We had some fairly low counts last week (perhaps due to the weather) but we've still managed to see a nice variety of species. We'll start off with a record from Soleburn: a Little Egret. These don't visit Loch Ryan as often as Luce Bay but we normally see one at Soleburn every year. Not to be outdone, we had another 'little' species last week, this time at the Wig itself: a Little Auk. Unlike Little Egrets, these are tiny and so can be easy to miss if they aren't close in to shore. Fortunately, Little Auks seem fond of fishing in shallower water and this bird was no exception. Unfortunately, the Little Auk was then scared off by a dog. Another bird (perhaps the same one) was spotted later in the week - this one was more wary and was seen flying past at a distance. Little Auks are not annual species for us, so it was especially nice to see.
Our other auk species of last week - the Black Guillemot - saw a highest day-count of 8 individuals. Joining these auks out on the loch were a Black-throated Diver, a Great Crested Grebe and the Pacific Diver put in another appearance. It was a good week for Velvet Scoter sightings: one bird was seen at the beginning of the week, then a male and finally two males. For some of our other diving species, we had highest day-counts of 3 Cormorants, 10 Shags, 17 Red-breasted Mergansers, 18 Goldeneyes, 10 Long-tailed Ducks and 23 Slavonian Grebes.
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| A winter-plumaged Grey Plover. |
Moving on to our wader species, these were not limited to the Wig shore last week. A Snipe was heard calling over our house at night (makes a change from geese!). We were also delighted to see a female Ruff feeding in the Twite Fields - for we do not get regular winter records of this species. Our more frequently seen species were showing well, with highest day-counts of 362 Oystercatchers, 11 Redshanks, 5 Grey Plovers, a Knot and 20 Ringed Plovers. Appearing back on our bog after a few months absence, on New Year's Day a Sanderling was seen running along the Scar. We had some good counts on the Scar last week. On different days, we counted 11 Shelduck, over 200 Curlew, 130 Common Gulls and approximately 200 Black-headed Gulls.
The number of gulls was once again highest at Loch Connell, with over 280 Common Gulls being counted in the abuttal fields. Also in these fields were 36 Lapwings and 174 Greylag Geese. On Loch Connell itself, there were 3 Whooper Swans, 17 Goosanders (10 of which were 'redheads'), 15 Mallards, 243 Wigeon and 122 Teal.
Likely to be different birds, we also counted 35 Teal at the marsh. The Greylag Geese that we hear calling at night, however, could well be the same as those at Loch Connell (for it is in this direction that the calls come from). Although we see them less often during the day, we also hear Pink-footed Geese at night as they roost either on the Scar or the Pool Fields. Our other regular goose species - the Pale-bellied Brent Goose - sees some change in individuals in the flock (or perhaps even the whole flock). With a highest day-count of 251, last week also saw a colour-ringed individual and a Dark-bellied Brent amidst the flock.
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| A Raven (left) and a Carrion Crow. |
The Brent Geese can regularly be found grazing in the fields and will frequently argue with one another - other species have the sense to keep their distance! We saw c20 Twite above the fields last week and one day saw 54 Woodpigeons (in 2 flocks of 40 and 14). Other small birds reside at the shore, the marsh or the woods. We saw highest day-counts of 4 Skylarks and 6 Rock Pipits last week. We also had record of a pair of Reed Buntings, 1 Meadow Pipit and, always lovely to see, a Bullfinch.
Into the woods, we saw 6 Siskins, our regular pair of Ravens and 3 Buzzards. A Pheasant made itself known by calling loudly and calls also helped us to locate some of our other species. We saw and heard 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Nuthatch and then saw the same numbers again another day (perhaps the same birds?).
It only goes to show that you need to keep both your eyes and ears peeled when you are out and about.
[All photograph are taken by and belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them.]
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