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Stop Press: A cracking adult Laughing Gull in breeding plumage was photographed on the beach at Sorisdale, Coll on 01 June from 1200 onwards (Simon Wellock). On 04 June a dark morph Honey-buzzard was seen from Machrihanish Seabird Observatory over the hills at Ballygroggan, Kintyre (Eddie Maguire).
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Wildfowl (and gamebirds) |
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Wildfowl (and Gamebirds)
08 May. An interesting flock of 60 Brent Pale-bellied Brent Geese was on Loch Gilp at 10:15 today, presumed forced down by cross winds from the depressions active at the time (Simon Lawrence).
09 May. Four Whooper Swans were at Barrapol, Tiree today and the first Greylag Goose gosling of the spring was seen with its parents (John Bowler).
10 May. A drake Green-winged Teal was found by Bob Grove on flooded fields at the north end of Loch Nell near Oban late on 10 May and was seen there again the following day. It had apparently gone by 12 May, along with the flood water. This is the first mainland record for a species which has only previously been seen in Argyll on Islay and Tiree (Bob Grove/Bill Allan).
11 May. Four Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Miodar, Tiree today (John Bowler).
12 May. An apparent European White-fronted Goose paired with a Greylag Goose was seen at Balinoe, Tiree today (John Bowler) and 3 Goosanders and a pair of Tufted Ducks were on Loch Nell (near Oban) (Jim Dickson/Bill Allan).
14 May. A pair of Goosanders were seen in Glen Lonan, Mid-Argyll today (Bob Grove).
16 May. Female Pintails with broods of nine and six young were found at a site on Tiree 16 – 18 May (John Bowler). They were all still present on 25 May (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie ). A male Black Grouse made an unexpected appearance at Rhunahaorine Point, Kintyre today (Jim Dickson).
17 May. Two Pink-footed Geese at Barsloisnoch were among an impressive total of 93 species seen within 3 miles of Jim’s house at Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead in just over 4 hours. He thinks 100 might be possible in a day if he took in just a little larger area… (Jim Dickson)
21 May. A single Whooper Swan was at the head of Loch Striven, Cowal today (Grace Rogerson).
24 May. A female Mandarin Duck with 5 or more small ducklings was seen along the River Cur at the head of Loch Eck, Cowal (Peter Woods). Three Tufted Ducks (2 male and a female) were an unexpected visitors at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today (Eddie Maguire).
29 May. A total of 48 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Gott Bay, Tiree today (Keith Gillon).
30 May. Three Whooper Swans were at Barrapol, Tiree today and a female Garganey was found at Balinoe (Keith Gillon per John Bowler). Two male Long-tailed Ducks were in Calgary Bay, Mull (Anand Prasad)
Seabirds, Divers, Grebes, Shearwaters, Herons etc. (and other seawatch species)
30 April. Two Great Northern Divers, and a Red-throated Diver were seen in Ardmucknish Bay, North Argyll today (Graham Thursby).
01 May. In all 19 Great Northern Divers were counted off the pier at Scalasaig, Colonsay today (Jim Dickson). Five Red-throated Divers, a Black-throated Diver and 9 Great Northern Divers were seen form the Port Askaig–Kennacraig Islay ferry (Tom Callan).
02 May. Three Sandwich Terns flew past Otter Ferry. Cowal today (Tom Callan).
03 May. Single Great Northern Divers in breeding plumage were found at Claonaig Bay and Grogport Picnic Site, Kintyre today (Malcolm Chattwood).
10 May. A total of 31 Great Northern Divers, many in breeding plumage, was counted off Tiree today including 25 off Balemartine (Ross Ahmed per John Bowler).
12 May. Two Red-throated Divers were in Calgary bay, Mull today (Anand Prasad).
13 May. At least 50 Northern Gannets were in feeding frenzy 200m from shore at Otter Ferry, Cowal along with ca25 Black Guillemots. They were still present 2 hrs later but with ca20 Common Guillemots also present (Tom Callan).
19 May. A White-billed Diver was reported again at Laggan Bay on Mull today (Alan Gately et al per Jim Dickson) and three small Little Grebe chicks were seen on the gravel pit at Benderloch, North Argyll (Robin Harvey).
20 May. A pair of Black-throated Divers were seen displaying off Ardnoe Point, Loch Fyne today (Peter Woods). Numbers of Great Northern Divers off Machrihanish Seabird Observatory peaked today at 30 birds (Eddie Maguire).
