TIREE: 2 adult Glaucous Gulls at Sandaig, 1 juv Glaucous Gull at Greenhill (John Bowler), 2 imm Iceland Gulls at Heylipol Church (Steph Cope).
COWAL: Alistair McGregor found 2m+f Greater Scaup in the Clyde Estuary, off Greenock today (therefore not quite in Argyll….pity).
TIREE: Adult and juv Iceland Gulls at Milton (Martin Finnigan).
MID-ARGYLL: A search for the Snow Buntings in the Cairnbaan forest at Daill Loch today – some distant flight calls were heard but birds not seen. Four Common Crossbills seen and some terrible shots taken at long range of 150+ metres (Jim Dickson). A Nuthatch was back at Lynsey Gibson’s garden in Ardrishaig today.
TIREE: Sea-watch off Hynish in S8 to SSW7 at lunchtime produced the following (all heading SW) in 1hr: 3 Little Auk, 6 Puffin, 1 ad Lesser Black-backed Gull, 355 Razorbill (all large auks viewed well were this species), 6 Tystie, 91 Gannet, 108 Shag, 65 Fulmar, 112 Kittiwake (all ads), 130 Eider and 12 Great Northern Diver (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: I was lucky enough to see a flock of approx 18 Snow Buntings above Letterdail, Cairnbaan late this afternoon. I heard some unusual calls and the flock landed about 35 -40 ft in front of me on the forest road near the Daill Loch. They were actively feeding for a good 10 mins. They then flew off up the road a bit before landing again then shortly after took off towards the forest and I lost sight of them. Only my second ever sighting of them (Lynsey Gibson).
TIREE: 3 Greenfinch at Baugh (the first here this winter), a Juv Glaucous Gull at Baugh (Bill Welstead). 4 Scaup, 16 Shoveler and a Welsh-ringed Oystercatcher at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Another great photo from Eddie Maguire – one of the male Hen Harriers frequenting the Laggan.
COWAL: My garden in Bishop’s Glen now with 20+ Chaffinches, double figures of Goldfinches and Siskins and the occasional Redpoll still appearing, also 3 Bullfinch and 3 Jays have been regular in the snow (George Newall).
MID-ARGYLL: I have no idea what I have just photographed! There was a large mixed flock in the field between me and Barsloichnach Farm – this white head instantly stood out. Is it some sort of juvenile hybrid? (James Lehmann). This is the odd hybrid goose that’s been around for a couple of months now….perhaps a mix of Barnacle and Canada?
MID-ARGYLL: There were 140+ White-fronted Geese at Coshandrochaid by Ulva Lagoons and most unusually a single Moorhen on the Ulva Lagoon marshes by the Danna road (Morag Rea). An Excellent close sighting on a male Hen Harrier as it flushed 3 Snipe near our house at Bridgend, Kilmichael Glassary, then a female Brambling at our feeder later (Sue & Malcolm Chattwood).
Lesser Redpolls have been thin on the ground this winter – I found my first of the year in my Kilmartin garden mist net today. A total of 110 different Siskins caught in the garden yesterday and today (2 controls, 2 retraps from 2017 and 106 new birds), also 24 Goldfinch (1 retrap from 2016, the reminder new birds (David Jardine).
ISLAY: Ian Brooke at ‘Islay Birds’ reports – a male Ring necked Duck seen from the old hide at Gruinart, also 4 Greenshank there (Bob Davison/David Barr). Gordon Yates had the Iceland Gull at Ballinaby this afternoon… and also 2 Glaucous Gulls present – Corsapol and Gruinart.
COWAL: A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle nr Largiemore today and also a Kingfisher on the Strathlachlan river on 6th Feb (Yvonne McCronne). A Nuthatch, along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker and good numbers of tits at the feeder by Benmore Gardens car par (Frances Lynn). Yesterday -In a field close to Kilfinan, approx. 25 Fieldfares, 15 Mistle Thrush feeding. On the Otter ferry shore road near the fish farm a pair of Gooseander feeding and a Kingfisher near Castle Lachlan (same as Yvonne’s sighting – Alistair McGregor/George Newall).
MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at the head of Loch Gilp this morning (David Jardine/Jim Dickson). At Poltalloch – 8 Fieldfares and 2 Redwings, also 8 Reed Buntings nearby at Dalvore.
MID-ARGYLL: Two White-fronted Geese nr Poltalloch (East Lodge) today (James Lehmann). It looks like this once traditional flock here is almost extinct now.
On 6th Feb Robin Harvey noted 11 Turnstones foraging in the drift seaweed and 15 Black Guillemots now in breeding plumage, in front of their nesting sites in the sea wall on the esplanade in Oban.
KINTYRE: A Glaucous Gull still present at Tarbert harbour first noted on 5th Feb (Birdguides). Eddie Maguire reports: at Campbeltown harbour; an adult and a 2CY Iceland Gull loafing on the pontoons late afternoon. Bleachfield; the number of Reed Buntings has risen to 11. Of interest; notification received with details of the French-ringed Goldfinch that was trapped at MSBO last spring ringed on 11th February 2017 at Les Roberts, Liart, Ardennes, France and Controlled at MSBO on 19th April 2017 – distance: 925km.
COWAL: Alan Forsyth has been noting 10-15 Siskins in his Innellan garden since they arrived back there in January plus groups of Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch (2) and has just noted his first ever Lesser Redpoll there. He notes that no local Jays around this winter but did find a dead one on the Innellan/Toward shoreline a month ago during a beach clean.
MID-ARGYLL: Mike Harrison reports his first Siskin back in his Connel garden since last June. In Cairnbaan still around 120 Chaffinch coming to be fed in the garden this morning, along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 8 Starlings, 2 Dunnocks, 4 Blackbirds, 2 Goldcrests, a Wren, 8 Collared Doves, 2 Greenfinch and 4 Siskins – also a Common Snipe (Jim Dickson).
