April 2023 - Sightings

DateSpeciesNo.CategoryNotes
2023-04-02Manx Shearwater (a steady passage watched from the Oban ferry)birdObserved from the Oban ferry.
2023-04-02Red-throated Diver (heading west towards Coll)birdHeading west towards Coll.
2023-04-02Lesser RedpollbirdSinging in the village.
2023-04-02Barrel JellyfishseveralinvertebrateSeen from the ferry today.
2023-04-18Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)1birdSingle bird on our local loch
2023-04-18Puffin (Fratercula arctica)1birdSingle bird from the ferry
2023-04-18Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)2birdPassage birds in full song over the cottage - our first of the year. Glorious!First of the year
2023-04-18White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)2birdAdults over Morvern from ferry
2023-04-18Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)2birdOver Morvern from ferry
2023-04-18Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)1birdFirst of the yearFirst of the year
2023-04-18Golden Oriole (Icterus aurantirostris)1birdAdult male seen in the village!! (reports from yesterday)Uncommon
2023-04-19Little Grebe (a pair new in on our local loch)bird
2023-04-19Whooper Swan (a single bird still on our local loch)bird
2023-04-19Pink-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)3birdUnusual
2023-04-19Shelduck (a pair)2bird
2023-04-19Eider (a pair)2bird
2023-04-19Red-breasted Merganser (x3)3bird
2023-04-19Hen Harrier (male)1bird
2023-04-19Kestrel1bird
2023-04-19Sparrowhawk (a female hunting among the Starlings)1bird
2023-04-19Sand Martin (first of the year)birdFirst of the year
2023-04-19Wood Pigeon (an uncommon visitor)birdUncommon
2023-04-19Cuckoo (reported - first of the year)birdFirst of the year
2023-04-19Blackcap (singing male)1bird
2023-04-19Twitebird
2023-04-19Common Heath moth (an early emergent in the warm sunshine, usually not seen until late May/June)insectEarly Emergent
2023-04-20Great Northern Diver (Aythya larx)5bird
2023-04-20Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)2bird
2023-04-20Eider (Somateria mollissima)3bird1 male, 2 females
2023-04-20Ringed Plover (Pluvianellus plumbeus)15bird
2023-04-20Whimbrel (Numenius americanus)3birdFirst passage birds of the yearUncommon
2023-04-20Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)1birdStunning breeding plumage bird on the beachUncommon
2023-04-20Golden Plover (Pluvialis aprica)30birdFlock in roadside fields
2023-04-20Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)1birdMale hunting over the beach
2023-04-20Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)2birdPair
2023-04-20Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)birdProspecting in dune fronts
2023-04-20White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)12birdOn beach
2023-04-20Twite (Anthus godartii)3birdPair plus a separate singing male
2023-04-20Common Seal (Phoca vitulina)mammal
2023-04-20Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)mammal
2023-04-21Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis)4birdNumbers on our wee loch have increased to four - lots of calling. Not a common bird here by any means
2023-04-21Moorhen (Fulica atra)4bird
2023-04-21Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)birdOur first of the yearFirst of year
2023-04-23Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis)2birdstill two pairs on the local loch
2023-04-23Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)2birda pair over the village
2023-04-23Teal (Anas crecca)3bird3 pairs on our local loch
2023-04-23Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)1birda female hunting among the Starlings
2023-04-23Wheatear (Aegolius funereus)12birdquite a fall of up to 12 birds - some of the Greenland race among themUncommon
2023-04-23Tooth-striped moth (Acharia leucostigma)mothEarly Tooth-striped mothFirst of year
2023-04-24Great Northern Diver (Aythya larx)birdjust the one visible in rough seas
2023-04-24Sanderling (Calidris alba)22bird
2023-04-24Whimbrel (Numenius americanus)6birdfrom the hotel restaurant window
2023-04-24Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)67birda large flock of passage birds
2023-04-24Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)birda gorgeous male bird at close quarters alarming the Starlings
2023-04-24Great Skua (Stercorarius skutilensis)birdat last! Our first of the year…First of year
2023-04-25Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)birdIndividual bird still hanging around somewhat belatedly. Will surely be off soon?
2023-04-25Little GrebebirdTwo pairs still looking to breed on our local loch
2023-04-25Canada GoosebirdRegular sightings of these recent incomers continue with flocks of 7 and 2 (can you have a flock of 2??)
2023-04-25Golden Plover40birdCracking flock of 40 summer plumage birds on local farm fields
2023-04-25Hen Harrier5birdSeen while helping RSPB with monitoring work. Great to see some sky-dancing action!
2023-04-25White-tailed Eagle2birdBirds at opposite ends of the island
2023-04-25Golden EaglebirdAt last we have caught up with the bird which has been around for a few weeks
2023-04-25Great SkuabirdOnly our second of the year
2023-04-25Greenland WheatearbirdA nice fall of these chubby and colourful delights today
2023-04-25GreenfinchbirdAn unusual observation of a singing bird on moorland
2023-04-26Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus)1birdStill hanging around.
2023-04-26Little Grebe (Podiceps ruficollis)2birdStill x2 pairs on our local loch.
2023-04-26Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)40birdLarge flock of x40 still around early am but left during the day.
2023-04-26Common Sandpiper (Calidris alpina)birdReported on the shores of Loch Eatharna.
2023-04-26Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)2birdPair sky-dancing.
2023-04-26White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)2birdx2 different individuals.
2023-04-26Corncrake (Coturnix minimus)birdNotable for their continued scarcity after a couple of single reports earlier in the week.Scarcity
2023-04-26Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)3birdx3 different individuals.
2023-04-26Dunnock (Anthus tristis)3birdNice to see three different birds in territory around the island today. Not a common bird here.Uncommon
2023-04-26Marsh Violet (Viola palustris)plantIn flower.
2023-04-26Spring Quillwort (Ranunculus peltocarpus)plantA rarity in some of our low-nutrient lochs.Rarity
2023-04-28Red-throated Diver (Oceanodroma ruficollis)2birdOverhead barking gently
2023-04-28Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)165birdA passage flock
2023-04-28Black-headed Gull (Chlidonias niger)3birdAn uncommon visitor in the summer monthsUncommon
2023-04-28Corncrake (Crex crebrosa)birdOur first of the year in a surprising woodland settingFirst of year
2023-04-29Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)2bird
2023-04-29Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)4bird
2023-04-29Eider (Somateria mollissima)8birdin Loch Eatharna
2023-04-29Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus cristatus)7bird
2023-04-29Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)10bird
2023-04-29Common Sandpiper (Calidris alba)bird
2023-04-29Snipe (Scolopax rusticola)birddrumming at several locations across the island
2023-04-29Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)1birdthe first of the yearFirst of the year
2023-04-29Corncrake (Coturnix coturnix)1birdjust the one rasping male
2023-04-29Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)8mammala small pod off the Meall
2023-04-29Green-veined White (Pieris brassicae)insectthe first of the yearFirst of the year
2023-04-30Basking Shark (from ferry off Glen Gorm on Mull)mammalSightings from ferry off Glen Gorm on Mull