Please send your sightings to Jim Dickson (Argyll Bird Recorder) to:
Posts on this page are for scarce & rare sightings. Descriptions will be required for species listed by the Argyll, Scottish & British rare bird committees prior to their acceptance. Rare bird forms are available from Jim.
The Argyll Bird Club has a Facebook group if you wish to post your own sightings and photographs for all other reports. In addition, please submit any relevant records to BTO BirdTrack or the Argyll bird recording system. Contact Malcolm Chattwood email:
The 2024 ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 36 with Systematic List for 2024 is now published as a PDF – (available to ABC members only by an emailed link)
SPRING MIGRANTS TABLE 2025 : SPRING MIGRANTS 2025 to 10 May
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2025
20th May
TIREE: A female GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL was at Loch a’ Phuill, also two red adult CURLEW SANDPIPERS there, and a male GARGANEY was noted on the island (John Bowler).
19th May
TIREE: A REED WARBLER, TREE SPARROW, GARDEN WARBLER & LESSER WHITETHROAT were in /near a garden at Balephuil, (John Bowler).
17th May
MID-ARGYLL: A QUAIL was seen and heard at Keillbeg, nr Danna (Terry Girling, John Aitchison).
14th May
TIREE: A female HAWFINCH was in a garden at Balephuil (John Bowler).
COWAL: A male FIRECREST was heard signing at Brox Wood, Holy Loch LNR then later confirmed visually (Neil Hammatt) and later on a COMMON CRANE was seen in a field at Dalinlongart, a further 500m NW (David Gilmour).
ISLAY: A male WOODCHAT SHRIKE was found at Upper Cragabus, Oa this evening (David Dinsley, Hannah Stanger) – only the third record for Argyll.
12th May
MID-ARGYLL: A fem type MARSH HARRIER was at the Add Estuary & Moine Mhor this evening (David Jardine, Jim Dickson).
11th May
MULL: A WHITE-BILLED DIVER was reported (Birdguides) seen from the ferry near Craignure. Note: We require further details to validate this record.
ISLAY: A fem type MARSH HARRIER was seen at Risabus, Oa (David Dinsley) and yesterday a WOOD SANDPIPER was seen at RSPB Loch Gruinart (David Livingstone, Bob Davison) .
9th May
TIREE: A male North American WOOD DUCK of unknown origin (un-ringed) was found in a sensitive undisclosed location (John Bowler). This species is not yet on Category A of the British list and John says: “…many recent Azores Wood Duck records and also some from Iceland have now been accepted as genuine vagrants. BOURC have recently switched Wood Duck from Category E to Category D citing four recent records from locations such as Shetland and Uist, allowing the status of the species to be reviewed more regularly. However, suspect it would still take an American ringed bird or isotope studies to warrant a switch to Category A. ” There is one previous Argyll record of a female present at Balgie Burn & West Bay Dunoon, Cowal Oct 2000 – May 2001.
NORTH ARGYLL: A CRESTED TIT was seen near the Forest Lodge, Victoria Bridge, Loch Tulla on 7 May (David Jardine) and again the next day, with the possibility that perhaps two birds there (Andy Robinson). A remarkable record as only two previously accepted Argyll records – in 1991 and in 2002. Also on 7 May a LITTLE RINGED PLOVER was noted on the shore at the NE end of Loch Tulla (David Jardine).
6th May
ISLAY: A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was seen from the north hide at RSBB Loch Gruinart today (James How).
4th May
MID-ARGYLL: A RED KITE was a good find for Malcolm Chattwood’s “seen from the house list” as it flew over Bridgend, Kilmichael Glassary N of Lochgilphead.
2nd May
KINTYRE: A COMMON CRANE was found feeding in fields within the boundaries of the former Machrihanish air base this morning around 11am (Alan McCuaig) and still present until it moved on around 4pm (Jim Dickson). Discussing plumage characters with John Bowler who saw the recent bird on Tiree it is not conclusive that this is the same individual.
1st May
TIREE: A male PIED FLYCATCHER arrived in the garden at Balephuil today – only record for Argyll this year so far.. (John Bowler).
30th April
MULL: A STONE-CURLEW was reported by a local to Danny Brooks – the bird was confirmed from photos – seen in fields at the west end of the Ross of Mull.
MID-ARGYLL: A GREEN SANDPIPER was reported near the high school playing field in Lochgilphead (Frank Cavannagh).
28th April
TIREE/COLL: A COMMON CRANE 1 flew west at Totronald, Coll at 13.00hrs on 26th (Mark Mitchell), then 1 (presume the same) on Tiree near the Ringing Stone in the mist with 2 Barnacle Geese (27th) and then showed well at Barrapol on 28th late pm, before flying to Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
24th April
MULL: A juvenile ICELAND GULL was noted from the Sea Life Mull vessel at sea south of Ardnamurchan (Stuart Gibson) and a male RING OUZEL was noted at Gribun (Ewan Miles).
