Update (number 73) on 6th June 2008 (sightings for late May 2008)

Stop Press: A Blythe’s Reed Warbler was seen, photographed and heard singing a Carnan Moor, Tiree on the evening of 3rd June (John Bowler). If accepted by BBRC this would be yet another Tiree ‘first for Argyll’!

The record of a lone Little Bunting watched and photographed at Milton, Tiree on 23rd October 2007 has now been accepted by the Scottish Birds Records Committee. It was associating at times with House Sparrows feeding on grain but had gone the next day (John Bowler). This is only the second Little Bunting ever recorded in Argyll. The first was found dead at Skerryvore Lighthouse in late September 1985.

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Wildfowl (and gamebirds) Seabirds, Divers, Grebes, Shearwaters, Herons etc. (and other seawatch species) Raptors, Rails etc Waders Skuas, gulls, terns and auks Doves, owls, woodpeckers etc. Passerines Other sightings

14th May. A pair of Canada Geese with four goslings were seen on Loch na Keal, Mull (Nick & Stella Laughton).

15th May. A female Eider with an early brood of five small young and six males in attendance were on the shoreline at Otter Ferry (Tom Callan).

18th May. The first groups of Eider ducklings at Colintraive, Cowal were spotted today - two separate groups one with four ducklings and five in another group (Graham Clark).

19th May. Four male Gadwalls and seven Whooper Swans were at Loch Bhasapol, Tiree and a Canada Goose paired to a Greylag was at Moss (John Bowler).

23rd May. A late single Greenland White-fronted Goose was at Ulva Lagoons, Loch Sween (Jim Dickson and Bill Alan).

27th May A very late Whooper Swan was seen on Loch Orodale, Kintyre (NR 6516). It was swimming about and whooping intermittently and appeared in good condition (Steve & Sue Walker).

28th May. A male and female Pintail were seen east of Barrapol, Tiree and two Pink-footed Geese were on shore at north end of Loch a' Phuill and seen flying off towards Heylipol (Jim Dickson).

29th May. A female Mandarin Duck was seen with six small ducklings at the head of Loch Eck, Cowal (Peter Woods) and two drake Garganey were found at Loch an Eilein, Tiree (Jim Dickson/Bill Allan).

30th May. A drake Garganey was at Loch Bhasapol, Tiree (John Bowler).

31st May. A drake Greater Scaup was at Balephetrish Bay, Tiree (John Bowler).

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23rd May. The Heronry at Glen Caladh on Eilean Dubh, Cowal (NS0075) has 25-30 Grey Herons and at least ten occupied nests (Daphne Campbell).

24th May. A Cattle Egret was reported at Fishnish, Mull (Alan Spellman). Although this species has become quite frequent in England recently, there are no previous records for Argyll. If a description was supplied and accepted this would be a new addition to our list.

25th May. Three Black-throated Divers were displaying on Loch Scridain, Mull (Alan Spellman).

30th May. Parties of 90 and 140 Manx Shearwaters were seen to the east of Coll from the Oban ferry (Jim Dickson).

31st May. During a BTO atlas survey, a Red-throated Diver and five Little Grebes were found on the Black Lochs near Oban (Mike Harrison). A Great Northern Diver was seen from the ferry in the Sound of Gigha (Malcolm Chattwood).

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16th May. Up to two female Marsh Harriers have been reported from the Loch Bhasapol area of Tiree in the past week (per John Bowler)

19th May. So far this season, four new Osprey pairs have been located in Argyll (Roger Broad).

23rd May. A male Merlin was seen twice this week flying across the Kyles at Colintraive and Rhubodach, flying in both directions and it was also spotted in a back garden at Ferry Bank, Colintraive (Graham Clark).

24th May. A male Red-footed Falcon was reported on a telegraph wire about a mile past Stewarton on the Southend road, Kintyre. It sat there for over five minutes while being mobbed by five to six Swallows and a pair of Pied Wagtails. It then flew off, crossing the road, and heading across the fields in the direction of Beinn Ghuilean. There is only one previous accepted record of this species in Argyll although another is currently being considered by BBRC. There has been a large influx of Red-footed Falcons in England recently.

25th May. An Osprey was seen fishing in Lochdon, Mull this morning (Alan Spellman) and two more were showing well in the Add Estuary (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie). A Hen Harrier was seen at Vaul, Tiree (per John Bowler).

26th May. An Osprey was seen flying along the River Cur at the head of Loch Eck (Peter Woods).

29th May. A male Hen Harrier was recorded during a walk at Stillaig, Cowal (Steve Petty).

31st May. During a BTO atlas survey an Osprey was seen flying over the Black Lochs, near Oban (Mike Harrison).

