MID-ARGYLL: Near Barsloisnoch farm (Slockavuliin) – 45 Swallows and 4 House Martins. A male Blackcap was near the Cairnban hotel (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: At Machir Bay – 51 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, a ringed dead Manx Shearwater was an interesting find – will send you the details when I get them back from the BTO, also 30 Twite and 2 near fledged Sand Martin chicks at the entrance to the nest hole (Mike Peacock). UPDATE ON THE MANX SHEARWATER – This bird was ringed by Bardsey BO as age 1st year, sex unknown on 05-Sep-2004 23:00:00 at Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, UK OS Map reference SH1121 accuracy 0, co-ordinates 52deg 45min N -4deg -47min W accuracy 0.
KINTYRE: Yesterday, a short distance east of Campbeltown Loch (from the Adrossan ferry) a Sooty Shearwater was in a large feeding aggregation with c.1200 Manx Shearwaters on crossing as a whole of which most were probably in Argyll waters (Graeme Garner).
Category: Sightings
2nd September
TIREE: A Golden Oriole was at Vaul around mid-day (Keith Gillon). This is the first autumn record of this species for Tiree.
KINTYRE: The Little Egret (probably a first-year bird?) is still at the head of West Loch Tarbert and presumably moves to Kennacraig where there was an Osprey this evening. Also 10 Black-throated Divers were off Cloanaig (David Jardine).
MID-ARGYLL: 10 Teal and 9 Wigeon at the Add Estuary (Jim Dickson).
COLL: A Wood Sandpiper was circuling the bay and calling at Arinagour (David Andrews per John Bowler).
1st September
ISLAY: Off Frenchman’s rocks today: 1 hours sea-watching NW 3: Manx Shearwater 181, Gannet 201, Fulmar 29, Kittiwake 7, Shag 38 (on Frenchman’s rocks), Razorbill 17, Auk sp 15, Black Guillemot 1, Arctic Skua 1(dark phase) and a Sand Martin in off the sea (Mike Peacock/Peter Roberts).
31st August
MID-ARGYLL: A single juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was with Dunlin at the Add Estuary this evening (David Jardine).
30th August
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary/Loch Crinan this morning – 1 Osprey, 1 male Kestrel (first for a long time), 18 Redshanks, 12 Dunlins, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Knot and 6 Wigeon. At Loch Gilp – 6 Bar-tailed Godwits (Jim Dickson).
NORTH ARGYLL: Robin Harvey reports at least three separate broods for two pairs of Moorhens at Benderloch gravel pits.
29th August
ISLAY: Off Frenchman’s rocks today 1.5 hours sea watching in WSW 4-5 produced: 341 Manx Shearwaters, 447 Gannets, 27 Fulmars, 34 Kittiwakes, 1 Guillemot, 3 Razorbills, 6 Auk sp, 5 Shags, 5 Arctic Skuas (all dark phase), 5 Great Skuas, 3 Red-throated Divers, 1 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel and a Sparrowhawk out on the point (Mike Peacock).
TIREE: A Wood Sandpiper at Loch Bhasapol on evening of 28 Aug (Tony Davison per John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: At the Add Estuary this evening – 3 Greenshanks, 1 Knot and 5 Sanderlings (David Jardine). A report of a Sabine’s Gull off Loch Crinan today (per bird information services)…more information required please.
KINTYRE: The Little Egret is still at Kennacraig today (Val Wells).
28th August
TIREE: A European White-fronted Goose in with Greylags at Ruaig, 2 Greenshanks at Milton, 7 Black-tailed Godwits at Caoles, 1 Dunnock at the Glebe (first of the autumn here) also 5 Ruffs, 24 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshanks and 28 Redshanks on floods at Baugh road bridge (John Bowler).
MULL: A report of a juvenile Long-tailed Skua, also 2 Arctic Skuas from Ewan Miles, seen at sea off NW Mull.
KINTYRE: More reports from Val Wells of Hen Harriers, this time two female/imms about 1.5 miles along the B8001 road to Skipness from Redhouse. Could be a few birds moving through this area now?
27th August
MID-ARGYLL: A single Crossbill over Cairnbaan this morning. No sign of the Green Sandpiper near Slockavullin but nearby a Greenshank was new in at the Add Estuary, also 6 Wigeons there (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A Whimbrel, 1 Ruff, 25 Redshanks and 1 Great Skua at Loch a’ Phuill (Tony Davison), 2 House Martins again with Sand Martins at Balephuil (John Bowler).
26th August
MID-ARGYLL: Near Slockavullin, opposite Ri Cruin in the Kilmartin valley a juv Green Sandpiper, only fourth for Argyll mainland (outwith Kintyre), also 65 Mallards and 6 Teal there (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: 2 Ruffs, 1 Greenshank, 55 Black-tailed Godwits, 41 Redshanks, 39 Curlews, 360 Lapwings, 3 Dunlins and 1m Hen Harrier at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler), 1 Kestrel at Loch Bhasapol – the first of the autumn here (Tony Davison), 1 Knot and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits at Gott Bay (Kevin Rylands).
25th August
TIREE: 1 Swift, 1 Greenshank and 24 Black-tailed Godwits at The Reef (John Bowler/Kevin Rylands) also 2 juv Ruff, 29 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Pintails and 59 Redshanks at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: An Osprey was on the mud at Loch Gilp this morning then fishing over the loch. At Loch Crinan – 41 Curlews and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. At the Add Estuary – 21 Redshanks and 2 juv Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Wigeon also 2 juv Whinchats (Jim Dickson).
ORONSAY: An almost white Linnet in a flock of 160 Linnets also 2 Greenshanks at the Strand (Morgan Vaughan).