Category: Sightings

ISLAY: Highlights at RSBP Loch Gruinart included – 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 14 Ruff, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 125 Pale-bellied Brents and 21 Barnacle Geese (James How) and 200 Pale-bellied Brents seen there later (Bob McMillan). A highlight of 217 Pale-bellied Brents past Frenchman’s rocks late morning (Mike Peacock).
MID-ARGYLL: The 1w male American Wigeon still at the head of Loch Gilp with Eurasian Wigeons (Jim Dickson). A scold of 14 Jays today over the Walled Garden at the Maltlands, Inveraray (Glyn Toplis).

TIREE: A Juvenile American Golden Plover on its own in the NW corner of Loch a’ Phuill this afternoon, also a 1w male Ring-necked Duck in with the Tufted Ducks there plus 16 Shovelers, 1 Pintail and 8 juvenile Ruff on nearby floods. A flock of 22 juvenile Ruff at Baugh. Now 8+ Blackcaps and 8+ Goldcrests at Carnan Mor (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A Kingfisher was at the Ormsary fish farm….a first record in this area (Errol/Stu Crutchfield).

COMMON GUILLEMOT DEATHS – Over the last week or so dead and dying Common Guillemots have been noted in the West of Scotland and in Argyll at the head of some sea lochs e.g. Loch Fyne, Long & Gilp. In order to monitor the scale of this we would welcome your reports of any dead and dying auks (numbers/location/any abnormalities etc). 

A Common Guillemot in Loch Awe (North end) – obviously unwell (and in the wrong environment!). Alan Dykes

TIREE: 1 Osprey fishing at Loch Bhasapol this morning (Chris Aller).

MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile Ruff was at Loch Gilp late morning (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: The Little Egret is still at Kennacraig today (Bob McMillan).
TIREE: Group of 8 juv Ruff at Balinoe, also a Norwegian leg-flagged Bar-tailed Godwit there (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: At Loch Gilp today…more Common Guillemots apparently disorientated in the fog today with around 20 birds heading up the loch (Heather Cameron). A Merlin was seen near Dunadd today (James Lehmann).
KINTRYE: Now 2 2CY Iceland Gulls in a field near the Machrihanish SBO today (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 1 Lesser Whitethroat at the Manse. 1 Chiffchaff new at Balephuil with 4 Blackcaps, 6 Common Redpolls and 2 Goldfinch. 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).

MID-ARGYLL: A fem/imm American Wigeon was in with the Wigeon flock at Loch Gilp late morning. Also several dead and dying Common Guillemots around the loch and good numbers of Goldcrests in any suitable habitat (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: At the Machrihanish SBO the 2CY Iceland Gull is starting to look a bit smarter as it gets through the moult (Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler at Carnan Mor with a Lapland Bunting heading S over there (John Bowler).

TIREE: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler again in the garden at Balephuil with 3 Goldcrests and 3 Blackcaps. 1hr sea-watch off Hynish in SE7-8 from 2pm produced highlights of: 1 juv Sabine’s Gull and 1 Grey Phalarope (John Bowler).
COWAL: Kingfisher showing well still from the Sandbank hide, also 70+ Turnstones and 3 Guillemots at Kirn (Alistair McGregor & George Newall).

TIREE: 1 Yellow-browed Warbler was new in the garden at Balephuil today, with 4 Goldcrests and 3 Blackcaps. A 1 hr sea-watch at lunchtime off Hynish produced highlights; 4 Leach’s Petrels, 1 Storm Petrel, 3 Great Skuas and 1 Balearic Shearwater (John Bowler).
COWAL: An imm/sub-adult White-tailed Eagle this morning on the shore at Strachur Bay (Iain Wilkie).

TIREE: The imm Pied Flycatcher is still at Carnan Mor/ Balephil today (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: 2 Slavoinan Grebes were off the tip off Taynish/ Linne Mhuirich today and a Jay and Blackcap nearby. Also 1 Greenshank, 60 + Wigeon, 20 + Teal and a m Peregrine at the Add Estuary (Colin MacFarlane). A sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was being chased by a single raven along the Meadows towards Cairnbaan this morning at 0830hrs (Blair Urquhart).
MULL: A Wryneck was spotted at the Balmeanach farm turn off, Gribun this afternoon (Mark Appleton & Terry Tiller per Alan Spellman).

TIREE: A small fall at Balephuil this morning after last night’s rain included: 1 imm Pied Flycatcher, 1 imm male Common Redstart, 1 showy Grasshopper Warbler, 6 Common Redpolls and 1m Blackcap (John Bowler).