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11th May. A pair of Dotterel was sighted near the lochan on Beinn an Lochan above the Rest & Be Thankful, Cowal (NN2107, per Russ Liddell).

12th May. A flock of six Purple Sandpipers was near the entrance to Fingal’s Cave on Staffa and a single bird was on rocks off Fladda (Nick & Stella Laughton).

17th May. A Little Stint was seen with two Red Knots, 350 Ringed Plovers and 850 Dunlin at Loch a' Phuill (John Bowler)

19th May. A flock of 480 Sanderlings at Gott Bay, Tiree included a red leg-flagged bird which had been ringed at Esiama, Ghana in August 2007 (John Bowler). Two Dotterel were in one of the fields on the RSPB reserve, Coll this morning (Simon Wellock). Two Grey Plovers were on The Strand Colonsay (David Jardine/Ron McNab)

22nd May. A huge influx of waders on Tiree today included 600 Ringed Plovers, 2,900+ Sanderlings and 1,300 Dunlin at Gott Bay (including another colour-flagged Sanderling - this time a bird that had been ringed at Zackenberg in north-east Greenland in July 2007), an adult Little Stint at Sorobaidh Bay in with 480 Sanderlings and 220 Dunlin, a Red Knot at Traigh Bhagh and 320 Ringed Plovers, 200 Dunlin and 18 Red Knots at Loch a' Phuill (John Bowler).

28th May. A red adult Curlew Sandpiper, a Grey Plover and a Red Knot were with 250 Dunlin at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree (per John Bowler).

29th May. A flock of 80 Golden Plovers flew south-west from Cornaigmore, Tiree, a Little Stint and a breeding plumage Common Sandpiper were at Loch a' Phuill and a Whimbrel was in Balephetrish Bay (Jim Dickson). A singing (tick-tocking) Common Snipe was heard during a walk at Stillaig, Cowal (Steve Petty).

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14th May. The first-summer Yellow-legged Gull was still at Loch Gilp at 15.00hrs (Jim Dickson).

15th May. Two Puffins were seen at NM861372 in the Firth of Lorn (Mike Harrison). This is well up the firth and was the first time they had seen Puffins in this area. A first-winter Little Gull was seen with Kittiwakes between Colonsay and Jura (David Jardine/Ian Fisher)

16th May. Three Great Skuas were around Caliach Point on 15th and 16th May, they appeared to be displaying and were landing on the flat top of the highest area of the point. A single pale-phase Arctic Skua also flew over on 16th May (Nick & Stella Laughton).

20th May. An unseasonal first-year Glaucous Gull was feeding with other gulls off north Jura (Roger Broad).

25th May. Two Sandwich Terns were roosting at Bullwood, Cowal (James Towill and Marco McGinty) and 16 Common Terns were counted at Eilean an Ruisg, Loch Feochan, near Oban (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie).

28th May. An Arctic Skua and a Great Skua were seen over The Reef, Tiree (per John Bowler) and a Great Skua was seen off Hynish with six Razorbills in Gott Bay (Jim Dickson).

29th May. Four Puffins were seen from the ferry north-west of Mull (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie).

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10th May. A Common Cuckoo at Skeroblin, Kintyre was the first heard to be heared locally (Steve & Sue Walker).

16th May. A Turtle Dove was found at Barrapol, Tiree (John Bowler). Although very scarce in Argyll, at least one appears on the island in most years.

17th May. Another Turtle Dove was seen along the Loch Sgoltaire track on Colonsay (David Jardine & ABC)

24th May. A probable Golden Oriole was heard at Taynish, near Tayvallich this afternoon (Dick Edie). A Turtle Dove was at Kenovay, Tiree and a Short-eared Owl was at Heylipol Church (per John Bowler). A single Common Swift was seen flying over Inveraray this morning (Paul Daw).

26th May. A Hoopoe was reported at Loch Buie, Mull (Alan Spellman).

29th May. A Turtle Dove was found in a garden at Southend, Kintyre allowing some beautiful photos to be taken (Fiona Rowland - see recent photos).

31st May A European Nightjar was reported at Loch Spelve, Mull (per Alan Spellman).

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11th May. Two Wood Warblers were calling in the Gruline Estate woods near Knock Bridge, Mull on 10th and 11th May (Nick & Stella Laughton).

12th May. A Great Reed Warbler first heard singing mid-morning in a garden at Cuan, Seil Island. It remained all day and also seen on 13th May (Tim Goodwin et al.). A description has been supplied for BBRC and, if accepted, it will be a new species for the Argyll list.

13th May. A surprising number of Spotted Flycatchers was found on Tiree including one at Heylipol on 12th May and singles at Vaul and Carnan Mor on 13th. A singing Greenfinch at Vaul today was also worthy of note (John Bowler).

