MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile Glaucous Gull just south of Inverneill early afternoon (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: A Greenshank at Kennacraig. At Kilmichael floods, N of Campbeltown – a w/p Black-tailed Godwit, 208 Golden Plover, 25 Lapwings and a pr of Shoveler. A female Hen Harrier and a Grey Wagtail at East Chiscan (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: A male Brambling was today’s highlight in George Newall’s garden in Bishop’s Glen, Dunoon.
KINTYRE: Strath Farm, The Laggan; 600+ Greenland White-fronted Geese, 344 Greylag Geese and a Carrion Crow (no wigeon present). Campbeltown Harbour -adult Iceland Gull asleep on pontoon (Eddie Maguire).
MULL: Another Red-necked Grebe sighting off Pennyghael today (Steve Hiscock).
NORTH ARGYLL: A Little Egret at Loch Laich and 120 Skylarks at Ardtur (David Jardine).
KINTYRE: A male American Wigeon in with ca. 85 Eurasian Wigeon at the Strath Farm south pool (down the road quite a bit and closer to Balloch Farm). Also there: 570 White-fronted Geese, 230 Greylag Geese and a single Pink-footed Goose (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: North of Lochgilphead at Ballymeanoch this morning – 27 Lapwings and 70+ Fieldfares ( David Jardine noted c220 there yesterday). In Oban a pair of Grey Wagtails (Jim Dickson). At Loch Gilp today 3 LBB Gulls (David Jardine).
Yesterday at Tayvallich, a Great Tit was collecting nesting material from a totally chilled roe buck in our garden (Morag Rea).
COWAL: In George Newall’s garden at Bishop’s Glen today inc. – 8 Jays, 8 Blackbirds, 3 Reed Buntings, a Treecreeper, Song Thrush, all 4 regular Tits etc , but finches other than Chaffinch conspicuous by their absence. Alistair McGregor found 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls in Dunoon this morning. Also a Brambling at the Holy Loch bird hide and a good view of a Peregrine flying past.
MID-ARGYLL: At Poltalloch this morning – 10 Fieldfares, 5 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush (in song), 60 Jackdaws, 17 Teal and a male Stonechat (Jim Dickson).
MID-ARGYLL: A Lesser Black-Backed Gull at Loch Gilp today showing blackish upperparts of the Scandinavian race intermedius also a single Lapwing at the head of the loch calling noisily! (Jim Dickson). David Jardine picked up a dead Woodcock from the roadside at Minard on his way to the ABC spring meeting yesterday…prior to giving a talk on…Woodcock! Bob Furness has now weighed the bird and it was 323g which is above average weight for this species therefore perhaps not badly affected by the cold weather. David also reports seeing three while driving across the Moine Mhor road yesterday evening.
MID-ARGYLL/COWAL: In Lochgilphead and Cairnbaan today good numbers of Song Thrush and Blackbirds – appears to have been a significant increase during the hard weather so presumably have come from further east (Jim Dickson). Alan Forsyth in Innellan has noted – many Song Thrushes around the village and they look absolutely desperate and appear to be in unfamiliar surroundings – they are lingering around roads –one bounced off a car windscreen.
MID-ARGYLL: A Common Snipe has been visiting my garden in Cairnbaan again as a result of the weather (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: At the Holy Loch hide – 4 Lapwings, 1 Woodcock in the wood , 5 Snipe, 20+ Redwing , also 11 Dunnock at the feeding station beside the hide – most I’ve ever seen together at one time (Alistair McGregor).
MID-ARGYLL: Balvicar Bog, Seil Island – a single Water Rail seen just past the Easdale crossroads. Frequently heard here but rarely seen – I guess the harsh weather is making them less shy and skulking (John Sedgwick).
MID-ARGYLL: A Waxwing seen today just after 1.0 pm while driving back from Lochgilphead, as turned corner and Tayvallich Bay comes into view . Surprised but see others being reported in Angus and in Lothian (Jon Close).
ISLAY: Some recent sightings from Mike Peacock – Sun 25th at Gruilinbeg 50+ Fieldfares and 30 Skylarks, and an adult Iceland Gull at Sanaigmore. 2 Iceland Gulls at Ballinaby on the Fri 23rd – attached picture of the 3CY and on the Thur 22nd at Machir Bay – 3 Glaucous Gulls and an adult Iceland Gull.
COWAL: Six Jays in George Newal’s garden in Dunoon again today- see if you can spot all six…
