 Page Loading |
Page Loading |
Usage Instructions for pictures
To view enlarged picture: click on thumbnail
While enlarged picture is open, you can call the next or previous picture by clicking respectively on the right or left half of the picture
The enlarged picture closes when clicking on close or outside the picture
STOP PRESS. At least one Cattle Egret was reliably reported on Islay on 24 October (phone call from Chris and Tony Johnson). It has been seen in more than one location, at times with a Little Egret, and it is possible that more than one bird is involved. Our intrepid rare bird recorder Jim Dickson is searching for it as I write. If confirmed this will be a new species for Argyll bringing our total to 336.
| Table of Contents (Click on chapter to display it below the contents box or SHOW ALL to display or print all contents) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wildfowl (and gamebirds) |
|||||
Wildfowl (and Gamebirds)
07 September. Groups of moulting wildfowl at West Coast Salmon, Kintyre included 66 Common Eiders, 6 Common Scoters and 70 Red-breasted Mergansers (Katie Pendreigh).
10 September. Two Shovelers and 6 Common Scoters were at Loch Indaal, Islay today and 23 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Loch Gruinart (Jim Dickson).
14 September. An adult European White-fronted Goose was found at Heylipol, Tiree with Greylag Geese (John Bowler).
15 September. Nine Pale-bellied Brent Geese flying S at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory this morning (the first this autumn) accompanied by a Pintail were followed by a pack of ca 50 Pink-footed Geese at midday (Eddie Maguire).
20 September. A group of 29 Pink-footed Geese were seen flying over Cairnbaan (nr Lochgilphead) this afternoon (Jim Dickson).
21 September. A Black Grouse was seen near Craigendive at the head of Loch Striven, today. There are no other recent reports of the species from this area (Daphne Campbell).
22 September. A male Ring-necked Duck was newly arrived at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree today (John Bowler). The WeBS count at Holy Loch, Cowal today found: 5 Mute Swans, 15 Eurasian Wigeon, 77 Mallards, 93 Common Eiders and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers (George Newall).
24 September. A flock of 16 Pale-bellied Brent Geese resting off-passage at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory included including a colour-ringed bird. Eddie Maguire photographed it and when details were reported to Graham McElwaine of the Irish Brent Goose Research Group it transpired that the bird was ringed in Iceland on 18 May 2008 and spent last winter (2008/2009) at Wexford Harbour in Ireland.
26 September. Two Black Grouse were seen along the road between Kennacraig and Claonaig during the ABC outing to Skipness today (Katie Pendreigh).
27 September. A juvenile male Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Bhasapol, Tiree (better views today for ageing this bird) and a single Greater Scaup was also there (John Bowler).
28 September. A flock of 150 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew south over Tiree today (Ross Ahmed).
29 September. A considerable movement of wildfowl on Tiree today included 49 Whoopers Swans in a single flock, 10 Whoopers (including 2 cygnets) at Loch a' Phuill (Jim Dickson) and 22 at Loch Riaghain (John Bowler). Geese included a minimum 106 Pink-footed Geese SSE in 3 flocks during the morning, 72 Barnacle Geese flying SSE in 7 flocks plus 4 more on the ground with Greylags at Balephetrish and 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Salum (John Bowler). The first Whooper Swans (9) were seen at The Laggan near Machrihanish today (Simon Lawrence per Eddie Maguire) and a total of 39 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew S past the observatory during the day (Eddie Maguire).
Seabirds, Divers, Grebes, Shearwaters, Herons etc. (and other seawatch species)
01 September. Three Great Shearwaters were reported as seen from the Oban-Tiree ferry (approaching Coll) (David Kent).
06 September. Approx. 35 Manx Shearwaters were seen from the Tarbert-Portavadie ferry, Cowal flying S (Tom Callan).
10 September. Three Red-throated Divers were off Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
11 September. Six Red-throated Divers and 5 Slavonian Grebes were on Loch Indaal, Islay today (Jim Dickson).
16 September. A report has been received of a Glossy Ibis seen NNW of Knockvologan near Fionnphort today. It was seen again on the following day (Alein Shreeve). Unfortunately the bird was not photographed but we hope to receive a description. This would be the first record of this species in Argyll since 1958 (see below - 26 Sep).
