Area covered:
Argyll, including the islands of Coll, Tiree, Mull, Colonsay, Oronsay, Jura, Islay and Gigha (among others), but not Bute. Excludes the area formerly in West Dunbartonshire i.e. Helensburgh and the area between Loch Long and Loch Lomond. Note that Ardnamurchan and Morvern (formerly in Argyll, now in Highland).
Local recorder for the area:
Jim Dickson
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11 Pipers Road, Cairnbaan, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8UF
01546 603967 or mobile 0782 6619561
Assistant recorder:
Malcolm Chattwood
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1 The Stanes, Kilmichael Glassary, Lochgilphead, Argyll, PA31 8QA
01546 603389
Rare bird records:
These should be sent to:
Jim Dickson, as above
Record submission:
Rare birds (i.e. all BBRC, SBRC and ABRC species requiring a description – see list below) should be emailed to Jim Dickson: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All other records of birds in Argyll should be sent to Malcolm Chattwood This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. NB: an automated Excel record input spreadsheet covering all species on the Argyll bird list is available from Malcolm at the same email address.
Alternatively you can submit records to BirdTrack, the online bird recording system, operated by the BTO, the RSPB, Birdwatch Ireland and the SOC. All you need to do to get started is sign up as a BirdTrack user and register the sites where you watch birds. Your records will automatically be made available for the production of the Argyll Bird Report (provided you permit the local recorder to access them), for wider bird conservation issues and to track migration and distribution patterns.
Advice on what to record is available on the Argyll Bird Club website under ‘Bird Recording’.
Argyll Bird Report
Editor:
Jim Dickson
Published by:
Argyll Bird Club
Latest issue:
2020 (digital only)
Cost:
The 2020 report is free to download from the Argyll Bird Club and available here.
First published:
The first report, covering the years 1980-83, was published in 1984
Back issues:
Some past years' copies are still available. Please contact Peter Hogbin This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for up to date details.
Vols.14- till present are available as downloadable PDFs on the Argyll Bird Club’s website.
Islay Bird and Natural History Report and The Machrihanish Seabird Observatory annual report:
No recent editions have been published for Islay. Monthly and annual reports for the Machrihanish Seabird and Wildlife Observatory are available on the Observatory's website.
Argyll Bird Club Website
The Argyll Bird Club website gives comprehensive information on club activities, recent bird sightings, what birds to record, publications and where to watch birds in Argyll.
Argyll Bird Records Committee
Members:
Andy Robinson, Dr John Bowler, Dr Stuart Crutchfield, Jim Dickson (Secretary), David Jardine and Dr Malcolm Ogilvie.
Species that the committee considers:
Species considered by the ABRC, SBRC (# – from Jan 2015) and BBRC (β – as at Jan 2015).
NB some of these species are not yet on the Argyll list. Descriptions are required for all species not yet on the Argyll Bird List – see the Argyll Bird Club website under ‘Bird Recording’.
Bewick’s Swan
Bean Goose
European White-fronted Goose (race albifrons)
Lesser White-fronted Goose β
Lesser Canada Goose β
Red-breasted Goose β
Egyptian Goose#
Ruddy Shelduck β
Wood Duck β
American Wigeon
Green-winged Teal
Garganey (lone females/juveniles)
Blue-winged Teal β
Red-crested Pochard
Ring-necked Duck
Ferruginous Duck#
Lesser Scaup#
King Eider β
Harlequin Duck β
Surf Scoter (except adult males)
Smew
Ruddy Duck
White-billed Diver#
Black-browed Albatross β
Cory’s Shearwater#
Great Shearwater#
Balearic Shearwater
Macronesian Shearwater β
Wilson’s Storm-petrel#
White-faced Storm-petrel β
Ascension Frigatebird β
Eurasian Bittern (Bittern)
American Bittern β
Night-heron#
Cattle Egret#
Little Egret
Snowy Egret β
Great White Egret
Purple Heron#
White Stork
Glossy Ibis β
Eurasian Spoonbill (Spoonbill)
Pied-billed Grebe β
Red-necked Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Honey-buzzard
Black Kite#
Montagu’s Harrier#
Pallid Harrier β
Goshawk
Rough-legged Buzzard
Red-footed Falcon#
Hobby
Gyr Falcon β
Spotted Crake
Sora β
Little Crake β
Common Crane
Avocet
Stone Curlew#
Little Ringed Plover
Killdeer β
Kentish Plover#
American Golden Plover
Pacific Golden Plover β
Semipalmated Sandpiper β
Temminck’s Stint
White-rumped Sandpiper#
Baird’s Sandpiper β
Pectoral Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper β
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Great Snipe β
Long-billed Dowitcher β
Spotted Sandpiper β
Spotted Redshank
Greater Yellowlegs β
Lesser Yellowlegs β
Red-necked Phalarope (away from traditional breeding areas)
Long-tailed Skua (except adult)
Ivory Gull β
Sabine’s Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull β
Ross’s Gull β
Laughing Gull β
Ring-billed Gull
Yellow-legged Gull#
American Herring Gull β
Bridled Tern β
Gull-billed Gull β
Caspian Tern β
Whiskered Tern β
Black Tern
White-winged Black Tern#
Forster’s Tern#
Roseate Tern
Brunnich’s Guillemot β
Pallas’s Sandgrouse β
Black-billed Cuckoo β
Yellow-billed Cuckoo β
Eurasian Scops Owl β
Snowy Owl β
Little Owl
Nightjar
Alpine Swift#
European Bee-eater
European Roller β
Wryneck
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker#
Red-eyed Vireo β
Brown Shrike β
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike β
Great Grey Shrike
Woodchat Shrike#
Firecrest
Crested Tit
Willow Tit
Marsh Tit
Bearded Tit
Short-toed Lark#
Wood Lark#
Shore Lark
Red-rumped Swallow#
Cetti’s Warbler#
Long-tailed Tit (northern race Aegithalos caudatus caudatus) β
Greenish Warbler#
Pallas’s Leaf Warbler
Yellow-browed Warbler
Radde’s Warbler#
Dusky Warbler#
Western Bonelli’s Warbler β
Barred Warbler
Lesser Whitethroat*
Dartford Warbler#
Subalpine Warbler#
Booted Warbler β
Icterine Warbler
Melodious Warbler#
Aquatic Warbler#
Blyth’s Reed Warbler#
Marsh Warbler#
Reed Warbler
Rose-coloured Starling
Common Nightingale
Bluethroat
Red-breasted Flycatcher
Collared Flycatcher β
Blue Rock Thrush β
Tree Sparrow
Yellow Wagtail (all races)
Citrine Wagtail#
Richard’s Pipit
Tawny Pipit β
Red-throated Pipit β
Olive-backed Pipit#
Rock Pipit (race littoralis)
Water Pipit#
Buff-bellied Pipit β
European Serin#
Mealy (Common) Redpoll (all races)
Arctic Redpoll #
Scottish Crossbill#
Parrot Crossbill#
Common Rosefinch
Hawfinch
Cirl Bunting#
Ortolan Bunting#
Rustic Bunting β
Little Bunting#
Yellow-breasted Bunting β
Red-headed Bunting β
Black-headed Bunting β
Corn Bunting
Brown-headed Cowbird β
American Redstart β
Northern Parula β
* Descriptions of Lesser Whitethroat are required for all records apart from those on Coll and Tiree during Aug-Oct inclusive.
Useful links:
- Visit the Highland branch page
- Find out more about BirdTrack
- Where to birdwatch in Scotland
- Recording area home page
