Category: Sightings

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).

ISLAY: A report of a Common Sandpiper nr Loch Gorm yesterday (Louise Muir per Ian Brooke).
MID-ARGYLL: Many small groups (2 -14) of Lesser BB Gulls now being seen inland N of Lochgilphead. Around the Moine Mhor – 18 Pied Wagtails in a loose group nr Poltalloch also 1 Lapwing, 160 Common Gulls and 80 Rooks there. 25 Fieldfares and 44 Skylarks at Ballymeanoch, 34 Teal, 76 Jackdaws at Ri Cruin and a single Woodcock on the Moine Mhor moss road (Jim Dickson).
MULL: Another sighting of the Red-necked Grebe off Pennyghael today – closer but poor light (Steve Hiscock).

COWAL: Off Dunoon crazy golf today – 26 Purple Sandpipers and 11 Turnstones (George Newall).
MID-ARGYLL: Two Nuthatches visiting my bird table in Inveraray on a daily basis. Also a Sparrowhawk reducing the Collared Dove population! (Joan Thomson).
MULL: A Wheatear was at Calgary by the churchyard today. Also, the Red-necked Grebe is still present off Pennyghael, Loch Scridain (IanHartley per Alan Spellman).
ISLAY: A Wheatear was at Ardnave on Mon 12^th (per Andy Robinson RSPB).

KINTYRE: At Bleachfield a female Hen Harrier appeared mid-afternoon.  Also, 2 displaying Lapwing there (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: From my boat at the mouth of Loch Craignish today – 2 Great Northern Divers flying down the sound, also close views of Black Guillemots (James Lehmann). Off Inverneill this morning 4 Great Northern Divers flying up towards Ardrishaig. Also, now 6 Song Thrush territories in/around Cairnbaan – all in good voice today (Jim Dickson). Yesterday – an uncommon sight at Loch Gilp with a pair of Lapwing at the Clock Tower (Colin Macfarlane). A Red-throated Diver close in by the life boat station in Oban Bay (Mike Anderson). Three Crossbills at the top of Dunadry Hill, Cairnbaan (John McInally). On Sat 10th we flushed a solitary male Black Grouse while mountain biking in Raera forest (John Sedgwick).
COWAL: Two, m+f  Brambling  in my garden in Dunoon today plus other finches including 2 Lesser Redpoll (George Newall).