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STOP PRESS. Latest Swallow records received so far: one Nerabus, Islay 8 November (Stuart Graham) and an immature at Baileouchdarach, Lismore on 22 November (David Jardine). Let me know a.s.a.p. if you have a later sighting. Also a Sand Martin flying along King Street (Portnahaven), Islay on 5 November (Stuart Graham) is the latest ever Argyll record – by one day!
NEW SPECIES FOR ARGYLL. A Cattle Egret, the first seen in Argyll, was found at Lyrabus, Islay on 24 October. It was quite mobile and seen at several other locations so that at one time two birds were suspected. At one time it was seen in the same field as a Little Egret, one of several seen in Argyll during October/November. It was well photographed and should be accepted as the 336th species for the Argyll list.
GARDEN BIRDS. Instead of dashing off to distinct locations for your birding try looking closely at what turns up in your garden. In April this year we received several reports of Lesser Redpolls appearing at garden bird feeders. Danielle & Graham Clark started looking more closely at the Redpolls in their garden and Danielle took a series of photographs of one unusual individual. These and the accompanying description were circulated to the Argyll Bird Records Committee and the bird has been accepted as a Common Redpoll. The whole question of Redpoll identification is quite complex but this shows that some of the Redpolls in Argyll that we cheerfully identify as ‘Lesser’ can in fact be ‘Common’ (or Mealy as they are sometimes called).
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Wildfowl (and gamebirds) |
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Wildfowl (and Gamebirds)
02 October. Geese at Loch Gruinart, Islay today included 18 Greenland White-fronts, 7,320 Barnacle Geese, 172 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a single Pink-footed Goose and one probably hutchinsii Canada Goose. By 5 October Barnacle Geese numbered 14,365 (James How). Two Long-tailed Ducks and 39 Pink-footed Geese flew S at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory (Eddie Maguire).
04 October. A total of 488 Common Eiders and approx. 30 Red-breasted Mergansers were counted between Portavadie and Castle Lachlan (Loch Fyne). (335 male/153 females). Five Goosanders were off Kilfinan (Tom Callan).
07 October. Six Greenland White-fronted Geese at Loch Riaghain were the first returning birds on Tiree and was a single Common Goldeneye at Loch a' Phuill (Jim Dickson).
10 October. Four Red-legged Partridges were seen at Craigruadh (nr Tayinloan), Kintyre (Tom Callan).
11 October. Approx. 800 Barnacle Geese were on Soa, Tiree today (John Bowler).
12 October. A total of 21 Whooper Swans were with 2 Gadwall, a Pintail and 2 Common Goldeneyes at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree (John Bowler).
15 October. A count at the Sound of Gigha from the usual mainland viewpoints between Rhunahaorine Point & Ronachan found: 28 Greater Scaup, 16 Long-tailed Ducks (including 3 adult drakes), 80 Common Scoters (largest group 55), 8 Velvet Scoters (including 3 adult drakes), 11 Common Goldeneyes and 39 Red-breasted Mergansers (Eddie Maguire). .
16 October. Counts of wildfowl at N edge of the Laggan (Langa/Westport Marsh - near Campbeltown) this morning included 5 Gadwalls (incl. one male), 37 Eurasian Teal and 60 Mallards (Eddie Maguire). Six Eurasian Teal, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 26 or more Tufted Ducks and 3 ‘brown-head’ Common Goldeneyes were on Loch Pottie, Mull today (Mike Wagemakers per Alan Spellman).
17 October. The WeBS count at Loch Sween today found 21 Mute Swans, 15 Whooper Swans (incl. 4 juvs.), 5 Greylag Geese, 37 Canada Geese, 129 Eurasian Wigeon, 12 Eurasian Teal, 48 Mallards, 2 Common Goldeneyes and 20 Red-breasted Mergansers (Paul Daw).
18 October. Geese on Tiree today included 220 Barnacle Geese at Fadamull, 520 Barnacles at Balephetrish and two Greenland White-fronted Geese over Balephuil (John Bowler).
19 October. A noticeable arrival of Whoopers Swans on Tiree today included: 80 at Loch a' Phuill and 42 at Loch an Eilein. In the afternoon (13:45) 40 Greenland White-fronted Geese flew SSE over Balemartine and 23 were seen at The Reef (John Bowler).
