes between the Garvellachs and Colonsay – also 2 Arctic Skuas seen (David Jardine et al).
23rd April
ISLAY: Three DOTTEREL on the RSPB Oa reserve today (David Wood).
20th April
TIREE: Male and female RING-NECKED DUCKS at Loch Bhasapol and a female MANDARIN DUCK in a roadsise ditch at Cornaigmore which is another addition to the Tiree list (John Bowler).
19th April
KINTYRE: A male HAWFINCH visited feeders at a garden in Bellochantuy today (Sally Nicholson).
ISLAY: A report of 3 AVOCETS at Laggan Farm by Lochan na Nigheadaireachd (Christina Tracey). Will be first record for Islay if accepted.
17th April
TIREE: The BLACK-WINGED STILT still at Heylipol pools but going elsewhere for long spells as well. Video footage on the ABC facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1913276852095925/
KINTYRE: A BLACK REDSTART was in Campbeltown today – a male at the Roading (Dick McFadzen per Eddie Maguire).
NORTH ARGYLL: Two STOCK DOVES at Ardtur today (David Jardine). An increasingly scarce bird in Argyll…
16th April
TIREE: A BLACK-WINGED STILT was found at the Heylipol pools this afternoon by Graham Todd. This is a new species for Argyll and only the 11th or 12th record for Scotland!
10th April
MULL: A report of a Hobby at Bunessan (Simon Evans per Mullbirds/Alan Spellman). Await further details to confirm sighting.
MID-ARGYLL: A ‘possible’ distant sighting of a Golden Oriole nr Loch Ederline today (Iain Wragg).
20th March
KINTYRE: An adult/near adult Kumlien’s Gull flew S past the MSBO at 13:55 today (Eddie Maguire).
5th March
TIREE: 2m and 1f Ring-necked Duck still at Loch Bhasapol (John Bowler).
2nd March
ISLAY: A drake Green-winged Teal was at the distillery pond, Port Charlotte today (Mike Peacock). This appears to be a new bird in addition to the drake at Gruinart floods (per Ian Brooke).
19th February
Tiree: Three Ring-necked Ducks (2m, 1f) still at Loch Bhasapol today (John Bowler). An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull N at Balephuil on 17 Feb – first of spring here (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: The Pied-billed Grebe was seen again at Loch Feorlin today – last report was back in early Nov (David Jardine).
15th February
Tiree: A male Brambling new today in the garden at Balephuil – an unusual date for here (John Bowler).
14th February
TIREE: A Juvenile Glaucuous Gull at Traigh Bhagh this afternoon (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: An adult Lesser Black Backed Gull at Loch Gilp today – first of year there (Jim Dickson).
12th February
TIREE: A Juvenile Iceland Gull with Common Gulls on machair SW of Loch a’ Phuill and the 3CY Ring-billed Gull again at Sandaig (John Bowler).
11th February
TIREE: A juvenile Glaucous Gull at Balephetrish Bay and a Jack Snipe at Cnu Lochanan (John Bowler).
ISLAY: A drake Green-winged Teal has been at Gruinart the last few days (description required please from finders – per Ian Brooke). Mike Peacock sent through some great shot he took of a Merlin at Loch Gorm today.
KINTYRE: Little Egret was at Kennacraig on 4 Feb at least (Campbell Fox per Eddie Maguire).
10th February
MID-ARGYLL: There was a Little Egret at Danna causeway, Loch na Cille (Tayvallich), with sightings on and off there since mid December. There were also 117 White-fronted Geese nearby at Coshandrochaid (Morag Rea). 14 Black Guillemots resplendent in full breeding plumage displaying off sea wall at esplanade about 200m from North Harbour, Oban, and investigating nest holes (Neil Rankine).
6th February
MID & NORTH ARGYLL: Fairly quiet bird-wise recently away from Islay & Tiree however Robin Harvey has been out and about – on 4th Feb – Loch Laich, Appin: Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Greenshank 1, Redshank 9, Curlew 12, Oystercatcher 23, Wigeon 58, Little Grebe 3. On 4th Feb – Dalrannoch: 94 Teal and 28 Wigeon and on 5th Feb – Loch Luachrach, Oban: 5 Whooper Swans including one immature, 1 Mute Swan and 7 Goldeneye.
Several reports of Barn Owls recently seen in daylight hours and Christine Blackwell reports that many birds are in poor condition just now and quite vulnerable.
2nd February
TIREE: The 3CY Ring-billed Gull again showing well at Sandaig today (John Bowler).
28th January
MID-ARGYLL: A Barn Owl hunting over a field adjacent to the road near Cairnbaan was a pleasant surprise whilst on the way home from work today. (Malcolm Chattwood). A White-Tailed Eagle has been regularly seen at Braevallich (Loch Awe) over recent weeks and on the road between there and Ford 18 Woodcock were seen along the roadside tonight (Alan Dykes).
COWAL: Yesterday, two White-tailed Eagles were being mobbed by a pair of Hoodies at Otter Ferry followed by a further two single birds this afternoon (Yvonne McCrone).
