ARGYLL

ISLAY: Loch Gruinart held 850 Golden Plovers, 6,990 Barnacle Geese, 149 Greenland Whitefronts, 304 Lapwings, 121 Shelducks, 219 Oystercatchers, 82 Ringed Plovers, 72 Sanderling, 91 Dunlin, 142 Bar-tailed Godwits, 117 Curlews, 30 Common Gulls, a Water Rail, four Hen Harriers and a Green-winged Teal. A Snow Bunting, Merlin, 100 Twite and a Hen Harrier were at The Oa. A Glaucous Gull was at Bruichladdich and an Iceland Gull in the Sound of Islay. Three White-tailed Eagles and a Glaucous Gull were on Loch Indaal. A Great Grey Shrike, Hen Harrier, Treecreeper and Bullfinch were at Bridgend. A Whimbrel was on Jura. Cackling Canada Geese were at Ballygrant and Loch Indaal. There were 41 pale-bellied Brent Geese at Carnain. A Grey Wagtail was at Loch Skerrols. There were eight Fulmars, 43 Choughs, a Merlin and Hen Harrier at Kilchoman. Two Whooper Swans, 11 Goldeneyes and four Pochards were at Ardnave Loch. Two Dippers and a Kingfisher were on the River Sorn. A White-tailed Eagle was near Bowmore. A Golden Eagle was on the Rhinns. A Purple Sandpiper and four Grey Plovers were between Bowmore and Gartbreck. Six Redwings and 12 Fieldfares were at Coillabus. A Pink-footed Goose was at Kinnabus. A Ring-billed Gull was at Craigens. The ferry between Islay and Kennacraig logged 14 Great Northern Divers, a Black-throated Diver, seven Red-throated Divers, 54 Red-breasted Mergansers, two Kittiwakes, 47 Black Guillemots and two White-tailed Eagles. TIREE: The Green-winged Teal remained at Loch a’ Phuill (to 15th). A White-tailed Eagle was in West Tiree (10th-11th). Seven Glaucous Gulls and two Iceland Gulls were logged. Lapland Buntings were at Clachan (12th) and Barrapol (15th), with a Snow Bunting at Traigh nan Gilean (22nd). Scarcities included five Little Grebes, a Scaup, Moorhen and three Gadwall at Loch a’ Phuill, a moribund Long-eared Owl at Hough, a Little Auk off Aird, two Puffins off Hynish, a Jackdaw at Crossapol, Mistle Thrushes at Salum and Balephuil, a Carrion Crow at Moss and Pied Wagtails at Balephetrish Bay, Balinoe and Traigh nan Gilean. Maxima included 32 Shovelers, 383 Oystercatchers, 1,210 Common Gulls and 500 Redwings. The first Black-headed Gulls returned (5th) with 40 back (28th). The first Lesser Black-backed Gull was at Loch a’ Phuill (21st). A count (14th-15th) found 4,674 Barnacle Geese, 1,804 Greylags, 911 Greenland Whitefronts, three Pinkfeet, 147 Whooper Swans, 2,710 Golden Plovers and 2,970 Lapwings. Phill Catton (www.islaybirds.blogspot.com) and John Bowler (john.bowler@rspb.org.uk)