20 October. A flock of at least 30 Whooper Swans were seen flying S past Treshnish Point, Mull today (Anand Prasad).
22 October. At Loch a' Phuill, Tiree today an impressive count of 252 Whoopers Swans included 41 cygnets. Also there were 25 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 2 Gadwalls, a single Pintail, 66 Tufted Ducks, a Greater Scaup and 7 Common Goldeneyes (John Bowler). A flock of 16 adult Whooper Swans flew S at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory and 54 Whooper Swans (including 6 juvenile/first-winters) were counted in the Chiscan/Strath area of The Laggan, where 16 Greenland White-fronted Geese, and 30 Greylag Geese were also seen (Eddie Maguire).
30 October. Wildfowl at Ulva Lagoons, Loch Sween today included 30 Mute Swans (2 juvs.), 23 Whooper Swans (all adult) and 40 Greenland White-fronted Geese (Tom Callan).
Seabirds, Divers, Grebes, Shearwaters, Herons etc. (and other seawatch species)
01 October. Twenty Grey Herons were counted at Holy Loch, Cowal today (Nigel Scriven).
03 October. Sea-watching at Aird, Tiree this afternoon produced: single Sooty Shearwater, European Storm-petrel and Leach's Storm-petrel as well as 2 Arctic Terns (Jim Dickson). In addition, a Leach's Storm-petrel was found inland early morning (flying low over pasture) near Stewarton village, near Campbeltown (Eddie Maguire).
04 October. A Slavonian Grebe was on Loch a' Phuill, Tiree today (Jim Dickson/Ross Ahmed).
07 October. Sixteen Grey Herons were roosting at the NATO Jetty in Campbeltown Loch today (Neil Brown).
09 October. On a very wet and windy day on Tiree a Black-throated Diver (rare here) 2 European Storm-petrels, 2 Manx Shearwaters and 265 Northern Gannets were among bird seen off Hynish (John Bowler). Five Red-throated Divers were on the sea off Machrihanish Seabird Observatory (Eddie Maguire)
10 October. An Egret first reported on Coll on 8 October was seen well on the estuarine part of Loch Eatharna just west of Arinagour and identified as a Little Egret – the first record for Coll (Simon Wellock). It was seen again several times in the following days. Two groups of Black-throated Divers totaling 17 birds were off ‘West Coast Salmon’, Kintyre (Tom Callan).
12 October. On a warm autumn day in flat calm conditions 3 Red-throated Divers, 5 Black-throated Divers and 8 Great Northern Divers were off Machrihanish Seabird Observatory (Eddie Maguire).
15 October. A count at the Sound of Gigha from the usual mainland viewpoints between Rhunahaorine Point & Ronachan found: 7 single Red-throated Divers, 23 Black-throated Divers (largest group 12), 67 Great Northern Divers and 63 Slavonian Grebes (including loose groups of 5, 5, 7, 9 & 12). Some of the latter were still showing signs of breeding plumage (Eddie Maguire).
16 October. A Little Egret was seen on the north shore of Loch Creran near North Shian. It was apparently chased away by local Grey Herons! (Les Silkowski per Mike Gear).
17 October. The WeBS count at Loch Sween today found 14 Little Grebes and 24 Grey Herons (Paul Daw).
24 October. Great excitement on Islay today. A Cattle Egret, the first in Argyll, was found at Lyrabus today. It was quite mobile and seen at several other locations so that at one time two birds were suspected (Michal Anderson/Margaret Brooke/Chris & Tony Johnson et al.) .
In force 5-6 easterly winds and heavy rain a Great Crested Grebe (first-winter) was found sheltering by the old lifeboat station at Machrihanish. It stayed for following three days (Eddie Maguire).
25 October. The Cattle Egret was found again at Ballymartin Farm (NR370662) road end. And in the same field was a Little Egret! (Malcolm Ogilvie).
26 October. Jim Dickson photographed the Cattle Egret this morning. It was showing well near Eorrabus, but then disappeared. The Little Egret which was apparently seen flying around the ferry at Port Ellen earlier that morning (Peter Roberts per Margaret Brooke).
29 October. A Little Egret was found at Loch na Cille, Loch Sween this afternoon and another (or the same?) Little Egret was seen in the Add Estuary as it got dark (Tom Callan).
30 October. The Little Egret was still in the Add Estuary today (Jim Dickson).
Raptors, Rails etc
03 October. A female and a juvenile male Common Kestrel were seen at Kilfinan, Cowal today (David Warden).
11 October. Two White-tailed Eagles, an adult and a juvenile together, were at Keills point, Loch Sween this morning. Neither had wing tags. What were presumably the same two birds had been reported near Carsaig (Tayvallich) the day before (John Aitchison).
