WeBS counts for February 2010

Holy Loch, Cowal.
Wildfowl: One Mute Swan, 3 Common Shelducks, 91 Eurasian Wigeon, 22 Eurasian Teal, 117 Mallards, 93 Common Eiders, 11 Common Goldeneyes, and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: 10 Little Grebes, 6 Great Cormorants, 3 Shags and two Grey Herons.
Waders: 649 Oystercatchers, 5 Ringed Plovers, 17 Northern Lapwings, 146 Eurasian Curlews, 9 Common Redshanks and 26 Turnstones.
Other species: Two Black Guillemots.
(George Newall).

 

Kilfinan Bay, Cowal.
Wildfowl: 55 Greylag Geese, 10 Eurasian Wigeon, 8 Mallards, 56 Common Eiders, 43 Red-breasted Mergansers and 4 Goosanders.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: one Red-throated Diver, 3 Black-throated Divers, 8 Shags and 2 Grey Herons.
Waders: 21 Oystercatchers, 8 Eurasian Curlews and one or more Common Redshanks.
Other species: 12 Razorbills and 2 Black Guillemots.
(Tom Callan).
 
Ruel Estuary and Loch Riddon, Cowal.
Wildfowl: four Common Shelducks, 45 Eurasian Wigeon, 43 Eurasian Teal, 31 Mallards, 2 Common Eiders, 6 Common Goldeneyes, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and one Goosander.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: three Shags and 2 Grey Herons.
Waders: 168 Oystercatchers, 70 Eurasian Curlews and 3 Common Redshanks.
(Daphne Campbell).

 

Loch Etive, North Argyll.
Wildfowl: 18 Mute Swans, one Pink-footed Goose, 185 Greylag Geese, 20 Canada Geese, 103 Eurasian Wigeon, 48 Eurasian Teal, 258 Mallards, 21 Common Eiders, 19 Common Goldeneyes, 9 Red-breasted Mergansers and 3 Goosanders.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: 26 Little Grebes (highest count this winter), 26 Great Cormorants, 32 Shags and 28 Grey Herons.
Waders: 60 Oystercatchers, 9 Ringed Plovers, 13 Common Snipe, 18 Eurasian Curlews and 7 Common Redshanks.
Other species: one Eurasian Sparrowhawk and 4 Common Buzzards.
(Mike Harrison).

 

Loch Sween, Mid-Argyll.
Wildfowl: 3 Mute Swans, 85 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 8 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese 15 Common Shelducks, 33 Eurasian Wigeon, 9 Eurasian Teal, 31 Mallards, 8 Common Goldeneyes and 13 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: one Black-throated Diver, 7 Little Grebes, one Great Cormorant and 11 Grey Herons.
Waders: 49 Oystercatchers, 6 Ringed Plovers, 27 European Golden Plovers, a Grey Plover, 7 Northern Lapwings, 31 Eurasian Curlews and 10 Common Redshanks.
Other species: male Hen Harrier.
(Paul Daw).

 

Sound of Gigha, Kintyre.
Wildfowl: 85 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 14 Greylag Geese, 12 Common Shelducks, 19 Wigeon, 34 Mallards, 350 Common Eiders, 22 Common Scoters, 2 Common Goldeneyes and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: one or more Black-throated Divers, 6 Great Northern Divers, 12 Slavonian Grebes, 2 Great Cormorants, 12 Shags and one Grey Heron.
Waders: 46 Oystercatchers, 10 Ringed Plovers, 2 Northern Lapwings, 15 Sanderlings, 4 Dunlin, one Bar-tailed Godwit, 80 Eurasian Curlews and one Common Redshank.
Other species: 9 Rock Pipits and 2 Pied Wagtails.
(Katie Pendreigh).

 

Loch Creran, North Argyll.
Wildfowl: 8 Greylag Geese, 168 Canada Geese, 11 Eurasian Wigeon, 12 Eurasian Teal, 58 Mallards, 62 Common Eiders, 17 Common Goldeneyes and 2 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: 3 Little Grebes, 22 Shags and 20 Grey Herons.
Waders: 112 Oystercatchers, 10 Ringed Plovers, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, and 32 Eurasian Curlews.
Other species: two Black Guillemots.
(Robin Harvey).

 

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Wildfowl (and Gamebirds)

01 February. A male Long-tailed Duck was in Loch Scridain, Mull today (per Alan Spellman).

 

06 February. Two Common Goldeneyes and 24 Tufted Ducks were on Loch Seil, Mid-Argyll today and two male Pochards were on Loch nan Druimnean (nr Kilmelford) (Bill Allan).

