Category: Sightings

KINTYRE: 4 Common Swift over Campbeltown at 19:40hrs (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: More Dunlin around now – 32 at Loch Crinan this morning. Also 4 Whinchats and 2 ‘Greenland’ Wheatears along the road crossing the Moine Mhor (Jim Dickson).

COLONSAY: A male Green-winged Teal at East Loch Fada this evening (Alan Davis et al)…perhaps same as birds from 28 Apr on Oronsay?
ISLAY: A red Curlew Sandpiper was in front of the north hide at Gruinart today – also masses of Dunlin arriving (James Butcher). A report of a Ring-necked Duck with Tufteds’ at Loch Finlaggan last Fri 4 May (per Gary Turnbull).
MID-ARGYLL: A second hand report of an adult Common Rosefinch at Cladich, Loch Awe (seen and photographed) however more details not forthcoming a this stage (per Bob Grove).
MULL: A female Common Redstart was at Loch Ba (Stuart Gibson per Alan Spellman).
TIREE: 1m Whitethroat singing at Carnan Mor but no sign of yesterday’s Wood Warbler. 1 Common Tern with the Arctic Terns at Loch a’ Phuill – first of season here – (John Bowler).

COLONSAY: A male Green-winged Teal at Ardskenish (per Alan Davis)…perhaps same as birds from 28 Apr on Oronsay?
KINTYRE: very quiet here at Machrihanish SBO; a Whimbrel, 6 Sandwich Tern, a ‘Greenland’ Wheatear and 2 Linnets with no White Wagtails for 6 days now (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: A Moorhen again today on the marshes beyond Ulva Lagoons; an Osprey over Loch na Cille; 42 Dunlin with 14 Ringed Plover, a Skylark and a Whitethroat at Danna. On Fri 4th May we saw a Golden Eagle early in the morning in our garden at Tayvallich presumably after a dead deer in the wilder part of the garden. Quite a surprise! (Morag & Norman Rea). 50+ Siskins coming to feeders at Carsaig House on 3 May and 20+ Lesser Redpolls at the Moine Mhor conifer woods on 6 May (Jon Close).
TIREE: 1 Wood Warbler at Carnan Mor. 1 House Martin at Loch a’ Phuill (first of season) in with 35 Sand Martin – also 340 Ringed Plover on the machair there (John Bowler).

COLONSAY: An Iceland Gull and 2 Great Skuas from Balnahard on 30 Apr (David Hatfield).

COWAL: First report of a Spotted Flycatcher was at St Catherines on 30 Apr (Graham Thomas). A Little Egret was at the head of Loch Riddon on 2 May (Allister Hamilton).

ISLAY: A Common Whitethroat and a Whinchat were at RSPB Gruinart (James How) also a count of 119 Common Scoter in outer Loch Indaal on 30 Apr (Mike Peacock). A Grey Plover was in fields at Ballinaby with 43 Golden Plovers and 81 Linnets there on 1 May (Jim Dickson). 22 Sandwich Terns were in the Bruichladdich area of Loch Indaal with several courting and mating pairs, also from there 16 Red-throated Divers on the loch. 12 Wigeon (pr mating), 9 Black-tailed Godwits, male Pintail, a pair of Ruff, 10 Barnacle and 1 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Gruinart, 61 Pale-bellied Brents at Bridgend and 2 Greenland White fronts at Ballinaby all on 2 May (Jim Dickson) also a late Fieldfare was near Feolin, Jura same day (per Ian Brooke). On 3 May: 2 Velvet with 100+ Common Scoters in outer Loch Indaal and an Arctic Skua there. A minimum of 162 Whimbrels around the north of the island (most being 67 at Ardnave), 23 Red Knot, 2 Sanderling, 160 Dunlin and 52 Bar-tailed Godwits at Loch Indaal, also 4 Iceland Gulls (3x 2CY and a 3CY) and 2 x 2CY Glaucous Gulls between Loch Indaal/Gruinart/Rockside and Coull Farm (Jim Dickson) also an Osprey seen fishing at Loch Finlaggan (Richard Belter/Gary Turnbull). A Pectoral Sandpiper was found with Dunlins at Ardnave Point on 4 May (James Butcher).

KINTYRE: 20 Whimbrels were on the beach at Bellochantuy on 2 May (Tom Lowe). 18 Sandwich Terns were at the entrance to West Loch Tarbert on 4 May (Jim Dickson). 30 Whimbrels past Machrihanish SBO on 4 May and 43 past there on 5 May (Eddie Maguire).

MID-ARGYLL: The male Pied-billed Grebe was still present Loch Feorlin this week. 2 juv Glaucous Gulls south of Ardrishaig at the fish farm at Stronachullin on 2 May (Tom Lowe). 500 Kittiwakes were counted flying out of Loch Gilp on 3 May and a Garden Warbler was at Strath Brenfield on 4 May (Andrew Tongue). An adult Little Gull was at Loch Gilp on 5 May (David Jardine).

