TIREE: A possible Cattle Egret reported from Milton at lunch-time (Bill Welstead) but flew off west and not relocated (yet). 2 Siskins new at Balephuil, also 2 Goldcrest there. 1 adult Shelduck at Ruaig -unusual date (John Bowler).
Category: Sightings
30th October
KINTYRE: The Little Egret is back at the head of West Loch Tarbert this morning (Blair Urquhart). A Chiffchaff was photographed by the Twite trap at the Machrihanish SBO hide today (Eddie Maguire). A male Snow Bunting close to Port Righ bay this morning, a first for me in this area (Alasdair Paterson).
MID-ARGYLL: 2 Red Knot at Loch Gilp today (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: At Loch Eck this afternoon were 5 Mandarin Ducks – unfortunately they took off before I could get a decent picture (Tom Cameron).
TIREE: 1 ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaff at Balephuil, also 2 Brambling and 2 Goldcrest there. 5 Little Grebe together at Loch an Eilein (unusual) also 1 Pink-footed Goose with Greenland White-fronts there. 1 Snow Bunting at Balephetrish (John Bowler).
29th October
MID-ARGYLL: A Kingfisher was showing well on the canal between Ardrishaig and Lochgilphead this morning and a Grey Wagtail was also present plus a Dipper in the afternoon beside Lock 4 (Colin McFarlane). A Whimbrel at Ardencaple today, with 4 Greenshank. The Pied-billed Grebe is still at Loch Feorlin and the 1w American Wigeon still at Loch Gilp (David Jardine). At least 137 Swans at Ulva Lagoons, the vast majority were Whoopers with fewer than 40 Mute. Also a single Pale-bellied Brent at Danna / Loch na Cille (Morag Rea).
TIREE: 2 ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaffs at Balephuil (lots of calling when together), also 1 Brambling, 1f Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest and 90 Redwing there. 1 imm Ring Ouzel, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Woodcock at Carnan Mor. 400 Redwing, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Greenfinch at the Manse/ Glebe. 4 Whoopers >S at Ruaig (John Bowler).
28th October
KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO today: 11:00 – 16:15hrs – WNW f8 squalls: 52 Leach’s Petrels, a sub-adult Pomarine Skua and 420 Black-legged Kittiwakes all >S and the 2CY Iceland Gull (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 1 ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaff, 1 Woodpigeon and 1 Goldcrest at Balephuil (John Bowler).
27th October
KINTYRE: Today a striking male Long-tailed Duck amongst Common Eiders at Machrihanish SBO . (Eddie Maguire)
TIREE: A ‘Siberian’ Chiffchaff new at Balephuil this morning along with a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. The immature Greater Scaup still at Loch a’ Phuill with 9 Goldeneye, 15 Shoveler and 42 Whooper Swans. (John Bowler).
ISLAY: A report of a Hawfinch at feeders at Octofad farm today (Tony and Irene Miller)…they also had one there last year which was well watched by Islay birders.
26th October
KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO: a very quiet morning with only 10 Brent Geese and 2 Great Northern Divers >S and a Merlin. At Strath Farm (The Laggan) the Whooper Swan total has risen to 211. Also there, ca. 400 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 77 Canada Geese, 4 hybrid Canada X Barnacle Geese, 127 Wigeon, a male Shoveler, 600 Fieldfare and 900 Redwing (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: Little Egret still at Loch Craignish today, near Ardfern, also 6 Great Northern Divers there (Stephen Westerberg).
25th October
MID-ARGYLL: Large numbers of Redwings around Barsloisnoch/Moine Mhor the last few days and 4 Whooper Swans just arrived in a field there (James Lehmann). A single Coot was on Loch Nell this afternoon (David Jardine).
COWAL: 2 Knot at Otter Ferry and 3 Tufted Duck at Asgog Loch today (Neil Hammatt). A Ptarmigan midway into winter plumage at the summit of Beinn Ime today (Ian Millar).
24th October
KINTYRE: A belated report of a flock of c. 40 Waxwings seen on Sat 21 Oct between Southend and Campbeltown (Alistair Anderson per Eddie Maguire). Today a juvenile Iceland Gull immediately north of Campbeltown (Eddie Maguire).
MID-ARGYLL: The 1w American Wigeon still at Loch Gilp this morning but no sign of the Little Egret (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: A juv Little Gull at Ballinaby and a presumed ‘Todd’s’ Canada Goose at Rock mountain road today (Gary Turnbull). On The Oa…a Ring Ouzel today,found by my wife whilst walking the dog! Also 2 Bramblings, 1 Chiffchaff and 5 Goldcrests. Further increase in Redwing to c.3,000 birds, with a few hundred Fieldfares (David Wood).
COWAL: A Whimbrel between Ardentinny and the Holy Loch today and 10 Red-legged Partridge nr Baillemore (Loch Striven) and a probable Golden Eagle (Stu Ingledew)
23rd October
MID-ARGYLL: A Kingfisher was seen at Loch Melfort this morning. Also 2 Wheatears and hundreds of Redwings at Ardfern on 21 Oct (Stephen Westerberg). A House Martin flying around Cairnbaan this afternoon, also hundreds of Redwings over Lochgilphead this morning (Jim Dickson).
MULL: A Little Egret showing well at the Fishnish hide this afternoon (Stephen Hotham per Alan Spellman).
ISLAY: Nice arrival of thrushes on The Oa today – c.2,300 Redwings, c.200 Fieldfares, 2 Blackbirds and 4 Song Thrush feeding on cut silage fields. Also 4 Bramblings (David Wood).
22nd October
KINTYRE: MSBO: seawatch 09:00-14:00hrs / f8 with occasional light squalls. Birds >S included 2 Barnacle Geese, 18 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Common Scoter, 13 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Red-throated Diver, 11 Great Northern Diver, 9 adult Northern Gannet, 1 Sanderling, 300 Black-legged Kittiwake (mainly on horizon) and a Black Guillemot. 4 Brent Geese and 2 Purple Sandpipers were on the shore (Eddie Maguire/Jim Dickson) 170 Whooper Swans are still at Strath Farm (The Laggan) (Eddie Maguire). Single Kestrels at Putechan, at Mausdale and at Ballure. Also a Greenshank and a 1w Long-tailed Duck at Kennacraig – no sign of the Little Egret there (Jim Dickson).
MID-ARGYLL: 103 swans at Ulva Lagoons – 65 Whooper (including 12 Cygnets) and 38 Mute (including 9 Cygnets) (Morag Rea). The Little Egret is still at the head of Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson/Colin McFarlane).
ISLAY: A juv Little Gull on the road at Claddach (Portnahaven) this morning (Mary Redman per Ian Brooke)…also good numbers of Redwing on the island and several Brambling.