MID-ARGYLL: at Lochgilphead Caravan Park a nice view of a pair of Pergerines flying over and calling to each other. Also a Sparrowhawk hunting along the hedge there (John McInally).
TIREE: 250 Golden Plovers at Barrapol. 1 Juv Corncrake at the Reef (John Bowler).
Category: Sightings
12th August
MULL: a report received from Felicity Hansen of a Nightjar calling briefly on the nights of 8-9 and 9-10 Aug in her garden at Dervaig.
MID-ARGYLL: A report of a female type Marsh Harrier today on the Moine Mhor moss from Dave Pearson. He saw it well (distinctly dark chocolate brown plumage, creamy head, no pale rump and larger than Hen Harrier) and was hunting for about 7 minutes. An Osprey on the sands at Loch Crinan while a 2CY male Hen Harrier flew over it…(Jim Dickson).
The Osprey was seen by John McInally upstream of the Islanadd bridge and a Greenshank was at the Add Estuary.
TIREE: 105 Dunlins Miodar-Vaul, 1m Corncrake still calling at Hough also 8 Bottle-nosed Dolphins in Gunna Sound (John Bowler).
11th August
MID-ARGYLL: at the Add Estuary/Loch Crinan a few waders arrived after over-night rain with 5 adult Black-tailed Godwits, 24 Dunlins and 7 Ringed Plovers. Also 80 Meadow Pipits at Drimvore and 70 at Dalvore (Moine Mhor), also 35 Goldfinches nr Crinan Ferry (Jim Dickson). Some recent photos (below) sent in from Morag Rea includes a garden visiting Short-tailed Vole that appears to have not had much luck….
TIREE: a Juvenile Ruff and 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrels at Loch a’ Phuill, also 1 Gadwall, 1 PB Brent Goose and 1 Wigeon (John Bowler).
10th August
MID-ARGYLL: an Osprey was over Loch Gilp this evening (Anne Eustace).
8th August
MID-ARGYLL: at least 15, possibly 20, Common Swifts over Argyll Square Oban this evening (Mike Anderson)….update from David Jardine – 18 were over Tescos at 18:50 hrs.
MULL: a Wood Sandpiper at Pennyghael on 5 August (seen on the ground and in flight, and also calling) on 5 August (Rob Strong per Alan Spellman).
7th August
TIREE: a Red Knot at Gott Bay (Kevin Rylands) and 1 Black-tailed Godwit at The Reef (John Bowler).
6th August
MID-ARGYLL: at the Add Estuary this morning a second-winter/sub-adult Little Gull, 9 Ringed Plovers, a Red Knot, 2 Swifts and a Short-eared Owl. Nearby at Crinan a single Garden Warbler and a Moorhen (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: a report of a Little Egret at the head of Loch Long late evening on 4 Aug and there again on the 5 Aug but not today (Ian Millar)…perhaps the same bird that was at the Holy Loch recently?
KINTYRE: a Little Egret and a Greenshank were at the Kennacraig ferry terminal bay on 4 Aug (per Ian Brooke).
TIREE: an adult Red-throated Diver, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank and 4 Whooper Swans at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler/Kevin Rylands) also a probable Pectoral Sandpiper there but only seen in flight (with a Dunlin heading off NW) and didn’t call…..2 Arctic Skuas and 1 Great Skua between Coll and Tiree (John Bowler).
4th August
MID-ARGYLL: a report of possible nesting Kingfishers at Dubh Loch, NE of Inveraray at the head of Glen Shira this summer has just come to light (Ruth Morely per Carl Farmer).
COWAL: Alistair McGregor reports that the Little Egret was still at the head of the Holy Loch last evening – also 8 Sandwich and 1 Common Tern there. Tom Callan reported a flock of Goosanders with a minimum of 95 at Loch Riddon.
ISLAY: a flock of 11 small geese, presumed Brents was seen off the Rhinns, Islay today. An exceptionally early date for this species with early birds usually appearing mid-to late August (Mike Peacock/ Peter Roberts).
3rd August
MID-ARGYLL: around the Moine Mhor and Add Estuary this morning – a Short-eared Owl hunting, 4 Common Sandpipers, 2 Whinchats, a juv Whitethroat, 6 Linnets, 160+ Meadow Pipits and 24 (mostly juvs) Pied Wagtails (Jim Dickson).
2nd August
MID-ARGYLL: four juv Black-tailed Godwits new in at Loch Crinan this morning and nearby at the Add Estuary still 2 Greenshanks and 2 Common Sandpipers (Jim Dickson). On Luing…at least 4 Whimbrels and 28 Dunlins at Toberonochy this evening (David Jardine).