Category: Sightings

MID-ARGYLL: A single Common Tern (still showing a dark bill) at Loch Gilp this morning, also 2 Sandwich Terns and 3 Red-throated Divers there plus a Purple Sandpiper on Duncuan Island. At the Add Estuary a Greenshank and a passage of Swallows over the Moin Mhor with 16 >E between 9 – 9.30am and a Pink-footed Goose still with Greylags at Barsloisnoch farm (Jim Dickson). John Sedgwick noted his first House Martins back at Balvicar, Seil Island today and first Grasshopper Warbler there yesterday. 2 singing Wood Warblers at Dalavich are our first report, also 2 Tree Pipits there (David Jardine).
ISLAY: Peter Roberts noted an Arctic Tern at Bruichladdich, Loch Indaal today.
KINTYRE: A few migrants going through today at Machrihanish SBO – including the first two Common Sandpipers of the year, 5 Whimbrel, 4 Sandwich Terns and only 2 White Wagtail (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: Some 200 Pale-bellied Brents headed low west over Loch a’ Phuill in rain at 1645hrs and then north up the coast – also 2w Glaucous Gull, 6 White Wagtail, 350 Golden Plover, 7 Black-tailed Godwit and 35 Sand Martin there, 3,500 Golden Plover at the Reef, 1m Siskin, 3 Goldfinch, 3 Chiffchaff, 1m and 1f Blackcap and 2 Goldcrest at Balephuil (John Bowler).
MULL: A report of the first Whinchat – at Inverlussa yesterday (Bryan Rains per Mullbirds).

MID-ARGYLL: At Strath Brenfield (N of Inverneill) – 5 Tree Pipits in song, also at least 2 singing Grasshopper Warblers and Black Grouse heard (Andre Tongue). Two Swallows in Ardrishaig this morning (Colin MacFarlane). A male White Wagtail on the front green of Lochgilphead this morning and 2 pairs of Bullfinch in my garden at Cairnbaan (Jim Dickson). Some reports from David Jardine today included – Luing – at least 7 Yellowhammers (across 4 locations), Toberonochy – 2 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 + Twite, 1 Greenland Wheatear, Bardrishaig – 1 Sedge Warbler, Blackmill Bay – c45 Pinkfeet > NW.
ISLAY: A pair of Little Terns off Bridgend, Loch Indaal today (Peter Roberts) and a Cuckoo at Foreland on Thurs 19^th (Pia Roberts).
NORTH ARGYLL: At Benderloch gravel pits today – 2 pairs of Common Sandpipers and 2 Willow Warblers and a Cuckoo report nearby on Wed 18^th (Robin Harvey/ Moira Scott).

COWAL: A Black-tailed Godwit was at the Holy Loch today and a Tree Pipit in Glen Massan (Alistair McGregor).
KINTYRE: Eddie Maguire has sent in photos of both nominate and Greenland type Northern Wheatears taken at Machrihanish SBO.
MULL: Carole Moore has kindly provided a photo of the first-summer male Black Redstart at Killiechronan yesterdaty taken by her husband Paul.
MID-ARGYLL: Jon Close noted at least 8 singing Grasshopper Warblers around the Moine Mhor at 6am today – also 3 calling Cuckoos. A 2CY Iceland Gull was in the middle of the Add Estuary late morning (Jim Dickson).
COLL: First report of a Corn Crake today – a male at Roundhouse (David Andrews per John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: First report of a Grasshopper Warbler today – in field just south of Cairnbaan hotel in the ‘meadows’, also 2 Common Sandpipers at Loch Gilp, 2 summ- plum Red-throated Divers last night off Ardrishaig and a summ- plum Black-throated Diver there last week (Colin MacFarlane). A Cuckoo at Carsaig today (Lottie Goodlet) also one at Rhudle Mill -between Lochgilphead and Kilmartin (Andy Paton) and at Cairnbaan (Jim Dickson). First report of a Sedge Warbler – in one of the reed-filled leachate ponds at Lingerton waste dump today (Andrew Tongue) – also 2 heard on Moss road, ISLAY (Gary Turnbull per Ian Brooke).
TIREE: Glossy Ibis again on its favoured roadside pool at Kilmoluaig. Big arrival of Black-tailed Godwits involved 338 birds at 3 sites around West Tiree including the first 2 colour-ringed birds of the spring. 2 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Redwing and 1 Water Rail at Balephuil (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: At Machrihanish SBO today – a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk, a Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Whimbrel, 15 Sandwich Tern and 32 White Wagtails. At Strath (The Laggan) an adult Whooper, 16 White-fronts and a Pink-footed Goose. At Drumlemble; 4 Whoopers (Eddie Maguire).
MULL:  A 2cy male Black Redstart was showing well at Killiechronan (Carole & Paul Moore per Alan Spellman).
COWAL: Neil Hammatt reports his first Swallow at Clachaig today and eagerly awaits arrival of House Martins – usually many nests on neighbours house.

