Category: Sightings

COWAL: 34 Purple Sandpipers and 6 Turnstones today at Crazy Golf.  5 Lesser Redpolls on the niger feeders in the garden yesterday. (George Newall).
KINTYRE: Although common in parts of Cowal, a Magpie sighting in Stewarton is certainly unusual. (Eddie Maguire per Davie Reid).

TIREE: Glossy Ibis showed well again at Kilmoluaig today, a Great Tit new in the garden at Balephuil,, 1 imm Sea Eagle flew west at Baugh and 18 Whoopers north there yesterday – (Graham Todd), 2 Sea Eagles being mobbed by Peregrines east of Balephetrish – (Ann Gillies), adult Iceland Gull and 1 White Wagtail at Gott Bay (John Bowler).
Islay: A very early House Martin was seen at Carnain today and a probable Marsh Harrier was at Dubh Loch, Machrie (per Ian Brooke).

ISLAY: A couple of belated reports of early Cuckoo – the first was one calling nr Port Charlotte on Friday 23rd Mar and the other (same bird?) was one calling the next day at Octofad . Also a Pectoral Sandpiper was reported as seen from the south hide at Gruinart on Tuesday 27th Mar (per Ian Brooke).
MULL: A report of a Firecrest at Baile Mor, Iona today (Robertson MacCormick).
TIREE: A Glossy Ibis at Kilmoluaig and later more distantly at Loch Bhasapol – has apparently been present here since 25^th March – per Iain and Ann Gillies. Juv Glaucous Gull, 2 Gadwall and 1 Black-tailed Godwit at Loch Bhasapol and 2w Glaucous Gull at Crossapol – with Steph Cope (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: A group of 120+ White Fronted Geese at Barrahormid feeding in field opposite where swans usually are on Linne Mhuirich. Also 70+ Barnacle Geese on Island of Dana (John Close). A family of four Whooper Swans on the gravel ponds by Kilmartin quarry at 9:45 this morning.  They took off, heading south down the Kilmartin glen.  Pair of very active Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the woods just beyond (Ju Randall).

MID-ARGYLL: Malcolm Chattwood was unable to note any more summer migrants today but saw a Moorhen on the Crinan canal nr Crinan.
COWAL: Alistair McGregor went one better yesterday on the ringed Oystercatcher he found last week…finding one with a colour-ring at Otter Ferry but unfortunately it was too worn to read.

KINTYRE: Highlights on the ABC trip to the Sound of Gigha today included – a Little Egret, a Sandwich Tern, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 20+ Common Scoter, 8 Slavonian Grebes, 4 Purple Sandpipers, a Wheatear, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits – a total of 66 species. Also a Greenshank nr Kennacraig (Jim Dickson).
At Carradale – Alasdair Paterson reports – a Magpie robbing Collared Dove’s nest in our neighbour’s garden this morning, three groups of Whooper Swans totaling 44 birds flying NE  and 37 Goldfinch plus 50+ Siskins 50+ nyger seed feeders in the garden.
MID-ARGYLL: David Jardine reports that the Loch Feorlin Pied-billed Grebe is back.

MID-ARGYLL: A flock of 21 Whoopers Swans heading north high over Lochgilphead at mid-day (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A male Brambling new at Balephuil this afternoon in the rain – a rarity here in spring, 10+ Manx Shearwaters off Sorobaidh Bay, 2w Glaucous Gull at Hynish, 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Heylipol (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A male White Wagtail at Machrihanish SBO today (Eddie Maguire).
NORTH ARGYLL: The Little Egret is still at Loch Laich (David Jardine).
COWAL: An adult Little Gull, with Black-headed Gulls seen today off the Dunoon promenade (Stuart Gibson).

COWAL: George Newall has noticed a significant drop in numbers of Oystercatchers at the Holy Loch this winter – perhaps weather related and or a reflection of national decline? Alistair McGegor photographed a ringed bird in Dunoon yesterday, however too worn to read – colour rings of course are easier!
TIREE: A Juv Iceland Gull at Balephetrish (John Bowler).

TIREE: 1 Snow Bunting at Sandaig, Ad Iceland Gull at Loch Earblaig, juv Glaucous Gull at Loch Bhasapol, 2 Gadwall, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Scaup at Loch a’ Phuill. Island totals of 125 Whooper Swans and 21 Pied Wagtails. (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Our first report of a Willow Warbler – one in song yesterday in Minard – also a single Wheatear at Keills on the 18th (John McInally). Today – a Nuthatch back again in the garden today – nr Barsloisnoch farm (James lehmann). A Greenshank was at the head of Loch Feochan this morning (Jim Dickson).
MID / NORTH ARGYLL: Highlights of my belated WeBS count on Loch Etive were a second winter Iceland Gull at Ardchattan Priory and a Grey Heron at Bonawe Quarry having its fishing interrupted by a female Otter with two cubs. The Norwegian-ringed Blackbird (see 17 January) is still visiting my garden in Connel most days but the change to westerly weather may encourage him to move on soon (Mike Harrison).

MID-ARGYLL: Around the Moine Mhor today – good numbers (small flocks) of Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwings  and Fieldfares dotted about. At Loch Leathan – 4 Whooper Swans, 4 Goosander, 5 Goldeneye and 2 Tufted Duck. Also a Pipistrelle out flying around Ford late morning in sunny 6C conditions (Jim Dickson). A male Crossbill in our garden at Scammadale this morning -our first there in 10 years! (Anne-Lise Dickie).
TIREE:  A male Wheatear at Balephetrish Hill, 1 ad and 1 2w Iceland Gull at Loch Caol, 2w Iceland Gull at Ruaig sliabh, 2 x 2w Glaucous Gulls west of Ruaig, 1 juv Glaucous Gull at Salum, 1 very confiding Woodcock at Balephuil and imm Moorhens at Baugh and Cornaig Crossroads (John Bowler).