17 October. A good day for raptors. A 2nd calendar year Golden Eagle was found at Milton, Tiree today (Andy Dowse / Lloyd Berry). Golden Eagles are rare birds on Tiree (John Bowler). A Red Kite was seen over Ulva Lagoons, Loch Sween flying steadily towards the Sound of Jura (Paul Daw). An adult White-tailed Eagle was seen soaring over the Sound of Jura from the coast N of Carsaig and a Peregrine Falcon gave a marvelous hunting display, chasing Redshanks in Carsaig Bay. John was surprised to see it dive at birds in the water; though it was unsuccessful and was later chased away by three crows (John McInally).
19 October. A Red Kite was seen over Glenbranter, Cowal twice this morning (Peter Woods). Sadly this was the last record received from club member Peter Woods who died a few days later following a heart attack. He was a lifelong birder who regularly contributed records and had been helping out with the BTO Atlas tetrads in Cowal. We send our sympathy and commiserations to his widow Helen.
21 October. A female Marsh Harrier was seen during the morning hunting at Tayinloan (Katie Pendreigh).
26 October. The second calendar year Golden Eagle was seen soaring around Ben Hynish, Tiree this morning being mobbed by two Hen Harriers (John Bowler).
Waders
01 October. No less than three adult American Golden Plovers were on Tiree this morning: Ross Ahmed found a new adult which has joined up with the long-staying bird at Sandaig, whilst a less well plumaged bird is at Loch a' Phuill (John Bowler/Ross Ahmed/Jim Dickson). All were photographed. A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was also found at Sandaig and another was at Cornaigmore (Ross Ahmed/Jim Dickson).
03 October. Two Grey Phalaropes flew W off Aird, Tiree during a sea-watch this afternoon. One landed briefly on the sea (Jim Dickson). A Grey Phalarope was also seen at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory (Eddie Maguire).
05 October. At least 83 Turnstones were on the spit at Otter Ferry, Cowal today (Tom Callan).
06 October. The first returning Purple Sandpiper was near Crazy Golf course in Dunoon lunch time (high tide) today (George Newall).
12 October. One of the American Golden Plovers was still at Sandaig this morning (John Bowler). Waders found during the WeBS count at Holy Loch, Cowal included 616 Oystercatchers, 19 Ringed Plovers, 152 Eurasian Curlews, 30 Common Redshanks and 8 Turnstones (George Newall).
14 October. Two American Golden Plovers was seen again at Sandaig this morning (Lloyd Berry/Andy Dowse).
16 October. Counts of waders at N edge of the Laggan (Langa/Westport Marsh - near Campbeltown) this morning included ca 1,200 European Golden Plovers, 78 Northern Lapwings and 165 Eurasian Curlews (Eddie Maguire).
18 October. A flock of 24 Northern Lapwings were at Kildavaig farm (near Ardlamont Point), Kintyre today (David Warden).
19 October. A Purple Sandpiper with Oystercatchers, Ringed Plovers and Eurasian Curlews was an unusual record for Calgary Bay, Mull (Anand Prasad).
21 October. An unexpected gathering of 93 Common Snipe were found at the N end of Loch Lussa, Kintyre, where the water level was low (Eddie Maguire).
27 October. Waders in Otter Ferry, Cowal area today included ca 50 Ringed Plovers, 3 Northern Lapwings (unusual here), a Red Knot, 3 Dunlins, 6 Common Redshanks and at least 100 Turnstones (Tom Callan).
31 October. Waders at Tayinloan today included at least 30 Oystercatchers, 76 Northern Lapwings, 7 Common Snipe, 100 Eurasian Curlews, 8 Common Redshanks and 8 Turnstones (Tom Callan).
Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Auks
03 October. Sea-watching at Aird, Tiree this afternoon produced: and Arctic Skua and 8 Great Skuas (Jim Dickson). An adult Iceland Gull and 5 Arctic Terns were at Ardnave, Islay (James How).
05 October. A late Sandwich Tern (2nd calendar year) was at Gott Bay (John Bowler).
07 October. A sub-adult Long-tailed Skua was found, very unexpectedly, inland (in a field of winter barley) at Bleachfield Farm, The Laggan Kintyre. This rare passage visitor allowed a close enough approach for photographs to be taken (Eddie Maguire).
