KINTYRE: A Little Egret early afternoon reported by Graeme Garner at Tayinloan, just north of the ferry terminal, feeding in a pool above the beach.
ISLAY: a Cackling Goose was at Emeraconart (nr Ballygrant) (Dan Brown).
JURA: a Whimbrel was at Luss Bay, north end of the island (Dan Brown).
COWAL: 26 Purple Sandpipers and 38 Turnstones at Dunoon Crazy Golf today (George Newall).
MID-ARGYLL: On the ABC trip to Ormsary today the highlights included: 6 Slavonian Grebes, 17 Black-throated Divers (lots of G N D & Red-t Divers), a 1w Iceland Gull, a fem Pintail, single Golden Eagle, Peregrine & Sparrowhawk, a group of 14 Red Knot and at least 3 Grey Wagtails among the 53 species noted.
Yesterday in an Ardrishaig garden, highlights during the 1 hour RSPB garden birdwatch included: 97 Chaffinches, 1 Brambling, 8 Goldfinch, 6 Siskins, 6 Lesser Redpolls, 1 Treecreeper, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Sparrowhawk (Lynsey Gibson).
MULL: a party of 12 Yellowhammers in Alan Spellman’s garden at Lochdon this morning.
NORTH ARGYLL: the Little Egret was showing well at Loch Laich, Appin this morning, but too distant to photograph. Also present were 21 Oystercatcher, 5 Curlew, 7 Redshank, 76 Canada Geese and Common, Herring and Black-headed Gulls (Mike Harrison).
MID-ARGYLL: have just seen a male Goosander feeding in Tayvallich Bay (Amanda Chadderton).
TIREE: off Hynish in S8 with rain 1235-1335hrs: 2 Little Auks, 74 Gannets, 55 Kittiwakes, 45 Razorbills, 43 Fulmars, 42 Shags, 29 GBB Gulls, 18 Tysties, 12 Guillemots and 7 G N Divers (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: the adult Glaucous Gull again at the head of Loch Gilp this am (Jim Dickson). Karen Taylor has reported 20-30 Waxwings in Minard seen on 21 Jan, so may still be around.
ISLAY: Ian Brooke has said the Green-winged Teal is still at Gruinart (Bob Davison) and the mid-month island International goose counts were: 45,056 Barnacle, 4,694 White-fronted and 581 Greylag Geese.
TIREE/COLL: 1 fem Greater Scaup still at Loch a’ Phuill plus 102 Curlews. Also 2 White-beaked Dolphin off SW Coll (John Bowler).
NORTH ARGYLL: the Little Egret was back at Loch Laich early morning (David Jardine).
TIREE: 1 Puffin off Gunna Sound from the Oban ferry is an early record (John Bowler).
COWAL: a male Hen Harrier hunting between Millhouse and Ardlamont House (Allister Hamilton).
MID-ARGYLL: now 160 Chaffinches feeding in the garden at Cairnbaan. Also small flocks (up to 40+) of Meadow Pipits, appearing/on the move, in fields around the Moine Mhor (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: a 3CY Iceland Gull (the long-staying bird), 1 juv Glaucous Gull, 1f Scaup, 55 Goldeneye and 2 Gadwall at Loch a’ Phuill. 1 Woodcock at Carnan Mor (John Bowler). Also 2 Linnets at Traigh Bhagh found and photographed by Steph Cope – just the 2nd January record in 100 years on Tiree! (Steph Cope per John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: a 2/3 winter Glaucous Gull at the head of Loch Fyne today (David Jardine).
COWAL: three Nuthatches at Ardkinglass woodland early morning (David Jardine). A Kingfisher was on the shore by Ardkinglass House (Graham Thomas).
TIREE: 14 Long-tailed Ducks at Hough Bay (John Bowler).
NORTH ARGYLL: a Greenshank and 2 Lapwings at An Sailean inlet in the NW corner of Ardmucknish Bay (Robin Harvey).
KINTYRE: at Campbeltown Loch today, single juvenile Glaucous and Iceland Gulls (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: a juvenile Glaucous Gull again at Gott Bay today, feeding on a dead dolphin and another Glaucous at Balevullin this pm (Steph Cope per John Bowler).
