Category: Sightings

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).

KINTYRE: Following a spell of poor weather at last a few migrants including the first Whimbrel and Sandwich Tern of the year.  Also present, 40 Ringed Plovers, 12 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Ruddy Turnstones, 2 Greenshank and a White Wagtail. (Eddie Maguire)
NORTH ARGYLL: A Chiffchaff singing at Kilchurn Castle viewpoint was the first record this year. (David Jardine)

COWAL: 3 Sandwich Terns were seen in the Firth of Clyde off Dunoon.(Andrew Webster)
TIREE: A Cackling Goose new at Ruaig this morning with the Barnacle Geese there. Also 1 juv Glaucous Gull  and a Red-throated Diver at Loch a’ Phuill. 1 Knot and 22 Great Northern Divers at Gott Bay.  5 leg-flagged Sanderling at Balephetrish Bay included a bird that had wintered in NW France. (John Bowler)
NORTH ARGYLL: A Little Egret was at Dalrannoch Bay, Loch Creran at 12.00 and was seen again at 17.00. In Glen Creran, 5 Whooper Swans were on Loch Baile Mhic Chailein, together with 5 Goldeneye, 4 Mallard and a Greenshank. A newly ploughed field at Invercreran held over 20 Meadow Pipits and 6 Pied Wagtails (Robin Harvey)
MULL: The first Willow Warbler and singing Blackcap reported from Carsaig (Alan Spellman per Dave Grant)

COWAL: A ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull has returned to his garden in Dunoon.(George Newall)
KINTYRE: A male Hen Harrier was seen at Carradale Golf Course and a Magpie in the area since 24^th March was joined by another one today.  Also a female Brambling at the garden feeders with around 60 Siskins including a male with unreadable metal ring on its right leg. On 2^nd April a Weasel in the garden was quick enough to catch a Chaffinch! (Alasdair Paterson)
NORTH ARGYLL : The long-staying Little Egret at Loch Laich was still present this evening. (David Jardine)

COWAL: Up to 40 Gannets fishing off Tighnabruaich pier for most of the afternoon brightened a wild and wet day. (Malcolm Chattwood)

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).