Category: Sightings

5th March

ISLAY: the Great Grey Shrike is still present today at Carnain (Gary Turbull: Wild Islay Birding).
MULL: an Iceland Gull at the Sound of Mull seen from the Oban – Tiree ferry (Toby Green per Angus Murray).
MID-ARGYLL: Three male and two female Bullfinches were feeding in a crab-apple tree in Connel today, their first visit of the spring to this tree (Mike Harrison). Nine Whooper Swans flew N over Loch Gilp at 4pm and an adult Little Gull also there (Jim Dickson). A Kingfisher and 2 Greenshanks at Caol Scotnish (Alan Dykes).

Great Grey Shrike – Carnain, Islay 5 Mar (Gary Turnbull).

4th March

ISLAY: the Great Grey Shrike was seen again today at Crosshouse, Carnain (David Clugston per Gary Turnbull).
MID-ARGYLL: a Dipper was in full song near the Cairnbaan swing bridge (Jim Dickson/David Jardine/Malcolm Chattwood).
COWAL: Peter Staley has noted a pair of Great Crested Grebes in courtship display on the sea off Ardentinny in recent days.

3rd March

ISLAY: a Cackling Goose was at The Oa today (David Wood). John Nadin refound the 1w Ring-billed Gull at Craigens yesterday but no sign of the Great Grey Shrike at Bridgend. He reports at least 4 Cackling Geese now on the Island.
TIREE:  a Goldcrest at Balephuil, a juvenile Glaucous Gull at Traigh Bhagh and a male Pochard at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: a Common Sandpiper was at Loch nan Torran in Ormsary this morning (Errol Crutchfield). The Dippers on the Lusragan Burn in Connel were carrying nest material this morning, and a Grey Wagtail was feeding near last year’s nest site (Mike Harrison).

2nd March

ISLAY: a Lapland Bunting found by Chris Mills on The Oa today (David Wood).
KINTYRE: four Iceland Gulls in Kintyre today with first-winters just north of Tayinloan and between Tayinloan and Campbeltowm, a second-winter at Campbeltown harbour and an adult on the road to Machrihanish by the airport turn off. Also 2 Pink-footed Geese at Drumlemble and the regular 22 Barnacle hybrids (John Nadin/Jimmy Steele).
TIREE: a Goldcrest at Balephuil – first of the spring here and 26 Whooper Swans new at Loch an Eilein (John Bowler).

Lapland Bunting – The Oa, Islay 2 Mar (David Wood).

1st March

TIREE: two 2CY White-tailed Eagles together at Loch a’ Phuill – also a Welsh colour-ringed Oystercatcher there. A big influx of adult Black-headed Gulls – at least 80 around the island also 1 Mistle Thrush and 1 Greenfinch at the Glebe (John Bowler).
ISLAY: a report of a Great Grey Shrike again at Bridgend yesterday (per Islaybird blog).

28th February

COWAL: a Great Crested Grebe this morning off Ardentinny, with 2 there on 12 Jan. Also Lesser BB Gulls around. (Peter Staley).
MID-ARGYLL: the first-winter Little Gull was again at the head of Loch Gilp this morning and 1 Lesser BB Gull (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: a Magpie was at Portrigh, Carradale yesterday (Alisdair Paterson).
ISLAY: the first-winter Ring-billed Gull was again at Craigens on Sun 26 Feb (Gary Turnbull).

27th February

MID-ARGYLL: 20+ Black-throated Divers on Loch Caolisport early morning (Stu Crutchfield).
TIREE: three juvenile Glaucous Gulls at Sorobaidh Bay –with 14 ad Black-headed Gulls and 1 ad Lesser BB Gull there, also 1 juvenile Glaucous Gull at Traigh Bhagh and 1 Mistle Thrush at Balephuil (John Bowler).

juv Glaucous Gull – Tiree 27 Feb (John Bowler).
Mistle Thrush – Balephuil, Tiree 27 Feb (John Bowler).

26th February

MID-ARGYLL: a flock of 93 Skylarks was at Drimvore this morning (Jim Dickson).

Pied Wagtail – Drimvore, Mid-Argyll 26 Feb (Jim Dickson).
Skylarks – Drimvore, Mid-Argyll 26 Feb (Jim Dickson).
Skylarks – Drimvore, Mid-Argyll 26 Feb (Jim Dickson).

25th February

KINTYRE: a juvenile Iceland Gull was at Tarbert harbour (Neil Hammatt).
NORTH ARGYLL: the ABC trip to Lismore today led by David Jardine included 2 Greenshanks (3 Otters) and concluded with a flurry of several White-tailed and a single Golden Eagle near Loch Laich.

Iceland Gull – Tarbert, Kintyre 25 Feb (Neil Hammatt).

24th February

COWAL: Neil Hammatt reports more Pied Wagtails in Glendaruel and at least 200 Skylarks in fields there today. A Nuthatch was seen again in a garden at Stronafian (George Newall/Alistair McGregor).
ISLAY: a first-winter Ring-billed Gull first seen at Craigens (Gruinart) on 15 Feb by Tom Lowe was there again today (Steve Williams per bird news services).