30 May. A pair of Red-throated Divers were off Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
31 May. A Red-throated Diver was seen at Glenan Bay (near Portavadie) Cowal (David Warden).
Raptors, Rails etc
05 May. Three pairs of Hen Harriers and two pairs of Common Kestrels were noted on Colonsay during the first week of May (Jim Dickson).
09 May. Seven male Corncrakes were calling along the road at Balephuil, Tiree this afternoon (John Bowler) and a Peregrine Falcon was soaring over Oban (Bob Grove).
10 May. An Osprey was reported by Arthur French around Loch Melldalloch, Cowal today (per Tom Callan) and another Osprey flew over Uig, Coll at lunchtime (Simon Wellock). A female Hen Harrier flew over Glencruitten Woods, Oban (Bob Grove) and a pair of Moorhens with 3 very young chicks were on the water at Benderloch, North Argyll today (Robin Harvey).
12 May. A female Hen Harrier was at Carnan Mor, Tiree today (John Bowler) and a Merlin was seen at Balephuil (Mark Finn). Species seen during an seen during a Bird Atlas TTV at Creag an Daimh near Loch Striven, Cowal included a Eurasian Sparrowhawk, 6 Common Buzzards and a Common Kestrel (Tom Callan).
13 May. A male Merlin and a female Hen Harrier were seen at Carnan Mor, Tiree today (John Bowler).
14 May. An Osprey was seen by Ian McKellar at Loch Riddon, Cowal eating a fish (per Arthur French/ Danielle Clark-De Bisschop).
16 May. While fishing on Loch Awe John McInally saw a White-tailed Eagle launch itself off the trees at Haricamish point and fly behind his boat and over the forest in the direction of Arinechtan. The pronounced white tail indicated an adult bird. He was lucky enough to see a White-tailed Eagle (possibly the same bird?) over Loch Awe on 10 May last year. There were other reports of a White-tailed Eagle in the area, including over Loch Avich, at about this time.
This afternoon there were two Ospreys at Loch Riddon, one fishing and one sitting in a tree (Arthur French per Danielle Clark-De Bisschop).
17 May. A male and a female Marsh Harrier were present at Loch Bhasapol, Tiree today. The female drifted E over Gott Bay on 18 May (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie/John Bowler) and a Common Quail was calling at Arileod, Coll at about 22:00hrs (Simon Wellock). An adult White-tailed Eagle flew just in front of and above the ferry in the Sound of Mull, N of Craignure (Anne-Lise Dickie).
18 May. An Osprey was seen again at Loch Riddon on 17 and 18 May and one was present again on 24 May (Arthur French per Danielle Clark-De Bisschop). Could this be the prelude to the long awaited first Osprey breeding in Cowal?
19 May. Eight small Moorhen chicks were on the water at the gravel pit at Benderloch, North Argyll with three adults. Probably two families? (Robin Harvey).
20 May. A Spotted Crake was heard calling persistently at Port Ann, Mid-Argyll at around 18:30 this evening (Karen Judd – SNH). A recording was made of the calls the following night. Interestingly another Spotted Crake was reported, on the same day, near Bridgend, Islay (Michal Sur per Jim Dickson). There has also been a report of one calling on Coll (per Jim Dickson).
22 May. Today a radio tagged juvenile male White-tailed Eagle from the re-introduction programme in Northern Ireland was tracked flying north over Kintyre and Mid-Argyll. At 12:00 hrs it was just S of Kilchenzie (near Campbeltown), at 13:00 it was just S of Loch Garrasdale, Kintyre, by 14:00 it was SW of Ardrishaig and the final Argyll report was at Loch Scammadale S of Oban at 15:00. It kept heading north and eventually made it to Westray, Orkney before turning back south to the Kyle of Tongue. Many thanks to Allan Mee for all this information. Curiously an immature White-tailed Eagle was seen near Oban between 11:54 and 13:30 on the same day but the times do not seem to fit the radio tagged bird (Dave Walker) and there were reports of two White-tailed Eagles flying around the Add Estuary at Bellanoch this morning (Jim Hatton per Lynsey Gibson). A male Marsh Harrier was seen again on Tiree, this time at Salum (John McOwat per John Bowler).
23 May. A male Water Rail was calling loudly in the rain this afternoon at Loch Bhasapol, Tiree (Anne-Lise Dickie/Bill Allan). A Corn Crake heard today near the mouth of Loch Sween, Mid-Argyll had been calling there since the afternoon of 20 May (Mary-Lou Aitchison).
