An Uncommon Bonanza - November 2024 Bird Report

Three consecutive days stood out this month: the 14th, for the rarities of American Golden Plover, Lapland Bunting, Red-necked Grebe and Wryneck; the 15th, for good numbers of Teal, along with a Shoveler and the mega rarity - a Ross’s Gull - all at the Scar; and the 16th, for the excellent numbers of several common passerines. To learn more, please read on!

This month my highest count of Canada Geese at Loch Connell was on the 3rd when I logged a very respectable 238 birds. More unusual, however, was a flock of 53 floating high in the water at Wig Bay, on the 13th. Pale-bellied Brent Geese are of course expected at the latter site, with counts of plus 230 birds being noted on six occasions: the highest being a splendiferous congregation of 394 at the Scar, on the 19th. It should be noted that on the 23rd over 306 birds were observed on the flooded grassland beside the Wig track, where some birds bathed and preened in the ankle-deep water and others grazed upon the drier sward. The sighting of these geese using the field was the first of the season - a practice which is more common after the New Year rather than before. Clearly, a sign of the times and an indication of the change in strategy that is developing amongst the wintering population here. As if not to be left out or ignored of attention there was a vociferous flock of 382 Pink-footed Geese at the Scar on the morning of the 3rd. They made a fine sight, seeing them as I did through my telescope from the comfort of my home whilst listening to the chorus of sound that drifted through the open window.

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that Mute Swans typically frequent the southern shore of Loch Ryan, at Stranraer. By way of a change - and for whatever the reason - six birds turned up at the Wig, on the 9th. Thereafter their numbers increased swiftly so that by the13th there were 36 birds in semi-residency here. During their stay, and for the remainder of the month, I saw none along the shoreline at Stranraer. Whooper Swans were recorded on seven days, with a maximum of six at the Wig on the 8th and one at Loch Connell on the 24th. The only sightings of Shelduck were of one at the Wig on the 12th and 18th.

A handsome drake Pintail at the Scar on the 12th was my first of the autumn period. A female was at Loch Connell on the 18th. A duck Shoveler was at the Wig on the 11th, followed by a male on the 15th. Loch Connell held 77 Teal on the 3rd and 78 on the 24th, while an uncommon sight was of 68 birds at the Scar on the 15th and 73 on the 22nd. On one of the month’s clearer days I spied some 400 Wigeon over at Low Balyett whist at the Wig my highest count was 156 on the 15th.

There only ever seemed to be a handful of Common Scoters at Wig Bay but, further out in deeper water, I occasionally saw larger rafts dotted here and there on the sea-loch. An attempt to gauge their numbers had to wait until the weather presented suitable viewing conditions: that occurred on the 14th when I successfully logged 130 birds. There were undoubtedly more - perhaps, many more - that I didn’t see. The same weather conditions that affected my counts of scoters obviously had similar effect on other water-going birds at Loch Ryan. My highest tally of Eiders was 177, on the 18th, and Goldeneyes, just 24 (on the 11th). Long-tailed Ducks numbered nine, on the 12th. On the freshwater of Loch Connell were two Pochards, on the 10th, and five (four males) on the 24th. Also at this site were two female-type Scaup on the 3rd and 10th. Goosanders were seen on three visits to the aforementioned site, with a maximum of 10 birds (three males, the remainder redheads) on the 18th. A respectable 92 Red-breasted Mergansers were counted on Loch Ryan, on the 11th.

Continuing on from last month’s good count of Great Crested Grebes in Wig Bay, I logged a decent 47 on the 11th. Another good count was six Little Grebes at Loch Connell, on the 10th, whilst on the same day but at the Wig, there was a trio of Red-necked Grebes. Notable in the same bay, especially at times of a rising tide, were gatherings of Slavonian Grebes: a high of 36 birds was registered on the 11th. Singleton Great Northern Divers were recorded on the 1st, 10th, 14th, 15th and 19th. Considerably more common were Red-throated Divers, with a peak count of 28 on the 11th.

