MID-ARGYLL: A Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Slockavullin today (David Jardine). A Nuthatch made the observer’s day when it was spotted feeding on the bird table in a garden in Ardrishaig this morning. (Lynsey Gibson). TIREE: Today: 1m Corncrake calling at Mannal; 2 Arctic Terns off the Maze – first of the spring here; 28 Whimbrel, 15 Wheatears and 32 White Wagtails along the coast between Sandaig and Balevullin ;1 pair Pochard at Heylipol Church loch;220 Turnstones and 15 Purple Sandpipers at Hough Bay (John Bowler).
Yesterday: 1 Osprey north high over Loch a’ Phuill and 6 Whimbrel; 18 Whimbrel, 14 Blackwits and 2 Little Terns at Traigh Bhagh;1,500 Golden Plover at Balevullin; 2,500 Golden Plover at the Reef
Lesser Redpoll – Bellanoch Mid-Argyll 23rd April (W Alexander)Lesser Redpoll – Bellanoch Mid-Argyll 23rd April (W Alexander)
MID-ARGYLL: 60+ Pale-bellied Brents on the mud at Loch Gilp this morning (Malcolm Chattwood). A Cuckoo calling at Tayvallich (Colin MacFarlane). COLL: 0n 19th April 120 non-breeding Ravens at Crossapol, a White-tailed Eagle on Gunna and a Merlin at Totronald (Colin MacFarlane). COWAL: 6 Purple Sandpipers at Dunoon Crazy Golf Course and at least 2 Cuckoos singing near Bishop’s Glen (George Newall). KINTYRE: A significant passage of around 50 White Wagtails at Machrihanish SBO this morning with many loitering to feed on hatching kelp flies (Eddie Maguire).
KINTYRE: A French ringed Goldfinch was controlled at Machrihanish SBO yesterday adding to the 68 which have been ringed at the Observatory to date in April. (Eddie Maguire). NORTH ARGYLL: a Nuthatch was heard singing and then seen in a tree at Dalmally on 13th April (Miranda Shephard). TIREE: 1m Lapland Bunting again at south end of Sorobaidh Bay on cattle feeder at lunchtime– also 79 PB Brent there including the same 5 colour-ringed birds as yesterday plus 12 White Wagtails. 8 Whimbrel at Traigh Bhagh, 58 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Little Tern at Loch Bhasapol. 3 Blackcap, 1 Goldcrest and 6 Redwing still at Balephuil (John Bowler).
Goldfinch – Machrihanish Seabird Observatory 20th April (Eddie Maguire)
MID-ARGYLL: 24 Pale-bellied Brents grounded on the mud at Loch Gilp this morning (Jim Dickson). 3 White Wagtails reported from Keills on 18 Apr (John Atchison). A Nuthatch was at feeders today in a garden at the head of Loch Scotnish (per Morag Rea). NORTH ARGYLL: a Mandarin Duck was at the north end of Loch Awe yesterday, also a pr of Crossbills (Bob Grove). COLL: some reports through from David Andrews on the island included a record of LaplandBunting at Sorisdale on 28th Mar. TIREE: 122 Pale-bellied Brents grounded in mist this am at Sorobaidh Bay including 5 colour-ringed birds (and 1 oddly pale-spotted bird) also 8 White Wagtails there. 6,350 Golden Plover at The Reef plus 1,950 in other flocks around West Tiree. 76 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch Bhasapol included 2 new colour-ringed birds. 65+ Black-tailed Gowits at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: 6 Black-tailed Godwits were new in at Loch Gilp where still 9 Bar-tailed Godwits. Also 2 ff Wheatears there. At Dalvore woods, Moine Mhore a m Redstart, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit with 3 mm Wheatears nearby and an Osprey fishing at the Add Estuary. A Cuckoo calling at Cairnbaan this evening (Jim Dickson). More Swallows just north of Lochgilphead today (Malcolm Chattwood). KINTYRE: 35 Sanderlings, at least 20 Whimbrel and 15+ White Wagtails at the Machrihanish SBO today (Eddie Maguire). 3 Common Swifts over Campbeltown this evening 19:45 hrs (Eddie Maguire/Rab Morton) TIREE: a pair of Common Scoter off Sorobaidh Bay – also 160 GN Diver, 600+ Manx Shearwaters and 1 Minke Whale there in flat calm seas. 2 Pale-bellied Brents at north end of Sorobaidh Bay plus 6 Goldfinch, 4 Whimbrels,1 Willow Warbler, 10 White Wagtails and 1 Little Tern. 2,700 Golden Plover and 83 Black-tailed Godwits this afternoon at Loch a’ Phuill including colour-ringed birds from Iceland and E. Scotland (John Bowler). COWAL: several Sand Martins and Swallows in the Glen Massan, and excellent views of a Cuckoo (George Newall/Alistair McGregor).