24 May. The Corn Crake near the mouth of Loch Sween, Mid-Argyll was heard (and even seen briefly) by another observer today (Bob Foskett). A Coot was an unexpected visitor at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today (Eddie Maguire)
25 May. The Spotted Crake was still calling at Port Ann, Mid-Argyll today (Karen & John Judd).
27 May. Jim Dickson heard The Spotted Crake calling at Port Ann again, continually at 22:00-22:30 hrs, and even managed to see it briefly (Jim Dickson). The Moorhen at Westport Marsh (near Machrihanish) was seen today feeding a small chick (very unusual for this area) (Eddie Maguire).
31 May. The Corn Crake near the mouth of Loch Sween, Mid-Argyll was still calling at just past noon today (Mary-Lou Aitchison per John Aitchison) and the Spotted Crake was calling very loudly in Iris beds in the bay below Port Ann at 14.00 hours for 30 minutes in the glorious weather (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie).
Waders
21 April. A male Dotterel was seen with European Golden Plovers on Oronsay today and again on 23 April (Mike Peacock).
02 May. Flocks of 72 Dunlin and 48 Ringed Plovers were counted on the Strand, Colonsay today (Jim Dickson).
06 May. A group of 7 Black-tailed Godwits at Heylipol, Tiree today included a leg-flagged bird that had been ringed as a chick in 2008 in SW Friesland, the Netherlands - i.e. a nominate-race limosa bird - according to Birds of Scotland this would appear to be the first confirmed record of a bird of this race in Scotland! Moreover, of the godwits in this group, 3 (including the leg-flagged bird) appeared to be nominate race whilst 4 were typical islandica race birds - presume the nominate-race birds had tagged along with the islandicas as they headed north.... Fifteen Whimbrels and 3 Whooper Swans were in the same field. Four Dotterels (2 male/2 female) were present at The Green on 6 and 7 May (John Bowler).
07 May. Four Dotterel were found at The Green, Tiree today and 15 Whimbrel were at Barrapol (John Bowler).
10 May. An all island count on Tiree today produced 110 Whimbrels ( a high count for Tiree) and 35 Black-tailed Godwits (Ross Ahmed per John Bowler). Waders seen during an seen during a Bird Atlas TTV at Loch Striven, Cowal today included 31 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Eurasian Curlews and 7 Common Sandpipers (Tom Callan).
11 May. A single Greenshank and 6 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree and a male Ruff was seen at a site on the island 9-11 May, followed by a female bird behaving as if it had a nest nearby on 18 May .
A Red Knot in breeding plumage was seen with 100 Sanderling (including a new leg-flagged bird) at Gott Bay (John Bowler). One of the Whimbrel seen at Machrihanish SBO showed characteristics of the North American race hudsonicus also known, confusingly, as Hudsonian Curlew (Eddie Maguire).
15 May. Two Curlew Sandpipers were found among 1200 Sanderlings, 1600 Dunlin, 13 Bar-tailed Godwits and 33 Knot at Gott Bay, Tiree. Three leg-flagged Sanderlings at Gott Bay included birds ringed in Ghana, Mauritania and Iceland, two Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch a' Phuill and a Grey Plover was at Traigh Bhagh (John Bowler).
18 May. A female Red-necked Phalarope was seen at Gott Bay, Tiree with 1,100 Sanderlings (John Bowler/Richard Marks) and a female Ruff (reeve) was behaving as if it had a nest nearby at a site on Tiree (John Bowler).
27 May. A Woodcock was flushed from the woodland floor near Ulva House, Mull today (Anand Prasad).
28 May. Two Whimbrel were at Gott Bay, Tiree today (John Bowler).
29 May. Three pairs of Common Sandpipers were found in the Otter Ferry, Cowal area today (Tom Callan).
30 May. A Wood Sandpiper found at Sandaig, Tiree was later seen on a pool at Barrapol and single Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch an Eilein and Loch a' Phuill (Keith Gillon).
31 May. Three pairs of Ringed Plovers in the Otter Ferry, Cowal area produced at least broods of one and three young (Tom Callan).
Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Auks
29 April. A 1st summer Iceland Gull seen at Inveraray on today was presumably the same bird seen there on 25 April (Graham Thursby).
01 May. Nine Kittiwakes, 4 Black Guillemots, 28e Common Guillemots and 12 Razorbills were seen form the Port Askaig–Kennacraig Islay ferry today (Tom Callan).
