Last of the Summer Birds - August Bird Report

 

This article and images contain within were supplied by the courtesy of S. Grover. 

Numbers of Mute Swans on Loch Ryan were fairly consistent throughout the month with a maximum of 60 on the 30th. In contrast there were just three observations of Shelduck, with three birds noted on the 14th. At Loch Connell there were 105 Mallards on the 8th, when there were also two female type Shovelers present. Teal here rose to 59 birds on the 29th.  Amongst the dabbling ducks and half hidden by them were two Pochards. This species was once a regular visitor to the area but has since become very scarce.  Diving ducks on Loch Ryan were represented by three species. Eiders were present daily, not surprisingly, with healthy counts of 316 on the 7th and over 420 on the 30th. Common Scoters were not observed about the loch until the months end, with one on the 27th, 23 on the 29th and 53 on the 30th. Red-breasted Mergansers were widespread, often appearing in small flocks, but with a notable congregation of 81 at the Wig on the 19th.

Ten Little Grebes were at Loch Connell throughout August whereas their cousins, Great Crested Grebes, were observed in Wig Bay on just two occasions, three on the 1st and four on the 2nd. Great White Egrets are still very much rarities within the the region. One, standing and preening itself on the Scar, where it was partially veiled by mist, was an exciting find on the 6th.  Probably the same bird was present at the Wig on the 10th and again on the 17th. Its smaller cousin, a Little Egret, graced the Scar beach on the 27th, where it actively searched the shallows in the manner akin to a Greenshank - the complete opposite to the sedate stalking of a Great White.

Little Grebes and the Great White Egret

The only record of Manx Shearwater was two birds passing the Scar on the 3rd. Gannets were seen daily, with 32 on the 8th being the highest count. The passage of Cormorants at Loch Ryan was steady but with relatively few immatures noticed. Assemblies of 30 or so birds out on the Scar was evident most mornings.

August turned out to be a good month for raptor spotting.  A Hobby chasing hirundines about the Wig on the 12th was a most welcome visitor. A Kestrel hunting over the loch-side fields the day after, the 13th, was an equally notable record about Kirkcolm.  At Loch Connell a Marsh Harrier on the 15th frequently caused consternation amongst the rafts of ducks whenever it rose above the rushes that it secluded itself within. Up to 12 Buzzards were noted on the 30th. The following day, the 31st, saw an Osprey working its way southwards over Loch Ryan, frequently having to jink to avoid the parties of harassing gulls that followed its progress.

Last month I commented on the scarcity of Coots on my local patch.  This month … surprise, surprise .. another (or the same bird, in hiding?) was at Loch Connell on the 29th, where it stayed close to, and amongst, marginal stands of Reedmace. Perhaps there was a harrier still lurking, me thought.

As anticipated, the number of waders increased this month. Ringed Plovers were seen almost daily at the Scar: the highest counts being 80 on the 2nd, 96 on the 3rd and 84 on the 10th. Just 12 Golden Plovers at the Scar on the 6th was the only record of this species.  Ruff faired better, being observed here on six occasions: one on the 7th, three on the 8th, one on the 9th, four on the 14th and two on the 29th. All Lapwing sightings came from Loch Connell, the largest count being 20 birds on the 22nd. Redshanks were thin on the ground at the Wig, but that is not unusual, with a maximum of 13 on the 7th. Greenshank are expected on WeBs counts at Piltanton: three being present on the 20th; more unusual and, surprisingly nice, was one at Loch Connell on the 22nd. Also at this site were handsome Black-tailed Godwits: six on the 15th, 11 on the 22nd and eight on the 29th; they were more frequent at the Wig, with one on the 6th, 13 on the 13th, three on the 18th, 20 on the 22nd and 47 on the 27th. All in all an excellent spread of them across the month, which is notably different from the pattern shown in previous years. In contrast Bar-tailed Godwits were poorly represented, with just a single bird at the Wig on the 10th.  Another long-legged wader, the Curlew, showed a respectable passage of birds throughout the month, with respectable counts of 82 on the 4th, 73 on the 12th and 162 on the 18th. The only record of a Whimbrel came from the Piltanton Estuary during a WeBS count on the 20th, which was a welcome addition to the tally of waders this month.