Although Curlews are common enough about the Wig at this time of year, they are usually to be seen in small groups on the shore-line or feeding in the fields. These assemblies are often widely dispersed. Occasionally, however, they come together, when it is then possible to better gauge the population at large. In one such gathering upon the Wig fields, on the 20th, I counted 137 birds. Large flocks of Golden Plovers always make for an impressive sight. Some 1,000 wheeled in the sky above above the Scar on the 2nd, flashing gold and then white as they banked and changed direction constantly before coming to settle on the spit and seemingly disappearing from view amongst the grey and brown tones of the shingle and sandy mud. I saw another large flock at the same location on the 15th. The weather and viewing conditions were more favourable this time around and I successfully secured a count of 1,066 birds as they loafed and preened. On the previous day (14th), a smaller flock of 410 ‘goldies’ hid within their ranks a striking-looking American Golden Plover, still wearing its full breeding dress. A single Grey Plover at the Scar on the 12th, 15th and 26th was most likely the same bird on all three occasions. Also at this site were six Knot, on the 24th. Loch Connell held at least 27 Snipe on the 10th; more unusual were six at the Wig during high tide on the 15th. My daughter flushed a Woodcock from a hedge on the 25th.

I observed an adult Mediterranean Gull foraging in the Wig Fields on the 3rd and again on the 13th. This species has become a more common visitor to my patch in recent years but it is still somewhat scarce and thus noteworthy. Nothing, however, could have prepared me for the visitor that could so easily have passed unnoticed, a couple of days later on the 15th: I was at the Scar, working my way through a flock of Golden Plovers in search of something a bit different, when I happened to notice a small gull fly across my field of view, behind the plovers. I saw it for just a few seconds but there was no mistaking its overall whiteness of appearance, a distinct collar at the back of the head, and a dark-tipped, wedge-shaped tail. The small dark bill, eyes, and diagonal bar across the wings, coupled with dark outer-primary feathers all pointed towards the bird being an immature Ross’s Gull that was already advancing into its first summer plumage. I was well and truly, utterly (and butterly!), gobsmacked.

November is getting a little late in the year to see Razorbills on Loch Ryan but there were two present at the Wig on the 10th. Good viewing conditions on the 11th enabled me to count with ease 116 distant Shags on the pier at Cairnryan as well as 90 closer to, on the Scar. My daughter observed a Barn Owl flying low over the village at twilight on the 21st; despite it being a resident it is not often sighted. A Wryneck was an unexpected bird for me to see on the 14th when in bounding flight it crossed my garden during the early morning, calling as it went. A woodland walk on the 16th yielded a total of 60 Blue Tits. A Coal Tit in my garden on the 23rd was my only record of this species during the month and a reflection of the paucity of these birds on my local patch so far this year.

I was pleased to see a Blackcap in my garden on the 9th, while a Chiffchaff in the Estate grounds on the 20th was equally nice. A total of 10 Goldcrests recorded by my daughter whilst on a walk through the local woods on the 13th was an indication/evidence to me how younger ears than mine can readily detect the high pitched calls of these diminutive warblers. Fortunately for me the lower pitched calls of a Yellow-browed Warbler enabled me to lock onto that particular bird as I travelled homeward bound along Fisher’s Lane on the 11th.

The 16th of the month was clearly a good day for catching up with several species of passerines. A productive woodland walk resulted in 68 Blackbirds, 203 Redwings, eight Song Thrushes and 41 Robins being recorded. Incidentally, the highest count of Fieldfares was a flock of 40, on the 3rd. A Stonechat in my garden on the 9th was a most unusual  but very welcome, record. Grey Wagtails are scarce in my neck-of-the-woods, so two in a local glen, on the 16th, was a much appreciated addition - along with a party of four Bullfinches - to the tally of birds observed that day.

We close this month’s offering with two rarities: the first, seemingly, might not justify usage of the term but when considered in the context of my local patch it certainly warrants it … I refer to an observation of a Stock Dove, which, incidentally was also logged on that day of intrigue, the 16th. The second species was a male Lapland Bunting, which initially drew attention to itself by calling as it passed over my house, heading for the Wig Fields, on the 14th.

The contents of this article are courtesy of the author, S Grover.