03 May. Three Sandwich Terns were seen at Skipness Point, Kintyre today (Malcolm Chattwood).
04 May. Four Sandwich Terns were seen at Colintraive, Cowal today (Graham & Danielle Clark)
07 May. Two second calendar year Glaucous Gulls were at Hough Bay, Tiree today and an Arctic Skua was at Caolas (John Bowler).
09 May At least 12 Common Terns were on Eilean an Ruisg, Loch Feochan today (Bill Allan).
10 May. A total of 73 Arctic Terns were counted at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree today (John Bowler) and a 1st summer Iceland Gull was at Clachan Mor, a 1st summer Glaucous Gull at Ruaig and three Arctic Skuas were seen daily, 8 – 10 May (Ross Ahmed per John Bowler).
12 May. A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was at Ruaig, Tiree today (Mark Finn).
14 May. Four Sandwich Terns and about 15 Little Terns were at Rhunahaorine Point, Kintyre today (Jim Dickson) and a dark morph Arctic Skua was watched killing and eating a Little Tern at The Reef, Tiree (John Bowler).
16 May A pale morph Arctic Skua was seen from the ferry, off Coll today. At least 500 Common and Arctic Terns were seen in the Sound of Mull off Craignure (Anne-Lise Dickie/Bill Allan).
17 May. Two second calendar year Glaucous Gulls were at Ruaig, Tiree today. They were still present there on 24 May (John Bowler).
18 May. A faded second calendar year Iceland Gull appeared at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today (Eddie Maguire).
19 May. A Great Skua was seen over Rubh' Ardalanish, Ross of Mull today (Anand Prasad).
21 May. A dark morph adult Arctic Skua flew N past Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today and three dark birds flew N on 22 May (Eddie Maguire).
24 May. A dark-morph Arctic Skua was seen today off Craignure, Mull (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie). Many Sandwich Terns have been seen at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory during May but 80 on 24 May was exceptional and a record count for this site (and probably for Argyll as a whole) (Eddie Maguire). In general Sandwich Terns have been becoming more numerous in Argyll in recent years both at migrants and non-breeding visitors.
28 May. Three adult Pomarine Skuas were seen briefly on the beach at Gott Bay, Tiree (Keith Gillon). Roosting on the buoy to the N of the spit at Otter Ferry were 28 Common Terns, with up to 10 others fishing nearby (Tom Callan).
31 May. Single Sandwich Terns were at Crossapol and Gott Bay, Tiree today (Keith Gillon).
Doves, Owls, Woodpeckers etc.
05 May. A probable 7-8 Common Cuckoo territories were identified on Colonsay during the first week of May (Jim Dickson). On the mainland, several observers have commented on the dearth of calling Cuckoos so far this spring (Paul Daw).
10 May. A single Common Swift was flying over Oban today and two more were seen later over Glen Euchar (Bill Allan). Three Common Cuckoos were present near Treshnish Old Schoolhouse, Mull today (Anand Prasad)
11 May. Four Common Swifts were over Connel today (Mike Harrison).
12 May. Three Common Swifts were seen over Oban and one was at Connel Bridge (Jim Dickson/Bill Allan). There was a report of a Green Woodpecker at Fearnoch nr Loch Leathan (Kilmichael Glen). (Jamie Wright per Jim Dickson). Although Jamie is not a regular birdwatcher he described it well i.e. larger than the Great Spotted that are there regularly, green above paler below and with red cap. Two Common Cuckoos were recorded during an seen during a Bird Atlas TTV at Creag an Daimh near Loch Striven, Cowal (Tom Callan).
13 May. A Common Cuckoo was calling at Eredine, Loch Awe this afternoon (Karl Pipes).
14 May. The first Common Swifts were seen at Bridgend, Lochgilphead today. A little later than usual (Sue Chattwood).
16 May. A first Common Swift of the year appeared at Glassary Primary School, Kilmichael Glassary today. Lynsey tells us they have been nesting in the roof of the school for at least 30 years (Lynsey Gibson). A Barn Owl was seen at the head of Loch Feochan near Oban (Bob Grove).
18 May. A Common Swift flew in circles but moving northwards over Treshnish House, Mull out over the sea (Anand Prasad).
20 May. A Common Cuckoo was calling near Ardnoe Point, Loch Fyne today (Peter Woods).
21 May. A Stock Dove was seen in the park at Strachur House, Cowal today – a first for this site (Peter Woods).
24 May. A Common Cuckoo was calling at Eredine, Loch Awe today (Karl Pipes).
25 May. A Turtle Dove at Ruaig, Tiree was the first record in Argyll this spring (Andy Musgrove per John Bowler).
27 May. Interestingly there was another report of a Green Woodpecker in Mid-Argyll; this time at Long Walk near Moine Mhor (Phil Wright per Jim Dickson). There have been occasional reports of Green Woodpeckers in this general area of Argyll in the past and it is at least possible there is a small population breeding there. For such large and striking birds they are surprisingly easy to overlook unless you hear the ‘yaffling’ call.