18 September. A splendid adult Black-throated Diver still in almost full breeding plumage was foraging inshore at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today (Eddie Maguire).
22 September. Seven Red-throated Divers and 40 Manx Shearwaters flew S at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today (Eddie Maguire).
23 September. In 5 hrs sea-watching at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory, Manx Shearwaters totalled only 125 but 44 Red-throated Divers were counted (Eddie Maguire).
26 September. As I drove back from a WeBS count at Loch Sween early this afternoon I saw an odd bird standing in a field near Barrahormid Farm (Tayvallich). As I stopped to see what on earth it was it flew up. I was extremely fortunate that it just circled and landed back in the same place so that I was able to snatch a few quick photos through the car window. It was quite obviously a Glossy Ibis and after a couple of minutes it flew off SW towards 'The Puddle' (Ulva Lagoons). When I phoned Morag Rea (who lives at Tayvallich) to tell her about it she told me she had just sent an e-mail to say that she had a phone call (from John MacCallum) saying the bird had first been seen the previous day (25 Sep) feeding with Hoodies in the caravan park at Tayvallich! It was there again on the morning of 26 Sep. Morag and Norman Rea drove straight down following my call, found the bird again near Barrahormid Farm and obtained some much better photographs (Paul Daw/Morag & Norman Rea/John MacCallum/Charlie Self). According to BirdGuides there has been a major influx of Glossy Ibises in southern Britain this autumn including groups of a dozen or more birds, but only a few birds have been reported as far north as Scotland. Some of the birds had colour-rings which showed that they originated from a colony on the Coto Doñana, southern Spain.
29 September. During 7hrs seawatching ay Machrihanish Seabird Observatory in WNW force 6 winds with frequent squalls today a good variety of scarce seabird species were found including a total of 10 Leach's Storm-petrels, 58 Red-throated Divers and a dark morph adult Pomarine Skua (with tail ‘spoons’)
(Eddie Maguire/John McGlynn).
30 September. An adult Slavonian Grebe was at Salum Bay, Tiree (Jim Dickson)
Raptors, Rails etc
A late report has been received of a young Water Rail at Benderloch, North Argyll on the 9th August. It was calling to a parent and getting replies and Robin Harvey got a photo of a fuzzy black blob(!). Confirmed breeding records of Water Rail are very rare in Argyll although they are probably considerably more widespread than reports would suggest.
02 September. An Osprey (sometimes two) have been seen fishing at Loch na Cille, Loch Sween on several occasions over the past few days (John Aitchison).
05 September. An Osprey seen at Loch Gruinart, Islay today had been in the area all week (Jim Dickson).
13 September. A spiral of raptors over Ben Hynish, Tiree today included: 2 Hen Harriers, 8 Common Buzzards, 2 Peregrine Falcons and 2 Common Kestrels (John Bowler).
14 September. A female Merlin and a Peregrine Falcon were hunting at Tayinloan today (Katie Pendreigh).
16 September. Raptors were aloft in the early afternoon at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory included: 3 Golden Eagles (2 adults & a juvenile) high over the Ballygroggan Farm uplands, 11 Common Buzzards and a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Eddie Maguire).
18 September. A male and a female/juv Common Kestrel were at Tayinloan this afternoon (Katie Pendreigh).
26 September. A male and a female Common Kestrel were seen at Skipness, Kintyre during the ABC Field Trip today (Katie Pendreigh).
Waders
01 September. The adult Pacific Golden Plover was at Loch a' Phuill again this morning – it seemed to be largely feeding away from other golden plovers (per Keith Gillon).