A group of Lapwings hunkering down in the grass

Stepping down a size or two we have a selection of smaller waders that were seen frequenting Wig Bay. Dunlin passed through in small numbers, usually amongst mixed flocks of other species; the highest counts were 14 on the 2nd and 14th.  A rather similar looking species, the Curlew Sandpiper, is easy to pass over, especially when present in parties of scurrying Dunlins.  Thus, a single on the 18th and three on the 22nd were fine rewards for patient scrutiny. Sanderling are in some ways like the preceding species in that their arrival is not as predictable, or as guaranteed, as are, say, Ringed Plovers.  This August proved to be one of their better ones, although the largest flock was of only eight birds on the 19th. Knot, however, were scarce, but then September is generally a better month for them.  Just one on the 17th and two on the 18th were the only records. Turnstones were more frequent and abundant than the latter species, but no surprises there, I guess: 32 on the 2nd was the highest count. A minimum of six Common Sandpipers were recorded by my son Benjamin when he walked back along the shore-line of Loch Ryan from Stranraer to Kirkcolm. The first Snipes of the autumn season were not observed until the 24th when four birds flew from the Scar towards Loch Connell.

Compilation of Waders: 2 Dunlin (left), Turnstone (centre-back) and 3 Curlew Sandpipers

A flock of 15 Lesser Black-backed Gulls seen flying west to Loch Connell on the 16th was notable, as indeed were 16 Great Black-backed Gulls at the Scar on the same date. The procession of migrating Sandwich Terns down Loch Ryan was almost continual with small flocks, family parties and individuals making their way south; larger assemblies occurred on the 2nd and the 8th when 74 and 54 birds, respectively, were noted. Common Terns were more sporadic visitors, with a high of 20 on the 12th.

Curiously, there were only a few sightings of Black Guillemots, though I suspect this was down to weather effecting visibility over the loch; 16 birds were, however, observed on the 15th.

Cuckoos are scarce visitors at the best of times in my neighbourhood.  Spring is the usual time for them; thus, two barred juveniles about the estate marsh from the 9th to the 11th was a rare treat.  Equally scarce are genuine Hooded Crows (there are numerous hybrids within the area, a few of which closely resemble the real McCoy). One at Weirston on the 1st was a pleasant surprise.

Illustration of a juvenile Cuckoo

Swifts are declining in many areas; it is thus good to be able to report 15 of them over Stranraer on the 5th. Superficially looking but unrelated birds are swallows and martins.  Numbers of Swallows over Kirkcolm village hit 29 on the 10th, rising to 79 by the 24th - a rather poor passage, I’d say. House Martins faired better, with 196 on the 24th. Sand Martins peaked earlier, with some 100 birds over Loch Connell on the 8th.

Warblers undoubtedly pass through the area in greater numbers than are ever recorded. By and large they remain quiet and unobtrusive and, hence, go undetected. Snatches of song during their migration can often give away their presence; as was the case with the eight Willow Warblers in the estate woods on the 22nd. A party of four Blackcaps in the same area on the 12th, however, drew attention to themselves by their constant bickering squabbles.

Like a great many species, Spotted Flycatchers have good years and bad years. With such a small population of them locally any poor years are apparent almost immediately. This year the season began encouragingly for them and I had high hopes of a bumper crop of fledglings. Alas, that hope was banished almost from the moment it was born in my mind.  Consequently, just two birds on the 28th was all that August could muster. A single Wheatear at Piltanton on the 20th did not signify a promising autumn passage for that species, either.

People that live in Kirkcolm are blessed with an abundance of House Sparrows, though I doubt many residents see it that way. I am more than happy to report on a minimum of 180 of them that visited my garden on the 11th. Goldfinches are generally regarded more favourably, on account of their gorgeous colours and markings and the pleasant twittering sounds they make. A round 100 of them feeding on the heads of Knapweed in one of the estate fields made for a splendid sight on the 19th.  Some 200 Linnets on the 1st and the 9th were also impressive.

It certainly has been yet another busy month, and we hope that September will be equally as fruitful and exciting.