31 May. A Common Cuckoo was at Carnan Mor, Tiree and seven, probably migrant, Collared Doves at Balephuil included a partially leucistic bird. A Short-eared Owl at Balevullin was also a possible migrant (John Bowler). Two Common Swifts were over Milton, Tiree and one was over Crossapol (Keith Gillon) and Common Cuckoos were calling at Moine Mhor and Glenshallach, Oban (Bill Allan).
Passerines
01 May. On Colonsay today, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat were all noted singing and 40 or more Twite were seen on Oronsay (Jim Dickson).
02 May. Five Lesser Redpolls were on bird feeders in the garden at Colintraive, Cowal (Graham & Danielle Clark) and a male Whinchat was seen in Glen Euchar, near Oban (Bill Allan)..
03 May. Numbers of Siskins recorded for Garden Bird Watch at West Loch Tarbert, Kintyre reached an impressive total of 36 during the week (Barbara McMillan). An adult male Pied Wagtail at Garvard, Colonsay today had a yellow colour ring on its left leg above knee. It was not possible too see the feet but it probably had metal ring on the right leg (Jim Dickson). (Mike Peacock was not aware of anyone colour ringing Pied Wagtails locally - but a colour ringed Pied Wagtail was seen at Colintraive recently).
04 May. A count of 135 Sand Martins at Loch a' Phuill was a record for Tiree and 25 Barn Swallow were also there. Two Grasshopper Warblers were reeling at Balephuil (John Bowler).
08 May. Record numbers of Sand Martins have been present at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree this year and 160 were counted there today (John Bowler).
09 May. Photographs taken by a visitor to Mull were shown to Alan Spellman and David Sexton. They were of an Ortolan Bunting apparently photographed at the campsite at Craignure today. Unfortunately we have no details of the observer and copies of the photographs have not, so far, been forthcoming. If anyone has contact information for the observer or copies of the photographs would they please contact Jim Dickson, 11 Pipers Road, Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8UF Tel. 01546 603967 or ). If confirmed this would be a new species for Argyll so we are keen to hear more...
10 May. An obvious influx of warblers on Tiree today included a Lesser Whitethroat and six Willow Warblers at Carnan Mor and 4 reeling Grasshopper Warblers, 6 male Sedge Warblers and a Common Chiffchaff at Balephuil (John Bowler). Another Lesser Whitethroat was seen near Kilbride, Coll (Simon Wellock). A late male Snow Bunting was found at Port Haunn, Mull and a Common Whitethroat at Treshnish, Mull was the first local record this year (Stuart Gibson/Ruth Fleming per Anand Prasad) and a pair of Bullfinches were seen in the garden at Dalintart, Oban (Bob Grove). Species seen during an seen during a Bird Atlas TTV at Loch Striven, Cowal today included 21 Barn Swallows, 10 Song Thrushes, 19 Willow Warblers and 5 Bullfinches (Tom Callan).
11 May. Female Common Whitethroats at Kilmoluaig and Clachan Mor were the first of spring on Tiree (Ross Ahmed per John Bowler)
12 May. Jim Dickson and Bill Allan found a male Common Redstart in the woods next to Loch Nell (near Oban) They soon realised it was getting frantic as its mate was trapped inside a disused Landrover. The female inside also appeared distressed until they opened the door and released her. Good numbers of warblers at Bonawe, Loch Etive, North Argyll included at least 5 singing Garden Warblers, 3-4 Wood Warblers, and two Common Whitethroats. Spotted Flycatcher and several Common Redstarts were also present (Jim Dickson/Bill Allan).
13 May. A Garden Warbler was singing on and off for much of the day at the foot of a garden at Eredine, Loch Awe (Karl Pipes).
15 May. Two Sedge Warblers were seen near Haunn, Mull today (T. Gibson & J. Harmer per Anand Prasad).
16 May. A male Snow Bunting seen and photographed at Burgh (near Treshnish), Mull today was presumably the bird found at Port Haunn on 10 May (E & J. Gibson per Anand Prasad).
