Category: Sightings

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).

SOUND of JURA: An early morning seawatch from Kennacraig to Port Ellen, Islay produced – 2 Sooty and 225 Manx Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrel, 2 Great Skua, 162 Kittiwake, 1,420 auks (mostly Common Guillemots but inc at least 28 Razorbill), 10 Black Guillemot, 2 Fulmar, 110 Gannet, 1 Arctic and 1 Sandwich Tern (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Rosy Starling showing well on feeders at Kenovay at lunch-time – apparently been there since at least 14 Aug (Alex and Dolina MacDonald per John Bowler). Nick Wall saw an adult Grey Plover at Greenhill today and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit at Gott Bay yesterday.

TIREE: Nick Wall has kindly provided photos of the adult Ring-billed Gull he found near Hough Bay on 14 Aug. 1 Merlin at Vaul – first of autumn here (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A Kingfisher was at the Crinan Canal (nr Fraser’s wagon at Crinan wood) – also 4 Moorhen there (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: A juv Ruff at Machrihanish SBO today (Eddie Maguire).

TIREE: An adult Ring-billed Gull at Rubha Hanais at the north end of the Maze at lunch-time today (Nick Wall per John Bowler). No further sign of it in the evening (John Bowler).
COLONSAY / ORONSAY: Patrick Styles (RSPB warden on Oronsay) kindly sent through some images he took recently.
COWAL: Alistair McGregor reports that wader numbers now building up at the Holy Loch e.g. now 30 Ringed Plover, 16 Turnstone but no sign of the Little Egret recently. Gearge Newall got a quick reply about the ringed LBB Gull he saw in Dunoon today – BLUE M:132, Larus fuscus metal ring M41005, ringed in the rehabilitation center CRAMQ, in Quiaios, Portugal, and released at 23 of December of 2016.