Category: Sightings

KINTYRE: Yesterday evening Alasdair Patterson cautiously identified a male Cirl Bunting at his garden feeding station at Port Righ, Carradale. It was feeding voraciously and was seen well at about 15 feet away with the black and yellow head markings and black throat seen well. No sign of it today despite a good search. Male and female Brambling, 70+ Siskin, 15 Goldfinch present – also a pair of Magpies recently. One Manx Shearwater off Skipness (Jim Dickson).
MID-ARGYLL: Two Sandwich Terns sitting out on the mud at Loch Gilp early afternoon (Jim Dickson).
MULL: Bryan Rains found 2 Lapland Buntings at Glen More yesterday evening. A Common Sandpiper, on the south shore of Loch Na Keal, opposite Eorsa (Pete and Jan Hall per Alan Spellman) and another Common Sandpiper at Pennyghael this morning (Jim & Linda Hurles per Alan Spellman).
ISLAY: A Magpie at Easter Ellister along with 5 Mistle Thrush, 4 Swallows and 1 Sand Martin (Mike Peacock).

MULL: I saw the Firecrest again this morning at 07.25 in my front garden (just along from the Argyll Hotel in Iona village street) – Carol Dougall.
COWAL: On Loch Loskin outside Dunoon this afternoon, 30 + Sand Martins and two drake and one duck Mandarin and a pair of Grey Wagtail (Alistair McGregor).
TIREE: The Glossy Ibis back at Kilmoluaig pool (also there on 10 Apr), 1f Brambling, 17+ Goldcrest, 1m Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Dunnock, 2 Linnet and 2 Chaffinch at Balephuil. Ad Iceland Gull at Loch Bhasapol. 26 Greenland White-fronts north over Balephetrish at 1200hrs, 84 Great Northern Divers off Balemartine (John Bowler). 1f Blackcap at Baugh (Bill Welstead). 300 Greenland White-fronts north over Hynish at 1145hrs (Peter Isaacson).
Male Black Redstart at Carnan Mor this evening (John Bowler).
ISLAY: A Hawfinch showing well in a garden in Port Wemyss early afternoon. We also had a 1st-summer  Iceland Gull at Claddoch. Also at Gruinart, the Green-winged Teal still and two Ruff from the north hide (Val Wilson, David & Pauline Clugston). A Magpie was a rarity at Kilchoman today (Ian & Margaret Brooke).

NORTH ARGYLL: One Swallow just arrived at Rhugarbh Croft, Appin – five days earlier than last year (Mary Gregory). A Greenshank and a pair of Wigeon at Loch Tulla, also 30 Sand Martins feeding low over the loch (Roger Broad).
MID-ARGYLL: Both Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing at Lerigoligan, Ardfern this morning.  Also, a female Brambling feeding on sunflower hearts in our garden (Ju Randall). A Magpie today at Bellanoch around 11am (Annette & Roger Anderton).
TIREE: 1 Willow Warbler and 5 Goldcrests at Balephuil, 1 Willow Warbler at Meningie, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Goldeneye at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).

MULL: Another (possibly the same) Firecrest seen today in the Village on Iona, by one of my neighbours saw one in her back garden (Carol Dougall per Robertson MacCormick).
MID-ARGYLL: Some recent records sent through from John McInally – included an egret, probably Little Egret at the Add Estuary on 31st March, an Osprey at Loch an Add (Letterdaill) on 6th April, an Osprey at River Add (Bellanoch Bridge) on 7th April and Sand Martins at River Add near Bellanoch on 7th April. Today a Willow Warbler was between Dunadd and Drimvore and 2 prs of Grey Wagtail yesterday between Cairnbaan and Barnakill on the Crinan Canal, also 30 Siskins in Cairnbaan (Jim Dickson). 15 Whooper Swans seen flying N over Ardfern (Ju Randall).
TIREE: A Little Tern at Gott Bay, 2 Great Skuas at Ceann a’ Mhara – also 46 Greenland White-fronts north over there at 7am and 23 Black Guillemots on the early morning survey. 5,200 Golden Plover in 3 flocks today including 3,300 at the Reef (John Bowler).