MULL: First Sedge Warblers appearing from 1 May (per Alan Spellman). 11 Black-tailed Godwits at Treshnish House on 4 May (Anand Prasad) and a pair of Shoveler at Lochdon on 4 May (per Alan Spellman). A Wood Warbler was at Aros Wood on 5 May (P &A Brown).

NORTH ARGYLL: No notable reports received.

TIREE: A male Pied Flycatcher was at Scarinish on 30 Apr (Simon Young) also the first arrivals of Common Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler today (John Bowler). 1 Fieldfare at Balephuil on 3 May – the latest-ever record there (John Bowler). 1 Snow Bunting and 6 Whimbrels at Traigh Bhagh on 4 May and a 3CY Glaucous Gull at the Green on 3-4 May (John Bowler). 3 adult Pomarine Skuas off Gunna Sound from the Tiree ferry (Andy Robinson) and 5 adult Pomarine Skuas and 1 Arctic Skua off Hynish (John Bowler) all on 4 May.

MID-ARGYLL: Around the Moine Mhor area early am included – 5 Cuckoos, 2 m Whinchats, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps, 5 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Wood Warblers, 2 Crossbills and 2 Jays (Jim Dickson). At Taynish NNR – Jon Close reported 7 Wood Warbler territories.
COLONSAY – Oronsay: A report of a Green-winged Teal there this morning (David Jardine).
KINTYRE: Alasdair Paterson had 3 Tree Sparrows visit his garden today.

MID-ARGYLL: Whimbrels heard going high over Lochgilphead this morning – also 2 House Martins there (Jim Dickson). A Sedge Warbler and 6 House Martins at Brenfield, Ardrishaig today (Andrew Tongue).
KINTYRE: More Whimbrels (22) and White Wagtails (14) at Machrihanish SBO today (Eddie Maguire).
ISLAY: A report of 5 Tree Sparrows at Caol Ila yesterday (Gary Turnbull per Ian Brooke).

MID-ARGYLL: A Wood Warbler in song on N side of Crinan wood this morning – also 2 Blackcap in song there (Jim Dickson). My first Sedge Warbler of the year on the Moine Mhor moss. Cuckoo calling well, Grasshopper Warbler reeling, a pair of Raven out near Crinan ferry and a male Hen Harrier foraging for meadow pipits in the same location.  Lots of Common Sandpipers (least 6) at Bellanoch Bridge (Colin MacFarlane).
KINTYRE: A Great Skua >S came very close to Machrihanish SBO just before a squall arrived arrived (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: A pair of Garganey on a pool near Heylipol Church this morning, 22 White Wagtails, 8 Little Tern, 2 Arctic Tern, 12 Whimbrel, 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Swallow at the Green, 11 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Whimbrel at Loch an Eilein, 16 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch Bhasapol, at least 4m Corncrakes on the island and 5+ Chiffchaff at Balephuil (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: In the Loch Barnluasgan area this morning – 3 singing Wood Warbler, 4 Blackcaps and 2 Tree Pipits. Nearby at the Moine Mhor – a male Whinchat and four areas with Stonechats and another 2 singing Wood Warblers a mile W of Cairnbaan. Also 4 Whimbrel at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson). 3 Sandwich Tern off Ardrishaig today (Andrew Tongue).
MULL: A report of a Hawfinch photographed at feeders in Fionnphort on 23 – 25 Apr (Carol Marshall per Alan Spellman).
KINTYRE: 10 Whimbrel, 3 White Wagtail and 2 Greenland Wheatear (Eddie Maguire).

ISLAY: A Lesser Whitethroat was seen and photographed at Upper Killeyan, The Oa yesterday by Dave Woods.
TIREE: A male Corncrake at Balephuil – the first here this year – also 4 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest there, 340 Pale-bellied Brents at Gott Bay including 11 colour-ringed birds, also 2 Little Tern there, 72 Pale-bellied Brents at Traigh Bhagh including 4 colour-ringed birds, also 2w Glaucous Gull, 2 Little Tern, 2 White Wagtail and 9 Whimbrel. 25 Black-tailed Godwit at Loch an Eilein plus 2 White Wagtails. 1m Greenland Wheatear and 6,500 Golden Plover at The Reef. 2w Glaucous Gull at Heanish (John Bowler).
COWAL: We probably had up to 20 Siskins here at Innellan today along with the two Redpolls (Alan Forsyth).

MID-ARGYLL: A Whimbrel and 3 Dunlin new at Loch Gilp this morning, also a Wood Warbler in song at Dalvore wood, Moine Mhor and 30+ Swallows inland from Loch Crinan. A Grasshopper Warbler singing at 9pm – heard from my garden in Cairnbaan (Jim Dickson).
MULL: A report just in of 2 Hawfinch (m+f) briefly at Ardtun yesterday – see attached record shot of female (Jon Lloyd).
ISLAY: A report of a Common Whitethroat heard singing at near Ardtalla (Tim & Em Halliday per Ian Brooke).