02 September. A quick count around Loch Gruinart, Islay today found: 179 Oystercatchers, 74 Red Knots, 326 Sanderlings, a single Curlew Sandpiper (John Armitage), 965 Dunlins, 122 Bar-tailed Godwits, a juvenile Spotted Redshank, 55 Common Redshanks and 6 Greenshanks (James How). A Pectoral Sandpiper was reported at Balephetrish Bay, Tiree (David Kent).
05 September. No less than 7 Ruffs were at Loch a' Phuill today together with 64 Black-tailed Godwits (incl. 1 leg-flagged bird) (John Bowler). Four Greenshanks and a Ruff were seen Loch Gruinart, Islay (Jim Dickson).
07 September. A Green Sandpiper flushed at Baugh, Tiree today flew off towards An Fhaodhail (John Bowler).
08 September. An interesting collection of waders flying S at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory included: 5 Ringed Plovers, 47 Red Knots (in 5 flocks), 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Common Redshanks, a Common Sandpiper and 4 Turnstones (Eddie Maguire).
11 September. A Green Sandpiper was seen in Arinagour this morning (Simon Wellock).
14 September. An adult American Golden Plover was found at Barrapol, Tiree and a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Vaul Bay (John Bowler).
17 September. A probable Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen on Colonsay, on the golf course, near the airstrip today (Alan Davis).
18 September. Two elusive Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree this evening as well as 3 B there with the European Golden Plovers (John Bowler).
22 September. An adult American Golden Plover was found at Sandaig, Tiree this afternoon (John Bowler with Dan Brown). The WeBS count at Holy Loch, Cowal today found: 442 Oystercatchers, 19 Ringed Plovers, 2 Northern Lapwings, one Common Snipe, 202 Eurasian Curlews, 24 Common Redshanks and one Turnstone (George Newall). The first Purple Sandpiper to arrive at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory this autumn was seen briefly on the Point (Eddie Maguire).
26 September. A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was found at Gott Bay, Tiree and a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Sandaig (perhaps the same bird at this site on 9th or one of the two at Loch a' Phuill on 18th?) (Jim Dickson). And the adult American Golden Plover was seen again at Sandaig (Jim Dickson/Ross Ahmed). A group of 3 Pectoral Sandpipers were together at Barrapol/Loch a' Phuill and another Pectoral Sandpiper was at Sandaig (Ross Ahmed).
27 September. A flock of ca180 European Golden Plovers was seen near Westport Marsh near Machrihanish today (Eddie Maguire).
28 September. The juvenile Baird's Sandpiper finally stopped being elusive and showed very well at Vaul Bay this afternoon - allowing Jim Dickson to get some good shots of it. The juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper was again at Sandaig (Jim Dickson). At least 40 Ringed Plovers (mainly juvs.) and 100 Turnstones were at Otter Ferry (Tom Callan).
29 September. A Grey Phalarope was seen from Urvaig, Tiree today (John Bowler).
30 September. A large flock of European Golden Plovers (c. 350) was seen swirling high to the NE of Machrihanish village today (Eddie Maguire).
Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Auks
05 September. An adult Arctic Skua (dark morph) flew S at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory this morning (one of few seen there this autumn) (Eddie Maguire).
06 September. A juvenile Black Tern flew up to head of Loch Gruinart, Islay at high tide and then inland in direction of Lyrabus/Loch Indaal (Jim Dickson).
23 September. A Great Skua and 2 juv. Arctic Terns flew S at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory this afternoon (Eddie Maguire)
29 September. A 30 minute sea-watch from Urvaig, Tiree, just as the rain stopped from 10.15 in W4 revealed: 4 adult Pomarine Skuas, a Great Skua, 79 Kittiwakes and 8 Arctic Terns (John Bowler).
30 September. An adult dark morph Arctic Skua was seen chasing a Kittiwake at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory today and numbers of Herring Gulls at Bleachfield / Strath farmlands, The Laggan nearby this morning were conservatively estimated at 5,000+! (Eddie Maguire).
