Category: Sightings

COWAL: Now six LITTLE EGRETS at the Holy Loch (David Gilmour et al). A similar pattern of arrival to last year when a group arrived and then dispersed throughout Argyll – more to come?
MID-ARGYLL: The 1cy MEDITERRANEAN GULL was again at Loch Gilp this afternoon (David Jardine).
KINTYRE: A possible RED KITE was seen near Clachan today (Amanda Chadderton). Another was seen recently at Arduaine, Mid-Argyll (per Darren Thomas).
TIREE: A Juv MARSH HARRIER was at Barrapol and later at the Reef (John Bowler). A TREE SPARROW was new in at Hynish (Keith Gillon). A juv LITTLE STINT still at Gott Bay (Keith Gillon).

MID-ARGYLL: A 1cy (first-winter) MEDITERRANEAN GULL this afternoon at head of Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).

TIREE: An ARCTIC WARBLER was found today at Balinoe by John Bowler. This will become a new species for Argyll if accepted by the SBRC. The BARRED WARBLER was seen again at Balemartine (Keith Gillon).

KINTYRE: A juvenile LITTLE GULL with Kittiwakes late pm flying north off the west side of Gigha – from the Islay ferry (1,000+ Kittiwakes on the sea just to north of Gigha) (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A juvenile COMMON ROSEFINCH again at Balephuil (John Bowler). A juv MARSH HARRIER at Balephuil / Balemartine  (Keith Gillon).

TIREE: A juvenile SPOTTED REDSHANK  at Loch a’ Phuill (Calum Scott). BARRED WARBLER again at Balemartine (Ewan Forbes & Tony O’Connor).
ISLAY: A juvenile CURLEW SANDPIPER still at Loch Gruinart. Also 57 Pale-bellied Brent Geese there today and an influx of Wheatears around the island (Jim Dickson).

TIREE: A Juv COMMON ROSEFINCH at Balephuil, also 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Garden Warbler (John Bowler).

ISLAY: A new CURLEW SANDPIPER – at Carnain, Loch Indaal. Also a Little Egret, 2 Greenshank, 71 Wigeon, Slavonian Grebe, 49 Common Scoter, Osprey and White-tailed Eagle there (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: A 1cy BARRED WARBLER, 1 EURASIAN REED WARBLER, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler and 2 Goldcrest at Balephuil (John Bowler). A 1cy Pied Flycatcher at Vaul (Calum Scott). A 1cy Pied Flycatcher at Balemartine (Keith Gillon), with a BARRED WARBLER and a Common Redstart (Ewan Forbes, Tony O’Connor). A Juv WOOD SANDPIPER at Loch a’ Phuill (Calum Scott).

TIREE: 1cy BARRED WARBLER, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler at Balephuil. A 1cy PECTORAL SANDPIPER,  juv Wood Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 4 juv Red Knot, 3 Greenshank and 23 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch a’ Phuill (John Bowler). A 1cy LITTLE GULL at Gott Bay (Keith Gillon).
COLONSAY: Two SOOTY SHEARWATER with 500+ Manx Shearwater feeding off Balnahard (David Jardine).

TIREE: Juvenile PECTORAL SANDPIPER at Loch Bhasapol (presume the long-staying bird from August) – together with 1 juv Wood Sandpiper, 1 Ruff and 1 Greenshank (part of a remarkable flock of 7 waders of 7 species – the others being 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank and 1 Lapwing!) (all Keith Gillon per John Bowler). Probable BARRED WARBLER seen briefly in flight at Balemartine at 2pm – Keith Gillon (presumably the Balephuil bird).
ISLAY: Juv CURLEW SANDPIPER again at Loch Gruinart – also 5 Ruff and a juv Greenshank still there (Jim Dickson).

ISLAY: A juvenile CURLEW SANDPIPER was new in at Loch Gruinart today (Jim Dickson).