24th January
COWAL: A Little Gull feeding amongst Black-headed Gulls about 200m offshore was spotted at Otter Ferry today (Jeremy Brock).
22nd January
COWAL: A spell of wintry weather didn’t deter Alistair McGregor and George Newall from venturing out to complete their WeBS count at Holy Loch which included a pair of Dunlin amongst 32 Ringed Plover, 26 Turnstone and a Red-throated Diver.
TIREE: 3 Ring-necked Duck, 2 Scaup, 6 Gadwall and 147 Whooper Swans at Loch a’ Phuill, 1 Todd’s Canada Goose still at Caoles, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Little Grebe and 2 Pintail at Loch Riaghain (John Bowler)
BLACK GUILLEMOT – Holy Loch, Cowal 22nd Jan (Alistair McGregor).
20th January
NORTH ARGYLL: On WeBS counts today – at Balure of Shian there was a Greenshank and 2 Bar-tailed Godwits. At Dalrannoch, 49 Teal and later a Little Egret turned up. There were 17 Greenland White-fronts at North Shian (Robin Harvey).
MID-ARGYLL: WeBS highlihghts on a flat calm Loch Gilp today – a Long-tailed Duck, a Slavonian Grebe, 4 Black-throated and 5 Red-throated Divers (David Jardine).
19th January
KINTYRE: On Gigha today – 2CY male Shoveler at Ardminish Bay and a European White-fronted Goose – with Greylags at Cuddypool Bay (David Jardine).
A quick trip round northern Kintyre this morning, highlights were 3 Slavonian Grebe off Rhunhaorine Point (and later a single off Ardrishaig car park), 5 Long-tailed Duck (all males) off the ferry terminal at Tayinloan; ring-tailed Hen Harrier above the road to Skipness; 2 Greenshank and 19 Common Snipe at the Kennacraig ferry terminal, and another Greenshank and a Little Egret opposite the West Loch Hotel (Jonathan Platt).
18th January
COWAL: Today on the River Massan , near Deerpark, there were 8 Mandarin duck, also the Greenshank is showing well from the Holy Loch hide (Alistair McGregor).
17th January
MID-ARGYLL: A Little Egret still in the Ulva lagoons area (Caroline Anderson).
ISLAY: A Little Egret has remained at Loch Gruinart having been noted the last few days (per Ian Brooke).
TIREE: An adult White-tailed Eagle at Loch a’ Phuill at lunchtime, also 3 Ring-necked Duck, 1m Green-winged Teal, and theTodd’s Canada Goose still at Caoles (John Bowler).
COWAL: George Newall saw a male Blackcap in his Dunoon garden yesterday.
15th January
TIREE: 3CY Ring-billed Gull again at Sandaig and 3 Ring-necked Ducks (1m, 1f, 1 imm m) still at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
14th January
TIREE: Todd’s Canada Goose still at Caoles (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Now 2 Little Egrets at Kennacraig east bay (Terry Cawthorne).
11th January
TIREE: At least 2 Ring-necked Ducks at Loch a’ Phuill today also juv Glaucous Gull. 3CY Ring-billed Gull again at Sandaig and a nice flock of 95 Purple Sandpipers at Hough Bay but no colour-ringed birds amongst them (John Bowler).
10th January
MID-ARGYLL: One ad Little Gull and a Kingfisher at Loch Gilp today at lunchtime (David Jardine).
9th January
ISLAY: Highlights at Loch Indaal – off Blackrock this morning included; 6 Long-tailed Duck, 16 Slavonian Grebe and 21 Great Northern Diver (Mike Peacock).
TIREE: The Todd’s Canada Goose showed well at Caoles today (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: The 2 ad Little Gulls still at the head of Loch Gilp early afternoon (Jim Dickson).
8th January
MID-ARGYLL: A Little Egret today at the Ulva Lagoon – SW of Tayvallich (Morag Rea) and apparently there since 16 Dec. The two adult Little Gulls still off the front green at Lochgilphead today around 11 am…also a Dipper on the burn W of the caravan park (Jim Dickson).
7th January
MID-ARGYLL: At head of Loch Gilp early pm – 2 adult Little Gulls (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Sea-watch highlight of off Aird late this pm in NW7 was 3 Little Auks (John Bowler).
6th January
TIREE: All 3 Ring-necked Ducks (m, f and imm m) together again at Loch a’ Phuill in the gloom today (John Bowler).
4th January
TIREE: 1m and 1f Ring-necked Duck at Loch a’ Phuill today – no obvious sign of the GW Teal. 3CY Ring-billed Gull on the machair on the west side of Loch a’ Phuill with 120+ Common Gull. 1 Fieldfare with 30 Redwing at Meningie. Now 18 Jackdaws plus 1 Rook at Loch an Eilein (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A Little Egret was seen again at the head of West Loch Tarbert (Robert Swift).
3rd January
ISLAY: A leucistic Common Gull back (or different bird) on Machair bay today, I wonder where it has been since February last year (Mike Peacock).
MID-ARGYLL: A great sighting of a Golden Eagle on a sheep carcass today. It was between Bun an Loch and Doide Cottage about a mile south of Castle Sween (Ali Ross).
