TIREE: An adult Little Grebe at Loch Riaghain, 1 Robin at Balephuil – also pair Swallow with f/4 there and pair Common Redpoll with f/2+, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits including 1 in full summer plumage at Gott Bay, also 820 Arctic Terns there including 600+ 2CY birds, 1 Great Skua over The Reef and a pair of Greenfinches with f/1+ at The Glebe (not always an annual breeder here). 1 Siskin at Balephuil on 27 Jun – is unusual in summer on Tiree (John Bowler).
ISLAY: the male Velvet Scoter is back at Easter Ellister, seen yesterday, but no female Common Scoter with it (Peter Roberts).
MID-ARGYLL: a Short-eared Owl seen again at the Moine Mhor today (Jon Close).
KINTYRE: I spotted a Jay while driving nr Clachan. I’m not a birdwatcher but thought this was rare (Dave Campbell). Many thanks for this record Dave…they can be a bit secretive and views are often just brief glimpses (Jim D).
Category: Sightings
26th June
ISLAY: the adult male Rose-coloured Starling is still at Laphroaig today (photos taken on 24 Jun below) and the drake Ring-necked Duck remains at Loch Finalaggan (per Ian Brooke).
MID-ARGYLL: Errol Crutchfield got this image (below) of a Tawny Owl at Ormsary taken late on 25 Jun.
25th June
MID-ARGYLL: a short walk around Dunadd Hill Fort this morning was productive with no less than 8 Whinchats (4 ads+ 4 juvs), 2 Stonechats, 4 Lesser Redpolls, a juv Twite, 2 Whitethroats, 2 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Mistle Thrush and several Willow Warblers. Nearby at Dalvore Wood were singing Blackcap and a Wood Warbler, also 2 Spotted Flycatchers, and more Whinchats at Drimvore, Dalvore, Crinan Ferry Road and Islandadd Road, with at least 12 pairs in the area recently (Jim Dickson).
A Monarch butterfly was found by Janet Jardine in their garden this morning….an exceptionally odd record in summer, presumably released? (Janet & David Jardine).
TIREE: 5 Golden Plover fresh in at Sandaig, an early return (John Bowler).
24th June
ISLAY: the Rose-coloured Starling is still at Laphroaig today (Gary Turnbull). A male Velvet Scoter paired with a female Common Scoter on the sea at Port Charlotte, presumably the once captive birds at Easter Ellister seen in recent years (Mike Peacock).
TIREE: a sea-watch from Aird in W6 with squalls 15.15-16.15hrs (all heading west): 1,749 Manx Shearwaters, 264 Arctic Terns, 168 Gannets, 96 large auks, 36 Kittiwakes, 21 Little Terns and 6 Fulmars (John Bowler).
23rd June
ISLAY: the Rose-coloured Starling is still present at/just outside Laphroaig today, seen by Ian & Margaret Brooke.
MULL: a Red-necked Phalarope was seen on the sea between Iona and Staffa yesterday morning then flew towards Loch Scridain (per Birdguides).
22nd June
KINTYRE: at Machrihanish SBO today; a Whimbrel flew south calling, a Little Tern was by the Arctic Tern colony and the regular 2CY Iceland Gull was seen many times (Eddie Maguire). Yesterday at Balloch Farm (Laggan) 2 Quail were heard and one was seen and a belated report of a pair of Garganey at Strath Farm (The Laggan) on 25 May (Malcolm Blanchflower per Eddie Maguire).
TIREE: an adult Curlew Sandpiper was new at Loch a’ Phuill, also 2 Great Skuas there and 1 Woodpigeon was new in at Balephuil (John Bowler).
21st June
KINTYRE: at Machrihanish SBO today the long-staying 2CY Iceland Gull (from 16th May) is still present. The May / June duckling productivity so far includes 8 broods / 55 ‘Shelducklings‘ (mean brood size = 6.8) and the Common Eiders now have 5 broods / 19 ducklings (mean brood size = 3.8) (Eddie Maguire).
ISLAY: a report of a Rose-coloured Starling at Laphroaig today but require further details (per Ian Brooke).
20th June
MID-ARGYLL: a Little Egret has been at the north end of Loch Craignish lagoon, Ardfern for the past two days (Jan Brown). At Cairnbaan today a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, singing Garden and Grasshopper Warblers and a Blackcap but the highlight was an imm White-tailed Eagle over the house at mid-day. A pair of Spotted Flycatchers in Jon Close’s garden at Carsaig.
ISLAY: the drake Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Finlaggan (per Ian Brooke).
18th June
MID-ARGYLL: a report of a Short-eared Owl seen in the Moine Mhor area on 17 Jun (John Halliday). A report of a Hobby from 15 Jun has been submitted – seen chasing a martin in the Loch Leathan area (Chris & Rob Blackwell/Jock Hunter).
COLONSAY/ORONSAY: reports coming in of up to three different Quail sightings in the last week or so, one from Oronsay, two from Colonsay (per David Jardine).
17th June
TIREE: photos have now appeared of the Rose-coloured Starling that was reported from The Green on 3 Jun (Iain Macdonald per John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: Malcolm Chattwood noted a distant tern at his inland BBS square this morning, about 5 miles N of Lochgilphead however the identity is not certain. No further sign of the Common Rosefinch nr Crinan today. Now 4 Bar-tailed Godwits at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: three Puffins were noted in Loch Fyne opposite Minard today.