23rd April
TIREE: A LAPLAND BUNTING was at Crossapol and a juvenile ICELAND GULL was at Loch an Eilein today (John Bowler).
22nd April
MID-ARGYLL: A RING OUZEL was found on Kerrera today (Ann McGregor). Two first-summer LITTLE GULLS were on the mud at Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A SPOTTED REDSHANK was found in a central area of the island today (John Bowler).
21st April
MID-ARGYLL: The male RING-NECKED DUCK was found again at Loch Glenfeochan (David Jardine).
20th April
MID-ARGYLL: A pair of PINTAIL stopped off briefly at Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson).
14th April
TIREE: A fem type BLACK REDSTART was at Balephuil today (was also seen on 13/4) (John Bowler).
ISLAY: Two TREE SPARROWS were at feeders in a garden at Bruichladdich – also a single bird there on 13/4 (Peter Roberts).
11th April
ISLAY: No sign of the female RING-NECKED DUCK at Loch Ballygrant today however a fine male was seen there (Peter Roberts).
KINTYRE: A juvenile (2cy) ICELAND GULL was at Carradale Bay today (Alasdair Paterson).
10th April
TIREE: An ALPINE SWIFT was seen flying NE along the top of the cliffs at Ceann a’ Mhara at 08:05 (Dylan Daunt), also 2 RING OUZELS seen later at this location (Andy Robinson).
JURA: A male RING OUZEL was seen at Inver House yesterday (David Jardine).
ISLAY: A belated report (received on 16/4) that the adult male SURF SCOTER, along with 2 VELVET SCOTERS, was off Port Charlotte, Loch Indaal (G Beltcher).
8th April
TIREE: A LAPLAND BUNTING flew over Balephetrish Bay today (Dylan Daunt).
ISLAY: The HOOPOE was again on the road to Ardnave today.
7th April
ISLAY: The PIED CROW was seen again at Port Wemyss (Mary Redman).
MID-ARGYLL: A 2cy LITTLE GULL was at Loch Gilp today (Jim Dickson).
6th April
ISLAY: A male RING OUZEL was found at Sanaigmore today (Mar Eden). Also reported – a BLACK REDSTART on the Gruinart to Ardnave road, where the HOOPOE was still present (R & B Mearns).
MULL: A HOOPOE was reported at Ardalanish Farm today (per Birdguides/Mullbirds).
TIREE: A juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was at Gott Bay today (Dylan Daunt). A male RING OUZEL was at Balephuil today (John Bowler).
30th March
ISLAY: The HOOPOE was seen again between Gruinart and Ardnave.
MID-ARGYLL: The BLACK REDSTART was again at Inverliever today.
29th March
ISLAY: The PIED CROW (of unknown origin) was still present in gardens at Portnahaven this morning.
MID-ARGYLL: The male BLACK REDSTART was again along a track near Inverliever, Loch Awe today (Dani Elle Frea Ney).
28th March
ISLAY: A PIED CROW (of unknown origin) was photographed in a garden at Portnahaven and has apparently been there for a day or two. The HOOPOE at Gruinart was last noted on 26 March.
MID-ARGYLL: A male BLACK REDSTART was photographed along a track near Inverliever, Loch Awe today (Dani Elle Frea Ney).
24th March
ISLAY: A first-winter (2cy) MEDITERRANEAN GULL was found at Bridgend, Loch Indaal today (Clive McKay).
15th March
ISLAY: Two GREAT CRESTED GREBES were noted off Ardbeg today (S & L Rogers) and the RED-BREASTED GOOSE is still present in the Gruinart area.
KINTYRE: Three VELVET SCOTERS were at the Sound of Gigha today during WeBS count (David Jardine).
13th March
MID-ARGYLL: A SWALLOW was seen at Kilmory Road, Lochgilphead this morning – an early one & looks like first in Scotland this year, although quite a few reports further south in Britain from Feb (L Jenkins). n.b. as usual, we will post spring & summer migrant arrivals in a table over the next few weeks.. Reports already of Chiffchaffs, Wheatears & Blackcaps.
10th March
MID-ARGYLL: A female HAWFINCH was at a bird table in Ardrishaig this morning (Lynsey Gibson).
KINTYRE: A brief sighting (seen from moving car) of a 2cy ICELAND GULL in flight at Glenrioch, Stewarton (David Jardine/Jim Dickson).
7th March
ISLAY: A distant male SURF SCOTER with 90+ Common Scoters off Port Charlotte at midday (Peter Roberts).
KINTYRE: A male MARSH HARRIER was seen flying over the dunes at Carskiey yesterday 6th Mar (Neil Brown).