COWAL: 55 Pink-footed Geese > NW over Glendaruel at 12:10 (Clive McKay). KINTYRE: a report of around 80 geese (Pink-feet?) > N over Carradale this morning. Another separate report later of around 300 > N. Also Tree Pipit and 4 Reed Buntings at Carradale Bay (Alisdair Paterson).
The 2CY Iceland Gull is still at Campbeltown harbour (Eddie Maguire). NORTH ARGYLL: the Common Sandpipers are back at the Benderloch gravel pits (Robin Harvey). TIREE: 67 Black-tailed Gowits (2 colour-ringed birds) and 1 Greenshank (1st of year here) at Loch a’ Phuill – also 12 White Wagtails there. 1m and 1f Blackcap at Balephuil plus 1 Goldcrest, 1 Willow Warbler, 1m Wheatear and 6 Redwings. 3 White Wagtails at Sorobaidh Bay (John Bowler). MULL: a House Martin seen this morning at Croggan (Steve Hiscock). ISLAY: a 1w Little Gull at Black Rocks, Loch Indaal and a Glaucous Gull there later… Gary Turnbull: Wild Islay Birding
Also 2 Arctic Terns (first report) at Loch Indaal (Angus Hogg). COLONSAY: on Oronsay a Little-ringed Plover was found and causing much excitement with the team there (Morgan Vaughan). COLL: first report of a Corncrake at Totronald RSPB reserve (Ben Jones).
MID-ARGYLL: a Cuckoo heard calling at Cairnbaan this morning, also two Blackcaps in song there. Ad Little Gull still at Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson). First Swallows at Ormsary today and also a House Martin this afternoon (Stu Crutchfield). A Tree Pipit this morning in Kilmichael forest during my BBS transect (David Jardine). Grasshopper Warbler (our first report) heard at Minard today (Sally Hall). Mull: two Tree Pipits singing at Glen Aros this morning (Sean Foote and Abi Jacobs). TIREE: six Lapland Bunting (4 males) were at Sorobaidh Bay, also 5 White Wagtails there.
A m Blackcap singing at Balephuil (arrived evening of 15 April, was first of spring here), also 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Goldcrest and 6 Redwings there. 2 pairs of Gadwall noted today (John Bowler). An imm White-tailed Eagle soaring high over Milton (Christian Verstraete). MULL: a Cuckoo was heard calling at Croggan (Steve Hiscock per Alan Spellman) and one at Lochdon (Andrea Mackenzie per Alan Spellman). ISLAY: a Cuckoo was at Ballygrant (Angus Hogg).
TIREE: 76 Black-tailed Gowits at Loch a’ Phuill and 300+ Manx Shearwaters and 12 Great Northern Divers off Hynish (John Bowler). MID-ARGYLL: two Common Sandpipers at the Add Estuary this evening (David Jardine). ISLAY: a Little Tern ans a Whimbrel at Loch Gruinart today (Angus Hogg).
TIREE: a juv Glaucous Gull and 2 Little Terns at Gott Bay – an obvious increase in waders with 190 Ringed Plovers there and 4 new leg-flagged Sanderlings on 3 beaches. 2 Pale-bellied Brents at Balephetrish Bay. A Pink-footed Goose with 405 Barnacle Geese at Balephetrish (most of the 4,600 Barnies that wintered here and almost all of the 900 Greenland White-fronts have moved north). A male Chaffinch singing at Balephuil – a rare treat here – also a Willow Warbler, 5 Redwings and 2 Goldcrests there (John Bowler). 20+ Shelducks watched arriving from the south at Traigh Bhi (Rob Archer). KINTYRE: a Stock Dove at Killellan Park, south Kintyre (Eddie Maguire / Rab Morton), and a report for 12 Apr with a Little Tern and a Bar-tailed Godwit just N of Kennacraig jetty (Eddie Maguire per Darragh Hudson). COWAL: 29 Purple Sandpipers at Crazy Golf, Dunoon this afternoon (George Newall). ISLAY: a Sedge Warbler was heard singing at Keills yesterday – first report (Gary Turnbull). NORTH ARGYLL: a 2CY Iceland Gull, Kilcheran Loch, Lismore, also a 2CY Whooper Swan there (David Jardine). Also on Lismore a House Martin at Achnacroish and 2 Red-throatedDivers and a Black Guillemot off the pier, from new resident to Lismore (Robert Croma).
