Category: Sightings

16th January

Mid-Argyll: At Loch Gilp mid-day a female Kingfisher on the old pier, also 9 Shelducks new in, 26 Bar-tailed Godwits and 9 Dunlins (David Jardine/Jim Dickson). Nearby on rocks off Lingerton Landfill an adult Glaucous Gull (Jim Dickson).
Three Snow Buntings at Allt Dearg windfarm, nr Ormsary this morning (Errol Crutchfield).
A dead Little Auk found on the strandline nr Dunstaffnage, behind SAMS (Steven Benjamins).
Kintyre: At Campbeltown Loch 2 Iceland Gulls (juv & 2w) and a juv Glaucous Gull at Bellochantuy (per Birdguides).
Tiree: a juv Glaucous Gull at Gott Bay (John Bowler).

Kingfisher - Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 16 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Kingfisher – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 16 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Little Auk - Dunstaffnage, Mid-Argyll 16 Jan (Steven Benjamins).
Little Auk – Dunstaffnage, Mid-Argyll 16 Jan (Steven Benjamins).

15th January

Mid-Argyll: the juv/1w Iceland Gull still on rocks at Eilean Traighe, Ormsary (Stu Crutchfield) and perhaps a different, older bird also at the same location (David Jardine).
Islay: the drake Green-winged Teal still at RSPB Loch Gruinart (per Birdguides).

14th January

Mid-Argyll: A few highlights this morning included: a Slavonian Grebe at Loch Gilp, 2 Black-throated, 2 Red-throated and 5 Great Northern Divers in Loch Fyne (from Brenfield point), 17 Great Northern Divers, 4 Goosanders, 6 Common Scoters, a female Pintail, 58 Goldeneye, 94 Mallards, 1 Shelduck, a juv Iceland Gull, m Sparrowhawk, 1 Carrion Crow, 1 Grey Wagtail, 16 Rock & 12 Meadow Pipits, 80+ Chaffinch, and 1 Twite at Ormsary/Loch Caolisport (Jim Dickson).
A lone Waxwing was spotted in Connel this afternoon (Mike Harrison).
North Argyll: 28 White-fronted Geese at South Ardnaclach (North Shian) were best birds on today’s WeBS, 4 of them had neck collars (Robin Harvey).
Cowal: A male Goldeneye off the Coal Pier Dunoon. First one we’ve seen here! (Cherry Cook).
Tiree: Drake Green-winged Teal at Loch Bhasapol this afternoon, a juv Glaucous Gull at Rubha Chraiginis, 1f Common Scoter,1 Shelduck and 260 Sanderling (including 5 leg-flagged birds) at Balephetrish Bay. No further sign yet of white-phase Gyrfalcon reported on 4 Jan (John Bowler).

Iceland Gull - Ormsary, Mid-Argyll 14 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Iceland Gull – Ormsary, Mid-Argyll 14 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Pintail - Ormsary, Mid-Argyll 14 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Pintail – Ormsary, Mid-Argyll 14 Jan (Jim Dickson).

 

13th January

Mid-Argyll: At Loch Gilp 3 adult Little Gulls in with 85 Black-headed (recent increase in these), also 5 Red Knot and 2 Little Grebes there. At the Moine Mhor 8 Mistle Thrush (Strathmore) and 31 Redwings with 42 Fieldfares (at Drimvore). Also 4 Greenfinch and 75 Chaffinch at Cairnbaan (Jim Dickson).
North Argyll: A Little Egret sighted today & yesterday on Loch Laich, Appin (John Landale). 20 Wigeons, 2 drake Goosander, 12 Goldeneye in upper Loch Creran (Robin Harvey).

Little Gull - Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 13 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Little Gull – Loch Gilp, Mid-Argyll 13 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Canada Geese - Drimvore, Mid-Argyll 13 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Canada Geese – Drimvore, Mid-Argyll 13 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Canada Geese - Drimvore, Mid-Argyll 13 Dec (Jim Dickson).
Canada Geese – Drimvore, Mid-Argyll 13 Dec (Jim Dickson).

12th January

Mid-Argyll: The Moorhen which appeared on the Lusragan Burn, Connel, in December has been seen twice so far this year, though not today. However, a Dipper was on the burn this morning and a Grey Wagtail was nearby (Mike Harrison). Two female Bramblings at Stonefield, Tarbert also 4 male Siskins and 12 Goldfinch (Anne Lavelle).
Cowal: From his garden in Dunoon, Gearge Newall has been seeing feeding finches with Siskins (6+), Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, a male Brambling and 2-3 Redpolls one of which was pale and hopes to get a photo of that one.
Tiree: A white-phase Gyrfalcon seen at Balephertrish Bay on 4 Jan has been reported to John Bowler (Rebecca Boyd).

10th January

Mid-Argyll: an adult Little Gull again at the head of Loch Gilp at mid-day (David Jardine) and still there mid-afternoon (Jim Dickson).

9th January

Cowal: 42 Fieldfares and 6 Mistle Thrush near Deerpark, Glen Massan, also a single  Black Grouse calling at Craigindive, Loch Striven (Alistair McGregor).
Mid-Argyll: Took a photo at Cairnbaan (through wet window) in garden of this huge Chaffinch….about the size of a Hawfinch or larger!! (Jim Dickson).

Fieldfare - Glen Massan, Cowal 9 Jan (Alistair McGregor).
Fieldfare – Glen Massan, Cowal 9 Jan (Alistair McGregor).
Mistle Thrush- Glen Massan, Cowal 9 Jan (Alsitair McGregor)
Mistle Thrush- Glen Massan, Cowal 9 Jan (Alsitair McGregor)
Chaffinch - Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 9 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Chaffinch – Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll 9 Jan (Jim Dickson).

7th January

North Argyll: Appin – 2 hybrid Canada x Greylag Geese…..look very like Blue Snow Geese but have black bills. On Lismore at Eilean Loch Oscair a Black-throated Diver, at Port na Morglachd  a Woodcock, at Achuaran 2 Treecreepers and 2 Kestrels – unusually both males. (David Jardine).

5th January

Kintyre: At the Sound of Gigha this morning appears fewer birds than usual however: 8 Whooper Swans N, 33 Great Northern Divers, 18 Slavonian Grebes, 108 Eiders, 28 Common Scoters, 41 Red-breasted Mergansers, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 8 Black Guillemots. Also 367 White-fronted Geese, 19 Lapwings, 5 Mistle Thrush and 4 Fieldfares N of Tayinloan and a Greenshank plus 6 Shelducks at Kennacraig (Jim Dickson/Neil Hammatt).
Cowal: 1 Siskin in garden in Dunoon (first there since Aug) George Newall and Red-throated Diver midday yesterday, and 4 Turnstones, between Innellan and Dunoon (Cherry Cook).

Red-breasted Merganser - Sound of Gigha 5 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Red-breasted Merganser – Sound of Gigha 5 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Great Northern Diver - Sound of Gigha 5 Jan (Jim Dickson).
Great Northern Diver – Sound of Gigha 5 Jan (Jim Dickson).

4th January

Mid-Argyll: No sign of the Waxwings in Ardrishaig today however 2 Purple Sandpipers with 5 Turnstones on Duncuan island Loch Gilp with 4 Goosanders and 22 Eiders in the loch showing courtship display. Also 950 Herring Gulls and 35 GBB Gulls nr Lingerton dump (Jim Dickson). A Long-tailed Duck was between Isle of Danna and Keills this morning (Jon Close). Scott Paterson has been in touch to say a Nuthatch was at the Dalmally community garden feeders the last couple of days.