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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).
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WeBS Counts for February (15 - 22 February 2009) |
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WeBS Counts for February (15-22 February 2009)
Birds recorded during WeBS counts included:
Dunstaffnage Bay, Mid-Argyll.
Wildfowl: 2 Mute Swans, one Common Shelduck, 11 Eurasian Wigeon, 9 Mallards, 5 Common Eiders and one Common Goldeneye.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: nil.
Waders: 17 Oystercatchers, one Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Eurasian Curlews and one Common Redshank.
Other species: 35 Black-headed Gulls.
(Robin Harvey).
Holy Loch, Cowal.
Wildfowl: 75 Eurasian Wigeon, 51 Eurasian Teal, 103 Mallards, 197 Common Eiders, 8 Common Goldeneyes, and one Red-breasted Merganser.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: 14 Little Grebes, one Great Cormorant and 8 Shags.
Waders: 624 Oystercatchers, 12 Ringed Plovers, 152 Eurasian Curlews, 21 Common Redshanks and 30 Turnstones.
Other species: nil
(George Newall).
Kilfinan Bay, Cowal.
Wildfowl: 59 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 14 Mallards, 43 Common Eiders, one Common Scoter, and 5 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: nil
Waders: 10 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, one Northern Lapwing, 13 Eurasian Curlews, 3 Common Redshanks and 4 Turnstones.
Other species: nil
(Tom Callan).
Loch Creran, North Argyll.
Wildfowl: 93 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 29 Canada Geese, one Barnacle Goose, 37 Eurasian Wigeon, 17 Eurasian Teal, 44 Mallards, 55 Common Eiders, 8 Common Goldeneyes, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Goosander.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: 5 Little Grebes, 30 Shags and 17 Grey Herons.
Waders: 88 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, one Bar-tailed Godwit, and 31 Eurasian Curlews.
Other species: four Black Guillemots.
(Robin Harvey).
Loch Etive, North Argyll.
Wildfowl: 15 Mute Swans, 3 Pink-footed Geese, 163 Greylag Geese, 8 Canada Geese, 111 Eurasian Wigeon, 6 Eurasian Teal, 60 Mallards, 35 Common Eiders, 20 Common Goldeneyes and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers.
Divers, grebes, herons etc: 17 Little Grebes, 5 Great Cormorants, 50 Shags and 12 Grey Herons.
Waders: 59 Oystercatchers, 10 Ringed Plovers, 30 Eurasian Curlews and 4 Common Redshanks.
Other species: one Common Kingfisher.
(Mike Harrison).
Loch Sween, Mid-Argyll.
Wildfowl: Three Mute Swans, 5 Greylag Geese, 4 Canada Geese, 79 Barnacle Geese, 38 Common Shelducks, 72 Eurasian Wigeon, 4 Eurasian Teal, 42 Mallards, 29 Common Goldeneyes, 18 Red-breasted Mergansers and a drake Goosander
Divers, grebes, herons etc: 7 Little Grebes, 3 Shags and 4 Grey Herons.
Waders: 36 Oystercatchers, 29 Ringed Plovers, one Grey Plover, 10 Northern Lapwings, 2 Red Knots, 14 Dunlin, a Woodcock, 24 Eurasian Curlews, 4 Common Redshanks and 2 Turnstones.
Other species:
(Paul Daw).
Sound of Gigha, Kintyre:
Wildfowl: 330 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 5 Common Shelducks,2 Eurasian Wigeon, 26 Mallards, 28 Common Eiders, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 26 Common Scoters, a Common Goldeneye and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers
Divers, grebes, herons etc: one Red-throated Diver, 10 Great Northern Divers, 3 Slavonian Grebes, a Great Cormorant, 33 Shags and 2 Grey Herons.
Waders: 10 Oystercatchers, 26 Ringed Plovers, 33 Dunlin, 13 Eurasian Curlews, 2 Common Redshanks and 4 Turnstones.