Opportune October - 2024 Monthly Bird Report

It was only towards the end of the month that I logged a reasonable sized flock of Canada Geese: on the 27th, in fact, when 112 were at Loch Connell. In comparison, Pale-bellied Brent Geese were common about the Wig, with the largest assemblies being 140 on the 6th and 150 on the 28th. These were however outdone by flocks of Pink-footed Geese roosting at the Scar (unusual for the time of year), including over 380 observed lifting off in the early morning of the 26th and some 522 doing the same on the 27th. Larger skeins were occasionally noted coming from the direction of Castle Kennedy Gardens (a well known roost site), including 900 plus birds on the 29th, passing over the village of Kirkcolm and heading in a north-westerly direction.

In October Mute Swans on Loch Ryan tend to favour the stretch of shoreline running from Low Balyett round to the Stranraer Railway Station. Usually there are two to three main flocks of variable size (there is much interchange between the general population) but occasionally they all come together, such as the 137 I saw at Bishop Burn on the 7th. Whooper Swans are primarily passage visitors, occurring in small flocks that hardly warrants the use of the term ‘herds’, which is the typical collective-noun granted them. Unusually, for the time of year, a party of eight were at Loch Connell on the 21st. The largest flock that I recorded, however, was 27 birds at the Wig on the 25th.

A single Shelduck at the Wig on the 1st was my only record of this species all month but, as it is said, one is better than none at all. The same might be said of Garganey but to be fair this species is very much a rarity on my patch, thus I was extremely appreciative of the female bird at Loch Connell on the 21st. Also at this site, but on the 7th, I logged the respectable number of 76 Mallards, whilst back to the 21st a welcome gathering of 238 Teal made a fine sight. At the Wig, Wigeon numbered 118 on the 22nd, only to be exceeded on the 25th by 123; on both days the majority of birds were males still wearing an eclipse plumage, showing sumptuous, rich-brown flanks and hints of yellow crowns.

Common Scoters often occupy the water out in the middle of the sea-loch, a consequence of this being that it can be difficult to make an accurate count of them because the distance also hinders their identification. I succeeded in logging 110 on the 30th. Eiders are generally more obvious (the males especially so, on account of their clear-cut, black and white apparel - the vast majority of the birds on Loch Ryan are this sex): 208 was my highest count, on the 30th. Goldeneyes seem to have been late arriving on my patch this autumn. It wasn’t until the month’s end that numbers of them in Wig Bay hit double figures (30 birds on the 30th). At Loch Connell there were two female type birds on the 21st and 27th. The first Long-tailed Duck of the season appeared at the Wig on the 17th. It was a male still in brown summer plumage. Thereafter, I noted birds on an additional seven days, including a party of four (the highest count) on the 22nd. An immature male Goosander was at Loch Connell on the 21st, followed by four birds there on the 27th. Good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea-loch, with the highest count of 154 (including a raft of 138 at the Wig) on the 11th.

It is only in very recent years, since the the relocation of the Stena Port from Stranraer to Cairnryan, and the subsequent reduction in both noise levels underwater (caused by the pounding of Ferry engines) and bow waves (causing water disturbance and wash), that numbers of Great Crested Grebes have risen in Wig Bay. I counted 34 on the 30th of the month. The same locality held a Red-necked Grebe on the 17th, and 46 Slavonian Grebes on the 30th. Also here, I logged a Great Northern Diver on the 28th and the 30th. Double figures of Red-throated Divers rose from 20, on the 10th, to a peak of 54 on the 30th.

There was at least one Bar-tailed Godwit about the Wig for most of the month. It was joined by a friend on the 30th. Curlews peaked at 66 in the fields beside the Wig, on the 25th. Dunlin were few, with eight on the 1st being the largest flock; however, they were likely under-recorded. The aforementioned may have been lacking but were made up for by a strong passage of Golden Plovers. Counts of over 400 birds were made on several days across the month, with a peak of 620 (minimum) on the 30th. A juvenile American Golden Plover was amongst its commoner cousins on the 27th and 30th and, amazingly, a juvenile and an adult (still in breeding plumage) on the 31st. For many birders, alas, the thought of painstakingly working through large flocks just to fine something different is incomprehensible, but the payoff in doing so can at times be utterly rewarding. Perhaps not quite as exciting as the discovery of an American vagrant, but noteworthy just the same, was the presence of eight Lapwings at the Scar on the 29th, and four there the following day (the 30th). To help put this exclamation into perspective, during my 15 years of being resident in Kirkcolm, I have seen American Golden Plover become an annual visitor to the Scar whereas Lapwings have declined and become less than annual here - intermittent visitors at best; they are of course more commonly occurring at Loch Connell, though high numbers of them are a thing of the past, being consigned to history only. Redshank are never abundant about Wig Bay: eight birds was a good find on the 22nd. Ringed Plovers on the other hand are two a penny, so to speak. A flock of 60 was recorded at the Scar on the 14th, 22nd, 23rd and the 30th of the month. My highest count of Turnstones was 38, also at the same spit of land (the Scar) on the 14th.

