Category: Sightings

KINTYRE: A male Hen Harrier appeared several times at the Aros Moss today when the light was good (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: Now 26 Snow Buntings at Traigh Bhagh (John Bowler).

ISLAY: A Todd’s Canada Goose was at Loch Indaal, Islay this morning before flying off north; also 7 Snow Buntings on the Strand there and an immature Iceland Gull was at the south end of Loch Gruinart (Steve Duffield). The Todd’s Canada Goose and the Cackling Goose now together with Barnacles at Kinnabus, after the Cornabus flock moved onto the reserve this morning. Also single Brent Goose with them (Dave Wood).
KINTYRE: The regular 2CY Iceland Gull was on the floods at Strath Farm, the Laggan (Eddie Maguire).

MID-ARGYLL: ABC trip to Loch Gilp and the Add Estuary today – attended by 14 folk and 50+ species seen.
COWAL: Alistair McGregor managed to get a photo of a very wet Barn Owl…

COWAL: The Little Egret is still at the Holy Loch, also there a total of 37 Canada Geese. Four Crossbills on sitka spruce in Glen Massan and at crazy golf, Dunoon were 10 Purple Sandpipers and approx. 24 Turnstones (Alsistair McGregor/Donnie McFarlane).

TIREE: The female Hawfinch again at Balephuil today, also a m Blackcap and a Greenfinch (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Two White-tailed Eagles on the coast between Carsaig and Crinan (Lottie Goodlet).

TIREE: The female Hawfinch still at Balephuil today (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A non-birding stay in Oban….this morning…. 2 White-tailed Eagles were soaring over the Tesco car park then 10 minutes later…a juvenile bird drifted above the town promenade…oh how times have changed! (Jim Dickson).

ISLAY: Mike Peacock has been counting Great Northern Divers at the mouth of Loch Indaal as they come in to roost. Counting congregating birds at roost has been used on Mull by David Shackleton as a means to monitoring this species numbers. Today birds started to congregate off Laggan Point from 15:30 to 1640, with groups swimming out of Loch Indaal with others swimming from further down the loch. Two loose flocks formed one of 75, the other 56  :– total of 131 birds.
TIREE: And now a female Hawfinch at Balephuil! Also 1 Chiffchaff still there and 1 Woodcock plus 1 Greenfinch (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: A Magpie close to the Bridge House in Ardrishaig…the first I’ve seen in Mid-Argyll in over 30 years (Maureen Mackintosh).
COWAL: Ian Giles has kindly send one of his shots of the Kingfisher at Sandbank taken in Sep.

KINTYRE: Strath Farm (The Laggan); still around 100 Whooper Swan + present along with 214 Canada Geese, 690 Greylag Geese, 1,040 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 11 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Lapwing and the usual 2CY Iceland Gull (Eddie Maguire).
ISLAY: Flat calm conditions this morning on Loch Indaal – a total of 110 Great Northern Divers, with communal fishing groups of 16, 14, 13, 14 & 18 interestingly they were calling to each other within the group when they were on the surface, then all diving together (Mike Peacock).
COWAL: A Kingfisher at Inver (Strathlachlan) and also 4 Mandarin Ducks at Hazelbank-Ardnagowan (Strachur) close to the shoreline on same afternoon (Bob and Sue Furness).