Other species: two Moorhens.
(Katie Pendreigh).
Wildfowl (and Gamebirds)
01 February. The flock of Common Goldeneyes at the mouth of Leacann Water, Furnace, Mid-Argyll numbered at least 196 today (Paul Daw) and 167 Goldeneyes were counted at Loch Caolisport near Ormsary (Jim Dickson). Six more Common Goldeneyes were on Loch Leathan (near Lochgilphead) with 6 Tufted Ducks and 2 Goosanders (Jim Dickson). With 363 Common Goldeneyes at the two main sites alone, at least 120 regularly at the WeBS sites and smaller numbers elsewhere there must be well in excess of 600 Common Goldeneyes in Argyll at this time of year.
A total of 16 very active Red-breasted Mergansers were in the Otter Ferry area today (Tom Callan) and 18 Greylag Geese were with 3 Common Shelducks were at Ardahuple Farm near Colintraive (Graham & Danielle Clark).
02 February. Several new blue-ringed Barnacle Geese were at Balephetrish, Tiree today - presumably ringed on Islay earlier this winter. The female Surf Scoter was again in Hough Bay (John Bowler). Three male Pochards were on Loch nan Druimnean, nr Kilmelford, Mid-Argyll - a favoured haunt for the species (Karl Pipes).
05 February. A small Canada Goose was again with Barnacle Geese at Kenovay, Tiree today (John Bowler) (see photo). A single Gadwall was at Bunessan, Mull today, 32 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Fidden, 18 Tufted Ducks were at Loch Pottie and 2 Goosanders were on Loch Ba (Bryan Rains).
06 February. A 1st winter male Greater Scaup was at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree today (John Bowler).
07 February. The Snow Goose was back at the Craobh Haven, Mid-Argyll turn off this afternoon with about 40 Greylag Geese (they were slightly past the turn off, towards Oban nearer the farm road). They were there most of the afternoon (Lynsey Gibson).
08 February. On Tiree, a largely frozen Loch a' Phuill still held a 1st winter male Greater Scaup and 83 Whooper Swans (John Bowler). The Snow Goose was at the Craobh Haven, Mid-Argyll turn off again today, this time with about 150 Greylag Geese (Anne-Lise Dickie/Bill Allan).
09 February. Wildfowl found during an Atlas Timed Tetrad Visit at the head of Loch Striven included: 3 Mute Swans, 3 Common Shelducks, 38 Eurasian Wigeon, 173 Eurasian Teal and 81 Mallards (Tom Callan).
11 February. A walk along the River Cur down to where it flows into Loch Eck, Cowal found a group of 4 males Mandarin Ducks in splendid breeding plumage with at least 2 females. Further along were another group, this time of five female Mandarin Ducks (Peter Woods).
13 February. A group of 9 female Mandarin Ducks were seen together along the River Cur, Cowal today (Peter Woods).
14 February. The Seil Natural History Group had an excellent morning on the island of Luing and counted around seven hundred Barnacle Geese, sixty Greylag Geese and forty Canada Geese (Richard Wesley).
21 February. Twelve Tufted Ducks and 8 Common Goldeneyes were on Loch Leathan (near Lochgilphead) today, and 5 Whooper Swans were on Lochan Ceann a' Choin (near Ford) with 4 more at An Lodan at the S end of Loch Awe (Jim Dickson).
26 February. A flock of 66 Eurasian Wigeon were seen near Ardlamont Point, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
27 February. A pair of Common Scoters were seen on Loch Scridain, Mull today (Bryan Rains).
28 February. Flocks of 150 Barnacle Geese and 32 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Fidden, Mull today (Bryan Rains) and a flock of 104 Greylag Geese was grazing on fields at Dunamuck, Moine Mhor today (Malcolm Chattwood).
