Category: Sightings

MID-ARGYLL: A Magpie was in a Lochgilphead garden today (Carol Allan)….always a good find away from the Cowal area…
TIREE: A Lesser Whitethroat new at Kenovay with a Willow Warbler (Jim Dickson). 1 juv Little Stint briefly at Balephetrish Bay, 1w male Ring-necked Duck still at Loch a’ Phuill am with 25 Whooper Swans but not found pm (John Bowler), also 1 juv Greater Scaup, 6 Pintail, 12 Shovelers and 3 Black-tailed Godwits there pm (Jim Dickson). 1 Lapland Bunting flew south over Barrapol, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest, 1m Blackcap, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and 5 Common Redpoll at Balephuil / Carnan Mor. 1m Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Chaffinch at An Airidh, Cornaigmore (John Bowler). 4 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 124 Kittiwake, 1 GN Diver, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Wigeon and 1 Barnacle Goose passed off Hough Bay 08:50- 9:20 (Jim Dickson).

TIREE: Sea-watch from Aird 0730-0830 in NW6-7 (all heading W): 1 Pomarine Skua, 8 Arctic Skua, 3 Great Skuas, 3 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Great Northern Divers, 6 Scaup, 1 Tystie, 64 Kittiwake, 269 Gannet and 365 large auk (John Bowler/Jim Dickson). 1 Yellow-browed Warbler still at the Glebe with a Redwing, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest plus a Greenshank over there. 3 Ruff at Scarinish. 4 juv Whooper Swans at Loch Bhasapol (Jim Dickson). 1 Jack Snipe at Baugh (Steph Cope).
KINTYRE: Sea-watch at Machrihanish SBO 09:00-15:00hrs WNW 5 with squalls:  Grey Phalarope >S at 12:20 just after a squall, also a Pale-bellied Brent, 8 Barnacle Geese and 9 Red-throated Diver A Northern Wheatear was present and 29 Twite were trapped including 24 new birds colour-ringed and 5 retraps (Eddie Maguire).
ISLAY: Sea-watch Frenchman’s rocks 10:-12:00 NW 6: 2 Great Skua, 325 Kittiwake, 135 Auk sp, 4 Great Northern Diver, 2 Diver sp.,3  Common Scoter, 3 Long-tailed Duck, 137 Barnacle Goose (Mike Peacock).

TIREE: Sea-watch from Aird 0800-0900 in W7 produced (all heading W): 1 Leach’s Petrel, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 5 Great Skuas, 14 Manx Shearwaters, 4 GN Divers, 10 Kittiwake, 183 Gannets and 398 large auks. 9 Redwings, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Goldcrest at Balephuil (John Bowler). 1 Yellow-browed Warbler again at The Glebe, also 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Goldfinch there, plus 1 Common Redpoll over. Flocks of 110, 60 and 24 Barnacle Geese and 7 Whooper Swans south over the island. 1f Blackcap at Whitehouse, 2 Goldcrests at Vaul (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: 6,550 Barnacle Geese arrived at Loch Gruinart (James How).

COWAL: 3 Purple Sandpipers at Dunoon Crazy Golf today (George Newall).
TIREE: A 1 hr seawatch at Aird 7:30- 8:30 produced – 1 Leach’s Petrel, 2 Great Skuas, 17 Manx Shearwaters, 1 G N Diver, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 590 large auks, 135 Gannets and only 3 Kittiwakes. 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Goldcrest at The Glebe. 1w male Ring-necked Duck still at Loch a’ Phuill. 2 juv Black-tailed Godwits and 1 juv Knot at Sandaig (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: Sea-watch at Frenchman’s rocks 0800 – 1200 NW 5-6:  Red-throated Diver 3, Great Northern Diver 17, Diver sp. 12,  Great Skua 1, Common Scoter 5, Whooper Swan 7, Barnacle geese 181. Merlin on the walk back and fem Hen Harrier over the crofts at Portnahaven (Mike Peacock). Geese arriving at Loch Gruinart today: Barnacles 1440, Pink-footed 14, PB Brents 26 (James How).

TIREE: A busy sea-watch from Aird this am in WNW 7-8 with squalls, totals in 2 hrs from 07:15hrs (all heading W) 2 Leach’s Petrel, 1 Grey Phalarope, 1 Pomarine Skua, 4 Arctic Skua, 18 GN Diver, 2 RT Diver, 33 Great Skuas, 69 Manx Shearwater, 139 Kittiwake, 4 Fulmar, 1380 Gannet, 3320 large auk, 1 PB Brents and 1 Long-tailed Duck (John Bowler with Jim Dickson later on). 1 Yellow-browed Warbler and 1 Willow Warbler at the Glebe ( Jim Dickson).
4 PB Brent at Sorobaidh Bay and 3 at Salum Bay. 1 juv Knot at Gott Bay. 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Common Redpoll and 1 Goldcrest at Balephuil (John Bowler).
KINTYRE: Seawatch 07:30 – 15:30hrs / NW 6 > 8 with frequent squalls. Noteworthy gale species were 12 Leach’s Petrels, 2 Grey Phalaropes and 8 Great Skuas. A supporting cast included 22 Pb Brent Geese, 4 Northern Pintail, 10 Greater Scaup, 26 Red-throated Divers, 17 juvenile Northern Gannets, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits and 2 juvenile Arctic Terns (Eddie Maguire).

TIREE: 1 Coal Tit still at Carnan Mor also 2 Blackcap and 2 Goldcrest there. 15 Ruff with 750 Golden Plover at Crossapol. 1 Willow Warbler, 1m Blackcap, 1f Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch at Balephuil (John Bowler). 1 juv Knot at Greenhill and 2 juv Grey Plover at Loch a’ Phuill , 13 PB Brents at Salum Bay (Jim Dickson).

TIREE: 1 Coal Tit new at Carnan Mor and 1 Coal Tit at Meningie. 1w male Ring-necked Duck at Loch a’ Phuill, also 3 Pintail, 2 Grey Plover and 3 PB Brent (John Bowler).1 Eurasian Coot new at Loch Bhasapol, 9 PB Brent at Gott Bay plus 1 juv Knot. 14 Ruff at Baugh (Jim Dickson). 11 PB Brent at  Traigh nan Gilean  (Steph Cope).