Category: Sightings

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.

NORTH ARGYLL: Lots of thrushes being seen this morning and a flock of 100 mainly Redwings at Barcaldine Castle (Robin Harvey).
MID-ARGYLL: Thrushes moving through all morning with- at Cairnbaan (08:30- 09:30) Redwing flocks of 100, 70, 150, 85 mainly going NW to SE; at the Moine Mhor (East Lodge/Poltalloch areas) (09:40-10:30 with Redwing flocks of 50, 120, 70, 250, 300+, 60, 25 & 30 and over Lochgilphead (11:00-11:30) Redwings with 50, 35 and Fieldfares of 25, 30 & 80. Also the Little Egret is still at the head of Loch Gilp and good numbers of Blackbirds, Song Thrush and Goldcrests around the Moine Mhor area (Jim Dickson). At Kilmichael Glassary this morning 20 Redwings stripping berries off Hawthorn trees in Malcolm Chattwood’s garden.

MID-ARGYLL: The Little Egret is still at the head of Loch Gilp – also 1 Pale-bellied Brent still there, several small groups of mixed Fieldfares and Redwings over Lochgilphead and a party of 15 Long-tailed Tits. At Loch Crinan this afternoon 2 Black-throated Divers (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO birds >S included 17 Whooper Swans, 3 Barnacle Geese, 2 Brent Geese, 10 Purple Sandpipers and 2 adult Sandwich Terns. A Dunnock has arrived and seems quite happy away from usual habitat.   Nearby at Strath Farm; 70 Whooper Swans and the 2CY Iceland Gull that arrived last month was showing well (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: At Balephuil/Carnan Mor today; 1 Lapland Bunting, 400 Redwings, 10 Fieldfares, 6 Brambling, 8 Common Redpolls, 2f Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Goldcrests, 40 Goldfinch, 1 Wheatear and 2 Dunnock. 2 Fieldfares and 1 Chiffchaff (singing) at the Manse. 3 Pale-b Brents and 1 Wheatear at Gott Bay (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: A male Brambling was amongst the Chaffinches in my garden in Connel this morning and a male Yellowhammer this afternoon (Mike Harrison). At Loch Gilp this morning – the Little Egret still present, 2 Pale-b Brents and 6 Shelducks were new in. At Cairnbaan 18 Fieldfares and 4 Redwings flew over. At the Add Estuary 3 Gadwall (2mm, 1 f) so different from the group at Loch Gilp on 17 Oct (Jim Dickson). Another Brambling today…this time at Glenfyne Park, Ardrishaig in a small Chaffinch flock (Colin McFarlane).
TIREE: 4 Swallows and 1 Chiffchaff at Vaul. Also 2 Pink-feet and 2 Wheatears seen today  (Toby Green).

TIREE: Very busy sea-watch off Aird in NW7-8 with squalls 0755-0855 hrs: 1 juv Long-tailed Skua, 3 juv Sabine’s Gulls, 1 Pomarine Skua, 2 Lesser BB Gulls, 7 Arctic Skua (3 light-phase), 3 Manx Shearwaters, 15 Great Skuas, 3 Red-t Divers, 48 GN Divers, 3 Black Guillemot, 48 Eider, 154 Gannets, 1550 Kittiwakes and 4390 large auks. 30 Whooper Swans at Loch an Eilein and scattered groups of Redwing around the island, also a Brambling at Balephuil (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp today – the 1w American Wigeon still there, also 3 Gadwall (m + 2ff), a Little Egret, 9 Barnacle Geese over and 3 1w Lesser BB Gulls. At the Add Estuary – a f/imm Goldeneye (first of autumn there), 4 Goosander, an adult Lesser BB Gull and 3 Jays (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: A Sea-watch at MSBO 08:00-15:00hrs (7hrs). F8 / light squalls >S in gale included 7 Whooper Swans, 2 Barnacle Geese, 7 Gadwall, a Long tailed Duck, 9 Red-throated Divers, 21 Great Northern Divers, a Leach’s Petrel, 27 adult / 4 juvenile Northern Gannets, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Grey Plovers, 35 Ringed Plovers, 170 Sanderlings, 6 Great Skuas, 3 juvenile Pomarine Skuas, 2 juvenile Arctic Skuas, 240 Black-legged Kittiwakes, a 2cy Glaucous Gull and 7 Arctic Terns (Eddie Maguire).

TIREE: Obvious arrival overnight with easterly winds: 200+ Redwings, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Brambling, 2m Blackcap, 12+ Common Redpolls, 10 Goldfinch, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Goldcrest at Balephuil plus 45 Greenland White-fronts and 15 Whooper Swans heading south there. 123 Whoopers and 52 Tufted Ducks at Loch a’ Phuill plus 12 Barnacle Geese  over SE also 20 Redwings at Meningie, 50 Redwings at Balinoe and 1 Wheatear at the Reef (John Bowler).

Islay/Kintyre: A late Storm Petrel from the ferry S off Jura this afternoon followed by another NE off Gigha (Clive McKay).
TIREE: Flocks of 22, 6, 60 and 4 Whooper Swans, 90+ Barnacle Geese in flocks of up to 32, and 12 and 4 Greenland White-fronts all heading over south. 60+ Redwing, 1 Woodcock, 5 Goldfinch and 1 Common Redpoll at Carnan Mor. 2 ad and 1 juv Moorhen at Sandaig. 2 Chiffchaff, 1m Blackcap, 1 Dunnock, 2 Goldcrest and 4 Common Redpoll at Balephuil (John Bowler).
ORONSAY: 1 Snow Bunting, groups of 18, 9, & 42 Whooper Swans and 2, 21 Greenland White-fronts all heading south. Also 3 P-b Brents, 1 Common Tern, 1 Jackdaw (rare here), and a chatter of 15 Chough (Morgan Vaughan).

MID-ARGYLL: The 1w American Wigeon still at Loch Gilp today (David Jardine/Jim Dickson). A pair of Mandarin at Loch a’ Chroiag, Ford and a single Long-tailed Duck at Loch Ederline (David Jardine).
KINTYRE: The Little Egret was seen again this morning at Kennacraig (Val Wells).

MID-ARGYLL: A wonderful sighting of a Barn Owl at Loch Dun Caltuinn (Whooper Loch to me!) near Carsaig (Lottie Goodlet). A productive walk up the hill south of Cairnbaan to Dail Loch included – 12 Redwings, 28 Lesser Redpolls, 18 + 40 Goldfinch, 4 Siskins, 60+ Chaffinch, 2 + 4 Bullfinch, 8 Goldcrest, 1 Jay, also the House Martin is still about.. (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: Driving to Skipness we were treated to a spectacular hunting display by the Hen Harrier. We also saw a Black Grouse (Val Wells).
COWAL: A Whimbrel was at the head of the Holy Loch, Dunoon today (Alistair McGregor).