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 2025 ARGYLL BIRD REPORT Volume 37 with Systematic List for 2025 will shortly be in preparation and will be published as a PDF in spring – (available to ABC members only by an emailed link)
Recent Reports of Scarce & Rare Sightings 2026
ARGYLL SPRING MIGRANTS TABLE: Click this link to download latest table
12th September
MID-ARGYLL: Three MEDITERRANEAN GULLS (two 1cy & an adult) on Isle of Luing this morning (David Jardine, Frank Cavanagh).
COWAL: Eight MEDITERRANEAN GULLS (all non-adults) at Otter Ferry today (Neil Hammatt).
11th September
MULL: An adult SABINE’S GULL was seen and photographed from the Craignure to Oban ferry this morning (Jack Waldie).
TIREE: A juv BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was found at Ruaig this morning and a juv BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was at Gott Bay this evening (Keith Gillon, John Bowler).
10th September
ISLAY: Now 19 PINTAIL at Loch Gruinart after 11 arrived there on 4 Sep. Also a LEACH’S STORM PETREL & 2 STORM PETRELS seen from the Islay ferry (Jim Dickson).
8th September
TIREE: A busy 2hr sea watch from Aird this morning produced: an adult SABINE’S GULL, 10 LEACH’S STORM PETRELS, 12 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, 2 GREY PHALAROPES, 7 ARCTIC SKUAS, 4 GREAT SKUAS and a high count of 14,625 MANX SHEARWATERS (John Bowler).
MULL: A 4.5hr sea watch from Caliach Point produced: 4 SABINE’S GULL (an adult & 3 juvs), 4 LEACH’S STORM PETRELS, 12 Arctic SKUAS, 7 GREAT SKUAS & 1 SOOTY SHEARWATER (Theo de Clermont, Oscar Lovell).
ISLAY: A 3hr sea watch from Frenchman’s Rocks produced highlights of: 2 SOOTY SHEARWATERS, c3,000 MANX SHEARWATERS, 104 BRENT GEESE & 5 PINTAIL (Clive McKay).
7th September
COWAL: A 1cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Ostel Bay today (Neil Hammatt).
ISLAY: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Carnain then later off Gartnatra, Loch Indaal (Jim Dickson).
4th September
ISLAY: Five juv CURLEW SANDPIPERS and 3 juv LITTLE STINTS in the Carnain area of Loch Indaal (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: The 1cy BARRED WARBLER still present at Balephuil, also a LEACH’S STORM PETREL and a POMARINE SKUA >W past Aird (John Bowler).
3rd September
MID-ARGYLL: Two CURLEW SANDPIPERS and 1 LITTLE STINT were at the Add Estuary (Frank Cavanagh).
ISLAY: A distant view of the imm AMERICAN WIGEON candidate in the Wigeon flock at head of Loch Indaal. Also 15 STORM PETRELS the highlight from the Islay ferry early afternoon (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A 1cy BARRED WARBLER was new in at Balephil today, also a PIED FLYCATCHER there (John Bowler).
COLONSAY: A juv SABINE’S GULL was seen from the Oban to Colonsay ferry at 17.45 (Durwyn Lilley).
2nd September
MID-ARGYLL: A probable GOSHAWK was seen flying over Crinan Ferry, also a CURLEW SANDPIPER at the Add Estuary (Frank Cavanagh).
TIREE: A juv LITTLE STINT still at Gott Bay (John Bowler).
COLL: A SOOTY SHEARWATER seen off Coll (David Jardine).
30th August
TIREE: A LESSER WHITETHROAT was at Carnan Mor, Balephuil and a 1cy PIED FLYCATCHER was in the garden at Balephuil (John Bowler).
ISLAY: Better views of the 1cy AMERICAN WIGEON today with clear views of the pure white axilla. Also a QUAIL was heard calling from the Gaelic centre area at head of Loch Indaal (Rogan Wolhuter).
29th August
ISLAY: A good candidate for a 1cy AMERICAN WIGEON in with the Wigeon flock at the head of Loch Indaal and a juv LITTLE STINT was at Blackrock beach, Loch Indaal (Rogan Wolhuter).
TIREE: A juv CURLEW SANDPIPER was at Traigh nan Gilean (Sandaig) (John Bowler).
27th August
MID-ARGYLL: A GREAT WHITE EGRET was at the Add Estuary around 10 am with a Little Egret but it then flew further inland following the Add river and was lost (John Boyd, Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: A juv CURLEW SANDPIPER as at Loch Gruinart (James How). First of the autumn in Argyll.
