The Multitudes of March - 2022 Bird Report

This article and the images contained within were supplied by courtesy of the author, S. Grover.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese were daily visitors to the fields beside the Wig track, with a high of 205 birds on the 15th. This count included a long staying individual which, for some reason, mostly kept its own company and even remained when all of the others had gone elsewhere. This might suggest that the bird was injured - and perhaps it was - but its actions both on the ground and in flight proffered otherwise.

The fields bordering Loch Connell were regularly frequented by geese, mostly Pink-footed. This species peaked here at 1089 birds on the 27th; lesser numbers on the 13th had with them an adult Greenland White-front and a Tundra Bean Goose.

Pink-footed geese with Tundra Bean Goose (centre) and Greenland White-front (centre-right)

Whilst sitting down to eat tea on the 19th I saw a flock of Whooper Swans approach from the south and settle at the Wig. They totaled 65 in number. Their incessant calls drifted across the intervening land and penetrated the panes of window glass of the house, producing a muffled chorus of pleasing tones that accompanied the evening meal. The serenity was blissful, and might only have been bettered by the addition of a nice, open, bottle of claret!

There were ten Shelduck at the Scar on the 4th; thereafter, pairs of birds were observed searching banks along the shore and inland, presumably, on the look out for suitable nesting sites. Two drake Shovelers at Bishop Burn was a nice surprise on the afternoon of the 20th; a male and a female were observed at Loch Connell (a site which has held nesting pairs in the past) on the 27th.  Wigeon have mostly moved on now, leaving smaller flocks here and there, including 87 at the Wig on the 3rd.  Goldeneyes continue to linger, or pass through, with 24 on the 3rd and 17 on the 28th.  Long-tailed Ducks definitely became scarcer as the month progressed; however, 17 were noted on the 3rd and 12 on the 16th.  Similarly, numbers of Scaup on Loch Ryan dwindled, although 179 were noted off Bishop Burn on the 20th and a female continued to to be seen on the freshwater of Loch Connell to at least the same date.  Common Scoters, as expected, were regular in occurrence on the sea loch, with 111 recorded on the 25th.  Velvet Scoters were noted on several occasions from mid-month onwards: a party of four were observed on the 14th and the 28th. A drake and duck Goosander were an unexpected bonus at the Wig on the 22nd, whilst the more usual haunt of Loch Connell held nine birds on the 6th.  At this time of year Red-breasted Mergansers are especially tricky to count with any accuracy, what with highly mobile parties of both courting and passage birds about. Up to the 25th of the month 46 was the highest count I registered, but a sudden influx on the 28th revealed 164 birds.

Black-throated Divers are unpredictable as to when they turn up on Loch Ryan.  That classic adage: ‘being in the right place at the right time’, springs to mind.  In other words, Lady Luck is either smiling with you … or, against you.  Clearly she was with me on the 3rd when a bird graced the waters of the Wig.  The Pacific Diver was not so obvious this month as last, with records on the 3rd, 14th, 15th and 16th. The following day, the 17th, was, however, incredulous; not only was there our regular ‘friend’, (as I have come to regard it), but it was accompanied by an immature bird of the same species!  Perhaps the arrival of a second bird was cue for the departure of both because neither were seen thereafter.

The only record of a Great Northern Diver on the loch was on the 28th.  Red-throats’ were more frequent visitors, with 38 being the highest count, also on the 28th.  The majority of those observed were still in winter plumage, or were immatures; a small number, however, were summer adults, sporting brick-red throats. Slavonian grebes were also present throughout the month. Unlike the preceding species most of those I saw were fully attired in breeding dress, with striking russet-coloured necks, bright-yellow horns, or ear-tufts, set off by glistening red eyes.  If you think that one bird on its own is stunning to behold then try to imagine the party of eight such birds that I saw close in-shore at the Wig on the 25th.  I had to pinch myself just to make sure that I hadn’t drowned on the incoming tide and gone to heaven!

Slavonian Grebes in their magnificent plumage 

I did not record my first Gannet of the spring over Loch Ryan until the 10th.  Thereafter, small numbers were seen almost daily.  The numbers of Shags seen on the loch plummeted sharply at the start of the month as birds moved out to take up residency at their breeding colonies. Perhaps because of their absence the small numbers of Cormorants that remained seemed more noticeable to my eyes.

