Sightings – Page 148 – Argyll Bird Club

14th March

TIREE: a Chiffchaff with a Goldcrest today at Balephuil equals the earliest arrival date here set in 2016. Two juv Glaucous Gulls together at Loch a’ Phuill plus an imm Moorhen and 1f Scaup again there (John Bowler).

13th March

MID-ARGYLL: Whooper Swans have been stopping off and flying over Loch Gilp in recent days with 16 there on 10 Mar (Simon Lawrence) and 18 on the Loch today then flew off N over the town (Jim Dickson/Simon Lawrence). Also still 90+ Skylarks in a field at Drimvore and at least 2 in song at the Add Estuary (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: A sleepy 1w Iceland Gull at Campbeltown pontoon again today (Eddie Maguire). Also 12 Yellowhammers at a garden ground feeding station in a Campbeltown garden. This is the largest flock seen in this area for many years (Eddie Maguire / Esther Thompson).
TIREE: 2 juv Glaucous Gulls together at Baugh – others single juvs (perhaps the same?) at Crossapol and The Reef, 1 juv Glaucous Gull at Balephetrish Bay, 1 Fieldfare at Beinn Gott, 1 Goldcrest at The Glebe, ca 300 Black-h Gulls, 50 Lesser BB Gulls and 20+ Pied Wagtails around East Tiree today on the goose count (John Bowler).
NORTH ARGYLL: a Little Egret again at Dalrannoch, Loch Creran during the WEBS count (Robin Harvey).
COWAL: around 40 Whooper Swans flying all around the Kyles of Bute last night in full moonlight and then headed west. (David Blair).

Little Grebe – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 13 Mar (Jim Dickson).

Yellowhammer – Campbetowm, Kintyre 13 Mar (Eddie Maguire).

Iceland Gull – Campbeltown, Kintyre 13 Mar (Eddie Maguire).

Whoopers – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 13 Mar (Jim Dickson).

9th March

ISLAY: a juv/1w Iceland Gull at Laggan Bay (David Clugston/Val Wilson per Angus Murray).
MID-ARGYLL: 10 Lesser BB Gulls at Loch Gilp at lunchtime and the female Long-tailed Duck still at Loch Ceann a’ Chroin this evening (David Jardine).

Cormorant – Loch Riddon, Cowal 9 Mar (Alistair McGregor).

Iceland Gull – Campbeltown, Kintyre Mar 17 (Gary Woodburn).

Black Guillemots – Kintyre Mar 17 (Gary Woodburn).

8th March

ISLAY: the 1w Ring-billed Gull is still present and now west of Craigens (David Clugston/Val Wilson per Angus Murray). Many thanks to John Nadin/Gary Woodburn for sending through images from their recent Islay visit.

Golden Eagle – Islay Mar 17 (Gary Woodburn).

1w Ring-billed Gull – Islay 3 March (Gary Woodburn).

7th March

MID-ARGYLL: an adult Little Gull again at the head of Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: a Greenshank and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits were at Kennacraig (Jim Dickson).

Little Gull – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 6 Mar (Jim Dickson).

6th March

TIREE: 2 juv Glaucous Gulls at Sorobaidh Bay, 2 juv Glaucous Gulls at north end of the Maze hanging around a 9 metre Sperm Whale bobbing in the surf, plus another freshly dead juv Glaucous Gull there (John Bowler).

Sperm Whale and Glaucous Gull- Tiree 6 Mar (John Bowler).

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).