Another month has sped by, and with it, the summer days are starting to dwindle. Whilst this will mean more cold and wet days for us, for the birds this is a very exciting time, as they undergo their autumn migration back to their wintering grounds. Many species will winter here in the UK, and even those that are heading for warmer lands in the south will pass through us, so there's the possibility of a lot of exciting records. We didn't have to wait long for something to turn up, as this week we had a bunch of rarities, including two new species for the blog!
Before we get to those, I thought we should have a look at what we've been seeing in our garden this week. We can get a great variety of species, it all depends on the weather (and whether we remember to put some bird food out!). Alongside staples like Jackdaws, Robins, and House Sparrows, this week we saw a Coal Tit, a juvenile Willow Warbler, and a Carrion-Hooded Crow Hybrid. These latter two species are almost genetically identical, meaning that this hybrid bird will also be able to breed. Normally the two prefer the aesthetic of their own species and so don't normally mix, resulting in a distinct separation between the two all across Europe. We still occasionally see the odd hybrid, and this one is practically a garden regular at this point.
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| Our Hybrid Crow obligingly poses on posts regularly |
Down on the Scar we are starting to see the impact of the migration, as many of the species that bred here are now few and far between. This is perhaps most notable in our Terns, of which we only had 6 Sandwich Terns this week. Of Common and Arctic Terns we've seen no sign of for the past few weeks, however in their place we found something very exciting. A single Roseate Tern is a rare visitor for us, and so an exciting occasion. Seeing three in one go however was truly a spectacle, a first for us in our 12 years here. These had most likely come across from Ireland, taking a break before continuing the journey down to Africa. Even if they were no longer in their pink breeding plumage, they were still a fantastic sight to see, and a great species for this blog.
Whilst breeding birds may be disappearing from the Scar, newly arrived waders are quickly making up their numbers. This week their numbers included Black-tailed Godwits, a Redshank, a small flock of Dunlin, and our first returning Common Sandpiper. We'll be keeping a close eye on waders going forwards, as we get large numbers wintering here, which can turn up all sorts of surprise records.
Last week saw a juvenile Peregrine practicing its hunting technique on small birds, well this week it decided to increase the difficulty level. Gannets are not normally a prey option (unless they are exceptionally hungry), after all they are larger than Peregrines. They certainly make for large targets however, and so this young bird was practicing its swoops and dives whilst the Gannets carried on in relative safety.
Moving up to Loch Connell, we've had quite a few unusual records this week. Whilst the water seemed initially bereft of anything beside Mallards, eventually we picked out the small shape of a Little Grebe. Meanwhile, in the surrounding fields a flock of 182 Greylag Geese rested for a while. Amongst them was a very surprising bird and brand new species, a Bar-headed Goose. These natively inhabit much of Asia and are famed for being one of the highest-flying species, crossing the Himalayan Peaks on their migration. Because of this and their striking appearance, they are relocated and bred in captivity. This bird is therefore probably an escapee who then joined up with the first other geese it found. Nonetheless, it is still a very interesting record, and a good example of why you should always check your flocks of geese, you never know what they might turn up!
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| It certainly helps when rarities are this obvious! |
Finally, we have an assorted mix of species from all over the Wig that I couldn't squeeze into their own paragraphs. These include birds out on the loch like a Guillemot and a Red-throated Diver, as well a Whitethroat in the hedgerows, and up in the woods, a Spotted Flycatcher. Mammals have been staying somewhat hidden this week, but we still managed to surprise some Roe Deer, whilst up at Loch Connell a lone Fox was seen running through the fields.
And so with that, another month comes to a close. July marks the end of summer, and though you wouldn't always know it, it's often our quietest season of the year. From here on out the Wig is going to be bustling with activity, and we'll be sure to tell you all about it.
[All photographs were taken by and belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them.]
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