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 24th 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 2nd 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 25th 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.
