Category: Sightings

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).

MID-ARGYLL: A Red Kite today on Seil island (Wendy Raine).
KINTYRE: A female Hen Harrier again nr Spion Kop/ B8001 (Val Wells). Sea-watching at the Machrihanish SBO quiet with only 2 juv Northern Gannets >S. Also the 2CY Iceland Gull turned up again, a Grey Heron got very close to the Observatory and 6 Grey Wagtails and 12 Twite were present (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 2 Pink-footed Geese new at Balephetrish, also 126 Barnacle Geese there. First Goldeneye of the autumn at Loch a’ Phuill plus 1 juv/f Scaup there.1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 3 Chaffinch, 6 Goldfinch and 1 Dunnock at Balephuil. Flock of 320 Linnet at the Reef. 1 Redwing at Balinoe (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: The Little Egret first seen a few months back at the Loch Craignish lagoon, Ardfern has been coming and going and seen again on Sat 7 Oct during a WeBS count. Also today saw first flock of Redwings and Fieldfares. (Ju Randall). The 1w male American Wigeon again on Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson). At least 5 Redwings were flocking with about 20 Mistle Thrushes near Connel this morning (Mike Harrison).
COWAL: A group of 9 Redwings in a garden at Bischop’s Glen, Dunoon today….also a few Goldfinches still about in juvenile plumage (George Newall).
TIREE: At Loch a’ Phuill today on WeBS count – 1 juv Scaup, 33 Greenland White-fronts, 31 Whoopers and 1 Coot at Loch a’ Phuill – also 2 Gadwall, 3 Pintail, 32 Tufted Duck and 14 Shoveler there. Highlights elsewhere included –  1 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Goldfinch, 5 Common Redpoll at Balephuil, 5 Swallow, 5 Redwing, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 2m Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest and 3 Dunnock at the Glebe,15 Greenland White-fronts at the Reef and 38 Barnacle Geese at Balephetrish (John Bowler).
NORTH ARGYLL: A Greenshank at Dalrannoch, Loch Crearan on WeBS count today (Robin Harvey).