Machrihanish Seabird Observatory (MSBO)
July Records 2014
Compiled by Eddie Maguire (warden)
Assistant warden Iomhar McMillan
Occasional warden Mark (Gooch) MacLellan
MSBO Photo of the month...
Linnet (male)
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Unless stated photos in this report are by the warden.
Structural improvements at MSBO...
Argyll and Bute Council Employability replaced all external weatherboard sections on
the NE / SE sections of the original hide including a new door. In addition, a very
sturdy roof was built over the viewing platform and includes a NW hatch to provide
protection from onshore weather conditions: this will prove to be an excellent
additional shelter in a gale, particularly when squalls arrive from the W / NW and for
visitors comfort when MSBO is closed.
Several coats of oil-based teak preservative have been applied to the entire facility.
All work is now concluded and MSBO is shipshape just in time for the start of the
autumn migration period.
The vastly improved viewing platform
New access road...
Stirling University upgraded access to Uisaed Point from the main road all the way to
the Marine Laboratory – a major improvement to a beautiful area of SW Kintyre.
Summary of the month at MSBO...
A fly-by summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper was a pleasant surprise and a rare
July record. It was discovered on camera amongst a flock of some 40 Dunlin that
were photographed on passage off MSBO.
Three female-type Goldeneye photographed flying S were also a big surprise: they
were more than likely juveniles (looked fresh). In view of the date it is possible that
they originated from Scottish breeding populations (Highland or Speyside?).
The saga of the Magpies nesting in Campbeltown ended with news that the birds
had failed, probably at the nestling stage. This is the first breeding attempt by this
species in Argyll outwith the core area of Dunoon.
Seabirds: apart from Gannets, there were no significant movements of any other
species.
Selected Species List
Greylag Goose
Two >S on 24th. One >W over Campbeltown at 19:40hrs on 28th.
Greylag Goose
Common Scoter
Flock 8 >S on 12th. One >S on 29th.
Goldeneye
Three fresh-plumaged female-types (probably juveniles) were photographed >S
together on 2nd.
An unprecedented summer record.
Great Northern Diver
One (partial breeding plumage) was photographed >S on 19th.
Osprey
One Campbeltown Loch on 20th (John Cowan / per Jim Dickson).
Peregrine
A juvenile was photographed on several dates hunting around the point.
B/2 fledged at a traditional site c. 3km SW of MSBO (Kenny Graham pers. comm.).
Peregrine (juvenile)
Oystercatcher
Small numbers on passage S from 12th. Best counts were fifty (two flocks) on 16th,
forty (three flocks) on 29th and ninety (four flocks) on 31st.
Golden Plover
Flock 30 >N on 27th.
Ringed Plover
Light passage S daily from 14th with max count 30 on 15th.
Ringed Plover (juvenile)
Sanderling
The first returning birds (2) >S on 15th. Three arrived on 16th. One on 17th. C. 20 >S
on 22nd. Twelve >S on 23rd. Twenty >S on 29th.
Dunlin
Southerly passage included 10 on 16th, 25 on 18th, 80 on 19th, 40 on 22nd, 110 on
23rd and 40 on 27th.
The commonest wader during the last two weeks of the month.
Dunlin (adult)
Curlew Sandpiper
An adult was photographed >S with Dunlins on 22nd.
An unusual early autumn record.
Black-tailed Godwit
The first returning bird was photographed coming in off the sea then >E into
Machrihanish Bay on 20th.
Bar-tailed Godwit
One >S on 8th.
Greenshank
The first returning bird (a fresh juvenile) was very frequent around the point 15th-21st.
Greenshank – Iomhar McMillan
Common Sandpiper
Passage >S from 2nd with best counts being 9 / 3hrs on 8th and 16 / 5hrs on 10th.
A total of 30+ on the shore MSBO > village on 12th.
The commonest wader during the first two weeks of the month.
Common Sandpiper
Redshank
Small numbers on the shore all month. Flock 20 > on 16th was first evidence of early
autumn passage. Three flocks totalling 55 birds >S on 22nd. Flock 25 >S on 27th.
Whimbrel
One was photographed resting on the point on 22nd: the bird flew S later.
One flew S (calling) on 31st.
Turnstone
The first returning adult was on the point on 22nd. Daily thereafter with max counts
five >S on 23rd and 12 on 27th.
Black-headed Gull
The first juvenile >S on 1st.
Common Gull
The first juvenile >S on 13th.
Herring Gull
Campbeltown: B/2 (well-grown) on roof of dwelling house at Albyn Avenue on 10th.
A fledgling, incapable of sustained flight, was on the ground by the Royal Hotel on
20th.
There is no mention of roof nesting by this species in Birds of Argyll (ap Rheinallt et
al 2007). However, Herring Gulls have been nesting on rooftops in Campbeltown for
20+ years (Eddie Maguire / Davie Robertson / Duncan McGeachie / Rod Angus / the
late John McGlynn – unpublished information).
Sandwich Tern
A first-summer was photographed on 5th and was present to 18th.
A sharp increase in numbers was apparent on 6th when c. 40 foraging around the
point with Northern Gannets.
The first juvenile arrived on the shore on 20th.
Almost certainly the juvenile originated from a colony in nearby N Ireland.
Sandwich Tern (adult)
Common Tern
At least 2 birds present at Big Scone Island colony, off Machrihanish village.
An adult and a juvenile >S on 27th.
The colony appeared deserted on 30th.
Arctic Tern
C. 30 birds present at Big Scone Island colony, off Machrihanish village.
Two first-summer there on 3rd.
Swift
Campbeltown: pre-dusk gatherings over Burnside Square included flock 22 on 1st, c.
40+ on 6th and c. 85 on 18th.
Two flew in off sea at MSBO on 2nd. Six >N over the sea on 19th.
Black-billed Magpie (FAO Paul Daw).
The pair reported nesting at Ralston Rd, Campbeltown failed, apparently at the
nestling stage.
Comment: Hooded Crows were noted harassing the birds many times when visiting
the nest regularly with food (Gordon Allan pers. comm.).
This inter-action appears the likely cause of a failed first known breeding attempt of
this species anywhere in Argyll outwith the Dunoon area (Paul Daw pers. comm.).
Linnet
Jackdaw
Two flocks totalling 340 birds were by Kilkivan Quarry on 14th.
This Machrihanish quarry holds the largest breeding colony in Kintyre (100+ pairs).
Other historical cliff colonies in S Kintyre with good breeding numbers include
Muasdale and Kiel Point (Eddie Maguire / Rod Angus et al – unpublished
information).
In Birds of Argyll (ap Rheinallt et al 2007), the account on this species makes no
mention of these colonies and no assessment re the status of the Jackdaw
anywhere on mainland Kintyre although all these colonies were going strong long
before the Argyll publication went to print.
Linnet
Seven birds were regular at the feeding station