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I am putting together a short paper on the distribution of Magpies in Argyll and the possible origins of some of the birds seen away from the main breeding area. I should be grateful for any records of Magpies seen in the county including those seen in the area in and around Dunoon (Paul Daw).
The record of a Blyth's Reed Warbler at Carnan Mor, Tiree on the evening of 3 June 2008, has recently been accepted by BBRC. This brings the Argyll total to 332 species, with at least 3 further species currently awaiting decisions by BBRC.
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Wildfowl (and gamebirds) |
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Wildfowl (and Gamebirds)
16 November. Approx. 50 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew N past Machrihanish SBO today (an unusual number for the time of year) (Eddie Maguire). Four Whooper Swans were at the upper Powder Dam loch, near Millhouse, Cowal (Daphne Campbell).
19 November. The white morph Snow Goose feeding with Greylag at Craobh Haven turnoff, Mid-Argyll has been present for over a week now (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie).
20 November. Fifty or more Whooper Swans flew over Campbeltown today calling loudly (Derrick Goode per Eddie Maguire) and a single Whooper Swan was flushed from a river backwater at Bridge of Auchy, North Argyll (Roger Broad). A flock of 8 female type Common Scoters flew S past Machrihanish Seabird Observatory (Eddie Maguire). Three Ptarmigans were seen on the slopes of Beinn Odhar, North Argyll on the far eastern boundary of our recording area (Roger Broad) and a single Black Grouse was spotted at the side of the B8025 road between Bellanoch and the cross roads that lead to Drimvore today. It made its way off and into the trees on the left hand side off the road (Lynsey Gibson).
22 November. A flock of 70 Greylag Geese at Kilfinan Bay, Cowal today included one with a white face (Tom Callan).
23 November. Twelve Whooper Swans were seen at Lintmill, The Laggan, Kintyre today and one remained until 19 Nov (Eddie Maguire).
24 November. The drake Ring-necked Duck was still at Loch Bhasapol, Tiree today and the female Surf Scoter was at Hough Bay along with 8 Long-tailed Ducks (John Bowler).
26 November. The WeBS count at Holy Loch, Cowal today found 46 Eurasian Wigeon, 15 Eurasian Teal,
171 Mallards, 102 Common Eiders, 7 Common Goldeneyes, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers and a single Goosander (George Newall). Wildfowl seen during a Winter Atlas TTV count at the head of Loch Riddon, Cowal today included one Common Shelduck, 57 Eurasian Wigeon, 6 Eurasian Teal, 47 Mallards, one Common Goldeneye, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers and 7 Goosanders (Tom Callan).
1 December. Two adult Whooper Swans were seen at Lochan Ceann a' Choin (near Ford), Mid-Argyll today (Karl Pipes).
3 December. Seven Common Goldeneyes and 62 Eurasian Teal were counted at Otter Ferry spit, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
7 December. Wildfowl in Kilfinan Bay, Cowal today included 105 Greylag Geese, 4 Eurasian Wigeon,12 Mallards and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers (Tom Callan).
9 December. A flock of 14 Whooper Swans flew towards the River Add at Bellanoch, Mid-Argyll this morning (Lynsey Gibson).
11 December. Four Whooper Swans (2 adult/2 juvenile) were seen flying up Loch Awe today (Karl Pipes).
Wildfowl at Ardnaclach, Appin, North Argyll today included 85 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 5 Greylag Geese, 120 Canada Geese and a single Barnacle Goose (T. C. Smout).
14 December. Wildfowl seen during WeBS counts today included:
Loch Sween. 12 Mute Swans, 48 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 4 Greylag Geese, 5 Common Shelducks, 86 Eurasian Wigeon, 29 Eurasian Teal, 24 Mallards, 17 Common Goldeneyes and 38 Red-breasted Mergansers (Paul Daw).
Loch Etive. 6 Mute Swans, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 96 Greylag Geese, 15 Canada Geese, 72 Eurasian Wigeon, 17 Eurasian Teal, 96 Mallards, 23 Common Eiders, 6 Common Goldeneyes, a Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Goosanders (Mike Harrison).
Sound of Gigha (in poor conditions). 5 Whooper Swans, 300 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 7 Eurasian Wigeon, 24 Mallards, 4 Common Eiders, 4 Long-tailed Ducks, a Common Goldeneye and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers (Katie Pendreigh).
At the north end of Loch Awe, Mid-Argyll there were 9 Pochards, 5 Tufted Ducks, 6 Common Goldeneyes and 7 Goosanders and 3 Goosanders were seen on Loch Tulla, North Argyll (Bill Allan).