 

07 February. The (adult white phase) Snow Goose was with a group of Greylag Geese just beside the A816 near the Craobh Haven, Mid-Argyll turn off today (Bob Furness).
 
12 February. Seven Common Goldeneyes and 27 Red-breasted Mergansers were seen off Otter Ferry today (Tom Callan).

 

13 February. Approx. 60 Eurasian Wigeon were at the head of Loch Riddon, Cowal 60 today (Graham & Danielle Clark).

 

15 February. Eight Common Shelducks were at the head of Loch Riddon, Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark).

 

16 February. Two small (possibly "Lesser" Canada Geese) were with 1,700 Barnacle Geese at Balephetrish, Tiree during the goose count today as well as 3 Pink-footed Geese and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Also found around the island were 156 Whooper Swans and a Gadwall at Loch a' Phuill (John Bowler).

 

18 February. Wild fowl at ‘West Coast Salmon’, Kintyre today included approx. 300 Common Eiders, 3 Long-tailed Ducks (2 displaying males and a female) and 18 (mostly male) Common Scoters (Tom Callan).

 

19 February. Four Goosanders were in the Add Estuary, Mid-Argyll today and 14 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Barsloisnoch, Moine Mhor (Jim Dickson).

 

20 February. A count from the Gigha ferry terminal (Tayinloan) north to Ronachan Point, Kintyre this morning found approx. 1,000 Common Eiders, approx. 180 Common Scoters and 17 Long-tailed Ducks (Andrew Stevenson). Counts of Greenland White-fronted Geese made during a visit to Lismore, North Argyll included 203 at Frackersaig (NM823402) (no neck collars – a sub-sample of 52 included 8 of last year's young), 27 at Kilcheran Loch (NM826395), 7 at Fiart farm (NM812374) and 6 at Loch Baile a' Ghobhainn (NM859429). Also on Lismore, 9 Tufted Ducks at Loch Kilcheran and 14 Tufted Ducks at Loch Fiart (David Jardine). A male Goosander was near the fish farm at Ormsary, Mid-Argyll today (Mark Williamson).

 

21 February. A single flock of 489 Greenland White-fronted Geese was in a flooded field opposite the Strath Farm, nr Drumlemble, Kintyre today (Neil Brown). Six Whooper Swans and 11 Tufted Ducks were found on Loch Baile a Ghobhainn, Lismore, North Argyll (David Jardine).

 

22 February. A male Pochard at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree was the first of the winter on Tiree: 20 Common Shelducks, a male Gadwall and 2 male Pintails were also present (John Bowler).

 

27 February. A group of 15 Greenland White-fronted Goose near Loch Crinan, Mid-Argyll included one with a darvic ring but it was too far away to read (Jim Dickson).

 

28 February. A count from Pier House, Otter Ferry to Ballimore found 64 Red-breasted Mergansers almost all in pairs, many displaying (Tom Callan).

 

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Seabirds, Divers, Grebes, Shearwaters, Herons etc. (and other seawatch species)

 

06 February. Two Little Grebes were on Loch Seil, Mid-Argyll today and two more Little Grebes were on Loch nan Druimnean (nr Kilmelford) (Bill Allan).

 

09 February. The Eurasian Bittern that was seen near Craobh Haven in December was found by the side of the A816, again near Craobh Haven today. Not surprisingly, given the hard weather since, it was in a bad way. So much so that the person who found it (Wendy Bramley), was able to pick it up and take it home. It was very emaciated but they did mange to get it to take some small pieces of chicken. Sadly despite their rescue attempt it only survived until for two days. It didn't really have a chance, as it apparently only weighed 682 grams (Wendy Bramley/John Anderson).

 

12 February. Two Slavonian Grebes were seen off Otter Ferry today and again on 23 Feb (Tom Callan).

 

15 February. Three Great Northern Divers in winter plumage were off Ardrishaig, Mid-Argyll today (Jim Dickson).

 

16 February. Good numbers of divers were seen from the Islay -Kennacraig ferry today including 26 Red-throated, 7 Black-throated and 98 Great Northern Divers, as well as 2 Slavonian Grebes (David Clugston and Val Wilson per Angus Murray).

 

17 February. Seven adult Northern Gannets were diving into a gull feeding frenzy off West Hynish, Tiree today (John Bowler).