14th May. One Wood Warbler was singing in suitable breeding habitat at Glenan, Cowal (Steve Petty).

16th May. A flock of six Twite was seen at Caliach Point, Mull and mating activity was observed (Nick & Stella Laughton). A Spotted Flycatcher and a Yellowhammer were seen at Scalasaig, Colonsay (David Jardine/Ian Fisher).

18th May. Two Mealy Redpolls were photographed at Balephuil, Tiree (John Bowler).

19th May. A female type Golden Oriole was reported just north of Uig, Coll at 16.00hrs (Simon Wellock). A male Whinchat was singing near Loch Glashan, Mid-Argyll (Paul Daw).

20th May. A Eurasian Nuthatch was seen at a nut feeder in the garden at Strone House, Cairndow (NN180102) at 10.45hrs (Duncan Oxland). One was reported (but not confirmed) nearby a couple of year ago and, with the records at Glenbranter, it seems possible that a small breeding population may already be established somewhere in this area. A Spotted Flycatcher at Carnan Mor was about the seventh on Tiree so far this month (John Bowler).

21st May. A Whinchat at Balephuil was the first of the spring on Tiree and a male Whitethroat and a late Chaffinch were at Carnan Mor (John Bowler).

23rd May. Two Garden Warblers were singing at Barnluasgan, Loch Sween and a Common Redstart was at Taynish NNR (Jim Dickson). A Whinchat was seen at Baleromin, Colonsay (David Jardine).

25th May. Birds recorded during a visit to Cowal today included two singing Tree Pipits and a pair of Stonechats in Glen Lean, a pair of Grey Wagtails at Loch Tarsan, a singing Wood Warbler at Craigbrack, Loch Eck, a singing Garden Warbler, two singing Sedge Warblers and ten Sand Martins along the River Cur, a singing Sedge Warbler and two Whitethroats plus a Blackcap and eight Sand Martins overhead near the mouth of the Inverchaolain Burn and two male Bullfinches and a Spotted Flycatcher, the latter nesting on masonry against the stained glass windows high up in the west-facing end of the church in Inverchaolain Churchyard (James Towill and Marco McGinty). Two Blackcaps were singing loudly on the hillside near Islandadd Bridge, Moine Mhor (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie). Two Common Whitethroats were at Kilkenneth, Tiree and five Spotted Flycatchers have been reported at different sites on the island in the past few days (per John Bowler).

26th May. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen Barrapol, Tiree, a male and female Common Whitethroat (with the male singing) and a Spotted Flycatcher were north of Kilkenneth and further Spotted Flycatchers were at Caolas and Vaul (Jim Dickson). A pair of Spotted Flycatchers was seen at Glenbranter (Peter Woods). A total of 11 singing Tree Pipits were recorded during a Timed Tetrad Visit near Minard for the BTO Atlas (Paul Daw)

29th May. Four singing male Common Whitethroats and six Lesser Redpolls, the latter in three probable breeding areas, were recorded during a walk at Stillaig, Cowal (Steve Petty).

30th May. A very late female Brambling was seen in a garden at Bridgend near Lochgilphead (Malcolm Chattwood). Interestingly, the other two late Argyll Brambling records in recent years have been in the same general area. Two Spotted Flycatchers and a Robin were at Carnan Mor, Tiree (John Bowler).

31st May. During a BTO atlas survey, a Magpie was found at Cuil-uaine Croft (NM925330) near the Black Lochs, Oban (Mike Harrison).

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14th May. It was a good day for butterflies at Glenan, Cowal with Speckled Woods found in at least six different patches of wet woodland, one Small Copper seen along the beach and one male Orange-tip was seen amongst many Green-veined Whites (Steve Petty). A Bearded Seal in Loch na Keal, Mull has been causing much excitement. This circumpolar is seldom recorded in Britain (per Alan Spellman).

25th May. An Orange-tip Butterfly was seen at Auchindrain, Mid-Argyll (Paul Daw).

29th May. Six Basking Sharks and a Minke Whale were seen from the ferry off Coll and Tiree and at least 40 Common Dolphins were very close to the ferry and cutting under the bow. Six Harbour Porpoises were at the north end of the Sound of Mull (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie). Many Small Heath butterflies were flying over the moorland at Stillaig, near Millhouse, Cowal (Steve Petty).

30th May. Four Basking Sharks were seen to east of Coll from the Oban ferry (Jim Dickson).

31st May. A female Orange-tip butterfly was seen in my garden at Kames – a reward for looking closely at many Green-veined Whites (Steve Petty)! NB For those, like me until recently, who are not aware of it, the female Orange-tip has no orange tip to the wings and at first glance can look very like one of the common white species (Paul Daw).