The female Surf Scoter still at Hough Bay, Tiree today with 13 Long-tailed Ducks and the drake Ring-necked Duck was still a Loch Bhasapol with 37 Tufted Ducks (John Bowler).
15 December. The WeBS count at Holy Loch today found: 84 Eurasian Wigeon, 93 Eurasian Teal, 139 Mallards, 235 Common Eiders, 15 Common Goldeneyes and 9 Red-breasted Mergansers (George Newall).
16 December. A single Pale-bellied Brent Goose was with Barnacle Geese at Caolas, Tiree today (John Bowler).
28 December. A count of 16 Red-breasted Mergansers was made around Otter Ferry today (Tom Callan).
31 December. A drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch an Eilein, Tiree today was presumably the Loch Bhasapol bird as it was not at latter site on 30 Dec (John Bowler). The flock of Common Goldeneyes at the mouth of Leacann Water, Furnace, Mid-Argyll numbered at least 145 today (Paul Daw).
Seabirds, Divers, Grebes, Shearwaters, Herons etc. (and other seawatch species)
24 November. The 1st winter Great Cormorant ringed at Inverbervie, NE Scotland on 26 June 2008 was still around at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today (Eddie Maguire).
26 November. The WeBS count at Holy Loch, Cowal today found 11 Little Grebes, a single Shag and 8 Grey Herons (George Newall).
27 November. Four Red-throated Divers and 3 Great Northern Divers were seen in West Loch Tarbert, Kintyre today (Malcolm Chattwood).
29 November. Four Red-throated Divers were in Loch Fyne in the area off Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
7 December. A Little Egret was reported near Innellan Pier, Cowal today (Donald Shaw per Nigel Scriven) and what was presumably the same bird was seen in the Holy Loch at Sandbank, Cowal on 12 December (Andy Beveridge). As there were no later sightings in the area it is possible that this was the same bird that turned up near Lochgilphead on 1 January 2009.
8 December. Two Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver and a Little Grebe were in the Otter Ferry spit area, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
11 December. A Red-throated Diver in winter plumage was seen in the Kyles of Bute at Colintraive, Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark) and two Slavonian Grebes were in the Sound of Shuna, North Argyll (T. C. Smout).
13 December. Approx. 450 Shags were group-feeding in Sorobaidh Bay, Tiree today. Two Red-throated Divers were also present (John Bowler).
14 December. The following species were among those seen during WeBS counts today:
Loch Sween. 14 Little Grebes, 9 Shags and 10 Grey Herons (Paul Daw).
Loch Etive.30 Little Grebes, 3 Great Cormorants, 27 Shags and 25 Grey Herons (Mike Harrison).
Sound of Gigha. one Black-throated Diver, 5 Great Northern Divers, 5 Great Cormorants and 12 Shags (Katie Pendreigh).
28 December. Two Red-throated Divers were seen in Loch Fyne, off Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
Raptors, Rails etc
22 November. An adult male Hen Harrier was at Deer Hill, Carradale, Kintyre today (Steve & Sue Walker).
24 November. Four Common Buzzards and a Common Kestrel were seen during Winter Atlas TTV count at Glendaruel, Cowal today (Tom Callan)..
25 November. A fine male Hen Harrier was at Ruaig, Tiree today (John Bowler). Common Kestrels were seen at Balagowan (near Sandbank) and near Conchra (Glendaruel), Cowal today. The latter, a male, made a successful hunt in the shadow of a wind turbine at 265 meters (Tom Callan).
28 November. A Golden Eagle was seen flying over Achahoish, Knapdale today (Jim Dickson).
3 December. A Peregrine Falcon flushed around 250 waders (mainly Oystercatchers) at Otter Ferry spit, Cowal today, had a couple of half hearted goes at them, then flew off westwards (Tom Callan).
4 December. A Red Kite was seen in Glen More, Mull today, possibly the same bird as was seen in the latter part of last month. It was keeping company with Buzzards and Crows (Alan Spellman).
5 December. Three Hen Harriers were seen near Heylipol Church, Tiree today (John Bowler).
12 December. A female Merlin was seen in the Pass of Brander (Loch Awe), Mid-Argyll today (Bill Allan).
13 December. A juvenile White-tailed Eagle was watched for 30 minutes at Loch Leathan near Lochgilphead this afternoon. It finished up flying out to the small island in the middle of the loch (Jim Dickson). Roger Broad comments: “It all points towards this bird being a first year WTE with a BTO ring on the right leg (all WTE chicks ringed in 2008 had BTO ring on right leg and a colour ring on the left leg) but 'imm, probably first year' is about as much as can be safely claimed. Nice record.”
