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Latest reports for October 2011
23rd Killiechronan - 1 Iceland Gull on the shoreline and 3 White-tailed Eagles over.Lochdon - 17 Ringed Plovers, 1 Greenshank
Grasspoint - 1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Otter
24th Loch Buie - 2 Great Northern Diver. Croggan - 1 male Hen Harrier and 1 ring-tail
25th Killiechronan - 20+ Fieldfare through, 3 Eider. Salen - 2 Bullfinch. Loch Scridain - 7 Great Northern Diver, 1 Greenshank, 4 Redshank, 1 Golden Plover, 7 Ringed Plover. Fidden - 3 Twite
26th Salen - 1 Goosander. Loch Frisa - 30+ Redwing through, 1 male and 1 female Hen Harrier, 1 White-tailed Eagle
Tobermory - 2 male and 2 female Eider, Sparrowhawk over
27th Calgary - 3 White-tailed Eagle, 2 Golden Eagle, 1 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard, 5 Whooper Swan. Salen - 2 winter plumaged Black Guillemot, 1 Otter
29th Craignure - 14 Gannets flew up the Sound. Mike and Jake Hill.
29th Loch Buie:  a young Moorhen down here in Lochbuie, been around for just under a week. Sacha Christine
29th Killiechronan: An Iceland gull at Killiechronan this morning; and a lone whooper in the fields. Dave Sexton

27th red throated diver in winter plumage and a great northern diver at Grasspoint also two juvenile gannets and a large flock of kittiwakes.We also saw a very red breasted ring tailed hen harrier on the left as you approach the point, would be interested to know whether there were any other sightings of this? Mel Eltome & Alan Robertshaw
27th Snow Buntings still around at Reudle.Often on the south side of the summit, Also 7-9 Rooks at Tobermory today, Prasads Blog
27th A Lapwing at Cailaich, 3 Whooper Swans Loch Cuin, newly arrived and tired put their heads under their wings and went straight to sleep, a Swallow at Killninian Church and  2 Snow Buntings at Reudle.Arthur, Pam & Mike Shepard and all on Discover Mull
27th Croig: Richard Atkinson and his group report a Cattle Egret in field with sheep at Croig. Richard Atkinson
26th A single Barnacle Goose with Greylags at Cailaich. Snow Buntings still around. Arthur and Pam Discover Mull
26th Loch Frisa: approx 100 fieldfare close to the hide.  Also male and female hen harrier, juvenile golden eagle, juvenile white tailed eagle as well as Skye and Frisa.  2 little grebe on the Loch. Debby Thorne
26th Lochdon:  a male goldeneye in Loch, the white fronts are still at Fiddon and a black throated diver in Loch Scridain. Mel Eltome
26th Killiechronan: Solitary Whooper Swan still at Killichronan today. Several bar tailed Godwits at the head of the Loch. Many Great Northern Divers about now. Dippers  a regular feature on the shores of Loch Scridain (in salt water!) two short eared owls towards the Sea Eagle caravan on the opposite side of the road this week . Pete Hall wildlife tours
26th Lochdon: a male Blackcap in my garden this morning. Alan 
25th Oct Glen More 1 Short-eared Owl. Pennyghael 7 GN Diver. Kilfinichen 1 Brambling. Fidden 4 Greenland White-fronted Goose. Bryan Rains Wild about Mull Tours
25th Ulva: Just to let you know that we saw a Nuthatch today on Ulva in a tree with a flock of  6 gold crests  and a tree creeper, just as we started on the woodland walk grid reference NM443 392. Mel Eltome . Alan Robertshaw
25th:The 2 Snow Buntings are still around today (25th) but near the drive to Reudle Shoolhouse not Reudle.2 other unidentified birds flew off with them but only 2 Snow Buntings returned so still only 2 confirmed, Prasad 
25th 1 single Jay flew over my head and over Ardrioch Farm this morning. Pam Brown
24th 2 Snow Buntings today at Reudle a single Arctic Tern at Laggan Ulva, Whooper Swan at Killiechronan and a Merlin and Great Skua at Cailaich Point. Arthur and Pam 
19th Drive to Fionnphort 4pm we saw 3 sea eagles on the rocks by the shore about 2 miles west of Pennyghael. They kept moving along the shore westwards before doubling back inland over the Ross. Also a group of 4 Great northern Divers.  Barbara Kennedy
23rd Treshnish, 21+ Common Crossbills (another flock of about the same size may have been a different flock) Prasads Blog
21st Lochdon: 7 Whooper Swans on the loch all day. Alan
20th Tobermory 3 Jays feeding in tall Oaks, c.400 metres along path to Aros Park, near Ledaig Car Park. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
20th: Treshnish, 6 Whooper Swans flying south.Prasad 
19th Killiechronan: 17 Whooper swans, 1 in a field near Killichronan and 16 in the longest of the three lochs in the Glen. These 16  have just arrived. Pete Hall
18th - Loch Buie/Loch Spelve: a Sterna tern, thought Arctic, struggling to navigate in the hail squalls, Loch Buie; 40 Fieldfares on ground at Loch Spelve.