KINTYRE: At Strath (Laggan) floods – a Whooper Swan, 10 White-fronts and a Pink-foot Goose plus 88 Lesser BB Gulls. At Machrihanish SBO- a 3CY Iceland Gull >S, 5 Whimbrel >N and 6 White Wagtails on the point (Eddie Maguire).  In Kintyre – 7 noisy Common Sandpipers and 6 noisy Sandwich Terns (2 at Kennacraig) also, a Little Egret and a Greenshank at Kennacraig, lots of Willow Warblers and the odd Chiffchaff here and there and 19 White-fronts still at Tayinloan (Neil Hammatt).
MULL: A drake Shoveler at Suidhe Farm, Bunessan – scarce on Mull (Tony Jefree per Alan Spellman).
MID-ARGYLL: Some recent notes for Mike Harrison in Connel – Willow Warbler – 2 on 11 Apr,  plenty around on 18 Apr, Blackcap – possibly 1 on 16 Apr, definitely 1 on 17 Apr and 2 on 18 Apr, Chiffchaff 1 or 2 on 18 Apr and Cuckoo – 1 on 18 Apr.

MID-ARGYLL: Large numbers of Siskin 20+ and 6 Redpoll visiting garden feeders daily and male Blackcap at Carsaig House (Jon Close). A Glaucous Gull at Lingerton rubbish tip, Lochgilphead today and a Cuckoo at Loch Arail, Knapdale on 15th Apr (Andrew Tongue per David Jardine).
TIREE: An adult Iceland Gull and 2w Glaucous Gull at Traigh Bhagh, 1 Lapland Bunting, 11 Sand Martin and 3 White Wagtail at Sorobaidh Bay and 2 White Wagtail at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A Whimbrel and 16 White Wagtails at Machrihanish SBO (Eddie Maguire).

COWAL: 2 Nuthatch at Benmore Gardens hide today (Andrew Mcfarlane).
TIREE: WeBs count today found: 1 Sand Martin at Sorobaidh Bay, 12 Sand Martin at Loch a’ Phuill – also 2w Glaucous Gull and 11 Black-tailed Godwits there, 2w Iceland Gull, 1 Pink-footed Goose and 8 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch Bhasapol. 1f Brambling still at Balephuil plus 1 Redwing, 1m Blackcap and 4 Goldcrest (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: I watched a large forked tail raptor today up above Oakfield woods/Brackley, Lochgilphead, which I am sure was a Red Kite (Nicola Gray-Stephens).
ISLAY: The drake Green-winged Teal as seen again at RSPB Loch Gruinart (James How).
KINTYRE: 8 White Wagtails at Machrihanish SBO (Eddie Maguire).

MID-ARGYLL: A Common Sandpiper and 2 Sand Martins at the Add Estuary. Also 20 Shelduck at Loch Crinan and single Pink-footed Goose still with the local Canadas/Greylags  and a fem Hen Harrier (Jim Dickson). Malcolm Chattwood has confirmed a pair of Dipper on the Add river at Bridgend today.
TIREE: 1 Siskin new at Balephuil – plus 1f Brambling, 1m + 1f Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 6 Goldcrest and 1m Chiffchaff (John Bowler).

COWAL: A probable Arctic rather than Common Tern off Hunter’s Quay, also 10 Sandwich Tern and a surprise of Tawny Owl near Sandbank (Alistair McGregor). A Glaucous Gull among a mixed flock of gulls at the mouth of the River Auchalick at Auchalick between Kilfinan and Potavadie, also a 2 White Wagtails and in the same area a km up river in larches about 10 /15 Crossbills, Chiffchaffs calling and a 2 Sand Martin (Allister Hamilton).
MID-ARGYLL: Around Keills – a Swallow today and adult White-tailed Eagles, also up to 3 Sandwich Terns in recent days (John Aitchison).
MULL: A day visit to the Ross of Mull/Loch na Keal included 2 drake Common Scoter, a Black-throated Diver, 5 Greenshank, several singing Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, calling Crossbills, 2 Swallows and at least 5 Goldcrests on Iona (Jim Dickson/David Jardine).
KINTYRE: A report of a Cuckoo calling from the slopes of Ben Guillion, Campbeltown on 10th April (Alec Wilson per Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: Glossy Ibis again at Kilmoluaig, 1 Sandwich Tern at Crossapol Point, 1 Little Tern at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: A Black-throated Diver off Ardrishaig/Lochy Fyne late morning, also juv Glaucous Gull again just south of Inverneill (Jim Dickson). A male Blackcap today in Anne-Lise Dickie/Bill Allan’s garden in Scammadale Glen. A House Martin was at Lingerton, Lochgilphead today (Andrew Tongue per David Jardine).
KINTYRE: Another look for the reported male Cirl Bunting today was unsuccessful. Present in Alasdair Patterson’s garden at Port Righ, Carradale were 2 Yellowhammers (regular there), now 4 Brambling (2mm,2ff), a female Reed Bunting, 2 Greenfinch, 60+ Siskins, good nos of Chaffinch and Goldfinch – also 3 Whoopers over heading NE. A Cuckoo was at just north of Grogport (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: 4 Sandwich Terns off Port Charlotte most of the day, a Glaucous Gull near Loch Gorm House, loch Indaal, 65 Golden Plover at Rockside and a Wheatear Machir Bay (Mike Peacock).