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).
MID-ARGYLL: In fields around East Lodge, Poltalloch this morning many more Song Thrush than of recent with 29 birds in one field, also a flock of 33 Redwings and 4 Mistle Thrush (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A Black-tailed Godwit at Loch a’ Phuill today (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A Wheatear flew across the road at Ballymeanoch (N of Lochgilphead) this afternoon. Fewer birds today on the Add/Loch Crinan WeBS count however still 118 Wigeons, also a single Whooper Swan (Jim Dickson).
A Wheatear was at Gorstan, Isle of Luing today (David Jardine).
COWAL: At the Holy Loch today – ca 70 Whooper Swans in two groups (Alistair McGregor).
KINTYRE: A total of 61 Lesser Black-backed Gulls >N / 4hrs from 11:30hrs; passage commenced after rain stopped (largest loose groups were 19, 14 and 12). (Eddie Maguire).
ISLAY: A Sandwich Tern reported at Machir Bay today (per BirdGuides).
