Category: Sightings

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)

MULL: A Red-necked Grebe was found off Pennyghael, Loch Scridain by Bryan Rains on 10 Jan and was still there today. David Jardine reports a Whimbrel and a Glaucous Gull at Knock this afternoon.
TIREE: The Glossy Ibis has been seen again – now at Balevullin  today and yesterday (Rachel Gwilym per John Bowler).
COWAL: A report of a Glossy Ibis at the Holy Loch, Dunoon on 10 Jan – please note this story was picked up wrongly from the local paper and no ibis report from the Holy Loch (as yet anyway!!).

MID-ARGYLL: A flock of ca 90 Fieldfares at Killinochonoch/ Ballymeanoch – also several flocks of Common Gulls (70 -250) between Bridgend and Oban. A single Greenshank at the head of Loch Feochan and 10 Tufted Ducks on Loch na Druimean (Jim Dickson).