Category: Sightings

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.

ISLAY: A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was seen from the north hide at RSBB Loch Gruinart today (James How).

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.

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.

TIREE: A male PIED FLYCATCHER arrived in the garden at Balephuil today – only record for Argyll this year so far.. (John Bowler).

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).

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 (27^th) and then showed well at Barrapol on  28^th late pm, before flying to Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).

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).

TIREE: A LAPLAND BUNTING was at Crossapol and a juvenile ICELAND GULL was at Loch an Eilein today (John Bowler).

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).