Seabirds, Divers, Grebes, Shearwaters, Herons etc. (and other seawatch species)
04 February. Three Red-throated Divers were in Loch Fyne off Otter Ferry today (Tom Callan).
08 February. A Great Crested Grebe around the pontoon in the harbour at Campbeltown has been present on and off for a couple of weeks now (Neil Brown). No less than 5 Grey Herons were feeding on the ditch on the meadows on the A816 between Lochgilphead and Cairnbaan (Lynsey Gibson).
11 February. Seven Red-throated Divers and 15 Great Northern Divers were counted offshore at Rubha Chraiginis, Tiree today (John Bowler).
24 February. Eight Great Northern Divers were off Port Haunn, west Mull today and 12 Slavonian Grebes were off the outfall from the fish farm at Rubha Aird nan Eisirein, Loch na Keal (Irene Boston).
27 February. Between the Sound of Gigha and Kennacraig today, 16 Red-throated Divers, 14 Black-throated Divers and 32 Great Northern Divers were counted from the ferry (John Bowler).
Raptors, Rails etc
01 February. A Peregrine Falcon was seen flying over Loch Riddon, Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark).
05 February. Forty Greenland White-fronted Geese were feeding with Greylag Geese and Canada Geese in fields at Inverfolla, Appin, North Argyll today (Bob Grove).
08 February. A Golden Eagle was soaring along the hillside of Ben Cruachan, North Argyll today (Bob Grove).
10 February. Two ring-tailed Hen Harriers were seen bathing in the shallows of one of the ‘three lochs’ in Glen More, Mull (Bryan Rains).
11 February. A Common Kestrel was seen near Loch Tarsan, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
16 February. During a Timed Tetrad Visit for the Atlas near Otter Ferry today a sub-adult Golden Eagle was seen being escorted rather than harried by no less than three Buzzards, three Ravens, and a couple of apparently minute crows! (Tom Callan).
18 February. A Peregrine Falcon landed in a treetop at Oakfield Bridge, Crinan Canal, Lochgilphead this morning (Dave Payne).
21 February. A single Coot was present on a pond near Calgary, Mull today (per Alan Spellman).
28 February. Four Golden Eagles (2 adults & 2 juvs.) were seen flying together at Burg, Mull today with quite a bit of stooping display going on (Bryan Rains).
Waders
01 February. Waders on the shore at Otter Ferry today included 18 Ringed Plovers and 8 Dunlin and 28 Turnstones were counted at Killail on the following day (2 Feb) (Tom Callan).
04 February. A group of 23 Purple Sandpipers was at West Hynish, Tiree today (John Bowler). Waders at Loch Beg, Mull included: 14 Ringed Plovers, 5 European Golden Plovers, one Northern Lapwing, one Dunlin, a Woodcock and 3 Greenshanks (Bryan Rains).
05 February. Four Bar-tailed Godwits were at the head of Loch Gilp today (Jim Dickson).
08 February. A hide tide roost at Otter Ferry today held 31 Eurasian Curlews and a single Common Snipe nearby was unusual (Tom Callan), and a Woodcock was flushed from the roadside at Blarcreen (nr Bonawe), North Argyll (Bob Grove).
09 February. Waders found during an Atlas Timed Tetrad Visit at the head of Loch Striven included: 49 Oystercatchers and 34 Eurasian Curlews (Tom Callan).
12 February. The flock of Purple Sandpipers near the crazy gold course at Dunoon numbered 44 today, equaling the previous record for the mainland of 44 at Southend, Kintyre on 11 March 1973. Now if he could just find one more… (George Newall).
19 February. Two groups of Dunlin totaling 23 birds were on the spit at Otter Ferry, Cowal today together with 7 Ringed Plovers and 4 Turnstones (Tom Callan).
21 February. Twelve Northern Lapwings and 19 Bar-tailed Godwits were in Loch Crimean today and a single European Golden Plover was seen at Barr Mor just to the N (Jim Dickson).