09 October. On a very wet and windy day on Tiree, an adult Long-tailed Skua and 262 Kittiwakes were among bird seen off Hynish (John Bowler).
11 October. A constant stream of Kittiwakes (756 in 1 hour) flew past Aird, Tiree today with 4 Great Skuas, an Arctic Skua, and 2 Arctic Terns (John Bowler). Two Puffins were with 20 or more Kittiwakes near Treshnish Point, Mull (Anand Prasad).
15 October. A count at the Sound of Gigha from the usual mainland viewpoints between Rhunahaorine Point & Ronachan found 78 widely scattered Black Guillemots (Eddie Maguire).
25 October. Two late juvenile Arctic Terns flew S today at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory and a relatively low total of 421 Kittiwakes flew south in 8 hours. Interestingly only 68 (16%) of them were first-winter birds (Eddie Maguire).
Doves, Owls, Woodpeckers etc.
02 October 2009. A Rose-ringed Parakeet was photographed this morning in a garden in George Street, Hunters Quay, Dunoon (Callum Satchel). Although the species is well established in parts of southern England, and indeed is now viewed as a pest, this is the first record of a free flying bird in Argyll.
07 October. A Hoopoe was seen in a garden in North Connel at approx. 11:30 this morning (Daniel Baker). Sadly, as is often the case with this species, it did not stay around for other observers to see.
Passerines
01 October. A Lesser Whitethroat, a female Blackcap, a Common Chiffchaff and 2 Siskins were all at Balephuil today (John Bowler).
02 October. Two Lesser Whitethroats were seen together in the garden at Balephuil, Tiree today (John Bowler).
03 October. Five Northern Wheatears, 12 Snow Buntings, and a Lapland Bunting were found at Ardnave, Islay today (James How).
04 October. A juvenile Common Rosefinch was found at Hynish, Tiree (Jim Dickson). Later two juvenile Common Rosefinches were seen together at Mannal (presumably including the Hynish bird) (John Bowler). They were both seen again at Hynish on 6 October (Jim Dickson). A Greenland (Common) Redpoll was photographed feeding with House Sparrows at Mannal) and a Garden Warbler was also seen there (John Bowler). Yet another Lesser Whitethroat was found at Whitehouse (Ross Ahmed/Jim Dickson). A Common Chiffchaff was calling at Connel, Mid-Argyll this morning (Mike Harrison) and a Lapland Bunting was seen flying over Crossapol, Coll at lunchtime (Simon Wellock).
05 October. A juvenile Barred Warbler was found at Vaul, Tiree and single Snow Bunting and Lapland Bunting were near An Airidh (Ross Ahmed). Approx. 60 Redwings were seen on the island (Jim Dickson). Nine Goldfinches and 120 Twites at the feeding station at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory attracted the attention of a Merlin, several times.
06 October. Two Yellow-browed Warblers were together in sycamores at The Lodge, Arinagour, Coll this morning (Simon Wellock) and a late juvenile Common Redstart was at Carnan Mor, Tiree (John Bowler).
07 October. Six Yellowhammers (incl. 4 males) were seen near Ardchattan Priory, North Argyll with 100+ Common Chaffinches (Bill Allan). A Carrion Crow was at Kenovay, Tiree (a rare bird on Tiree!) and approx. 10 Common Chiffchaffs were on the island (John Bowler). A flock of 23 Twite was at ‘Stinky Hole’ Campbeltown Loch today with Common Chaffinches and Meadow Pipits (Neil Brown) and a Lapland Bunting was near Craigdarroch in Arinagour, Coll (Simon Wellock).
08 October. A flock of 8 Snow Buntings were at Soa, Tiree with another single at Balephuil (Jim Dickson). Twite numbers at Machrihanish Seabird Observatory were up slightly, to 160, and included one colour-ringed bird (Eddie Maguire).
10 October. A newly arrived Yellow-browed Warbler was found at The Glebe, Tiree today (Jim Dickson) and a Lesser Whitethroat, male & female Blackcap and Common Chiffchaff were at Balephuil. Scattered groups of up to 50 Redwings totalled several hundred for the island as a whole (John Bowler).
11 October. Flocks of 280 Linnets and 70 Twites were at Miodar, Tiree today (John Bowler). At least 17 Common Ravens were seen soaring over Ford, Mid-Argyll today (Karl Pipes).