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that Lesser Black-backed Gulls are not the commonest of birds on my local patch: one on the 7th, 12th and 30th were my only records. Likewise, Mediterranean Gulls are scarce. There was an adult (in winter attire) at the Wig, on the 22nd.

Singleton Guillemots were recorded on the 19th, 25th and 30th. A Razorbill was noted on the 17th and the 22nd. All in all a poor showing of auks: possibly a reflection of the impact of avian flu on local populations, such as at Ailsa Craig. Observations of Gannets, also, were sparse, having been recorded on just six days, with the last record (one bird) falling on the 23rd. Shags seemed to have faired better than any other colony forming seabird mentioned. There were notable counts of 150 (including 110 on Cairnryan Pier) on the 1st and 212 (including 192 also on the pier at Cairnryan) on the 30th.

I logged eight counts of Little Egrets, spread across the month, including a party of three birds at the Wig on the 30th.

It was only a few short years ago when Buzzards were a regular breeding species on my local patch. Unfortunately, in an attempt to encourage visitors to the area and improve access to the wider countryside via a network of paths, Buzzards, along with other species, seem to have suffered as a result of more frequent disturbance. Consequently, they are fewer in number and not so readily seen. Three birds above the estate woods on the 1st was thus notable. Equally noteworthy was a Kestrel - another less common bird these days - seen hunting over the Wig fields on the 21st.

Feral Pigeons do not normally feature in this blog but this month proves to be an exception. Why? Well, a flock of over 100 seen feeding in fallow land on the outskirts of the village of Kirkcolm was a most unusual sight on the 1st. And as for the Kingfisher I saw on the same day, down at the Corsewall Burn outlet at the bottom of Fisher’s Lane … well .. its brilliant-sapphire back and sunset-orange breast were almost enough to defy description other than to say a big, sumptuous, wow! Late afternoon sunlight can be remarkable in adding sparkle and colour intensity to a scene: a fact, which on that occasion I could not argue otherwise.

The two Swallows I saw over the village on the 9th made me stop and think: they might be my last sighting of the year. I had heard it rumoured and said in almost silent whispers that there had been an influx of Yellow-browed Warblers into Britain this autumn. I confess, that whenever I see one on my local patch it usually coincides with a known influx. I was not thus unduly surprised to see one on the 29th as I travelled along Fisher’s Lane. It is often the calls of Fieldfares that that first alert me to their presence. I had to wait until the month’s end (the 30th) to hear those familiar ‘chacks and chuckles’ and looked up to see 70 birds passing overhead. The high pitched, thin calls of Redwings are mostly beyond my hearing these days so I know only too well that I under-record the species. I did see a couple of birds on the 2nd but, again, it was at the close of the month (the 31st) that I happened to notice a fine formation of 108 birds eagerly making their way south. I suspect that the majority laypersons think that the Robins they see during the spring and summer are the same birds they encounter during the autumn and winter, especially within the garden. But like so many typical, so-called residents, they are also migrants. It is likely that a good proportion of the 21 birds I recorded on a walk through the local woods on the 30th were not native to the area.

This year has certainly been better than last for Wheatears stopping off at the Wig during times of passage. The three I saw along the track on the 1st included a smart-looking bird of the Greenland race. Another bird was in the same locality on the 8th. It is always nice to see spritely Grey Wagtails. One was at Fisher’s Lane on the 8th and the 28th. I noted in my mind just how their gorgeous yellow vents attract attention in the gloom of a shaded stream.