27 February. At least 200 Northern Lapwings were in the fields by the farm at Knockvologan, Mull today (Irene Boston).
Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Auks
01 February. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was present at Ardrishaig this afternoon and a "new" 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Craobh Haven turnoff on the A816 (Anne-Lise Dickie/Bill Allan). Another 1st winter Iceland Gull was at the ‘squinty bridge’ (5km N of Tarbert) on the A83 (Jim Dickson).
02 February. Ever-larger numbers of Glaucous Gulls were appearing on Tiree. 2nd winter birds were at Sorobaidh Bay and Traigh Bhagh and a late check of the Rubha Chraiginis roost after work found a total of 16 Glaucous Gulls there including a new 3rd-winter bird (John Bowler).
05 February. An adult Mediterranean Gull (un-ringed) was at Loch Gilp, Argyll this afternoon and two 1st winter Glaucous Gulls were at the fish cages south of Inverneill (Jim Dickson). With the latter was a newly returned 3rd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull which Jim thought might be dark enough for the race intermedius which breeds in the Netherlands and Southern Scandinavia.
06 February. Including birds at the Hough Bay/Rubha Chraiginis roost, a minimum of 16 Glaucous Gulls were still on Tiree today (John Bowler).
08 February. A 1st winter Glaucous Gull and a 1st winter Iceland Gull were at the fish cages between Inverneill, Mid-Argyll and Tarbert today and another 1st winter Iceland Gull was around the harbour at Tarbert (Anne-Lise Dickie/Bill Allan).
11 February. A late check of Rubha Chraiginis, Tiree roost today found just 3 Glaucous Gulls. Single adult and 2nd winter Glaucous Gulls had been found at Traigh Bhagh and Sorobaidh Bay respectively the previous day. The exceptional numbers of Glaucous Gulls in Argyll recently seems to have been a local phenomenon as George Gordon tells me there have been very few in Northern Ireland.
14 February. A 1st winter Iceland Gull flew over the caravan park in Lochgilphead today (Jim Dickson).
17 February. A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was seen in Loch Fyne just N of Tarbert today (Jim Dickson).
21 February. A total of 302 Common Gulls were at Loch Crinan today (Jim Dickson).
23 February. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was at Tarbert, Kintyre today and a 1st winter Glaucous Gull was at Inverneill, Mid-Argyll (John Bowler).
25 February. A touch of 'summer' today with 3 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls at the Add Estuary (Jim Dickson).
27 February. Two more adult Lesser Black-backs today: one off the mouth of West Loch Tarbert and one at Loch Craignish. Roll on spring! (John Bowler).
Doves, Owls, Woodpeckers etc.
03 February. Two Tawny Owls were seen at Loch Beg, Mull this evening (Bryan Rains).
05 February. At least three Tawny Owls were heard calling in the area around the new hospital in Lochgilphead at 1.00 am this morning (Jim Dickson).
09 February. A Barn Owl was seen on overhead wires at the fish farm near Otter Ferry at midnight (Tom Callan).
12 February. Three Barn Owls were seen at Loch Beg. Mull today and two more Barn Owls were in Glen More (Bryan Rains).
15 February. A Common Kingfisher was seen in Outer Loch Etive during the WeBS count today (Mike Harrison) and at least 100 Wood Pigeons were at Otter Ferry (Tom Callan).
Passerines
03 February. For some reason large numbers of Hooded Crows sometimes assemble at the head of Loch Feochan near Oban but approx. 200 there today was exceptional, even for this site (Anne-Lise Dickie/Bill Allan). A new record total of 14 Goldfinches were at the two feeding stations and the bird table at Colintraive, Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark) and at least 120 Western Jackdaws were around Otter Ferry (Tom Callan).
04 February. A total of 22 Siskins counted at a nyger seed feeder in a garden in Dunoon today seems to be the exception to the rule for Argyll at the moment (George Newall). Most people have been remarking on the absence of Siskins in their gardens recently. This afternoon a Pied Wagtail ventured into the back garden at Colintraive: presumably he must have heard about all the food available there! (Graham & Danielle Clark).