17th Loch Ba: Single late Wheatear, two groups of 3 & 5 Redwings and 8 Fieldfares. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
18th Loch Beg 1 Brent Goose, 12 Whooper Swan. Pennyghael 1 Pomarine Skua. Fidden 3 Brent Goose, 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese. Bryan Rains. 
18th Golf course: Solitary barnacle goose on bowman's field. Red throated diver in winter plumage in Fishnish Bay four Great Northern Divers still in summer plumage on Loch Scridain. Pete Hall
18th Calgary beach, 1 Arctic Tern (also present yesterday) Prasad
16th Fish farm Loch na Keal: 15 long tailed tits at the fish farm yesterday. Colin MoodyColin Wells Mark Williams
14th Fidden In addition to the the usual - 14 Pale bellied Brent on the merse, 2 White-front Geese in field with tups (and one yearling Red Deer), 1 Greenland Wheatear near log pile, single pair Wigeon, 5 Barnacle Geese flying east.  Mike Wagemakers 
13th Oct Killiechronan 1 Red Kite. Loch na Keal5 Slavonian Grebe (one in Summer plumage), 2 GN Diver, 1 Jay. Loch Scridain 2 GN Diver, 1 RT Diver, 1 BT Diver. Loch Beg 3 Whooper Swan. Bryan Rains
13th Calgary bay, 2 Arctic Terns. Treshnish, flocks of c100 + 30 Fieldfares passing through. Prasad  Prasads Blog
12th Loch Pottie 5 Whooper Swan. Fidden 30 Lapwing, 10 Golden Plover, 3 Greenland White-fronted Goose. Torrans 2 Swallow.
12th Glen Bellart: a Red Kite being harrassed by Hoodies about halfway through the glen. Colin Wells
11th: Treshnish, 6 flocks of Barnacle Geese totalling about 100 birds, a flock of 22 Pink-footed Geese and a flock of at least 5 Long-tailed Tits. Langamull, 10 Whooper Swans flew west. 
11th Fidden: 2 Pectoral Sandpipers here in fields with 'orange tups' Colin Wells visitor
10th Bunessan: five Scaup in the bay round by Ardtun, Arctic Tern at Fionnphort. Colin Wells Mark Williams
11th Fionnphort Many thousands of Barnacle Geese have passed through over the last 24+ hours, hearing their calls through the night and continuing this morning Mike Wagemakers
10th There were at least 4,500 Barnacles. Probably at least twice that as many went up inland over Beinne Reudle. 3 in the Barnacle flocks were Greylags and 4 Pink-footed. Apparently very few of the Icelandic Greylags are recorded in Argyll. 
10th 2Arctic Terns off Treshnish Point and 1 Great Skua off Caliach Point, at least 2 Orcas at Port Haunn yesterday heading towards Lunga. Prasad. 
10th small groups of Whooper Swan passing through, occasionally settling on Loch Pottie, the last few days and now many skeins of Barnacle Geese following the Sound of Iona today, heading towards Islay.  Wonderful.  Mike Wagemakers
6th Glen Aros: a single Snow Bunting on the forest track in Glen Aros  This was in the middle of a thunderstorm, so views not brilliant, and it was cold (7.5 degrees). Mark Williams
9th:Calgary beach, 2 juvenile Pale-bellied Brent GeeseTreshnish, 3 Swallows. Prasad
9th Lochdon: 19 Whooper Swans flying south over Lochdon, also 4 Swallows still here this morning 10.15 hrs. Alan
8th: Calgary bay, 7 Barnacle Geese  flying over Lainne Sgeir, coming from the beach direction Treshnish, 1 Swallow. Prasad. 
7th – Aros Estuary. Seven feeding Pale-bellied Brent Geese. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
6th: Again flocks of 10, 12, 11 and what I think is a single Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew south around Treshnish Point. Prasad. 