Passerines
01 September. A Garden Warbler at Balephuil today was the first of the autumn on Tiree (John Bowler).
02 September. A migrant Common Whitethroat was seen flying through the garden at Tullochgorm, Minard today (Paul Daw) and a Spotted Flycatcher was at Lagganbeg, Glen Euchar nr. Oban (George Newall). Eight White Wagtails were found on the golf course at Machrihanish this morning and 85 Pied Wagtails were counted dispersing from a nearby traditional roost (reed-bed at Machrihanish Water) (Eddie Maguire).
05 September. A mixed finch flock at Tayinloan included 35 Goldfinches, 7 Linnets and 3 Twites (Katie Pendreigh).
08 September. The feeding station at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory had totals of 17 Greenfinches, 21 Goldfinches, 5 Linnets and 115 Twites (two of which were colour-ringed) (Eddie Maguire).
10 September. A flock of 27 Goldfinches by the shore at Otter Ferry included many juveniles (Tom Callan).
11 September. A Bluethroat was reported flying between the rose hedges on the approach to the Craignure station of the light railway at Craignure, Mull at about 16:00 today (Pete Bate per Alan Spellman). We hope to get a good description of what is still a rare bird in Argyll.
13 September. A few Twite (4 or more) were in with a flock of 150 Linnets at Tayinloan, Kintyre today (Katie Pendreigh).
14 September. A large flock of approx. 200 Barn Swallows that had been flying around near the school at Kilmichael Glassary, Lochgilphead this morning were gone by the evening (Lynsey Gibson). A flock of Goldfinches at Tayinloan that had been increasing day by day, totalled approx. 250 today (Katie Pendreigh).
15 September. An early flock of approx 35 Redwings with a couple of Fieldfares were feeding on the Rowans near Glenbranter, Cowal late this afternoon (Lynsey Gibson).
16 September. A Garden Warbler that had been in John Bowler’s garden at Balephuil, Tiree the previous day was replaced by a juvenile Barred Warbler this morning!
25 September. A migrant 1st winter male Blackcap was seen from the house window at Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead this morning (Jim Dickson).
26 September. Birds seen during the ABC Field Trip to Skipness, Kintyre today included: 16 Barn Swallows, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Northern Wheatear, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Rook, Greenfinch and approx. 400 Common Chaffinches (not to mention Black Grouse and Common Kestrel – see above) (Katie Pendreigh).
A Lapland Bunting was on the machair at the Green, Tiree today (John Bowler) and a flock of at least 10 Mistle Thrushes were feeding on rowans near Kennacraig, Kintyre (Tom Callan).
27 September. A Pied Flycatcher at Vaul, Tiree today (John Bowler) was first found there by Ross Ahmed on 25 September. It was still there on 28 September.
29 September. On Tiree, 3 Lapland Buntings flew E over Balephetrish Hill, a Snow Bunting was at Gott Bay, a Whitethroat at Whitehouse, 15 Greenland-type Northern Wheatears around East Tiree and ca20 Barn Swallows (John Bowler).
30 September. A Lesser Whitethroat at Main Road, Balephuil - found on 29 Sep. by Ross Ahmed was still there today (different to yesterday's bird at Whitehouse). A Pied Flycatcher at Kilmoluaig was a new bird, a Lapland Bunting was over Barrapol, a Snow Bunting was at Hynish with 3 late Sand Martins and ca60 Barn Swallows were around West Tiree. Five Willow Warblers and 5 Common Chiffchaffs were at various sites on the island (John Bowler). A total of 550 Meadow Pipits arrived on the Point at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory from the S over a 3hr period. Most left in a N or NE direction. About 60 Sky Larks were moving in the same direction and other migrants included 4 White Wagtails and 2 Northern Wheatears (Eddie Maguire).
Other sightings:
19 September. Around a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins were reported in Machrihanish Bay today by surfers. As they saw that they included a female with a small calf by her side (James McCallum per Eddie Maguire).
Subscribe to Club News