15 December. A Peregrine Falcon was seen at Holy Loch, Cowal during the WeBS count there (George Newall).
19 December. A Water Rail was seen in flight at Balephuil, Tiree today (John Bowler).
20 December. A Peregrine Falcon was seen at Furnace, Mid-Argyll (Paul Daw) and 7 Common Buzzards and 2 Common Kestrels were seen at Creag an Daimh (near Loch Striven), Cowal (Tom Callan) during Winter Atlas TTV counts.
22 December. Birds seen during a Winter Atlas Timed Tetrad Visit count at Creag an Tamhaisg (near Loch Tarsan) Cowal today included 19 Common Pheasants, a Eurasian Sparrowhawk and 3 Common Buzzards (Tom Callan).
29 December. A male Hen Harrier was seen at Lag an Daimh near Kilfinan, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
Waders
15 November. Totals of 99 European Golden Plovers and 1,170 Northern Lapwings were found near Langa Quarry, Kintyre today (Eddie Maguire).
26 November. The WeBS count at Holy Loch, Cowal today found 581 Oystercatchers, 11 Ringed Plovers, 67 Eurasian Curlews, 10 Common Redshanks and 9 Turnstones (George Newall).
27 November. A total of 106 Greylag Geese were seen at Bridgend, Mid-Argyll today (Malcolm Chattwood).
1 December. A Woodcock was seen sitting in a garden at Ardrishaig, Mid-Argyll during the hard weather recently (Heather Cameron).
6 December. Waders at Killail (Otter Ferry), Cowal today included 19 Ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin and 3 Common Redshanks (Tom Callan).
9 December. Totals of 86 Oystercatchers and 15 Eurasian Curlews were on a field on field at Ardentraive (Colintraive), Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark).
11 December. A single Greenshank was at Kennacraig, Kintyre today. At least one seems to winter in West Loch Tarbert (Bill Allan).
12 December. Three Common Snipe were feeding amongst seaweed at low tide at Taynuilt, Mid-Argyll at the end of a long cold spell (Bill Allan).
13 December. A flock of 180 Sanderlings was at Sorobaidh Bay, Tiree today (John Bowler).
14 December. Waders seen during WeBS counts today included:
Loch Sween. 17 Oystercatchers, 11 Northern Lapwings, 4 Common Snipe, 22 Eurasian Curlews and 4 Common Redshanks (Paul Daw).
Loch Etive. 20 Oystercatchers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Snipe, 19 Eurasian Curlews and a Common Redshank (Mike Harrison).
Sound of Gigha. 12 Oystercatchers, 150 Ringed Plovers, 14 Eurasian Curlews and 5 Turnstones (Katie Pendreigh).
15 December. Waders found at Holy Loch during the WeBS count today included: 656 Oystercatchers, 19 Ringed Plovers, one Northern Lapwing, 4 Red Knot (an unusual species here), 101 Eurasian Curlews, 18 Common Redshanks and 15 Turnstones (George Newall).
16 December. Waders found during the Goose and WeBS count on Tiree today included: A 1st winter Little Stint at Gott Bay with 130 Ringed Plovers and 30 Dunlin, a leg-flagged Sanderling again at Balephetrish Bay in a flock of 90, together with 180 Ringed Plovers and 46 Turnstones including a leg-flagged Turnstone at Milton (John Bowler).
21 December. Two Purple Sandpipers were seen at Ormsary, Mid -Argyll today (Bill Allan).
25 December. A flock of 28 Eurasian Curlews were at Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
29 December. A flock of 43 Purple Sandpipers near the crazy gold course at Dunoon today was one of the largest on record for the mainland (only exceeded by 44 at Southend, Kintyre on 11 March 1973!) (George Newall).
30 December. Totals of 240 Sanderlings and 85 Purple Sandpipers were at Hough Bay, Tiree today (John Bowler).
Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Auks
19 November. Two Mediterranean Gulls, an adult and a 1st winter bird, were seen preening Inverneill, Mid-Argyll today together with about 600 Black-headed Gulls (Bill Allan).
20 November. Thousands of gulls were seen coming into Loch Fyne in previous few days, including 1500+ Black-headed and 100's of Kittiwakes. A very small 3rd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull (graellsii type) was at Inverneill today and a 1st winter Iceland Gull was at the Add Estuary (Jim Dickson).
21 November. An adult Ring-billed Gull on the foreshore at Oban at 15.30 pm today was almost certainly the annually returning bird from previous years (Bill Allan). After a short absence it was there again on the afternoon of 28 November.
28 November. Well over 1,000 gulls were feeding to the north of the Otter Ferry spit for the second day running (see also 20 Nov.) including at least 250 Black-headed Gulls (Tom Callan).
