Category: Sightings

TIREE: A drake Green-winged Teal, 2CY White-tailed Eagle, 3CY Glaucous Gull, 1m Pochard and 4 Scaup at Loch a’ Phuill – also 13 Goldfinch & Fieldfare there. A Black-throated Diver and 1 Long-tailed Duck off Traigh Bhi. The 2CY Ring-billed Gull again at Greenhill – also juv Glaucous Gull there and the Glossy Ibis at Balevullin (John Bowler).
COWAL: A 4CY Iceland Gull seen from Otter Ferry towards the middle of Loch Fyne today (Neil Hammatt).
MID-ARGYLL: ABC trip to Ormsary today with a turnout of 8 folk and excellent viewing conditions on the loch – highlights from 54 species seen included – imm White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine, 21 Black-throated Divers, 4 Common Scoter, 6 Shelducks and 52 Goldeneye. Many thanks to Errol Crutchfield for leading the trip. Earlier 6 Slavonian Grebes were seen towards the head of Loch Caolisport. At Inveraray a Nuthatch from yesterday returned and was photographed (Joan Thomson).

MID-ARGYLL: A day for finding NUTHATCHES! – A pair were visiting a garden in Inveraray (near the golf course) around 1pm for over an hour, eating sunflower seed hearts (Joan Thomson). A pair were seen and the male heard calling a mile NE of Kilmichael Glassary after 1.30pm (Blair Urquhart). Looks like this species is becoming very well established in Argyll now. This is a good time to listen out for them and check your bird feeders – all records of them are welcomed.
KINTYRE: A Kingfisher was at Kennacraig today and an Iceland Gull was at Campbeltown harbour (Rik Morley, Neil Hammatt). A fem/imm type Hen Harrier was photographed at Bleachfield, the Laggan (at last!) – (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: Roger Broad has sent in his pictures of the two rarities currently on the island – many thanks.

MID-ARGYLL: Lots of Woodcock around (4.30am this morning) especially along Bellanoch road across the Moine Mhor Moss – a dozen scattered along the road and then more individuals on way back to Tayvallich and then a few more in Carsaig (Jon Close). In fields around Barsloisnoch farm this morning – 10 Mistle Thrush and 5 Fieldfares (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: 1w Ring-billed Gull now at Greenhill, the Glossy Ibis at Balevullin, 5 Snow Bunting at Traigh Bhagh, a near-adult Glaucous Gull at The Reef, a Juv Glaucous Gull at Hough Bay and a juv Glaucous Gull at Greenhill (John Bowler).
COWAL: This afternoon at Dunoon crazy golf – 25 Purple Sandpipers and 16 Turnstones, also about 8 Shags feeding near the gantocks (Alistair McGregor).
MULL: Colin MacFarlane saw an early Puffin off Bloody Bay today, from the Tiree ferry.
KINTYRE: 2 male Hen Harriers and 7 Reed Buntings at Bleachfield, The Laggan (Eddie Maguire).

TIREE: 1w Ring-billed Gull again at Sandaig today (Andy Robinson, Ben Jones et al),  3CY Iceland Gull at Gott Tip (Graham Todd), 2CY Iceland Gull at Heylipol Church  (Steph Cope).

MULL: A Red-necked Grebe was on Loch Spelve, seen from the Croggan Road (Gaëtan D’hoest).
TIREE: Glossy Ibis again at Balevullin (Roger Broad et al), a dead Little Auk near the Ringing Stone and Juv Glaucous Gull at the Ringing Stone (Roger Broad), 3CY and a juv Glaucous Gull at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler), a juv Glaucous Gull at Milton (Andy Robinson), a juv Glaucous Gull at West Hynish (Morag McCullagh), a Jack Snipe at Milton (Steph Cope) and 3 Scaup at Loch a’ Phuill (Morag McCullagh).

MID-ARGYLL: Whilst walking his dog today in Kilmartin Glen James Lehmann was treated to the sight of a White-Tailed Eagle soaring high over the fields and being harried by Hooded Crows.
KINTYRE: On Saturday 28^th a Little Egret was seen on the shore between Tayinloan and Kennacraig (Janice O’Neill).
TIREE: Today, a Glossy Ibis showed well at Balevullin, a 3CY Glaucous Gull at Traigh Bhi, 3CY Glaucous Gull , 2 Red Knot at Clachan and a Juv Glaucous Gull at Kilmoulaig.(John Bowler).  Also 2 Iceland Gulls between Hynish and West Hynish (Andy Robinson & Steph Cope).
On Sunday 29^th 1 Great Skua at Gott Bay – very early for here (Andy Robinson & Alison Phillip),1 Glossy Ibis at Balevullin (Graham Todd), 1 Jack Snipe – near Scarinish, a 3CY Glaucous Gull at Heanish and a Juv Glaucous Gull at The Reef and Traigh Bhagh(John Bowler).  Also a Juv Glaucous Gull at Balephetrish Bay (Morag McCullagh)

MID-ARGYLL: Today near Claonaig, a male Hen Harrier (Val Wells per David Bridge)
KINTYRE: In addition to photographing the male Hen Harrier at Bleachfield Farm today a Merlin and 3CY Iceland Gull were also seen (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: A very early Great Skua at Gott Bay (Andy Robinson, Alison Phillip), the Glossy Ibis again at Balevullin (Graham Todd), 1 Jack Snipe, near Scarinish and also a dead 3CY Iceland Gull there, a 3CY Glaucous Gull at Heanish, and juv Glaucous Gulls at The Reef and Traigh Bhagh (John Bowler). A Juv Glaucous Gull at Balephetrish Bay (Morag McCullagh).

TIREE: Glossy Ibis again at Balevullin today, although flushed by a Merlin. Juvenile Iceland Gull at Barrapol, 3 Juv Glaucous Gulls at Sandaig, Traigh Ghrianal and Balephetrish Bay also 1 Dunnock and 4 Redwing in sub-song at Balephuil (John Bowler).
COWAL: A juv Glaucous Gull was at Otter Ferry today and reports of a White-tailed Eagle there recently (Neil Hammatt).

MID-ARGYLL: A Great Skua was at the fish farm at Braevallich (Loch Awe) this morning – definite ID. Also 5 Mandarins (4 males +1 female) and a male and female Goldeneye. We have a resident population of Cormorants of between 14-19 but this went up today to 24. Most I have seen there (Alan Dykes).
KINTYRE: An adult Iceland Gull was at Campbeltown today. The Buzzard was at Bleachfield along with 3 male Hen Harriers; all 3 went down to roost there 16:14-16:22hrs. (Eddie Maguire).

MID-ARGYLL: Highlight of todays WeBS count at Loch Crinan was a flock of 77 Lapwings – the highest number there for many years. Also a 2CY Glaucous Gull, with an injured wing, nearby in fields at East Lodge, Poltalloch (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A 2CY Ring-billed Gull new at Barrapol corner – later flew to Loch a’ Phuill, and the Glossy Ibis again at Balevullin (John Bowler).