TIREE: a male Cuckoo and 3 Sedge Warblers new at Balephuil this morning – also 1 Common Redpoll, 1m Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and 1 Goldcrest there. 370 Dunlins and 280 Ringed Plovers at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: a Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Cairnbaan this afternoon, also 6 Dunlins at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).
COLONSAY: on Oronsay – 10 Arctic Terns and 1 pale phase Pomarine Skua this morning (David Jardine) also 2 Little Gulls there yesterday (Becky – RSPB staff per David Jardine)
COWAL: There are at least 15 occupied nests in the Little Eachaig Sand Martin colony (Geoerge Newall).
MULL: a Whinchat was at West Ardhu this morning (per Alan Spellman). Also a report of a Little Egret at Ardturn today.
Category: Sightings
30th April
TIREE: 1m and 2f Blackcap, plus 2 Redwings still at Balephuil. 1 Common Sandpiper (first of spring here) and 1 Woodpigeon east of Balevullin. 1 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Great Skua at The Green (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: a Crossbill was in song in my garden (Scots Pine) at Cairnbaan (Jim Dickson).
29th April
COWAL: The colour ringed Lesser Black-Backed Gull remains a visitor to a garden in Dunoon tempted by cheese. It spends a fair bit of time on a neighbour’s roof showing its ring well (George Newall).
TIREE: Today at Sorobaidh Bay: 1f Lapland Bunting, 5 Arctic Terns, 3 White Wagtails and 1m Greenland Wheatear; 70 Black-tailed Godwits at Heylipol; 25 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch a’ Phuill, plus 6 Arctic Terns, 2 Little Terns and 81 Dunlin. 4 late Greenland White-fronts at Barrapol (John Bowler).
MULL: 28 Apr – an Osprey over Lochdon heading NW (Alan Spellman).
28th April
NORTH ARGYLL: At the gravel pits at Benderloch today: 3 Little Grebe chicks; the Sedge Warblers have returned with 2 singing males (Robin Harvey)
TIREE: Today, 2m Lapland Buntings in full summer plumage at Loch an Eilein; 1f Lapland Bunting and 1 Pink-footed Goose at The Reef; 1m Blackcap singing at Balephuil; 108 Black-tailed Godwits at Heylipol and 65 Black-tailed Godwits at Balephuil (John Bowler).
27th April
MID-ARGYLL: Flocks of 120 and 150 Black-tailed Godwits staging through Loch Gilp and then heading off north today along with 4M and 4F Pintail (Simon Lawrence).
TIREE: Today, 6 Lapland Bunting again at the Sorobaidh Bay cattle feeders; 1 House Martin at The Reef; 128 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 White Wagtail and 55 Sand Martin at Loch an Eilein whilst 30 Pale-bellied Brents flew over heading north. Also 90 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
26th April
COLL: A male Garganey at “canal loch” this morning (Ben Jones)
TIREE: Today – much reduced numbers of Black-tailed Godwits here as the N winds eased off overnight: 406 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch an Eilein – 1 new colour-ringed bird; 315 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch a’ Phuill; Also 1 juv Glaucous Gull at Loch a’ Phuill; 12 White Wagtails at Loch an Eilein (John Bowler)
25th April
COWAL: A colour ringed Lesser Black-Backed Gull was a visitor to a garden in Dunoon earlier today. (George Newall)
TIREE: Today 6 Lapland Buntings still at Sorobaidh Bay; A record influx of at least 2,270 Black-tailed Godwits: 1,750 in single flock at Kilmoluaig was quite a sight – including 15 colour-ringed birds; 470 at Loch an Eilein including 7 colour-ringed birds and a lone Knot, 38 at An Fhaodhail including 2 colour-ringed birds, 12 at Loch Bhasapol; 1 Arctic Tern and 5 Little Terns at Traigh Bhagh. Also scattered small groups of Whimbrel and low thousands of Golden Plover and still 6 Redwing at Balephuil. (John Bowler)
MID-ARGYLL: on 23 Apr two adult and one immature Whooper Swans at northern side of Loch Sween (Michael Gallico)
24th April
MID-ARGYLL: Cuckoo , Common Sandpiper and Grasshopper Warbler in Kilmichael Glen today (Blair Urquhart). Update for 22 Apr – 120 Pale-bellied Brents on Loch Gilp increased to 200 in area through the day and headed north over Oakfield, Lochgilphead in late evening. At around noon 90 White-fronted Geese seen heading north over Lochgilphead (Simon Lawrence).
TIREE: Today 6 Lapland Bunting inc 4 males again by feeders at south end of Sorobaidh Bay – also 6 White Wagtails there inc 1 with entirely pale grey crown; 1 juv Glaucous Gull at Traigh Bhagh; 135 Black-tailed Godwits at The Reef inc 2 colour-ringed birds; 325 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch Bhasapol inc 3 colour-ringed birds and 2 Common Terns at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler). Also today 30 Black-tailed Godwits at Kilkenneth including 1 colour-ringed bird (Tim Frank)
COWAL: Still 10 Purple Sandpipers at Dunoon Crazy Golf course today. Update for 22 Apr – 3 Sandwich Terns offshore at Dunoon. (George Newall)
KINTYRE: Yesterday – a Common Swift briefly over Campbeltown (Eddie Maguire)
23rd April
MID-ARGYLL: A Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Slockavullin today (David Jardine). A Nuthatch made the observer’s day when it was spotted feeding on the bird table in a garden in Ardrishaig this morning. (Lynsey Gibson).
TIREE: Today: 1m Corncrake calling at Mannal; 2 Arctic Terns off the Maze – first of the spring here; 28 Whimbrel, 15 Wheatears and 32 White Wagtails along the coast between Sandaig and Balevullin ;1 pair Pochard at Heylipol Church loch;220 Turnstones and 15 Purple Sandpipers at Hough Bay (John Bowler).
Yesterday: 1 Osprey north high over Loch a’ Phuill and 6 Whimbrel; 18 Whimbrel, 14 Blackwits and 2 Little Terns at Traigh Bhagh;1,500 Golden Plover at Balevullin; 2,500 Golden Plover at the Reef
22nd April
MID-ARGYLL: 60+ Pale-bellied Brents on the mud at Loch Gilp this morning (Malcolm Chattwood). A Cuckoo calling at Tayvallich (Colin MacFarlane).
COLL: 0n 19th April 120 non-breeding Ravens at Crossapol, a White-tailed Eagle on Gunna and a Merlin at Totronald (Colin MacFarlane).
COWAL: 6 Purple Sandpipers at Dunoon Crazy Golf Course and at least 2 Cuckoos singing near Bishop’s Glen (George Newall).
KINTYRE: A significant passage of around 50 White Wagtails at Machrihanish SBO this morning with many loitering to feed on hatching kelp flies (Eddie Maguire).
