Sightings – Page 121 – Argyll Bird Club

31st December 2017

MID-ARGYLL: Birds in the garden today at Cairnbaan included – a male Brambling, 105 Chaffinch, 4 Greenfinch, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Siskin, 9 Collared Doves and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (Jim Dickson). A Kingfisher in the trees by the road approaching Ardfern Yacht Centre at about 13:15 today. A first here for me…in 18 years! (Ju Randall).
TIREE: A drake Green-winged Teal at Loch a’ Phuill today – also 1f Scaup, 3 Pintail, 8 Shoveler and 1 Goldfinch there. No sign of the Glossy Ibis at Cornaigmore (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO: a 3 hour seawatch at MSBO from 12:30hrs in a WNW f4. The 2CY Iceland Gull was present. Birds >S included a Red-throated Diver, 40 Sanderling and 82 Black-legged Kittiwake. At Strath Farm, The Laggan 5 adult Whooper Swan were new in and a male Hen Harrier appeared briefly (Eddie Maguire and Charlie Robertson).
MULL: The Glossy Ibis is still present at Ardnacross farm this afternoon (Mike Murphy).

Collared Dove – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll Dec (Jim Dickson).

Brambling – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 31 Dec (Jim Dickson).

Goldfinch – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 29 Dec (Jim Dickson).

Sanderlings – MSBO, Kintyre 31 Dec (Eddie Maguire).

Kittiwake – MSBO, Kintyre 31 Dec (Eddie Maguire).

Best wishes for a great birding year in 2018

30th December

KINTYRE: At Machrihanish SBO – a 3 hour seawatch from 12:30hrs in a WNW f6-7 / squalls. Big surprise was a 1CY Northern Gannet present and foraging successfully throughout the seawatch. Also, an adult male Long-tailed Duck >S, a 2CY Iceland Gull was seen and 135 Black-legged Kittiwakes >S (Eddie Maguire).

Gannet – MSBO, Kintyre 30 Dec (Eddie Maguire).

Long-tailed Duck – MSBO, Kintyre 30 Dec (Eddie Maguire).

28th December

TIREE: The Glossy Ibis at Cornaigmore still there today, first seen on 24 Dec by Pat and Judith Boyd. Also 3 adult Gannets off Gunna Sound and 21 Goldfinch at Sorobaidh Bay (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A group of six Long-tailed Tits (and a Coal Tit round the back) visited a nut feeder in Connel this afternoon (Mike Harrison).
NORTH ARGYLL: A White-tailed Eagle circling around the north tip of Lismore today (Robert Croma).

Glossy Ibis – Cornaigmore, Tiree 28 Dec (John Bowler).

Long-tailed Tits – Connel, Mid-Argyll 28 Dec (Mike Harrison).

27th December

TIREE: At Cornaigmore on 26^th Dec a Glossy Ibis was seen (Judith Boyd per John Bowler).
MULL: The Glossy Ibis has been seen at Ardnacross farm daily since 21 Dec…also on 26^th (Mike Murphy) so now two birds in Argyll just now.
MID-ARGYLL: On Christmas Day at Ormsay fish farm an adult Mediterranean Gull (Stu Crutchfield).
NORTH ARGYLL: On Tues 26^th at head of Ardmucknish Bay, Benderloch, there was a Greenshank and a Little Egret, also a flock of about 8 Long-tailed Tits nearby (Robin Harvey).

Common Snipe – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 27 Dec (Jim Dickson).

24th December

MULL: The Glossy Ibis is still at Arnacross farm today (Mike & Jacqui Murphy).
COWAL: The Kingfisher again at the Sandbank hide, Holy Loch (Donnie MacFarlane).

Glossy Ibis – Ardnacross, Mull 23 Dec (Mike Murphy).

23rd December

MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp today – an adult Mediterranean Gull (metal ring on right leg) and an adult Little Gull in the wader roost opposite the Bank of Scotland. Also male Long-tailed Duck (long stayer) and 2 Whooper Swans at Loch Ederline, a male Hen Harrier at Barsloisnoch farm and 5 Mistle Thrush with 4 Redwings in Kilmichael Glen (Jim Dickson/Donnie MacFarlane).

Mediterranean Gull – head of Loch Gilp 23 Dec (Jim Dickson).

Little Gull (rear centre) – head of Loch Gilp 23 Dec (Jim Dickson).

22nd December

MULL: The Glossy Ibis was still at Ardnacross farm this morning (Jim Dickson, David Jardine, Mike & Jacqui Murphy).

Glossy Ibis – Ardnacross, Mull 22 Dec (Jim Dickson).

Goldeneyes – Knock, Loch na Keal, Mull 22 Dec (Jim Dickson).

21st December

MULL: A Glossy Ibis was seen and photographed nr Ardnacross farm, N of Salen late morning today (Mike Murphy).
MID-ARGYLL: The female Kingfisher back fishing from the Lochgilphead pier at Loch Gilp…caught several fish. Also a Grey Wagtail there (Jim Dickson).

Kingfisher – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 21 Dec (Jim Dickson).

Glossy Ibis – Ardnacross, Mull 21 Dec (Mike Murphy).

19th December

MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp this morning: 195 Wigeon, 14 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Red Knot and a Pied Wagtail (Jim Dickson). Lynsey Gibson saw a juv White-tailed Eagle at the head of Loch Gilp on 14 Dec over the wader roost and has also been seeing a male Hen Harrier this morning and previous two mornings in the Lochgilphead meadows nr the Cairnbaan hotel, plus a male Brambling in Ardrishaig on 16 Dec and recent return visits of a Nuthatch. The hybrid Canada Goose again in fields at Dunadd (suggestions on a post card..), and 31 Meadow Pipits at Drimvore (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: 10 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Lesser Redpolls and a Goldfinch at Bischop’s Glen…also 24 Purple Sandpipers and 52 Turnstones again at Dunoon crazy golf (Alistair McGregor/Donnie McFarlane/George Newall).

Great Spotted Woodpecker – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 19 Dec (Jim Dickson).

hybrid Canada type Goose – Dunadd, Mid-Argyll 19 Dec (Jim Dickson).

18th December

KINTYRE: The 2CY Iceland Gull is still at Strath Farm (Laggan) and a new juvenile (1CY) is at Campbeltown harbour (Eddie Maguire).
COWAL: At Dunoon crazy golf today: 23 Purple Sandpipers, 3 Redshank and 1 Turnstone just before high tide, but at least 50 Turnstones at the far end of the breakwater (George Newall).