15th January

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)

Hen Harrier – Bleachfield, Kintyre 15 Jan (Eddie Maguire).
Juv Iceland Gull, The Reef, Tiree 15 Jan (John Bowler)
Juv Glaucous Gull, Balephetrish, Tiree 15 Jan (John Bowler)
Juv Glaucous Gull, Balephetrish, Tiree 15 Jan (John Bowler)

12th January

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!!).

Red-necked Grebe – Loch Scridain, Mull 10th Jan (Bryan Rains)

9th January

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).

8th January

MID-ARGYLL: A Nuthatch is still visiting most days to James Lehmann’s garden, nr Barsloisnoch farm. At Loch Gilp this morning – 3 Red Knot, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and 4 Whooper Swans (ad = 3 imms) on the loch (Jim Dickson). A report of  5 White-tailed Eagles recently flying over from Isle of Danna to Castle Sween and also a Magpie at Barrahormid (S of Tayvallich) on Sat 6th (Alastair Ross).
KINTYRE: Superb photos from Eddie Maguire of a male Hen Harrier over juncus at Bleachfield, The Laggan this afternoon – a long wait there paid off!

Hen Harrier – Bleachfield, Kintyre 8 Jan (Eddie Maguire).
Hen Harrier – Bleachfield, Kintyre 8 Jan (Eddie Maguire).
Nuthatch – Mheall Cottage 8 Jan (James Lehmann).

7th January

TIREE: The Glossy Ibis is still at Cornaigmore as well as an Iceland Gull there (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: No further word on the reported Gyr Falcon in the Oban area. If anyone has details on this please can they get in touch, thanks.

6th January

MID-ARGYLL: A report of a Gyr Falcon in Oban today but no further details as yet and currently unconfirmed (per Birdguides). On Isle of Luing today – a juv (2CY) Iceland Gull at Toberonochy and a Jay (an island rarity) at Dubh Leathad (David Jardine). A Little Grebe on the canal near Crinan, also a Jay there and a Kingfisher at Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: On the Oa today – a Waxwing at Kinnabus, a Glossy Ibis nr Loch Kinnabus and a Todd’s Canada Goose also in the area (David Wood per Ian Brooke).
MULL: Still 5 Glossy Ibis on the Ross of Mull today at Loch Pottie and another Glossy Ibis was at Tobermory Bay. Also a juv (2CY) Glaucous Gull at Knoch fish farm (per Angus Murray).

Little Grebe – Crinan Canal, Mid-Argyll 6 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Kingfisher – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 6 Jan (Jim Dickson).

4th January

MULL: Two Glossy Ibis on Iona today and apparently a group of 5 together nearby at Fidden on 25th & 26th Dec and again a couple of days ago (David Holden per Alan Spellman)…so potentially 7 in Argyll at present (inc. birds on Tiree and at Ardnacross, Mull).

Glossy Ibis – Fidden, Mull (David Holden).

3rd January

TIREE: The Glossy Ibis is still at Cornaigmore, also 1 Fieldfare and 1 Water Rail showing at Balephuil (John Bowler).
ISLAY: A juv (2CY) Iceland Gull at Portnahaven today (same bird as seen yesterday by James How) and another seen at Blackrock, Loch Indaal – also a Little Auk flying NE between Nave Island and Ardnave Point today (Janet & David Franklin per Ian Brooke).
MID-ARGYLL: Six Bullfinches (3m, 3f) on the Hypericum in our garden in Minard today (Sally Hall).

Glossy Ibis – Cornaigmore, Tiree 3 Jan (John Bowler).

2nd January

ISLAY: A drake Green-winged Teal again at RSPB Gruinart reserve (last seen there on 7 Nov), also a juv Iceland Gull near to Loch Gorm (Janet & David Franklin per Ian Brooke).
ISLAY: A juv (2CY) Iceland Gull was on the Rhinns of Islay today (James How per Ian Brooke).

1st January

NORTH ARGYLL: A beautiful male Hen Harrier today from the road down to Achnacroish, on the Isle of Lismore around 1.30pm (Robert Croma).
MID-ARGYLL: At the mouth of Loch Caolisport and Eilean Traighe highlights this morning: 112 Goldeneyes, 90 Eiders, 5 Common Scoters, 25 Teal, 6 Great Northern Divers, 1 Shelduck and 1 Grey Wagtail (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: The drake Green-winged Teal was again at Loch a’ Phuill today (John Bowler).

Best wishes for a great birding year in 2018