 

18 February. Divers and grebes seen off the west coast of Kintyre today included: 6 Red-throated Divers, 2 Black-throated Divers,  12 Great Northern Divers and 3 Slavonian Grebes at Ronachan Point and 4 Great Northern Divers and 3 Slavonian Grebes at ‘West Coast Salmon’ (Tom Callan).

 

20 February. A count from the Gigha ferry terminal (Tayinloan) north to Ronachan Point, Kintyre this morning found 15 Red-throated Divers, 8 or more Black-throated Divers, 38 or more Great Northern Divers and a minimum of 42 Slavonian Grebes as well as 3 distant, quite large, unidentified grebes  that were probably Great Crested but possibly Red-necked (Andrew Stevenson).
 
21 February. A Red-necked Grebe in winter plumage was showing well but very distant in Loch Gilp, off Ardrishaig (opposite West Coast Motors)  this afternoon (Jim Dickson/ Andrew Stevenson).

 

23 February. Two Black-throated Divers were in Loch Gilp near Duncuan Island today and 3 Great Northern Divers were S of Ardrishaig (Jim Dickson). 

 

28 February. A toal of 25 Red-throated Divers were at the mouth of West Loch Tarbert today, three more Red-throated Divers were in Loch Gilp and 3 Black-throated Divers and 6 Great Northern Divers were at Ormsary, Knapdale (Jim Dickson).

 

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Raptors, Rails etc

 

02 February. A Water Rail visiting a garden at Lochdon, Mull today had also been for the previous two days. There had also been reports of a Water Rail in a garden at Salen, Mull (per Alan Spellman).

 

06 February. Three Coots were still on Loch Seil, Mid-Argyll today (Bill Allan) and a Water Rail was at Balephuil, Tiree (John Bowler). An adult Golden Eagle was seen flying around summit of Binnein an Fhidhleir, Glen Kinglas, Cowal (Mark Williamson).

 

14 February. A Gyr Falcon found dead at Uiskentuie Strand (Islay) this afternoon may have been the bird seen on the island in January. It was incredibly thin and the age was confusing as it had a pure white tail, which ought to be adult white phase, but was very heavily marked on the wings, which suggested immature (Lindy and John MacLellan per Malcolm Ogilvie).

 

12 February. A Common Kestrel was seen by the Crinan Canal at Badden, Mid-Argyll today (Jim Dickson).

 

15 February. Two Moorhens were seen at Bellanoch, Mid-Argyll today (Jim Dickson).

 

16 February. A Eurasian Sparrowhawk was at Colintraive, Cowal today and three Peregrine Falcons (a male and 2 females) were at Shellfield (Loch Riddon), Cowal (Graham & Danielle Clark). Three Moorhens were seen at Loch Seil, Mid-Argyll (Bill Allan).

 

17 February. On Tiree today, 2-3 Hen Harriers, 4 Merlins, 2 Common Kestrels and 3 Peregrine Falcons were seen during the goose count (John Bowler).

 

19 February. A Merlin was at Ardchattan Church (Loch Etive) North Argyll today (Mike Harrison).

 

20 February. A male Hen Harrier was quartering the reed beds at the S side of Ulva Lagoons (Loch Sween) today Karl Pipes).
 

21 February. A male and a female Hen Harrier were at Poltalloch, Mid-Argyll today (Jim Dickson). A Eurasian Sparrowhawk and 3 Common Kestrels were seen in the area of Gobagrennan quarry (N of Campbeltown) and a ring-tail and a male Hen Harrier were seen on The Laggan (Campbeltown), Kintyre  (Neil Brown). A single Coot was found on Loch Baile a Ghobhainn, Lismore, North Argyll (David Jardine).

 

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Waders

 

01 February. Four Grey Plovers were at Fidden, Mull today (per Alan Spellman).

 

02 February. A huge count of 415 Sanderlings was at Balephetrish Bay, Tiree today (John Bowler).

 

07 February. Totals of 120 Ringed Plovers, 60 Dunlin, 90 Sanderlings and 11 Bar-tailed Godwits were at Sorobaidh Bay, Tiree today (John Bowler). A single Northern Lapwing was an unusual visitor to Loch Gilp (Paul Daw).

 

12 February. A Greenshank was an unexpected find at Craigendive, Loch Striven, Cowal  today (Tom Callan).

 

15 February. A single Red Knot was with the Redshanks at Kennacraig, Kintyre today (Bill Allan) and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits were at the head of Loch Gilp (Jim Dickson).

