BLAST FROM THE PAST

The Gull-billed Tern at Crossapol, Tiree in September 2008

Chris Turner

Jim Dickson

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF AUTUMN 2008 ON TIREE

Red-eyed Vireo by Jim Dickson

Probably the most exciting find was a Red-eyed Vireo in a garden at Caoles (9th Oct). Other rare visitors from North America, included some 3-4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at Middleton, Loch a’ Phuill, Vaul and Ruaig (1 Sep-5 Oct), a record 4 different American Golden Plovers at Greenhill, Balevullin, Sandaig and Loch a’ Phuill (5 Sep–8 Oct) and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers at Middleton (5 Oct) and Loch an Eilein (8 Oct). A Pacific Golden Plover at Barrapol (8 Oct) had presumably come from Siberia rather than via North America. A Gull-billed Tern that frequented Crossapol and Sorobaidh Bays (29 Sep-3 Oct) was an extremely unusual autumn record for western Scotland and it is possible that this bird also originated from North America rather than from continental Europe. Rare visitors from Europe included a Red-necked Grebe at Gott Bay (4-7 Sep). A large all-dark bird of prey being mobbed by Buzzards at Carnan Mor (6 Sep) proved to be Tiree’s first ever Honey Buzzard and was part of an invasion noted mostly down the east coast of Britain of these large raptors from Scandinavia. Almost as rare was a long-staying Hobby in the Salum/Vaul area at the start of September.

Scarcer garden birds included Yellow-browed Warblers at Hynish and Balemartine (2-3 Oct), a Pied Flycatcher at Balephuil (17 Sep, following another there on 31 Aug), Spotted Flycatchers at Kilkenneth and Vaul (23 Sep-11 Oct), a Lesser Whitethroat at Balemartine (2-3 Oct), a Whitethroat at Kilkenneth (16 Sep), a Common Redpoll at Balephuil (20 Sep), and big arrivals of commoner species such as Redwings and Fieldfares, plus the first Waxwings of the winter.