05 February. At least 20 Fieldfares were seen at Glenbranter, Cowal today as well as a pair of Bullfinches (Peter Woods).
06 February. A group of 8 Fieldfares were found at Kilfinan, Cowal today and 11 Reed Buntings were feeding around silage bales there (Tom Callan).
07 February. A single Fieldfare was at Balephuil, Tiree today and a bizarre Common Starling with a beak twice as long as normal was at Kenovay (John Bowler).
08 February. Numbers of Goldfinches at the two feeding stations and bird table in the garden at Colintraive, Cowal today reached 18 today. In addition there were 5 Robins, 4 Blackbirds, 3 Blue Tits, 5 Great Tits, 14 House Sparrows, 6 Common Starlings, 17 Greenfinches and an estimated 100 Common Chaffinches. No wonder Danielle and Graham had to refill the mixed seed and sunflower hearts feeders that had been full only the day before! (Graham & Danielle Clark) (see photos).
09 February. Birds in a garden at Fernoch Drive, Lochgilphead today included two Robins, 3 Blackbirds, 4 Blue Tits, 10 Coal Tits, approx. 26 Common Chaffinches, 4 Greenfinches, 2 Goldfinches, and, most surprisingly, 8 Yellowhammers. The secret, apparently, is to mix left over Nestlé’s Golden Nuggets breakfast cereal in with the birdseed! (Lynsey Gibson). A male Reed Bunting flew onto the ferry as it arrived at Colintraive, Cowal (Graham & Danielle Clark) and a Magpie on a tree in Clachaig near Sandbank, Cowal was the first record for this particular area (Daphne Campbell). Approx. 50 Meadow Pipits and 17 Fieldfares with a single Mistle Thrush were at Drum Farm near Kilfinan, Cowal (Tom Callan).
10 February. Always the opportunist, a Hooded Crow was seen perched on a lamppost in Manse Brae, Lochgilphead clutching a bag of crisps in one claw and eating he contents! (Malcolm Chattwood).
11 February. Two very noisy Eurasian Jays were at Rhugarbh Croft, Appin, North Argyll today (Mary Gregory). A total of 22 Common Ravens were involved in a spectacular display near Loch Tarsan, Cowal and 42 Common Starlings were with 19 Fieldfares and Redwings at Kilfinan, Cowal (Tom Callan).
13 February. Two Magpies were reported at Sandbank, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
15 February. A flock of 12 Bullfinches feeding in Willow scrub at Barr Lagan (nr. Otter Ferry), Cowal today was the largest number seen together in the area this winter (Tom Callan).
16 February. After waiting all winter a single Waxwing was seen just out side the door at Rhugarbh Croft, Appin, North Argyll today (Mary Gregory). Apart from one at Eredine on 27 December there have been no other records since the major influx in November.
18 February. At least 100 Common Chaffinches were near Point Farm, Ardlamont, Cowal today, as well as 5 Common Ravens, 5 Bullfinches and 5 Reed Buntings (Tom Callan).
21 February. Flocks of 18 Redwings and 35 Meadow Pipits were at Slockavullin (near Kilmartin) Mid-Argyll today and 15 Fieldfares were found nearby (Jim Dickson). A male Reed Bunting in the garden at Bridgend near Lochgilphead was a ‘first’ there (Malcolm Chattwood).
22 February. Four more Waxwings were calling in flight over Inveraray, Mid-Argyll today (John Bowler).
26 February. A flock of 60 Meadow Pipits were seen near Kildavaig Farm, Ardlamont Point, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
27 February. The Western Jackdaw flock at Otter Ferry had increased to 159 today (Tom Callan).
Other sightings:
08 February. Today there were 8 Roe Deer feeding on the Mushroom Field Rugby pitch, Lochgilphead (just after the Achnabreac Cemetery turn off the A816) (Lynsey Gibson).
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