6th Oct:-Torloisk hills-1 Immature wt eagle chased off by a hen harrier,2 pairs of hen harriers,2 buzzards,1 Merlin,1 kestrel and 2 ravens, Dave Soons
5th: Flocks of 51 and 17 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew south around Treshnish Point and out at sea 1 Great Skua. 2 Swallows went to roost in Treshnish farm buildings. Prasad. 
3rd -loch ba- 2 whooper swans,3 wt eagles,1 peregrine,1 male 2 female hen harriers,1 buzzard and 1 golden eagle, Dave soons
3rd: Calgary bay, 1 Great Northern Diver (photographed) Prasad
3rd Lochdon:  hen harrier 2 brown, kestrel1, WTE 1 adult, pinkfoot 1, wigeon 14, teal 12, greenshank 4, bar-tailed godwit c10, redshank 1, golden plover 6, ring plover 8, whimbrel 1 little stint 1, sparrowhawk, cormorant. David Pierce
Killiechronan 1 adult WTE yellow/black spot & 1 juvenile, an adult golden eagle a little to west, kestrel, ring plover 6, bar-tailed godwit 2, jay 1. Gribun, kestrel 1, WTE 1 immature, 2 goldcrest in gorse & other srub. Loch Beag 1 juv. WTE. Also 2 otters. Glen More road summit, 2 hen harriers ( 1 brown, 1 grey), 1 kestrel. , David Pierce
3rd Lochdon: 3 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, Wigeon and Goosander. Alan
2nd Lochdon: adult WTE, hen harrier 2 (1brown, 1 grey), turnstone 14, greenshank 3, whimbrel 1, ring plover 6, golden plover 1, bar-tailed godwit. Plus 2 otters.
Fidden hen harrier 1 brown, 2 wheatears. Plus 3 mountain hares.
Ardalanish Bay, 50 goldfinch. Plus 1 otter. Pennyghael, c30 redpoll, hen harrier 1 brown, sparrowhawk. Near by on the Ross, 2 kestrel together & flock of c17 ravens. Near Lochdon evening, at least 6 hen harriers, 5 (+) brown & a grey which was mobbing an adult golden eagle. A kestrel & a pinkfoot (with Canada’s) flying towards Lochdon itself. Java tawny owl heard.
2nd Craignure golf course: Peter had a flock of brent geese at the golf course in Craignure. Jan and Pete 
2nd Loch Ba:  in the sunshine today produced - juv golden eagle, buzzard, hen harrier, pair whooper swans, goldcrest, treecreepers, flock of redpoll, crossbills and siskins. Debby Thorne
2nd: 17 Fieldfares over Treshnish wood, Prasad. 
1st : Loch Ba: 2 Whooper Swans, 50 Lesser Redpolls, 12 ‘redhead’Goosanders and a single late Wheatear. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks
1st : Tobermory. Peregrine on spire of Old Free Church, Main Street. Mull Magic Wildlife Walks

The Common Rosefinch (at Kellan Mill, by Loch na Keal) record on Mull, 16th June has been accepted by the Argyll Birds Rarity Committee. This is a first record for Mull. many thanks to Ben Dickenson and family for sending in this record.       Alan

20th Caliach Point:  a flock of at least 30 Whooper Swans flying south, far out, from Caliach Point, passed Treshnish Point. 
There was also a Sanderling at dusk on Calgary beach and a Black-throated Diver in Calgary Bay,  Anand Prasad#
19th Oct Loch Beg:  4 Whooper Swan, 2 Goosander, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Dunlin, 10 Turnstone, 1 Merlin. Fidden 1 Sparrowhawk, 
2 Hen Harrier. Inch Kenneth 100 Barnacle Goose. Bryan Rains
16th  Lochbuie: Single late swallow feeding on hatch of insects (hot sunny day).  Alastair Gossage
20th Lochdon: 8 Whoopers flying south over Lochdon,  all day  long some500+ Redwing & Fielfare stripping berries. along 
the Grasspoint road Alan Spellman
19th at dusk saw 1 Purple Sandpiper and 1 Ruddy Turnstone at Lainne Sgeir, Calgary Bay.