 

16 February. Totals of 18 Ringed Plovers and at least 100 Turnstones (34 at the Spit, 6 at Killail and at least 60 at the Fish Farm) were at Otter Ferry today (Tom Callan).
    
17 February. Waders on the spit at Otter Ferry today included 33 Dunlin, 5 Common Redshanks and at least 30 Turnstones (Tom Callan).

 

18 February. Five Ringed Plovers and 4 Purple Sandpipers were at Ronachan Point, Kintyre today and 39 Northern Lapwing were at Tayinloan (Tom Callan).

 

19 February. Numbers of Purple Sandpipers during February at Dunoon (near crazy golf) peaked at 38 today (George Newall) and numbers of European Golden Plovers at Port Ban Caravan Park (Knapdale), Mid-Argyll had built up to 38 (Mark Williamson).

 

20 February. Five Northern Lapwings were in a field behind Port Ban Caravan Park, Mid-Argyll today (Mark Williamson). Six Woodcock were found at Kilcheran, Lismore, North Argyll (David Jardine).

 

21 February. A Common Snipe, 2 Woodcocks and 19 Northern Lapwings were found at Poltalloch, Mid-Argyll today (Jim Dickson) and a flock of 43 Northern Lapwings were seen near West Parkfergus (The Laggan), Kintyre (Neil Brown).

 

23 February. A flock of 23 Purple Sandpipers was at Salum Bay, Tiree today (John Bowler).

 

24 February. A Woodcock was in the garden at Otter Ferry foraging under Rhododendrons! (Tom Callan).One of several reported in gardens during the cold weather.

 

27 February. A flock of 22 Northern Lapwings were seen near Loch Crinan, Mid-Argyll (Jim Dickson).

 

28 February. A single Greenshank was at the head of West Loch Tarbert today (Jim Dickson).

 

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Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Auks

01 February. An adult and different 2nd winter Mediterranean Gulls were in Loch Gilp by the old pier this afternoon (Bill Allan).

 

07 February. A 2nd-winter Mediterranean Gull with a metal ring was a nice surprise during a walk at Sorobaidh Bay, Tiree today, where it was dip-feeding with a Black-headed Gull and 160 Common Gulls (John Bowler).

 

12 February. An adult and a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull (both un-ringed) at Toward Castle yacht marina, Cowal today were thought to two of the birds from Loch Gilp (Bill Allan).

 

16 February. An adult Iceland Gull was at Bunnahabhain, Islay this afternoon and another adult Iceland Gull was seen on rocks at the mouth of West Loch Tarbert from the ferry (David Clugston and Val Wilson per Angus Murray).

 

22 February. A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull found at Got Bay, Tiree today was a different bird from that at 
Sorobaidh Bay on 7 Feb as it was not ringed and has all dark-reddish legs (John Bowler).

 

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Doves, Owls, Woodpeckers etc.

 

30 January. A Barn Owl was seen flying across a garden in Connel, Mid-Argyll today (Mike Harrison).

 

20 February. Calling Long-eared Owl and Tawny Owl (together) were heard at Achinduin during a visit to Lismore, North Argyll (David Jardine).

 

21 February. An adult male Barn Owl caught at Lower Ranachan (nr Campbeltown) had been ringed as a pullus in August of 2009 very nearby, at High Park (Neil Brown). A flock of 12 Wood Pigeons were seen at Poltalloch, Mid-Argyll (Jim Dickson).

 

28 February. A flock of 30 Wood Pigeons was at Strone Farm (near Otter Ferry), Cowal today (Tom Callan).

 

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Passerines

02 February. Approx. 50 Siskin passed through the garden at Otter Ferry today with ca15 stopping for a couple of minutes on peanut feeders (Tom Callan).

 

03 February. A flock of 9 Long-tailed Tits were seen during an Atlas winter Timed Tetrad Visit in Glen Aray, Mid-Argyll today (Paul Daw).

 

06 February. At least 6 Common Crossbills were seen on a larch tree at Otter Ferry today (Tom Callan). A Fieldfare and a Goldfinch were at Meningie, Tiree and 3 Goldfinches were at Balephuil (John Bowler).

 

07 February. Approx. 30 Fieldfares were seen with 3 Redwings near Ardmarnock, Cowal today (Tom Callan). A group of 7 Common Crossbills were seen during an Atlas winter Timed Tetrad Visit at Kilmory Castle (Lochgilphead), Mid-Argyll (Paul Daw).