12 October. A Magpie seen along the road to Tayvallich (before Arichonan), Mid-Argyll could have been the bird seen in the Lochgilphead area in June/July. Many Redwings were seen flying over Lochgilphead (Lynsey Gibson). Plenty of Redwings were also flying over Connel this morning. Between 10:00 and 10:30hrs approx. 1500 were counted in groups of 50-150 flying east up Loch Etive. Interestingly they were coming from the west, quite high, and didn't look as if they were just moving between feeds (Mike Harrison). At least 80 Snow Buntings were in a mixed flock with 200+ Twite and 80+ Sky Larks on the foreshore at Cliad, Coll. A fall of 20+ Dunnocks in Arinagour this morning confirms once again their status as an autumn migrant in Argyll (Simon Wellock) and a late Whinchat was at Balephuil, Tiree (Lloyd Berry).
13 October. The first Redwings of the year (approx 50) were seen at Eredine, Loch Awe this morning (Karl Pipes).
15 October. Two Yellow-browed Warblers arrived at Carnan Mor, Tiree late this afternoon. At least one Lesser Whitethroat was also in the Balephuil area along with 180 Redwings. A Northern Wheatear was Meningie and several Common Chiffchaff were reported on the island (John Bowler).
16 October. A late Barn Swallow was seen at Balephuil, Tiree today. Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and a single Fieldfare were also present and at least 4 Dunnocks and 10 Common Chiffchaffs were found around the island (John Bowler/Andy Dowse / Lloyd Berry).
17 October. Large numbers of migrant thrushes in Cowal today including 350 (mainly Fieldfares) near Strachur, 350 mixed thrushes in Glendaruel and 100 (mainly Redwings) at Lephinmore (Tom Callan).
18 October. A ‘new’ Yellow-browed Warbler was found at Main Road Farm, Balephuil along with 6 Common Chiffchaffs, a male & female Blackcap and 15 Redwings (Andy Dowse/Lloyd Berry). A flock of 112 Common Starlings were at Kildavaig farm (near Ardlamont Point), Kintyre and 3 Dippers were in Kilfinan Bay (David Warden).
20 October. A noisy Magpie flew over Craig Cottage, near the head of Loch Riddon this morning and later, what was possibly the same individual, was seen near Tighnabruaich (Daphne Campbell).
21 October. A late male Whinchat was found on the road to Lussa Loch, Kintyre and 5 Common Stonechats were also recorded along the road (Eddie Maguire).
22 October. Two late Barn Swallows were at Tayinloan today (Katie Pendreigh).
23 October. A male Ring Ouzel was with 310 Fieldfares and 110 Redwings at Milton. Tiree today. Elsewhere on Tiree, 2 Bramblings and a Goldfinch were with 380 Fieldfares and 200 Redwings at Hynish, and a male Brambling was at The Manse. Common Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were also seen and in total John estimates some 1,000 Fieldfares and 1,500 Redwings were around the island together with perhaps 200 Blackbirds and 150 Song Thrushes (John Bowler). A quick look at the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse area early this morning produced a few migrants, including 270 Fieldfares, 125 Redwings, 8 Common Starlings, 130 Common Chaffinches and 80 Goldfinches (Eddie Maguire). A late juv. Northern Wheatear was seen at Tayinloan (Katie Pendreigh).
28 October. A Lapland Bunting and a Snow Bunting were with Twites at Loch a' Phuill, Tiree and 3 Bramblings were at West Hynish (John Bowler). A female Blackcap was feeding on apples in the garden at Otter Ferry today (Paul Daw).
29 October. A flock of approx. 30 Bramblings was seen with Common Chaffinches at the caravan park at Castle Sween, Mid-Argyll today (Alistair Sinclair per Tom Callan).
30 October. Approx 20 Fieldfares were on the garden rowan at Eredine, Loch Awe this morning with a Brambling feeding underneath (Karl Pipes). Six Common Crossbills were seen near Cruach Kilfinan, Cowal with two more at Otter Ferry (David Warden).
31 October. A Lesser Whitethroat was photographed in a garden in Lochgilphead today (Mike Gregory). At West Parkfergus, The Laggan, Kintyre 700 Fieldfares and at least 100 Redwings were on hawthorns and a flock of 26 Reed Buntings were foraging on stubble (Eddie Maguire). A late Barn Swallow was seen at Tayinloan, Kintyre and 50 or more Wagtails there included at least 15 White Wagtails (Tom Callan).
Other sightings:
04 October. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was seen at Cairnbaan Hotel near Lochgilphead today (David Warden).
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