5 December. There were 3 Mediterranean Gulls in Loch Gilp this afternoon (two adults and a 1st winter bird) (Jim Dickson) and the adult Ring-billed Gull was showing incredibly well again at George Street foreshore (Bill Allan).
18 December. The adult Ring-billed Gull was back on the George Street foreshore again today at 15:30, after a few days absence (Bill Allan).
19 December. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was at The Reef, Tiree today and 260 Great Black-backed Gulls were counted at Rubha Chraiginis (John Bowler).
21 December. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Ormsary, Mid -Argyll today (Bill Allan).
23 December. Two 1st winter Glaucous Gulls, 6 adult Kittiwakes and 15 Common Guillemot/Razorbills in groups of 1-3 were seen from the Tarbert-Portavadie ferry today (Steve Petty).
26 December. Three Black Guillemots were seen in the Kyles of Bute at Colintraive, Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark).
29 December. A ‘sub-adult’ Glaucous Gull was seen at Blackrock (L. Indaal), Islay today (Fiona Barclay).
Doves, Owls, Woodpeckers etc.
25 November. During a Winter Atlas Timed Tetrad Visit near Conchra (Glendaruel), Cowal today 18 Wood Pigeons were seen (Tom Callan).
5 December. A Short-eared Owl was seen near Heylipol Church, Tiree today (John Bowler).
16 December. A single Kingfisher was seen in flight from under bridge at Corran Roundabout,
Lochgilphead, heading downstream towards Loch Gilp today (Dave Payne).
20 December. A flock of 24 Wood Pigeons was found at Creag an Daimh (near Loch Striven), Cowal during a Winter Atlas TTV count (Tom Callan).
23 December. A single Stock Dove was seen flying into Benmore Gardens, Cowal from adjacent fields today. A very unusual record for this location (Steve Petty).
29 November. A flock of 24 Wood Pigeons were seen at Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
Passerines
Waxwings. The waxwing invasion continued unabated into mid and late November and the flock of over 200 in Lochgilphead is the largest ever recorded in the county.
The following reports came from members of the public as a result of a piece about the Waxwing invasion that Jim Dickson had published in the Argyll Advertiser: Two Waxwings on a tree at the bottom of a garden in Meadows Road Lochgilphead on 9 November (Alison Guy). On November 19th the Japanese rowan at a house on the shore road, Strachur, Cowal was visited first by three waxwings, and then on the 20th by a flock of 30 or 40, which moved away too quickly for them to be counted accurately (David Campbell). At least 10 were in a garden at Torinturk, Mid-Argyll, on the Kilberry Road (5 miles from Tarbert) surrounded by forestry. They were mostly congregated in a poplar tree, with a couple sitting on the telephone line into the house (Hilary Farrar).
Records from club members included:
Numbers of Waxwings at Connel were down from 105 on 9th November to 5 by 13th November (Mike Harrison) A flock of 17 were in a garden at Kames, Cowal on 17 November, feeding on Sorbus berries until 1st year Eurasian Sparrowhawk made an unsuccessful attack. Numbers there fell as the supply of berries was depleted and by 24 November only 5 Waxwings remained – and no berries! (Steve Petty). On 19th November and there were at least 200 (possibly 230) at the westernmost end of the green at Lochgilphead in a sycamore and hawthorn opposite the caravan park (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie). This is the largest single flock ever reported in Argyll. Most seemed to have moved on by the following day. A single bird was seen at Port Ellen, Islay on 21 November (George Newall) and five Waxwings were seen on the north shore road of Loch Etive, North Argyll on 25 November (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie). After this numbers declined and a small flock of 5 or so at Glenbranter, Cowal on 5 December (Peter Woods) and a late single Waxwing at Eredine (Loch Awe), Mid-Argyll on 27 December (Karl Pipes) were the last reports.
13 November. A male and two female Blackcaps were in a garden at Peninver, Kintyre and one or more of them was feeding quite competently from nut-feeder (Steve & Sue Walker). Like many people they also remarked on the unusual numbers of Coal Tits that had been in the garden.
16 November. Only 7 Twite remained at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today and by 20 Nov they had all departed. A total of 160 Common Chaffinches were also present there today (Eddie Maguire).
18 November. Three Snow Buntings were at Gott Bay Tiree today (John Bowler).
21 November. A single Magpie was seen in garden by the shore at Ardentinny, Cowal today (Steve Petty).
22 November. A cracking Hawfinch was reported at The Lodge, Arinagour this afternoon,.(Coll’s second, the first being in spring 1988) along with 2 Treecreepers, 10+ Coal Tits and at least 20 Blue Tits (Simon Wellock).