19th Tobermory (Dervaig Road): group of 8-10 redwing in a rowan tree.  Mishnish lochs: 15 greylags. Dervaig: wave after wave of fieldfare flying overhead, easily 300+ in total, in 'pulses' of 50-70.  Amazing sight!   Felicity Hansen 
18th Loch Ba - Huge numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare.  Trees along the loch side with uncountable numbers of Redwing, the noise of their calls was amazing.  One flock of Fieldfare (and some Redwing), at Clachaig,  500+, the sky was thick with them at one point.  Never seen so many in one area. Mike Wagemakers & Carol Marshall
18th - QUINNISH/DERVAIG 12 Siskins and mixed loose flock of ca 60 resident and migrant thrushes (five species : 12-15 Mistle Thrushes, 30 Redwings, Fieldfare, Song Thrush and Blackbird), Quinnish estate; 7 Little Grebes, Loch Cuin; male Hen Harrier, Tobermory campsite
15th  LOCH NA KEAL Single Whimbrel near Ben More car parking area  Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson 
18th Lochdon: only one Hen Harrier this evening, large flocks of winter thrushes Alan 
18th Lochdon-Craignure: Red Kite flying over the main road between Lochdon and Craignure. Ken Tate. staying at mullbirds sc
17th Aros estuary - I Greenshank, 6 prs widgeon;  Killechronan - 3 whooper swans (yippee!!! I'm happy now!).  Loch Na Keal - 17 RB Mergansers (M&F); Loch Scridan - 1 red throated diver (winter plumage).  Felicity Hansen
16th Loch Torr: Single Redwing over Breadalbane Street, Tobermory in morning, with flock of 40 Fieldfares in Loch Torr area during late afternoon  Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
16th Loch Pottie: 26+ Tufted Duck, 6 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Female Goldeneye. 1 Moorhen (immature), 4 Heron, 1 Ringtail Harrier (being chased by a Tufted Duck), Buzzard, Kestrel & Raven and the usual Herring and GBB Gull’s. – Mike Wagemakers
16th Craignure-Lochdon: large flocks (200+) Field fare plus Redwing flying over, also 15 Mistle Thrush at Grasspoint. Andy Kirkham
15th October - Loch na Keal (Inch Kenneth) : 4 Red-throated Divers (2 s/p) and 2 s/p Great Northern Divers; 1 Red-throated Diver, Loch Scridain; 1 Greenshank, 16 Red-breasted Mergansers and 25 Teal, Loch Beg; 'Ring-tail' Hen Harrier, hunting in twilight (18.15 hrs), near Knock, Loch na Keal.   Ruth Fleming and Stuart Gibson
14th Loch na Keal: s/p Great northern Diver plus two winter birds, 4 Slavonian Grebe, large flock of 250 Greylags, amongst them one Pinkfoot ( which I couldn't find) Teal, Wigeon and Red breasted Mergansers in good numbers. Alan
12th Beach: Another good one today. at Beach 1 Chiffchaff.  Bryan Rains 
11th Killiechronan: a single Pinkfoot goose amongst Greylag flock in fields. Arthur Brown
10th Beach:  6 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush, 1 juv Ring Ouzel. Carsaig:  18 Twite. Pennyghael:  8 Redwing, Crossbill heard but not seen
9th Fidden:  3 Barnacle Goose, 1 fem Hen Harrier. Uisken:  1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Merlin. Suidhe:  2 Whooper Swan. Kilfinichen:  1 RT Diver.
8th Loch Scridain 1 RT Diver, 1 sum pl GN Diver.
7th Loch Beg:  1 male Hen Harrier      Bryan Rains
7th  Fionnphort – 3 Redwings on wires by road between Aridhglas & Ardfenaig - Carol Marshall
6th Aros:  small family of 4 Whooper Swan in the estuary (am) and seven more birds in the afternoon. (all too briefly). Alan
4th Loch Scridain: A few sightings from today - Loch Scridain 33 Scaup (at least 7 drakes), 2GN Diver. Loch Beg 1 Slavonian Grebe, 15 Teal. Bryan Rains 
3rd Loch Pottie:  17 Tufted, 1 male Scaup, possible second, no sign of the two female/juvenile possibles seen a few days ago, I Little Grebe. Mike Wagemakers  2nd  Fidden - 5 Barnacle, 5 Pale Bellied Brent. Loch Pottie – 2 male Scaup amongst Tufted Carol Marshall.
1st Oct Loch Beg 40 Golden Plover, 1 Snipe, 5 Greenshank, 2 Little Grebe. Fidden 2 Hen Harrier (1 male, 1 female), 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Grey Wagtail. Loch Pottie 3 Scaup (2 adult male, 1 juv).  Bryan Rains
1st: Loch Pottie: Carol went out today and the Gadwall are still there.  The two odd tufted certainly look as if they have a lot of Scaup in them, not able to see them close enough to be sure. Mike Wagemakers-Carol Marshal
30th Sept Ardness 1 male Merlin. Fidden 2 Twite, lots of Barnacle Goose flying South, 2 female Hen Harrier. Loch Beg 20 Golden Plover, 10 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank, 8 Dunlin, 2 Knot.