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-footedGoose 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).
KINTYRE: Yesterday evening Alasdair Patterson cautiously identified a male Cirl Bunting at his garden feeding station at Port Righ, Carradale. It was feeding voraciously and was seen well at about 15 feet away with the black and yellow head markings and black throat seen well. No sign of it today despite a good search. Male and female Brambling, 70+ Siskin, 15 Goldfinch present – also a pair of Magpies recently. One Manx Shearwater off Skipness (Jim Dickson). MID-ARGYLL: Two Sandwich Terns sitting out on the mud at Loch Gilp early afternoon (Jim Dickson). MULL: Bryan Rains found 2 Lapland Buntings at Glen More yesterday evening. A Common Sandpiper, on the south shore of Loch Na Keal, opposite Eorsa (Pete and Jan Hall per Alan Spellman) and another Common Sandpiper at Pennyghael this morning (Jim & Linda Hurles per Alan Spellman). ISLAY: A Magpie at Easter Ellister along with 5 Mistle Thrush, 4 Swallows and 1 SandMartin (Mike Peacock).
MULL: I saw the Firecrest again this morning at 07.25 in my front garden (just along from the Argyll Hotel in Iona village street) – Carol Dougall. COWAL: On Loch Loskin outside Dunoon this afternoon, 30 + Sand Martins and two drake and one duck Mandarin and a pair of Grey Wagtail (Alistair McGregor). TIREE: The Glossy Ibis back at Kilmoluaig pool (also there on 10 Apr), 1f Brambling, 17+ Goldcrest, 1m Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Dunnock, 2 Linnet and 2 Chaffinch at Balephuil. Ad Iceland Gull at Loch Bhasapol. 26 Greenland White-fronts north over Balephetrish at 1200hrs, 84 Great Northern Divers off Balemartine (John Bowler). 1f Blackcap at Baugh (Bill Welstead). 300 Greenland White-fronts north over Hynish at 1145hrs (Peter Isaacson).
Male Black Redstart at Carnan Mor this evening (John Bowler). ISLAY: A Hawfinch showing well in a garden in Port Wemyss early afternoon. We also had a 1st-summer Iceland Gull at Claddoch. Also at Gruinart, the Green-winged Teal still and two Ruff from the north hide (Val Wilson, David & Pauline Clugston). A Magpie was a rarity at Kilchoman today (Ian & Margaret Brooke).
NORTH ARGYLL: One Swallow just arrived at Rhugarbh Croft, Appin – five days earlier than last year (Mary Gregory). A Greenshank and a pair of Wigeon at Loch Tulla, also 30 Sand Martins feeding low over the loch (Roger Broad). MID-ARGYLL: Both Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing at Lerigoligan, Ardfern this morning. Also, a female Brambling feeding on sunflower hearts in our garden (Ju Randall). A Magpie today at Bellanoch around 11am (Annette & Roger Anderton). TIREE: 1 Willow Warbler and 5 Goldcrests at Balephuil, 1 Willow Warbler at Meningie, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Goldeneye at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
MULL: Another (possibly the same) Firecrest seen today in the Village on Iona, by one of my neighbours saw one in her back garden (Carol Dougall per Robertson MacCormick). MID-ARGYLL: Some recent records sent through from John McInally – included an egret, probably Little Egret at the Add Estuary on 31st March, an Osprey at Loch an Add (Letterdaill) on 6th April, an Osprey at River Add (Bellanoch Bridge) on 7th April and Sand Martins at River Add near Bellanoch on 7th April. Today a Willow Warbler was between Dunadd and Drimvore and 2 prs of Grey Wagtail yesterday between Cairnbaan and Barnakill on the Crinan Canal, also 30 Siskins in Cairnbaan (Jim Dickson). 15 Whooper Swans seen flying N over Ardfern (Ju Randall). TIREE: A Little Tern at Gott Bay, 2 Great Skuas at Ceann a’ Mhara – also 46 Greenland White-fronts north over there at 7am and 23 Black Guillemots on the early morning survey. 5,200 Golden Plover in 3 flocks today including 3,300 at the Reef (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: A Chiffchaff heard singing today in Carradale and later a Swallow at Portrigh (Alasdair Paterson). At Tayinloan 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Swallow. 2 Swallows also seen at Rhunahaorine as well as 2 Velvet Scoter (David Jardine). MID-ARGYLL: Pink-footed Goose – singles seen with Greylags at Poltalloch and Barsloisnoch, also 2+ Sand Martins this evening over the River Add at Dalvore (David Jardine). A Greenshank again at the north end of Scotnish, also a flock of around 70-80 Siskin on the road and roadside verge about 500m north of Loch Collie Bhar car park – I’ve never seen such a large flock (Doug Menzies). A Brambling in our Tayvallich garden – first seen there in 21 years! (Morag Rea). An Osprey was at the Add Estuary around mid-day (Caroline Anderson). TIREE: 1 Siskin, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Woodpigeon, 2 Linnet, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wheatear and 120 Redwing (many in communal sub-song) at Balephuil, 1 Jackdaw east over Loch a’ Phuill, also 1,300 Golden Plover, 3 Goldeneye and 40 Redwing there; 1 Jackdaw and 1f Wheatear at Sorobaidh Bay. 24 Great Northern Divers and 170 Manx Shearwaters feeding off Hynish (John Bowler). 6 Goldcrest seen at Caoles (Rhoda Meek). COWAL: This afternoon at Toward point – 4 Sandwich Tern, a pair of Red-throated Diver and on Loch Loskin outside of Dunoon late this evening, one drake Mandarin Duck (Alisair McGregor).
NORTH ARGYLL: Large numbers of Redwing in north Argyll, including 280 at Barcaldine and 100+ at Ardachy. Loch Etive; many taking part in communal singing (David Jardine) MID-ARGYLL: A Willow Warbler was singing at Taynish NNR today (Malcolm Chattwood). At least 6 Wheatears in the Ellenabeich area (Isle of Seil) with one White Wagtail (David Jardine) COWAL: A Swallow see near Sandbank this morning , then later this afternoon at the Gantocks , Dunoon, approx. 30 Gannets, 15 Shag and 20 Cormorants mostly in dispute over what looked like a plaice (Alistair McGregor). Another Swallow today – at Strachur (Jim Nolan). A Nuthatch seen very well at Ardkinglas woodland – also a Chiffchaff singing (Birders on return from Estonia…). KINTYRE: Our bird club had an outing to the sound of Gigha and along with the expected GN Divers, Slav Grebes, Common Scoters etc we had a couple of Swallows at the west coast salmon site (Doug Menzies/Bute birders). MULL: A report of a Tree Pipit at Gribun (Jim & Linda Hurles).