MULL: A report of a juv PALLID HARRIER at Fellonmore, Loch Spelve yesterday 26th (per Birdguides) – please can the finder get in touch, many thanks.
23rd August
MID-ARGYLL: A group of 3 juv/first year MEDITERRANEAN GULLS in amongst small numbers of other gulls at the head of Loch Gilp late morning (Jim Dickson).
19th August
ISLAY: A GLOSSY IBIS was seen at Loch Gruinart late evening (Clive McKay, J Knight) and a juv MARSH HARRIER was over Gruinart flats in the morning (Clive McKay).
TIREE: An adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER was found in a cut silage field at Crossapol around midday (John Bowler, Geoff Carr).
MID-ARGYLL: A juv RUFF was at the Add Estuary (Frank Cavanagh).
18th August
ISLAY: A WOOD SANDPIPER was at Carnain, Loch Indaal (Clive McKay).
MULL: A female MANDARIN DUCK was reported at Aros Park.
17th August
ISLAY: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was at Gartbreck, nr Bowmore, Loch Indaal (Clive McKay).
31st July
ISLAY: A w/p adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was seen flying past Blackrock, Loch Indaal (F. Hemming per T. de Clermont).
30th July
MID-ARGYLL: A RUFF was seen briefly at the Add Estuary (Frank Cavanagh) and presumably the same bird there the previous day seen very briefly and lost in long grass (Jim Dickson).
29th July
COWAL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was seen and photographed at Otter Ferry (Neil Hammatt).
24th July
MULL: A fem/juv MARSH HARRIER was seen on the south side of Loch na Keal – perhaps same bird as seen at Ardtun y’day (Klay Blake).
MID-ARGYLL: A COOT was noted on Isle of Luing today (Frank Cavanagh, David Jardine).
15th July
ISLAY: At Kinnabus, The Oa RSPB reserve – 2 or possibly 3 QUAIL heard calling late evening (David Dinsley).
14th July
KINTYRE: A HOBBY was seen near to Lephenstrath Bridge, South Kintyre – same location as one there two years ago (Ann & Noel Hand).
MID-ARGYLL: A summer plumaged MEDITERRANEAN GULL was in with other gulls off south Ardrishaig (Alan Dykes).
29th June
TIREE: A near adult (3cy) MEDITERRANEAN GULL with full black hood and a 2cy bird were in cut fields at Torosa, Balephetrish today (Alex Rhodes & Heatherlea tour).
26th June
MID-ARGYLL: A HOBBY was noted at Eleraig, W end of Loch Tralaig, S of Oban early pm then drifted off to SW (Bob Grove). A QUAIL was heard at Balvicar on 24 June (Neil Tierney).
23rd June
MULL: A HOBBY was seen fighting with a Kestrel at Loch Beg (Benjamin Jackson). The male GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen again, with 5 Teal at Kellan, north side of Loch na Keal (Klay Blake).
ISLAY: A QUAIL was heard calling at Creag Mhor on west side of Loch Gruinart (Clive McKay).
JURA: A QUAIL was heard calling at Inver this evening (Fiona MacGillivray).
22nd June
TIREE: A new female type RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER at Balephuil this evening (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A report of a female/2cy male COMMON ROSEFINCH in front of the Machrihanish sea bird hide on 21 June (per Birdguides). Please can the finder send details to
MID-ARGYLL: A RED KITE was seen in Glen Kinglas on 21 Jun (John Simpson).
17th June
MULL: A report of a HOOPOE seen briefly in the vicinity of Fishnish terminal (Cynthia Schulz).
COLL: A QUAIL heard at Killunaig today (Greg Smith).
14th June
MID-ARGYLL: A report of a WHITE STORK seen flying over the Beaver centre at Barnluasgan then soaring high and then off south (Megan Connolly).
MULL: Male GREEN-WINGED TEAL seen again today nr Kellan, north side of Loch na Keal (Stephanie Graham).
13th June
MULL: A report of a male GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Loch na Keal today with Mallards (per Birdguides).
4th June
TIREE: A female/2cy male RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER was at Balephuil today (John Bowler, Keith Gillon).
30th May
MULL: A report of a RED-RUMPED SWALLOW on Iona nr the Abbey around 10.30 this morning (per Birdguides).