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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
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).
