TIREE: Moulting adult American Golden Plover in flock of 550 Golden Plovers on the machair at Sandaig today, also 1 juv Ruff there. Now 3 different Cuvier’s Beaked Whales to have washed ashore here in the last week (John Bowler).
COLL: A single Sooty Shearwater was seen in the waters off Coll today (Neil Hammatt).
TIREE: A flock of 205 juvenile Black-tailed Godwits and 4 juv Knot on arable silage stubble at Kenovay today. 2 Dunnock new at Balephuil – also 6 Common Redpoll there (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A Golden Eagle being harried by a buzzard, at Kames (just south of Kilmelford) mid-afternoon today (Ju Randall).
TIREE: 4 juv Knot and 14 White Wagtails at Gott Bay, 1 Whimbrel at Ruaig, 145 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 juv Knot at Kenovay. A dead Cuvier’s Beaked-whale at Scarinish, 1 of 2 here just now (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: An Osprey, perched for a good half hour + at West Loch Tarbert opposite the pier (Steve & Ruth Herrington).
MID-ARGYLL: An adult Little Gull at Loch Crinan this morning (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A sea-watch in S7-8 with rain at Hynish today 1210-1310hrs produced (all birds heading SW): 1 Balearic Shearwater, 3 Great Skua, 8 Storm Petrel, 376 Manx Shearwater, 418 Kittiwake, 457 Gannet, 74 Fulmar, 42 Shag, 1 Puffin and 15 large auk. The Rosy Starling still present at Kenovay to 25 Aug at least (John Bowler).
ISLAY: Autumn in full swing early this morning at Port Charlotte – lovely photo from Mike Peacock.
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this evening – 26 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 3 Red Knot and a 1CY Kittiwake in with the other gulls. Also a male Hen Harrier over the Moine Mhor (Jim Dickson).
Sound of Jura: From the Islay ferry today – 350 Manx Shearwaters, 420 Kittiwakes inc 370 on An Dubh Sgeir, Gigha, 1 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua. Only a few Common Guillemots – some flying and 20+ Razorbill. 5 Sandwich Terns in West Loch Tarbet (Jim Dickson).
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Crinan mid-morning: 2 x 1CY Mediterranean Gulls – also 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, 16 Dunlin and an Osprey there. Nearby at the Add Estuary 2 juv Greenshank and 2 Wigeon (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: Malcolm Ogilvie has reported that a Monarch butterfly was seen on a buddlea in Bridgend, Islay, on 19th. Possibility of a transatlantic migrant although usually noted in the UK later in the autumn. Also being noted that some of these are now being released at weddings…..
ISLAY: A note from James Butcher (one of the RSPB wardens at Loch Gruinart) saying waders there now include: 2000+ Dunlin, 200+ Sanderling, 43 Black-tailed Godwit and 23 Red Knot.
TIREE: Rosy Starling still at Kenovay today also 120 juv Black-tailed Godwits on the shore at Balephetrish Bay.
MULL: A report of a Goshawk at Calgary beach today (Matt Francis).
KINTYRE: A juvenile Mediterranean Gull again today but appears to be a new/different individual. Also 30 Black- tailed Godwits >S bringing this months passage total so far to 246 >S on 6 dates (a well above average showing). An American Mink was very active around the point this morning (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp this morning – an big increase in Oystercatcher with 356 birds, also 1 Greenshank, 1 Lapwing, 2 juv Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits (ad + 2 juvs), 1 Wigeon, 11 Herons. At the Add Estuary – inc: 4 juv Black-tailed Godwit, 2 juv Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 2 Wigeon, 10 Teal (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: The Rosy Starling is still at Kenovay at lunch-time – also seen there on 18 and 19 Aug (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO today – a juvenile Mediterranean Gull. Best of the rest was 144 Black-tailed Godwits >S (5 flocks / largest 60) and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit >S (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Crinan/Add Estuary – 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Knot (first of autumn there) and f Hen Harrier (Jim Dickson).
