Sightings – Page 140 – Argyll Bird Club

7th December

TIREE: A sea-watch off Aird in NW7-8 with squalls at 0850-0950hrs produced (all heading W out of the Minch): 1 Great Skua (very late for here), 30 Gannet, 34 Fulmar, 72 large auk, 205 Kittiwake, 55 Shag, 1 GN Diver, 2 RT Diver and 5 Black Guillemot (John Bowler).

6th December

MID-ARGYLL: Two Little Grebes at the head of Loch Gilp today but no sign of the Kingfisher (Jim Dickson).

Little Grebe – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 6 Dec (Jim Dickson).

5th December

MID-ARGYLL: David Jardine reports that the male Pied-billed Grebe is still at Loch Feorlin today. At Loch nan Druimnean (Kilmelford) there were 11 Tufted Ducks and 2 Little Grebes (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A Chiffchaff was at Balephuil and a Pied Wagtail was at Balemartine today (John Bowler).

Great Northern Diver – Machrihanish SBO, Kintyre 5 Dec (Eddie Maguire).

4th December

TIREE: 2 Snow Bunting, 6 Goldfinch and 8 Shelduck at Miodar, 1,800 Golden Plover at Traigh Bhagh and 1,800 Barnacle Geese at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).

Barnacle Geese – Tiree 4 Dec (John Bowler).

Golden Plovers – Tiree 4 Dec (John Bowler).

3rd December

KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO early afternoon produced a Long-tailed Duck in with the Common Goldeneye (10), a female Northern Pintail in with Mallards (17) and 2 Eurasian Wigeon (Eddie Maguire).
COWAL: A Blackbird with some white markings in Dunoon today (Donnie MacFarlane).
TIREE: 1 Common Redpoll at Balephuil plus 6 Snow Buntings in flight there (John Bowler).

Blackbird – Dunoon, Cowal 3 Dec (Donnie MacFarlane).

Long-tailed Duck with Goldeneyes – MSBO, Kintyre 3 Dec (Eddie Maguire).

2nd December

ISLAY: John Nadin has been over on the island in the last couple of days searching through the geese he saw at least 4 Cackling and 1 Todd’s (interior) Canada. Also the Little Egret was still at Kennacraig, Kintyre on 29 Nov.
MID-ARGYLL: A group of 4 Black-throated Divers off Ardrishaig today. Also 15 Siskins in a flock at Achabraid, on road over to Ormsary (Jim Dickson).

Cackling Goose- Islay 30 Nov (John Nadin).

Cackling Geese- Islay 1 Dec (John Nadin).

Black-throated Divers – Ardrishaig, Mid-Argyll 2 Dec (Jim Dickson).

1st December

MID-ARGYLL: Malcolm Chattwood has been seeing a ‘pair’ of crows (Carrion and Hooded) regularly at Kilmichael Glassary (nr Lochgilphead). Very few records of pure Carrion Crow pairs in Mid-Argyll. A female Kingfisher was fishing from the Lochgilphead pier, Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson). At the windfarm east of Ormsary today were 8 Snow Buntings (Errol Crutchfield).
KINTYRE: Four Bullfinch (3m, 1f) in our garden on the Kennacraig to Claonaig Rd (Val Wells).

Starling – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 1 Dec (Jim Dickson).

Buzzard – Holy Loch, Cowal 1 Dec (Alistair McGregor).

Kingfisher – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 1 Dec (Jim Dickson).

Carrion and Hooded Crow – Kilmichael Glassary, Mid-Argyll 1 Dec (Malcolm Chattwood).

30th November

MID-ARGYLL: Caught on film – the elusive Ardrishaig Magpie! Actually not so elusive as on the shore and in trees outside the Grey Gull hotel this afternoon. Also 8 Long-tailed Tits in the garden at Cairnbaan late afternoon in failing light (Jim Dickson).

Magpie – Ardrishaig, Mid-Argyll 30 Nov (Jim Dickson).

Long-tailed Tit – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 30 Nov (Jim Dickson).

29th November

KINTYRE: A male Hen Harrier appeared several times at the Aros Moss today when the light was good (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: Now 26 Snow Buntings at Traigh Bhagh (John Bowler).

Hen Harrier – Aros Moss, Kintyre 29 Nov (Eddie Maguire).

28th November

ISLAY: A Todd’s Canada Goose was at Loch Indaal, Islay this morning before flying off north; also 7 Snow Buntings on the Strand there and an immature Iceland Gull was at the south end of Loch Gruinart (Steve Duffield). The Todd’s Canada Goose and the Cackling Goose now together with Barnacles at Kinnabus, after the Cornabus flock moved onto the reserve this morning. Also single Brent Goose with them (Dave Wood).
KINTYRE: The regular 2CY Iceland Gull was on the floods at Strath Farm, the Laggan (Eddie Maguire).