 

11 February. Two Waxwings seen in Connel today were being mobbed by Chaffinches and Blue Tits (Mike Harrison).

 

12 February. Six Bullfinches (males and females) were feeding on heather buds at  Kinlochruel, Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark). Three Common Crossbills were seen during an Atlas winter Timed Tetrad Visit in Glen Aray, Mid-Argyll today (Paul Daw).

 

14 February. A Magpie was seen at Crinan, Mid-Argyll today (Mike Murray per Jim Dickson).

 

17 February. On Tiree today, 18 Fieldfares included a flock of 12 at Mannal, 200+ Redwings included a flock of 50+ at Balevullin, a Pied Wagtail was at Barrapol and 12 Greenfinches and 3 Goldfinches were at Kenovay (John Bowler).

 

18 February. Five Redwings were with 60 Fieldfares at Balinakill (nr. Clachan), Kintyre today and a Wren reported at Ronachan Point, Kintyre today was one of very few reported since the cold spell (Tom Callan). A Magpie flew across the main A816 road at Garraron (nr Craobh Haven), Mid-Argyll (Jim Dickson). 

 

19 February. A flock of approx. 50 Sky Larks were on a newly ploughed field near Loch Crinan, Mid-Argyll today and 4 Reed Buntings were nearby at  Poltalloch (Jim Dickson). Four Common Stonechats that had survived the winter were at Port Ramsay, Lismore, North Argyll (David Jardine).

 

20 February. A single Wren was also seen at Keills (Loch Sween) today (Karl Pipes). It will be interesting to see how many are found during Atlas survey work in Argyll this spring. A pair of Long-tailed Tits appeared to be nest-building in Connel today (Mike Harrison). Four Common Crossbills, 15 Siskins and 20 Lesser Redpolls were all feeding on larch cones at the Powder Dams (nr. Millhouse) Cowal (Tom Callan). A small flock of 4 Common Crossbills (a male and 3 females) and 4 or 5 Bullfinches were seen at Blarbuie Woods (beside the Mid-Argyll Hospital in Lochgilphead) (Lynsey Gibson). Six Reed Buntings and no less than 9 Wrens (survivors, Wrens have almost disappeared in the Highlands) were found at Achnacroish during a visit to Lismore, North Argyll (David Jardine).

 

21 February. A flock of at least 43 Reed Buntings was seen at Gobagrennan Road (nr Campbeltown) with 19 Mistle Thrushes nearby and a flock of 73 Fieldfares at Lower Ranachan (Neil Brown).

 

23 February. A male Bullfinch was stripping buds from a bush in a garden in Dunoon today and at least 25 Siskins were present (George Newall). Two female Common Crossbills were calling on the hill S of Cairnbaan, Mid-Argyll and a Bullfinch was also seen (Jim Dickson).

 

24 February. A single Waxwing was seen again today in a Salen garden, Mull and a single Brambling (female) was also in Salen (per Alan Spellman).

 

25 February. A Greenfinch in the garden at Otter Ferry was only the 3rd noticed on garden feeders there this year. They have been strangely absent at Otter Ferry (Tom Callan). Although curiously up to 14 at a time have been recorded around the bird feeders, not so far away, at Tullochgorm (Minard) during the same period (Paul Daw).

 

26 February. The Rose-ringed (Ring-necked) Parakeet has survived the winter in Dunoon so far: obviously quite hardy birds despite their tropical appearance (Callum Satchel).

 

27 February. A pair of Common Crossbills and a male Bullfinch were around Treshnish Wood, Mull today (Anand Prasad). A good day for Bullfinches as a male and female were also seen at Loch Arail, Achahoish, Mid-Argyll and one was at Crinan ferry (Jim Dickson).

 

28 February. A flock of 24 Mistle Thrushes was seen at Ormsary, Mid-Argyll and 64 Sky Larks and 40 Meadow Pipits were seen a couple of km to the south (Jim Dickson).

 

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Other sightings:

 

15 February. There was a Brown Hare at Moine Mhor today (first Bill had seen in a long time there) and also a Sika Deer in the plantation area there (Bill Allan).

 

The Pine Martin that has had been tearing open and stealing the fat balls put out for the birds at Tullochgorm (Minard) (see January Latest Reports) was finally caught on camera… (Adam Smith).

 

 

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