Never a dull moment - June Bird Report

Within the birding community the value of any month is often judged by the number of species likely to be seen and the ‘rarity’ of at least some of those; hence, June is often considered a ‘quiet’ time. I much prefer to enjoy every moment that nature sends, whether it be commonplace or otherwise. The present June scored on every level, as I shall now divulge.

Throughout the month Loch Connell served as a residency for a lone Pink-footed Goose – presumably a bird ‘pricked’ by shot from a hunter’s gun and unable to make the return journey home to Iceland with its brethren. At the same site eight pairs of feral Greylag Geese raised 43 juveniles between them. On the 20th a female Shelduck was observed there with five moderately sized ducklings. No other ducklings of this species were encountered at the Wig this year – yet another sad first and undoubtedly attributable to the increased number of people using the area as a consequence of Covid regulations and its encouragement of daily exercise.

Mute Swan numbers on Loch Ryan steadily built up, with 22 adults present at Leffnoll on the 28th. On the freshwater of Loch Connell several broods of Mallards were seen throughout the month, with ducklings ranging from very recently hatched right the way through to fully fledged juveniles. Here, also, was a drake Wigeon (in eclipse plumage) on the 6th and a pair of Teal (the male also in eclipse) on the 27th. Presumably the same two drake Velvet Scoters, that were present last month on Loch Ryan, remained up to at least the 28th; on many occasions they were seen very close inshore at the Wig, where they were frequently found in the company of a moulting flock of male Red-breasted Mergansers. The latter species peaked at 58 birds on the 21st, when there were also four female Common Scoters in the same vicinity.  Let us not forget the common Eiders. Sure, they are well enough known birds to regular visitors in the area, but June is typically witness to a dramatic transformation in the males’ appearance. It starts slowly with just a few birds showing more signs of black in their plumage than usual; then as the month progresses the change gathers momentum until the number of blackish-looking birds outnumbers those with white on their feathers. Come the months end there are even a handful of birds that appear from a distance almost totally black and, thus, easily confused with any Velvet Scoters. Such is the succession to eclipse plumage of drake Eiders, with no two birds ever looking quite the same under close scrutiny. As for female Eiders there are very few on the loch at this time: perhaps a handful or so, and usually with ducklings in attendance. The youngsters are bite-sized ‘ready meals’ for resident Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls. Needless to say that few Eider ducklings on Loch Ryan ever reach adulthood.

Some of the many eclipsed Eider variations

A singleton Great Crested Grebe, in breeding plumage, was the only representative for divers and grebes present on the sea loch this month; sightings of it were, however, sporadic.

A Fulmar seen flying past the Scar on the 3rd was the only record for this species, too.  Similarly, there was just one observation of Manx Shearwaters, involving three birds which also flew past the Scar, but on the 19th. More exceptional was a Storm Petrel heard calling under the cover of darkness on the evening of the 7th.

After last month’s relatively big numbers of Gannets there were fewer noted in June; a high of 51 about Loch Ryan on the 11th did include a brownish second year and a slightly whiter immature. Up until this date all of the previous Gannets seen here this year have been adults.

Water Rails can be noisy birds, especially when they occur at high densities; but locally there are very few of them and are thus unrecorded more often than not. To bag one, so to speak, on the 17th was therefore very welcome indeed.

In this neck of the woods it is not surprising for there to be few waders about in June: just eight Ringed Plovers at the Scar on the 10th, some 30 Curlews on the 22nd and 83 Oystercatchers there on the 26th. Common Sandpipers, which are annual but rare breeders on the local patch, were notably absent (the effects of Covid regulations once again making its impact felt?). Several Whimbrel at Piltanton, during a Webs Count on the 14th, and four Lapwings at Loch Connell on the 20th were at least some compensation for the lack of numbers and variety of waders elsewhere.

Common Gulls were observed more frequently than expected. The first returning bird was seen on the 9th, thereafter birds trickled through with 11 on the 26th, increasing to 20 on the 30th. A pleasant surprise was an adult Glaucous Gull visiting the Scar on the evening of the 20th but, alas, it was not seen again. Sandwich Terns were regular in small numbers throughout the month, building up to 30 birds on the 26th. In contrast, sightings of Arctic Terns were restricted to just two birds on the 18th; likewise, only two Common Terns on the following day, the 19th. Sadly the great expectations for Roseate Terns from last month, was curtailed in early June. It is possible only to presume that any nesting attempt failed; a single adult was noted on the 6th and none thereafter. On a brighter note a dark phase Arctic Skua about the Wig on the 14th was an unseasonable gift.

Field Sketch of a Glaucous Gull - they really are quite large! 

With the exception of the resident Black Guillemots – which are not always easy to detect away from their breeding stations - other auk species are rare at this time of year, despite their abundance on the cliffs of nearby Ailsa Craig. Five Razorbills on the 1st was the only record.

Swifts are scarce visitors to Kirkcolm, with only three or four records per annum. Two on the 20th, preceding a rain shower, was thus a meritorious occasion. The day before, however, was both unprecedented and monumental, with a different kind of swift hawking at high speed over the garden at lunchtime. It was a Plain Swift, a species ordinarily found in Madeira and the Canary Islands.  If accepted by the British Birds Rarity Committee it will constitute a first record for Britain, so I am informed. But I do not hold out much hope on this front because I was the sole observer and failed dismally in obtaining any photographic evidence to support the claim….a nice bird, anyway! Rather more common – and less daunting to identify because of this! – are Barn Swallows and House Martins. There are few breeding pairs of both about the main cluster of properties that form the heart of the village of Kirkcolm. A flock of 24 House Martins on the 26th was possibly an indication of early autumn passage rather than an assembly of locals gathering to feast.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers are rarely commented upon in the Blog, so I will share with you what I consider to be an interesting observation. Juveniles of the species frequently draw attention to themselves with their harsh cries for food; consequently they have been conspicuous of late about the Corsewall estate. One parent bird, in particular, whilst busy supplying it’s young with food, has taken to foraging out in the open and hopping over lawned areas in a manner I more typically associate with Green Woodpeckers. I have often seen it digging holes in the ground with its bill to extract some juicy morsel, repeatedly working a patch over before moving on a few yards to try its luck.

Despite June being a fairly quiet time for bird song I have met with snatches of flutey – and not so flutey – notes from Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats and Willow Warblers on my walks.  A series of unexpected ‘ticking’ calls led me to the discovery of two pairs of Grasshopper Warblers, separated only by a matter of yards. One pair attended two juveniles and the other had a nest containing three young. This was an exceptional and happy accident to befall me and one which I know will be warmly retained in my memory for a long time to come.

The exciting find of a stunning, adult, Rose-coloured Starling on the 6th was only briefly to be appreciated. Within seconds of seeing it in my garden it promptly flew away. Perhaps it was the same bird that later that day turned up in a Stranraer garden.

Rose-coloured Starlings are easily etched into the memory

Siskins continued to be present throughout the month, with a number of breeding pairs and juveniles noted. Far more numerous were Linnets, with a post-breeding flock of some 100 birds seen about the ‘Twite fields’ on the 25th. In contrast, Reed Buntings in the vicinity of the Wig remained secretive, or at least went mostly undetected.

July should see an increase in the numbers of waders on passage, but whether this will be so remains to be seen. Such promise of the unknown also promotes fancy in the minds of humankind, and I for one look forward to it with keen expectation and anticipation.

This article and the information within were provided by courtesy of S. Grover