KINTYRE: A Chiffchaff heard singing today in Carradale and later a Swallow at Portrigh (Alasdair Paterson).  At Tayinloan 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Swallow.  2 Swallows also seen at Rhunahaorine as well as 2 Velvet Scoter (David Jardine).
MID-ARGYLL: Pink-footed Goose – singles seen with Greylags at Poltalloch and Barsloisnoch, also 2+ Sand Martins this evening over the River Add at Dalvore (David Jardine). A Greenshank again at the north end of Scotnish, also a flock of around 70-80 Siskin on the road and roadside verge about 500m north of Loch Collie Bhar car park –  I’ve never seen such a large flock (Doug Menzies). A Brambling in our Tayvallich garden – first seen there in 21 years! (Morag Rea). An Osprey was at the Add Estuary around mid-day (Caroline Anderson).
TIREE: 1 Siskin, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Linnet, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wheatear and 120 Redwing (many in communal sub-song) at Balephuil, 1 Jackdaw east over Loch a’ Phuill, also 1,300 Golden Plover, 3 Goldeneye and 40 Redwing there; 1 Jackdaw and 1f Wheatear at Sorobaidh Bay. 24 Great Northern Divers and 170 Manx Shearwaters feeding off Hynish (John Bowler).  6 Goldcrest seen at Caoles (Rhoda Meek).
COWAL: This afternoon at Toward point – 4 Sandwich Tern, a pair of Red-throated Diver and on Loch Loskin outside of Dunoon late this evening, one drake Mandarin Duck (Alisair McGregor).

NORTH ARGYLL: Large numbers of Redwing in north Argyll, including 280 at Barcaldine and 100+ at Ardachy. Loch Etive; many taking part in communal singing (David Jardine)
MID-ARGYLL: A Willow Warbler was singing at Taynish NNR today (Malcolm Chattwood).  At least 6 Wheatears in the Ellenabeich area (Isle of Seil) with one White Wagtail (David Jardine)
COWAL: A Swallow see near Sandbank this morning , then later this afternoon at the Gantocks , Dunoon, approx. 30 Gannets, 15 Shag and 20 Cormorants mostly in dispute over what looked like a plaice (Alistair McGregor). Another Swallow today – at Strachur (Jim Nolan). A Nuthatch seen very well at Ardkinglas woodland – also a Chiffchaff singing (Birders on return from Estonia…).
KINTYRE: Our bird club had an outing to the sound of Gigha and along with the expected GN Divers, Slav Grebes, Common Scoters etc we had a couple of Swallows at the west coast salmon site (Doug Menzies/Bute birders).
MULL: A report of a Tree Pipit at Gribun (Jim & Linda Hurles).

KINTYRE: Following a spell of poor weather at last a few migrants including the first Whimbrel and Sandwich Tern of the year.  Also present, 40 Ringed Plovers, 12 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Ruddy Turnstones, 2 Greenshank and a White Wagtail. (Eddie Maguire)
NORTH ARGYLL: A Chiffchaff singing at Kilchurn Castle viewpoint was the first record this year. (David Jardine)

COWAL: 3 Sandwich Terns were seen in the Firth of Clyde off Dunoon.(Andrew Webster)
TIREE: A Cackling Goose new at Ruaig this morning with the Barnacle Geese there. Also 1 juv Glaucous Gull  and a Red-throated Diver at Loch a’ Phuill. 1 Knot and 22 Great Northern Divers at Gott Bay.  5 leg-flagged Sanderling at Balephetrish Bay included a bird that had wintered in NW France. (John Bowler)
NORTH ARGYLL: A Little Egret was at Dalrannoch Bay, Loch Creran at 12.00 and was seen again at 17.00. In Glen Creran, 5 Whooper Swans were on Loch Baile Mhic Chailein, together with 5 Goldeneye, 4 Mallard and a Greenshank. A newly ploughed field at Invercreran held over 20 Meadow Pipits and 6 Pied Wagtails (Robin Harvey)
MULL: The first Willow Warbler and singing Blackcap reported from Carsaig (Alan Spellman per Dave Grant)

COWAL: A ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull has returned to his garden in Dunoon.(George Newall)
KINTYRE: A male Hen Harrier was seen at Carradale Golf Course and a Magpie in the area since 24^th March was joined by another one today.  Also a female Brambling at the garden feeders with around 60 Siskins including a male with unreadable metal ring on its right leg. On 2^nd April a Weasel in the garden was quick enough to catch a Chaffinch! (Alasdair Paterson)
NORTH ARGYLL : The long-staying Little Egret at Loch Laich was still present this evening. (David Jardine)

COWAL: Up to 40 Gannets fishing off Tighnabruaich pier for most of the afternoon brightened a wild and wet day. (Malcolm Chattwood)