7th September

TIREE: An Icterine Warbler was found in rose bushes on the road leading to Loch a’ Phuill by Keith Gillon today and seen by John Bowler this evening. The American Golden Plover is still present at Sandaig.
MID-ARGYLL: A Nuthatch at Stonefield was a first record for this area (Anne Lavelle).

ICTERINE WARBLER – Tiree 7th Sep (Keith Gillon).

5th September

TIREE: Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 250+ Golden Plover this pm – also 1 Ruff and 4 Black-tailed Godwits there – (John Bowler with Keith Gillon).  Rosy Starling still at Kenovay today (John Bowler).
ISLAY: 2W Mediterranean Gull in Bowmore this morning, Reeve still at Loch Gruinart, 70 Goldfinch at Carnain and 3 Mediterranean Gulls together at Rubha Ban/Carnain, Loch Indaal this evening  – 2 x 2W and a juv/1W (Jim Dickson).

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER – Tiree 5th Sep (John Bowler).
BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER – Tiree 5th Sep (John Bowler).
2W Mediterranean Gull (bird 2) – Loch Indaal, Islay 5th Sep (Jim Dickson).
2W Mediterranean Gull (bird 1) – Loch Indaal, Islay 5th Sep (Jim Dickson).
Juv + 2W Med Gulls, Loch Indaal, Islay 5th Sep (Jim Dickson).

4th September

TIREE: The Rosy Starling is still visiting feeders at Kenovay (John Bowler) – and was seen at Balephetrish yesterday by Keith Gillon
ISLAY: Two more Mediterranean Gulls today (both second-winters) to add to the two juv/first-winters in the last few days. All birds being seen between Carnain and Gortan (Jim Dickson).

2W MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Rubha Ban, Islay 4th Sep (Jim Dickson).
2W MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Gortan, Islay 4th Sep (Jim Dickson).

3rd September

KINTYRE: Bill Allan has sent in photos of his “Polish” Mute Swan record – at Ronachan Bay on 22 Sep 2013 and so far only the second report in Scotland.
NORTH ARGYLL: A male Velvet Scoter was at Ardmucknish Bay, Benderloch today (David Jardine).
MID-ARGYLL: Highlights at the Add Estuary today – 7 Whimbrel and a Peregrine and also a White-tailed Eagle hunting at Loch Gilp (David Pearson).
TIREE: 30 juv Black-tailed Godwit and 4 juv Knot on arable silage stubble at Kenovay, 10 juv Black-tailed Godwit at Loch a’ Phuill, 4 juv Knot at Gott Bay – although 15 juvs there at the weekend – Keith Gillon, imm Merlin showed well at Ben Hynish, White Wagtails quite widespread on the beaches (John Bowler).

MERLIN – Ben Hynish, Tiree 3rd Sep (John Bowler).
SPARROWHAWK – Coull, Islay 3rd Sep (Jim Dickson).
“Polish” Mute Swan – Ronachan Bay, Kintyre 22nd Sep 2013 (Bill Allan).

2nd September

ISLAY: both the first-year Mediterranean Gulls still at Rhubha Ban, Loch Indaal this morning. Also 11 juv Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Ruff at Loch Gruinart, 1 Gadwall, 41 Tufted Duck and 1 Scaup at Loch Gorm (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 200+ Golden Plover. Garden Warbler and Robin new in at Balephuil with 1f Blackcap still there. 1 Kestrel new at Balemartine. 5th dead Cuvier’s Beaked Whale arrived at Traigh Ghrianal after the 4th at Hynish on 30 Aug (John Bowler).

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER – Sandaig, Tiree 1st Sep (Keith Gillon).
Bird 1: 1CY MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Loch Indaal, Islay 2nd Sep (Jim Dickson).
Bird 2: 1CY MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Loch Indaal, Islay 2nd Sep (Jim Dickson).

1st September

ISLAY: From the ferry this morning 5 Common Dolphin nr Texa island. At Blackrock, Loch Indaal – 2 juv/1W Mediterranean Gulls this morning and 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Greater Scaup, 3 Great Northern Diver, 39 Wigeon and 49 Common Scoter on the loch. Also 18 Knot, 2 Golden Plover and 1 Greenshank at Loch Gruinart plus 25 alba wagtails (inc 10+ White Wagtail) nr the new hide at Gruinart. (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: An American Golden Plover and a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sandaig this afternoon (Keith Gillon).

1CY MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Loch Indaal, Islay 1st Sep (Jim Dickson).
1CY MEDITERRANEAN GULL – Loch Indaal, Islay 1st Sep (Jim Dickson).

31st August

JURA: On David Jardine’s ABC trip to Jura on Sat 25th Aug he re-found a ‘Polish’ Mute Swan cygnet first noted at Inver, Jura (opposite Port Askaig / Bunnahabhain on Islay) in July. This white-morph juvenile is rare in the UK and apparently only one previous Scottish record. It is likely they are under recorded and my memory was jogged – recalling Bill Allan’s report of a ‘polish’ cygnet in a family group off Ronachan point a few years back and hopefully Bill will get back with his photo and date. Any additional historical records would also be valuable. Please send all sightings and reports by e-mail to  or by post to Moss Taylor, 4 Heath Road, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8JH (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: 3 Sanderling and 60+ Turnstone at Kirn , and a Kingfisher reported to me by Paul Kent on the Little Eckaig near Dalinlongart farm (Alistair McGregor).

‘Polish’ MUTE SWAN – Sound of Islay 25th Aug (David Palmar).

30th August

MID-ARGYLL: Now 30 Teal at the Add Estuary, also still 2 Greenshank (Jim Dickson). A nice sighting reported of 2 adult White-tailed Eagles at An Oitir, off Minard. Also 4 White-tailed Eagles over Castle Sween (all at the same time) today (Alastair Ross).
ISLAY: At Loch Gruinart – Dunlin 1700+, Sanderling 300+, Black-tailed Godwit 67, Knot 5, Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Golden Plover 8 (James Butcher).

WHITE-TAILED EAGLES – off Minard, Mid-Argyll 30th Aug.
WHITE-TAILED EAGLES – off Minard, Mid-Argyll 30th Aug.

29th August

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).

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER – Sandaig, Tiree 29th Aug (John Bowler).
RUFF – Sandaig, Tiree 29th Aug (John Bowler).

28th August

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).

BLACK-TAILED GODWITS – Kenovay, Tiree 28th Aug (John Bowler).
BLACK-TAILED GODWITS – Kenovay, Tiree 28th Aug (John Bowler).