17 May. A male Bullfinch was an unusual visitor at The Lodge, Coll this morning (Simon Wellock). A Blue-headed (Yellow) Wagtail was reported at Loch na Keal, Mull (C Rose & B Bailey per Jim Dickson). At least one pair of Yellowhammers were found at both Tostary and Kilninian, Mull and a Tree Pipit was singing at Kilninian (Anand Prasad).
18 May. A Mealy Redpoll was at Balephuil, Tiree today and a Lesser Whitethroat was at Vaul with two Common Chiffchaffs. A Lesser Whitethroat seen at Balephetrish may have been the same as the Vaul bird (John Bowler/John McOwat/Bill Allan) and a male Pied Flycatcher was found at Colintraive, Cowal (Grace Rogerson).
19 May. Following the first at Carnan Mor on 18 May there were Spotted Flycatchers on Tiree at Cornaigbeg, Vaul and Carnan Mor (John Bowler). Another Spotted Flycatcher was seen at Kildunan Cottage, Tiree on 21 May (Bill Allan).
20 May. A Wood Warbler was heard singing and a Blackcap was seen on the Beinn Lora walk at Benderloch, North Argyll today (Debi & Graham Brennan per Robin Harvey) and two Garden Warblers were singing near Ardnoe Point, Loch Fyne (Peter Woods).
21 May. Two Magpies were seen in the park at Strachur House, Cowal today (Peter Woods).
22 May. A Sedge Warbler was singing near a garden in Muasdale, Kintyre today (Maggie Young).
23 May. A Spotted Flycatcher at Haunn, Mull today was the first local record, Two Linnets and 2 Twite were also seen nearby (Anand Prasad). A Magpie was present at Duiletter, Glendaruel, Cowal over the weekend of 22/23 May (per Daphne Campbell).
24 May. A total of nine House Martins at Carnan Mor/Balephuil today was a record count for Tiree. Two pairs of Lesser Redpolls were collecting nest material at Balephuil, a Spotted Flycatcher was at Vaul and a late male Snow Bunting at Balevullin pools was an unexpected find (John Bowler). Two Lesser Redpolls were in a field near Treshnish House, Mull (Anand Prasad). A Dipper was seen along the River Cur at the head of Loch Eck, Cowal (Peter Woods).
25 May. Two Dippers were seen under the stone bridge at Killail, Otter Ferry today (Tom Callan).
26 May. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen again at Carnan Mor, Tiree and two House Martins were at Traigh Bhi (John Bowler). Two Wood Warblers were singing in a wood near Portfield, Mull (Anand Prasad).
29 May. A Rose-coloured Starling was photographed on the Dervaig road, above Tobermory, Mull (Steve Brown per Alan Spellman). Spotted Flycatchers were at Balephuil and Vaul, Tiree today and a Mealy (Common) Redpoll and 4 Lesser Redpolls were at Carnan Mor (John Bowler). A Spotted Flycatcher was also seen at Ederline, Loch Awe (Karl Pipes).
30 May. Species seen during an seen during a Bird Atlas TTV at Inveraray, Mid-Argyll this morning included: 24 Barn Swallows, 2 Tree Pipits, a Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Blackcaps and 5 Wood Warblers (Paul Daw). A female Whinchat was at Vaul, Tiree today (Keith Gillon).
31 May. Garden Warblers were seen on Tiree at Carnan Mor and at Balephuil, where there was also a Spotted Flycatcher (John Bowler). A Lesser Redpoll and two Eurasian Jays were seen at Glenan Bay (near Portavadie) Cowal (David Warden).
Other sightings:
03 May. Two otters were cavorting in Kilbrannan Sound near Grogport Picnic Site, Kintyre approx. 100m from shore today (Malcolm Chattwood).
13 May At least a dozen Painted Lady butterflies were found in W Coll today (Simon Wellock).
17 May. Two Common Dolphins were seen from the ferry in the Sound of Mull today (Bill Allan/Anne-Lise Dickie).
29 May. From today hundreds (probably thousands) of Painted Lady butterflies were seen on Tiree as well as the first Large Whites, Peacock Butterflies and Large Red Damsel Flies (John Bowler). Similar numbers of Painted Lady butterflies were seen on Coll (Simon Wellock) and there have been widespread records (although mostly not in such large numbers) on the mainland.
30 May. Many hundreds (500+) of Painted Lady butterflies flew S past Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today many well out over the sea! Most had gone by the following day (Eddie Maguire). At least 15 Painted Lady butterflies were seen flying along the shore of Loch Fyne at Otter Ferry in one hour (Tom Callan).
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