Category: Sightings

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 6^th 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 11^th February 2017 at Les Roberts, Liart, Ardennes, France and Controlled at MSBO on 19^th 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).

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).