Where do they come from, where do they go, why is there only ever a few of them and why is there no apparent pattern to their occurrence? I am of course talking about Tree Sparrows that turn up in my garden from time to time: one on the 19th set in motion these very thoughts, the answers to which I still have no satisfactory explanation for. I guess the same queries could be applied to Twite, which were once a familiar sight down at the Wig. I saw three of them there on the 14th and a flock of 120 ‘small brown jobs’ (which may have included Twite) on the 12th.

The contents of this article are courtesy of the author, S Grover.

The First Glimpse of Winter: September 2024 Bird Report

 Very few Canada Geese were observed this month, the highest count being 44 at Loch Connell on the 1st. A singleton Pale-bellied Brent Goose at the Scar, also on the 1st, was my first since the departure of wintering birds back in early May, marking the start of the autumn passage and the return of wintering birds to the area. My next sighting of this species was on the 8th when 20 birds were logged. Thereafter numbers steadily increased, with counts of 100 plus being recorded on three occasions towards the month’s end: 168 on the 24th, 195 on the 25th and 162 on the 30th. A notable flock comprising of over 460 Greylag Geese was registered at Loch Connell on the 1st. Whether or not these were feral, or genuine migrants from Iceland, is not known. The Pink-footed Geese (with the first birds heard calling on the 16th), however, were likely to be the genuine article. Vocal flocks were more often heard than seen on several occasions heading in a southerly direction. Three birds took a brief respite at Loch Connell on the 29th, providing me with a rare treat because ‘stop-offs’ for this species is not a common practice so early in the season on my patch.

The regular population of Mute Swans at Loch Ryan is supplemented by passage birds at this time of year. These additions were no doubt responsible for the high count of 134, which I logged on the 29th. Just a few days prior to this, on the 25th, I noted my first Whooper Swan of the winter period, riding the wavelets that rolled onto the beach at the Wig.

A party of four Teal at the Scar on the 26th was unusual. At the Wig Wigeon were sparse and few in number, although I did log 50 birds on the 25th. My only record of Tufted Ducks came from Loch Connell on the 15th. On the sea-loch observations of Common Scoters were spread across the month, with 30 being my highest count on the 15th. The annual Eider count covering the Firth of Clyde fell between the 7th and 30th this year. Loch Ryan lies within this zone, so I contribute data. Alas, my highest count from within the period (132) was less than I submitted last year. However, on the 3rd of the month I logged a minimum of 212. A Goosander flying over my house and heading towards Loch Connell was a surprise observation on the 13th, constituting another ‘first of the season’ on my local patch and my only record of this species during the month. Red-breasted Mergansers were of course more plentiful, with a respectable 127 at the Wig on the 3rd and a peak count of 190 at the same location on the 9th.

Numbers of Great Crested Grebes at the Wig were up on last month, with encouraging highs of 14 on the 3rd, 18 on the 12th and 29 on the 28th. A Red-necked Grebe at this same location was a pleasurable find, also on the 28th, whilst the first of the autumn’s Slavonian Grebes was logged here, too, on the 12th. Other sighting of this dainty species were noted, with one on the 24th, four on the 25th and six on the 28th. A handsome Great Northern Diver was seen at Wig Bay on the 12th, along with (though not side by side) an immature White-billed Diver, while Red-throated Divers were observed, from the 3rd, onwards, with a peak count of 28 on the 18th.

