Hallo,I was in Oban, Argyll last month for a few days (worth a visit just to see the black guillemots in the harbour) and I think I saw a pair of roseate terns just off Ganavan Sands. I got a decent, if fleeting, view of them and going by the length of their tail streamers I don't think they could have been anything else. Has anyone familiar with the area also seen them there? Cheers,Craig
Roseate Terns are rare anywhere in Argyll, and would be unsafe to identify based on the apparent length of the tail streamers of birds seen briefly (presumably in flight?). Arctic Terns can also have long tail streamers and would be a more likely species in the area.
It is possible though, and one was reported off Big Scone Island, Machrihanish on 30 June:
http://argyllbirdclub.org/?page_id=599
Blog: http://www.buteowildlife.blogspot.com/
Craig I can only agree with you about the black guillemots in Oban. I was up there all last week and watched these little wonders both morning and night.
Oban sunset, black guillemots pictures to follow late in the week.
Thanks for that, Roy. I did get a reasonable, albeit brief, view of them in flight (with one swooping down to the surface of the sea) and, if I was a bit more clued up on terns, I'd have been able to make a more informed identification, e.g. by checking their bill colour. Whichever species they were I enjoyed the moment just the same. Robert, I'm glad you enjoyed the BGs as much as I did. I already knew that they nested in Oban bay but I didn't expect them to be doing so in the harbour/esplanade wall! They seemed completely unfazed at being so close to people. Looking forward to seeing your photos.