Waders also seemed a little thin on the ground, with wintering birds departing for their summer  breeding grounds.  Curlews were much reduced, although 65 on the 25th seemingly might not support this, whereas  just a single Dunlin at the Scar on the 4th may better persuade opinion. Golden Plovers were irregular visitors; many of the 98 birds seen at the Scar on the 25th were already showing advanced signs of summer plumage. The only record of Greenshank came from a Wetland Bird Survey count at Piltanton on the 20th, when three birds were registered. Most notable was the sighting of two Purple Sandpipers on the 20th, initially at the Loch Ryan Sailing Club and later flying eastward across Bishop Burn towards Low Balyett.  It is perhaps surprising that this species is seen so infrequently about the loch given that suitable habitat exists here, as well as at many other places along the west coast; a thought to ponder upon, if nothing else. The first Whimbrel of the spring period was a bird seen and heard at Loch Connell on the 27th.

A pair of flying Purple Sandpipers 

The sizeable winter population of Common Gulls in the area typically begins to disperse in late February.  Consequently the numbers seen here in March vary day to day but is generally low, 

especially towards the month’s end when there may be very few.  Kittiwakes are scarcer altogether, no matter what the season. There were seven on the 2nd, one on 13th, and four on the 21st. The only observation of a Mediterranean Gull was of one on the Scar, when a first-summer bird was noted. My first Sandwich Tern of the year was seen about Wig Bay, on the 13th, followed by another singleton on the 24th, six on the 28th and one on the 29th.

March usually sees the arrival of Razorbills on Loch Ryan, with birds having spent the winter further out at sea. Two birds were noted on the 17th, rising to 22 on the 28th.

The Barn Owl reported last month is still, thankfully, about. It made an evening appearance in my garden on the 17th and the 26th.  Two ‘hooting’ Tawny Owls on the 6th confirmed their continued presence in the area.

Male Great Spotted Woodpeckers advertise themselves at this time of year by ‘drumming’.  It was somewhat comforting to hear three of them doing exactly this in the estate woods on the 4th, especially given the the number of fallen wind-blown trees that are dotted about after the recent gales.

A Hooded Crow was a notable find on the 22nd when a bird was observed feeding alongside two resident ‘Hoody-hybrids’ in the Wig Fields.  Equally delightful were good views of a Jay in the estate woods, on the 30th, and a Magpie over my garden, on the 29th. (The latter  is still very much a scarce species in the neighbourhood).

A Hooded crow feels at home with the hybrids.

For many people warblers are a sure sign of Spring’s arrival.  Chiffchaffs are one of the first migrants to arrive. I heard three singing in the woods on the 16th, venting their plaintive songs that give rise to their namesake.  Blackcaps are often next; their melodious, flutey, songs giving away their presence.  Two birds were heard on the 30th.  Goldcrests are resident throughout the year.  Their high-pitched voices are often beyond the range of oldies like myself, but on calm days with no competing sounds I can sometimes still detect them … just!  A bird heard singing from high up in a larch tree was reward enough for me on the 16th.  Rather more exciting, however, was a different warbler that I espied down Fisher’s Lane, on the 25th.  It was in the same general area that I have seen the species numerous times before, flitting about the bushes and Sycamore trees.  It was a Yellow-browed Warbler - a species I typically encounter in autumn, rather than spring.

Despite being a, supposedly, common winter visitor Fieldfares are, generally, anything but on my local patch.  A party of six birds on the 20th was thus welcome and observed with thanks.

The colourful Siskin is probably a familiar sight to those of you who regularly feed the avifauna that so readily visit gardens, especially at this time of year when large numbers of birds pass through, increasing the likelihood of fly-byes dropping in to refuel.  Needless to say this species does not appear in my ‘top ten’ garden list.  A mere two birds, on the 24th, was better than none at all by my way of thinking.  And not too far away from my garden lies the Wig Fields - a refuge not so long ago for wintering Twite.  But with fewer wildflower seeds about these days so too have the Twite become fewer.  I was grateful to see a roving flock of some 30 birds strong, making use of the fields, on the 20th.