23 November. Two Dippers were seen in Kilfinan Bay, Cowal today. One seen to catch a flat fish of about 25mm from head to tail. After flogging, like a Kingfisher, it appeared to swallow or at least take the fish fully into its mouth only to spit it out again for more flogging. This was repeated at least twenty times before it flew off carrying the fish (Tom Callan).
24 November. Birds seen during a Winter Atlas TTV count at Glendaruel, Cowal today included 11 Blackbirds, 5 Fieldfares, 48 Hooded Crows, 7 Carrion Crows, 2 Goldfinches and 2 Bullfinches (Tom Callan).
25 November. Birds seen during a Winter Atlas Timed Tetrad Visit near Conchra (Glendaruel), Cowal today included, 7 Meadow Pipits, 6 Dunnocks, 9 Fieldfares and 3 Bullfinches (Tom Callan). A male Brambling was found in a garden near Whistlefield (Loch Awe), Cowal today (Nigel Scriven).
26 November. Birds seen during a Winter Atlas TTV count at the head of Loch Riddon, Cowal today included: two Dippers and 22 Siskins (Tom Callan). A group of 3 Jays were seen together near Barsloisnoch (Moine Mhor), Mid-Argyll today (Jim Dickson).
28 November. Single Snow Buntings were seen at A' Chroic and Clabbach, Coll today and a very brown Chiffchaff at Acha looked quite good for the Siberian race (Simon Wellock).
29 November. A flock of 16 Long Tailed Tits were seen near the head of the Loch Creran, North Argyll today (Robin Harvey). Five Common Stonechats (2 pairs and a 1st winter female) were seen at Barr Lagan near Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
30 November. Up to 60 Common Chaffinches are still being seen in a garden at West Loch Tarbert, Kintyre (Barbra McMillan).
3 December. A male Blackcap was at Balephuil, Tiree today (John Bowler).
5 December. Single Fieldfares were seen at Cornaigbeg and Heanish, Tiree today (John Bowler).
6 December. Five Bullfinches (4 males and a female) were seen in a garden at Eredine (Loch Awe), Mid-Argyll today (Karl Pipes).
7 December. Among birds seen in Kilfinan Bay, Cowal today were 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Dippers, 8 Dunnocks, 3 Common Stonechats, 26 Western Jackdaws and 2 Reed Buntings (Tom Callan).
8 December. This morning, around 11 am, a Blackcap was found in a willow in the back of the garden at Colintraive together with some House Sparrows and Common Chaffinches. As usual by the time the camera had been located, the critter was gone! (Danielle Clark De Bisschop). Five Bullfinches were seen at Loch Melldalloch, Cowal (Tom Callan).
9 December. An impressive total of 9 Yellowhammers were at bird feeders in a garden in Fernoch Drive, Lochgilphead this morning as well as 8 Coal Tits (Lynsey Gibson). A flock of 16 Fieldfares were in a field Ardentraive (Colintraive), Cowal with Curlews and Oystercatchers (Graham & Danielle Clark).
11 December. A loose flock of at least 11 Eurasian Jays were at Dunmore, West Loch Tarbert, Kintyre today (Bill Allan) and one was seen at Ardnaclach, Appin, North Argyll (T. C. Smout). A flock of 190 Common Starlings were at Kilberry, Mid-Argyll and up to 50 Reed Buntings with a few Greenfinches were seen along the Kilberry Road (Knapdale) overlooking s of Jura (Bill Allan).
16 December. A Pied Wagtail was seen at Gott Tip, Tiree today and 75 Sky Larks were at Balephetrish (John Bowler).
18 December. Four Fieldfares and 3 Redwings were at Auchgoyle Cottage, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
19 December. Nine Goldfinches were at Balephuil, Tiree today and approx. 150 Redwings were scattered around the island (John Bowler).
20 December. Birds found at Creag an Daimh (near Loch Striven), Cowal during a Winter Atlas TTV count included: 32 Meadow Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, 55 Fieldfares, 3 Mistle Thrushes and 87 Common Chaffinches (Tom Callan).
28 December. Birds found around the Argyll Caravan Park (S of Inveraray), Mid-Argyll during a Winter Atlas TTV count included: 11 Robins, 9 Coal Tits and 2 Eurasian Jays (Paul Daw).
Other
30 November. Quite a sight at dusk tonight in Oban bay, as an Otter swam right up to the shore and sent the Ring-billed Gull and a few other gulls up (Bill Allan).
17 December. Good views (and photos) of an Otter were had at Ormsary, Mid-Argyll today (Jim Dickson).
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