Category: Sightings

MID-ARGYLL: A juvenile (2cy) ICELAND GULL at the head of Loch Gilp this afternoon – found by Tom Lowe.

MID-ARGYLL: Two 2cy LITTLE GULLS were at the head of Loch Gilp this afternoon. Also around 40 Kittiwakes flew up the loch and headed inland with one of the Little Gulls (Andrew Russell).

TIREE: A male and 2 female RING-NECKED DUCK are still at Loch Bhasapol – to 15th at least (John Bowler)
COWAL: An adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL at Toward point – with metal ring and similar to the bird at Otter Ferry recently (Neil Hammatt).

ARGYLL: We have been getting several reports of small numbers of SNOW BUNTINGS from across Argyll in the last week. There are likely to be many more birds around and could be a good time to find your own while out exercising. Please let us know if you find any.

NUTHATCHES – As many of you will be aware – this species has been increasing in Argyll over the last 20 years and especially in the last few years – with perhaps 100 prs now. This spring the Argyll Bird Club will be conducting a survey of them and trying to cover as many suitable areas across Argyll as practicable. There will be full information given ahead of the spring survey – both on this website and in the next ‘Eider’ in early March. It is hoped that  a good number of folk will monitor this species both in their gardens, local areas or perhaps volunteer to check out suitable areas elsewhere. More information soon…

MID-ARGYLL: A 2cy GLAUCOUS GULL at the head of Loch Feochan this afternoon – also 2 Greenshank there (Jim Dickson)
COWAL: A 2cy GLAUCOUS Gull at the Holy Loch and a 3cy ICELAND GULL at Gairletter today (Neil Hammatt).

TIREE: Two TODD’S CANADA GEESE today, with 1 at Ruaig and 1 at Balephetrish, probably both birds on the island since at least 30 Dec. Also a fem VELVET SCOTER in Gunna Sound off Caoles – only the fourth John Bowler has recorded on Tiree in 20 years.
ISLAY: A 3cy GLAUCOUS GULL at Uiskentuie, Loch Indaal today (James How).

COWAL: A juv 2cy ICELAND GULL today at Gairletter (Neil Hammatt).

KINTYRE: A 3cy GLAUCOUS GULL was seen yesterday on the floods opposite Kilmichael farm – N of Campbeltown (Tom Lowe).

TIREE: A male GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Loch a’ Phuill, 1 male and 2 female RING-NECKED DUCK at Loch Bhasapol and the TODD’S CANADA GOOSE with Barnacle Geese at Ruaig (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: The adult LITTLE GULL again at Loch Gilp during late afternoon roost (Andrew Russell).

COWAL: An un-ringed adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL and a 2cy LITTLE GULL at Otter Ferry today – the latter is Neil Hammatt’s 151st species ‘in Cowal’ since moving there five years ago.