Category: Sightings

TIREE: Two juv Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Vaul Golf course at 0910 hrs  (Keith Gillon), 2 juv Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Kenovay at 1230 hrs, 2 adult American Golden Plovers at Sandaig – the long-staying bird from July plus a new bird (John Bowler/Keith Gillon), 1 Ruff at Greenhill, 6 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in-off at Balephetrish Bay (John Bowler).
MID-ARGYLL: A first-winter (1CY) Mediterranean Gull at Crinan Ferry, Add Estuary at noon today (Jim Dickson).
ISLAY: First autumn reports of Pale-bellied Brent Goose with 14 flying S at Loch Indaal today (Gary Turnbull per Ian Brooke) and also 9 at Loch Gruinart (James Butcher).

MID-ARGYLL: A flock of 57 Mistle Thrush on the road to Crinan Ferry this morning., also 80 Goldfinch there. Now 41 Wigeon at the Add Estuary. At Loch Gilp – 1 Greenshank, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 39 Wigeon (Jim Dickson).
KINTYRE: 3 Greenshank at Kennacraig on 8th Sep (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: A single Whimbrel at the head of the Holy Loch and a charm of 100+ Goldfinch feeding on the grass on the foreshore also 12 Wigeon (Alistair McGregor).
KINTYRE: At MSBO today – 5 Knot and a Great Skua >S (Eddie Maguire).

TIREE: An Icterine Warbler was found in rose bushes on the road leading to Loch a’ Phuill by Keith Gillon today and seen by John Bowler this evening. The American Golden Plover is still present at Sandaig.
MID-ARGYLL: A Nuthatch at Stonefield was a first record for this area (Anne Lavelle).

TIREE: Juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 250+ Golden Plover this pm – also 1 Ruff and 4 Black-tailed Godwits there – (John Bowler with Keith Gillon).  Rosy Starling still at Kenovay today (John Bowler).
ISLAY: 2W Mediterranean Gull in Bowmore this morning, Reeve still at Loch Gruinart, 70 Goldfinch at Carnain and 3 Mediterranean Gulls together at Rubha Ban/Carnain, Loch Indaal this evening  – 2 x 2W and a juv/1W (Jim Dickson).

TIREE: The Rosy Starling is still visiting feeders at Kenovay (John Bowler) – and was seen at Balephetrish yesterday by Keith Gillon
ISLAY: Two more Mediterranean Gulls today (both second-winters) to add to the two juv/first-winters in the last few days. All birds being seen between Carnain and Gortan (Jim Dickson).

KINTYRE: Bill Allan has sent in photos of his “Polish” Mute Swan record – at Ronachan Bay on 22 Sep 2013 and so far only the second report in Scotland.
NORTH ARGYLL: A male Velvet Scoter was at Ardmucknish Bay, Benderloch today (David Jardine).
MID-ARGYLL: Highlights at the Add Estuary today – 7 Whimbrel and a Peregrine and also a White-tailed Eagle hunting at Loch Gilp (David Pearson).
TIREE: 30 juv Black-tailed Godwit and 4 juv Knot on arable silage stubble at Kenovay, 10 juv Black-tailed Godwit at Loch a’ Phuill, 4 juv Knot at Gott Bay – although 15 juvs there at the weekend – Keith Gillon, imm Merlin showed well at Ben Hynish, White Wagtails quite widespread on the beaches (John Bowler).

ISLAY: both the first-year Mediterranean Gulls still at Rhubha Ban, Loch Indaal this morning. Also 11 juv Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Ruff at Loch Gruinart, 1 Gadwall, 41 Tufted Duck and 1 Scaup at Loch Gorm (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: Buff-breasted Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover still at Sandaig in flock of 200+ Golden Plover. Garden Warbler and Robin new in at Balephuil with 1f Blackcap still there. 1 Kestrel new at Balemartine. 5^th dead Cuvier’s Beaked Whale arrived at Traigh Ghrianal after the 4^th at Hynish on 30 Aug (John Bowler).

ISLAY: From the ferry this morning 5 Common Dolphin nr Texa island. At Blackrock, Loch Indaal – 2 juv/1W Mediterranean Gulls this morning and 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Greater Scaup, 3 Great Northern Diver, 39 Wigeon and 49 Common Scoter on the loch. Also 18 Knot, 2 Golden Plover and 1 Greenshank at Loch Gruinart plus 25 alba wagtails (inc 10+ White Wagtail) nr the new hide at Gruinart. (Jim Dickson).
TIREE: An American Golden Plover and a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Sandaig this afternoon (Keith Gillon).

JURA: On David Jardine’s ABC trip to Jura on Sat 25th Aug he re-found a ‘Polish’ Mute Swan cygnet first noted at Inver, Jura (opposite Port Askaig / Bunnahabhain on Islay) in July. This white-morph juvenile is rare in the UK and apparently only one previous Scottish record. It is likely they are under recorded and my memory was jogged – recalling Bill Allan’s report of a ‘polish’ cygnet in a family group off Ronachan point a few years back and hopefully Bill will get back with his photo and date. Any additional historical records would also be valuable. Please send all sightings and reports by e-mail to  or by post to Moss Taylor, 4 Heath Road, Sheringham, Norfolk NR26 8JH (Jim Dickson).
COWAL: 3 Sanderling and 60+ Turnstone at Kirn , and a Kingfisher reported to me by Paul Kent on the Little Eckaig near Dalinlongart farm (Alistair McGregor).

MID-ARGYLL: Now 30 Teal at the Add Estuary, also still 2 Greenshank (Jim Dickson). A nice sighting reported of 2 adult White-tailed Eagles at An Oitir, off Minard. Also 4 White-tailed Eagles over Castle Sween (all at the same time) today (Alastair Ross).
ISLAY: At Loch Gruinart – Dunlin 1700+, Sanderling 300+, Black-tailed Godwit 67, Knot 5, Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Golden Plover 8 (James Butcher).