COWAL: Common Snipe and Wigeon were spotted feeding around Holy Loch today (Alistair McGregor). A White-Tailed Eagle was reported near Largiemore – “almost a habit” (Yvonne McCrone).
TIREE: Presumed 3CY Iceland Gull at the Reef, Juv Glaucous Gull again at Balephetrish (Morag McCullagh per John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A worthwhile substitute for the anticipated but absent Hen Harrier is this Merlin at Bleachfield. (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 2 juv Iceland Gulls and 1 juv Glaucous Gull in with a large gull flock on the Traigh Bhi machair, 1 juv Glaucous Gull at Sorobaidh Bay, 4 Scaup and 47 Goldeneye at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler)
MID-ARGYLL: A male Blackbird with a ring on its left leg appeared in my garden on 6 January and has been seen each day since then. The ring number shows that this is the same bird which visited the garden from 2 February to 6 March 2017 and from 21 December 2015 – 8 February 2016. It was ringed near Oslo, Norway, on 15 April 2013.(Mike Harrison)
KINTYRE: Whilst waiting for a female Hen Harrier to appear Eddie Maguire wouldn’t have been disappointed with another cracking shot of this male at Bleachfield.
TIREE: The first leg of the goose count today provided a juv Glaucous Gull at Balephetrish Bay, a juv Iceland Gull at Crossapol, plus another juv Iceland Gull dead on the Reef road, a neck-collared Greenland White-fronted Goose at Gott and 5 Pink-Footed Geese at Whitehouse (John Bowler)
MULL: A Red-necked Grebe was found off Pennyghael, Loch Scridain by Bryan Rains on 10 Jan and was still there today. David Jardine reports a Whimbrel and a Glaucous Gull at Knock this afternoon.
TIREE: The Glossy Ibis has been seen again – now at Balevullin today and yesterday (Rachel Gwilym per John Bowler).
COWAL: A report of a Glossy Ibis at the Holy Loch, Dunoon on 10 Jan – please note this story was picked up wrongly from the local paper and no ibis report from the Holy Loch (as yet anyway!!).
MID-ARGYLL: A flock of ca 90 Fieldfares at Killinochonoch/ Ballymeanoch – also several flocks of Common Gulls (70 -250) between Bridgend and Oban. A single Greenshank at the head of Loch Feochan and 10 Tufted Ducks on Loch na Druimean (Jim Dickson).
MID-ARGYLL: A Nuthatch is still visiting most days to James Lehmann’s garden, nr Barsloisnoch farm. At Loch Gilp this morning – 3 Red Knot, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and 4 Whooper Swans (ad = 3 imms) on the loch (Jim Dickson). A report of 5 White-tailed Eagles recently flying over from Isle of Danna to Castle Sween and also a Magpie at Barrahormid (S of Tayvallich) on Sat 6th (Alastair Ross).
KINTYRE: Superb photos from Eddie Maguire of a male Hen Harrier over juncus at Bleachfield, The Laggan this afternoon – a long wait there paid off!
TIREE: The Glossy Ibis is still at Cornaigmore as well as an Iceland Gull there (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: No further word on the reported Gyr Falcon in the Oban area. If anyone has details on this please can they get in touch, thanks.
MID-ARGYLL: A report of a Gyr Falcon in Oban today but no further details as yet and currently unconfirmed (per Birdguides). On Isle of Luing today – a juv (2CY) Iceland Gull at Toberonochy and a Jay (an island rarity) at Dubh Leathad (David Jardine). A Little Grebe on the canal near Crinan, also a Jay there and a Kingfisher at Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: On the Oa today – a Waxwing at Kinnabus, a Glossy Ibis nr Loch Kinnabus and a Todd’s Canada Goose also in the area (David Wood per Ian Brooke).
MULL: Still 5 Glossy Ibis on the Ross of Mull today at Loch Pottie and another Glossy Ibis was at Tobermory Bay. Also a juv (2CY) Glaucous Gull at Knoch fish farm (per Angus Murray).
MULL: Two Glossy Ibis on Iona today and apparently a group of 5 together nearby at Fidden on 25th & 26th Dec and again a couple of days ago (David Holden per Alan Spellman)…so potentially 7 in Argyll at present (inc. birds on Tiree and at Ardnacross, Mull).
