30/04/2023
- Basking Shark (from ferry off Glen Gorm on Mull)
29/04/2023
- Canada Goose (a pair)
- Shelduck (x4)
- Eider (x4 pairs in Loch Eatharna)
- Red-breasted Merganser (x7)
- Golden Plover (x10)
- Common Sandpiper
- Snipe (drumming at several locations across the island)
- Common Tern (x1 – the first of the year)
- Corncrake (just the one rasping male)
- Common Dolphin (x8 – a small pod off the Meall)
- Green-veined White (the first of the year)
28/04/2023
- Red-throated Diver (x2 overhead barking gently)
- Golden Plover (a passage flock of 165 birds)
- Black-headed Gull (x3 an uncommong visitor in the summer months)
- Corncrake (our first of the year in a surprising woodland setting)
26/04/2023
- Whooper Swan (the single bird still hanging around…)
- Little Grebe (still x2 pairs on our local loch)
- Golden Plover (a large flock of x40 still around early am but left during the day)
- Common Sandpiper (reported on the shores of Loch Eatharna)
- Hen Harrier (a pair sky-dancing)
- White-tailed Eagle (x2 different individuals)
- Corncrakes (notable for their continued scarcity after a couple of single reports earlier in the week)
- Cuckoo (x3 different individuals)
- Dunnock (nice to see three different birds in territory around the island today. Not a common bird here)
- Marsh Violet in flower
- Spring Quillwort (a rarity in some of our low-nutrient lochs)
25/04/2023
- Whooper Swan (an individual bird still hanging around somewhat belatedly. Will surely be off soon?)
- Little Grebe (two pairs still looking to breed on our local loch)
- Canada Goose (regular sightings of these recent incomers continue with flocks of 7 and 2 (can you have a flock of 2??))
- Golden Plover (a cracking flock of 40 summer plumage birds on local farm fields)
- Hen Harrier (x5 birds seen while helping RSPB with monitoring work. Great to see some sky-dancing action!)
- White-tailed Eagle (x2 birds at opposite ends of the island)
- Golden Eagle (at last we have caught up with the bird which has been around for a few weeks)
- Great Skua (only our second of the year)
- Greenland Wheatears (a nice fall of these chubby and colourful delights today)
- Greenfinch (an unusual observation of a singing bird on moorland)
24/04/2023
- Great Northern Diver (just the one visible in rough seas)
- Sanderling (x22)
- Whimbrel (x6 from the hotel restaurant window)
- Golden Plover (x67 – a large flock of passage birds)
- Hen Harrier (a gorgeous male bird at close quarters alarming the Starlings)
- Great Skua (at last! Our first of the year…)
23/04/2023
- Little Grebe (still two pairs on the local loch)
- Canada Goose (a pair over the village)
- Teal (3 pairs on our local loch)
- Sparrowhawk (a female hunting among the Starlings)
- Wheatears (quite a fall of up to 12 birds – some of the Greenland race among them)
- Early Tooth-striped moth
21/04/2023
- Little Grebe (numbers on our wee loch have increased to four – lots of calling. Not a common bird here by any means)
- Moorhen (also four individuals)
- Cuckoo (our first of the year)
20/04/2023
- Great Northern Diver (x3 + 2)
- Canada Goose (x2)
- Eider (1 male, 2 females)
- Ringed Plover (x15)
- Whimbrel (x3 first passage birds of the year)
- Bar-tailed Godwit (a stunning breeding plumage bird on the beach)
- Golden Plover (a flock of 30 in roadside fields)
- Hen Harrier (a male hunting over the beach)
- Black-headed Gull (a pair)
- Sand Martins (prospecting in dune fronts)
- White Wagtails (c12 on beach)
- Twite (a pair plus a separate singing male)
- Common Seal
- Grey Seal
19/04/2023
- Little Grebe (a pair new in on our local loch)
- Whooper Swan (a single bird still on our local loch)
- Pink-footed Goose (x3 passage birds in a roadside field – unusual to see them on the ground here. Reports also of a huge flock of c500 passing over earlier)
- Shelduck (a pair)
- Eider (a pair)
- Red-breasted Mergansers (x3)
- Hen Harrier (male)
- Kestrel
- Sparrowhawk (a female hunting among the Starlings)
- Sand Martin (first of the year)
- Wood Pigeon (an uncommon visitor)
- (Cuckoo reported – first of the year)
- Blackcap (singing male)
- Twite
- Common Heath moth (an early emergent in the warm sunshine, usually not seen until late May/June)
18/04/2023
(apologies for the gap – we’ve been away)
- Whooper Swan (a single bird on our local loch)
- Puffin (a single bird from the ferry)
- Golden Plover (x2 passage birds in full song over the cottage – our first of the year. Glorious!)
- White-tailed Eagle (x2 adults over Morvern from ferry)
- Golden Eagle (x2 over Morvern from ferry)
- Willow Warbler (first of the year)
- (reports from yesterday of an adult male Golden Oriole seen in the village!!)
02/04/2023
- Manx Shearwater (a steady passage watched from the Oban ferry)
- Red-throated Diver (heading west towards Coll)
- Lesser Redpoll (singing in the village)
- Barrel Jellyfish (several seen from the ferry today)