Category: Sightings

MULL: An early Puffin at sea off NW Mull, seen from the Tiree ferry (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Rob Lightfoot reports that he saw a Jack Snipe in Scammadale Glen on 21 Jan…excellent views from his car. Also a male Hen Harrier in the glen recently – unusual in winter there. Two White-fronted Geese with Greylags and Canadas’ at the Moine Mhor yesterday (Sandy Mitchell).
KINTYRE: A report of a Little Egret at Lochan Luing, Point Sands caravan park seen today and also standing in trees there at time. Presumably the same bird that has apparently been around the Tayiniloan area in last few days (Maggie Young).
ISLAY: Several white-winged gulls on the island just now: Glaucous with; 1 at Laphroaig, 2 nr Bowmore, 1 at Blackrocks and 1 at Ballinaby, also Iceland Gulls at Claddach, 1 nr Bowmore and 1 at Ballinaby. A Todd’s Canada Goose is at Cornabus and 5 Snow Buntings at Carnain (per Ian Brooke).
TIREE: A new 3CY Glaucous Gull at The Reef today (John Bowler).

MULL: The Red-necked Grebe was still at Pennyghael, Loch na Keal today at around 2pm, although it spent most of its time underwater and it was very choppy (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Two male Hen Harriers appeared at Bleachfield, The Laggan today…one just after it pounced on a Short-tailed Vole (Eddie Maguire).

NORTH ARGYLL: Robin Harvey reports that on his WeBS count in Loch Creran on Saturday he saw a Little Egret at Dalrannoch again. Also a Greenshank at South Shian (west) and one at An Sailean (not in Creran).

TIREE: On today’s WeBS count: 3CY Iceland Gull at Scarinish – probably 4-5 here just now. 3 juv Glaucous Gulls involved singles at Sandaig, Traigh Ghrianal and Balephetrish Bay – probably 5-6 here just now. 4 Scaup and 2 Pintail at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Two female Hen Harriers today seen from the house – (Redhouse to Claonaig Rd), also flushed 2 Woodcock on the track up to the house (Val Wells).
MID-ARGYLL: At Braevallich (Loch Awe) today; 6 Whooper Swans, 1 Goldeneye and 1 Mandarin. Also 5 Woodcock between Braevallich and Ford this evening (Alan Dykes).

MID-ARGYLL: James Lehmann managed to get close to Purple Sandpipers at one of the small islands in Loch Craignish.

MID-ARGYLL: Today at the head of Loch Gilp, a female Kingfisher and 4 Knot and 4 Black-throated Divers off Ardrishaig.  Also 1 Greenshank at Caol Scotnish and 17 Lapwing at Barsloisnoch. (David Jardine).  3 pairs of Tufted Duck at Loch nan Druimnean (Malcolm Chattwood). The continuing cold weather has allowed Jim Dickson to take these photographs of foraging Common Snipe in his garden at Cairnbaan.
KINTYRE: Two male Hen Harriers were present Bleachfield, The Laggan between 1300-1700hrs and later both went to roost in the juncus at 1609 and 1640hrs.  At least 5 Reed Buntings were also in the area (Eddie Maguire).
COWAL: At Tarsan Dam 1 Male Kestrel and Shelduck and Great Spotted Woodpecker at Loch Riddon. A walk round the Holy Loch produced 83 Canada Geese, 10 Common Snipe and a female Hen Harrier (Donnie McFarlane).
TIREE: The 2CY Glossy Ibis again at Balevullin Pools at 3pm  (Steph Cope) and then at Balevullin at 3.30pm (Morag McCullagh). 4 Scaup still at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).

COWAL:  Common Snipe and Wigeon were spotted feeding around Holy Loch today (Alistair McGregor).  A White-Tailed Eagle was reported near Largiemore – “almost a habit” (Yvonne McCrone).
TIREE: Presumed 3CY Iceland Gull at the Reef, Juv Glaucous Gull again at Balephetrish (Morag McCullagh per John Bowler).

KINTYRE: A worthwhile substitute for the anticipated but absent Hen Harrier is this Merlin at Bleachfield. (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 2 juv Iceland Gulls and 1 juv Glaucous Gull in with a large gull flock on the Traigh Bhi machair, 1 juv Glaucous Gull at Sorobaidh Bay, 4 Scaup and 47 Goldeneye at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler)

MID-ARGYLL:  A male Blackbird with a ring on its left leg appeared in my garden on 6 January and has been seen each day since then. The ring number shows that this is the same bird which visited the garden from 2 February to 6 March 2017 and from 21 December 2015 – 8 February 2016. It was ringed near Oslo, Norway, on 15 April 2013.(Mike Harrison)

KINTYRE: Whilst waiting for a female Hen Harrier to appear Eddie Maguire wouldn’t have been disappointed with another cracking shot of this male at Bleachfield.
TIREE: The first leg of the goose count today provided  a juv Glaucous Gull at Balephetrish Bay, a juv Iceland Gull at Crossapol, plus another juv Iceland Gull dead on the Reef road, a neck-collared Greenland White-fronted Goose at Gott and 5 Pink-Footed Geese at Whitehouse (John Bowler)