Machrihanish Seabird Observatory / November Report 2017 / compiled by Eddie Maguire
Machrihanish Seabird Observatory (MSBO)
SW Kintyre - Argyll
Established 1993
November Report 2017
Compiled by Eddie Maguire (Warden)
Photo of the Month...
2CY Iceland Gull at The Laggan 16th November
Daily observations ceased at the Observatory on 10th although many casual observations there later and at The Laggan, and elsewhere, produced some very interesting records for this early winter period.
Late migrants included a Common Redstart at Campbeltown on 6th and a Barn Swallow at Bellochantuy on 8th.
At Strath Farm on 19th, 1,955 geese were present in two fields including 1,040 Greenland White-fronted, 690 Greylag, 214 Canada and 11 Pinkfeet. One of the Greylags was wearing an orange neck-collar marked B|PJ; this bird was collared in Ireland and full details are pending.
Whooper Swan numbers at Strath Farm, The Laggan varied throughout the month from 100 to 200+. Normally they would move on to the south fairly quickly but they are feasting on barley in two very large fields that were flooded earlier in the season and could not be harvested.
Neck-collared Greylag at Strath Farm, The Laggan 19th November
List of Selected Species for November
Whooper Swan
Three in-off-sea on 2nd. Seven in-off-sea on 10th.
Strath Farm (The Laggan): 106 on 2nd, 122 on 6th - 7th, 162 on 8th with an increase to 217 on 12th. 100+ still present 16th – 26th. No birds could be found on 28th and a single adult was there on 29th.then12 on 30th.
Adult Whooper Swans at Strath Farm (The Laggan) 11th November
Pink-footed Goose
Strath Farm (The Laggan): 7 on 3rd. 2 on 12th. 11 on 19th. 5 on 26th.
Some of the Pink-footed Geese with other geese at The Laggan 19th November
Greylag Goose
Strath Farm (The Laggan): 100+ on 12th. 690 on 19th included a bird with an orange neck collar with black letters B|PJ; this bird was ‘collared’ in Ireland (Bob Swann pers. comm.).
Details pending.
Greenland White-fronted Goose
Strath Farm (The Laggan): 478 on 3rd, 577 on 12th, 1,040 on 19th.
Adult Greenland White-fronted Geese at The Laggan 19th November
Canada Goose
Strath Farm: max count was 214 on 19th.
Common Shelduck
Strath Farm: 2 were present 17th - 19th then 4 there on 24th and 8 on 25th.
Northern Pintail
Strath Farm; one on 24th.
Northern Pintail and Eurasian Teal at Strath Farm 24th November
Eurasian Wigeon
Strath Farm: 142 on 16th, 30 on 23rd and 10 on 24th.
Eurasian Teal
Strath Farm: 6 on 24th.
Great Cormorant
Although regular inland on freshwater lochs and reservoirs 3 juveniles at a flood pool on grassland at Strath Farm 23rd and 26th was most unusual.
Hen Harrier
Southend; a fem/imm at Carrine, Glen Breackarie on 24th (Brian and John Morton pers. comm.).
A male was at Aros Moss by Campbeltown Airport on 29th.
Hen Harrier Aros Moss 29th November
Hen Harrier Aros Moss 29th November
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
One on 3rd.
Strath Farm (The Laggan): one on 12th. Aros Moss; one on 29th.
Common Kestrel
One >N over Stewarton on 11th.
Merlin
One at Strath farm on 10th.
Ringed Plover
Thirty on 2nd - 3rd and 50+ >S on 7th.
Golden Plover
Flock 40 >S on 3rd. 5 >S on 7th.
Strath Farm (The Laggan): ca. 800 on 12th.
Northern Lapwing
Westport Marsh; 40 on 5th.
Strath Farm (The Laggan); 2 on 19th.
Sanderling
10 on 2nd. 50+ >S on 3rd. 36 on the shore on 6th. Flock 70 >S on 7th. 20 on 13th.
Red Knot
One on 9th.
Purple Sandpiper
Eight >S on 1st. Five flocks totalling 42 >S on 5th. 3 >S on 6th. 10 >S on 8th.
Early November passage has been noted at MSBO for many years.
Purple Sandpiper 5th November
Great Skua
One >S on 9th.
Iceland Gull
The regular 2CY was present on 2nd, 9th, 12th and 24th.
The Laggan farmlands: the other 2CY was regular by Strath Farm 2nd – 26th.
Iceland Gull at Strath Farm 28th November
Barn Swallow
A late adult was at Bellochantuy on 8th November (Davie Robertson pers. comm.).
Sky Lark
Strath Farm: 80+ on 16th.
Redwing
Strath Farm (The Laggan): 40 on 12th.
Common Redstart
Campbeltown: a late migrant fem/imm was foraging in a tree at Benmore, Saddell Street on 6th (Derrick Goode pers. comm.).
Birds of Argyll states... “Most seem to have left by the end of August, although there are a few October records, and the latest...was at Barr Glen, Kintyre on 1st November 1980 ” (ap Rheinallt et al 2007).
Yellowhammer
Campbeltown: 4 in garden on 5th (Esther / Graham Thompson pers. comm.).
Southend: one in garden on 5th (Roy / Susie Bennett pers comm.).
Note that these birds arrived at usual, but widely separated wintering sites, simultaneously.
Late news...
Yellow-browed Warbler
Mull of Kintyre: one was at Balnamoil, near the Lighthouse on 18th October (Chris Brown / per Jim Dickson).
Vagrant / extremely rare autumn passage visitor to Kintyre (now two records involving 3 birds) but an increasing autumn visitor to Argyll.
More November Photos
Juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake 10th November
Whooper Swan at Strath Farm 9th November
Adult European Shag 25th November
Stonechat at Strath Farm 12th November