A singleton Bar-tailed Godwit at the Wig on the 16th was my only record of this species during the month. Black-tailed Godwits faired a little better, with all records coming from the Scar: two on the 2nd, five on the 4th, three on the 4th and one on the 12th. Curlew peaked at 90 in the Wig Fields on the 16th, whilst a Curlew Sandpiper was on the neighbouring sea-shore on the 12th. Dunlin only just hit double figures, with 12 at the Scar on the 4th. A poor showing of Golden Plovers resulted in a high of just 34, also at the Scar, on the 30th. There was a smattering of Knot records, both early and late in the month - even so, nine was the biggest party I saw, on the 3rd. Loch Connell held the only Lapwings, with three on the 22nd and 16 on the 29th. In excess of 200 Oystercatchers at the Scar was an expected amount for the time of year, on the 27th, as was a maximum of just three Redshanks on the 17th. Reasonable numbers of Ringed Plovers were observed across the month, with a peak of 93 on the shore of the Wig on the 12th. I had five sightings of Ruffs, including a party of six at Loch Connell on the 15th. Although observations of Sanderlings spanned the month, they were relatively few and the number of birds involved was small, with eight forming the largest party I logged at the Scar on the 12th. My only records of Snipe were from Loch Connell, with a single on the 1st and two on the 22nd. Turnstones were seen regularly at the Wig and Scar, with 24 being the highest count on the 12th. Whimbrel are regular on passage during the springtime but during the autumn their status is very different, as can be summarised by the record of just one bird at the Wig on the 25th.

Trying to identify birds to species level when common sense tells you that they are just too far away in the distance is unrealistic. But often as not we - that is, me (and most other birding folk I know) - try anyway. Eventually, however, after so many seconds (which to the unfortunate observer so faced with the problem, can seem like hours!) have passed we give up, relinquishing our quest and admit defeat. Thus, when confronted by a similar dilemma the next time around, common sense (based on previous experience) again tells us that we shouldn’t even go down that road and move on to easier, more certain targets of opportunity. But no, we try anyway, only to relive the same frustration. Some lessons, it seems, are never learned. Does any of this sound familiar to you, dear reader? My apologies for this interruption to the blog, but some choices are a fundamental challenge to honing the artful skills of birdwatching, which I feel obliged to relate here. Moving on …

.. And so I found myself peering through my telescope at a mass of gulls on the far side of Loch Ryan, some two miles away, under hazy conditions. Of course I tried to assign each amorphous shape to a species - several times over, in fact - only to be rebuffed with disappointment. Based upon years of experience and familiarity with the species of gulls at Loch Ryan, I knew that the majority of the larger shapes would be Herring Gulls and the smaller ones Black-headed and/or Common Gulls. But seeing as I couldn’t clearly see any of them, I eventually opted to guesstimate their number as a whole. I reckoned upon there being at least 2,000 birds, which I entered into my logbook (on the 16th) as ‘an assortment of gulls’. Of particular note was a singleton, adult, Mediterranean Gull in winter plumage, that I saw at the Wig on the 9th and the 30th. Sandwich Terns were registered on four occasions at the Scar: 12 (including two juveniles) on the 5th, 12 adults on the 8th, and singles on the 13th and 16th.

The highest count of Black Guillemots seen from my house was 43 on the 13th, with a Guillemot also seen on this date, at the Wig and a Razorbill there the day before (12th). Five more of the latter species were noted out in mid-channel on the 16th. The low number of Gannets visiting Loch Ryan this month (12 birds on the 1st being my highest count) was in some way compensated for by reasonable counts of Cormorants at the Scar: 60 on the 1st and 51 on the 13th. Shags also showed well, peaking at 122 on the on the pier at Cairnryan, on the 12th. At the Wig I logged Little Egrets on several occasions across the month - all singletons, bar two birds on the 16th. It is strange to think that only a few short years ago this small white heron was still a rarity in the Rhins of Galloway: today, few birders would even raise an eyebrow upon seeing one.

My only sighting of a Kestrel this month was of a singleton hunting over the Wig Fields on the 16th, which serves only to reinforce the status I have alluded to it in past postings of this blog. In comparison, Peregrines are more frequently observed on my patch. A female seen at Loch Connell on the 1st was notable, appearing very large and greyish all over while lacking a prominent white face and without an obvious dark moustache that I so typically associate with the species. Indeed, my first thought upon seeing it was that of Icelandic Gyrfalcon, but that I dismissed shortly after further study, attributing its dulcet tones to the poor quality of the light under which I viewed it. A few days later, on the 7th, I saw a Marsh Harrier winging its way lazily towards Connell from across the Wig. The species is very much a rarity in these parts but I did not let that fact interfere with my appreciating such a splendid bird.

There was the expected decrease in the number of swallows and martins I saw in September. My highest count of House Martins was 28 on the 6th. Their numbers fell appreciably after that, with the last two being recorded on the 24th. Also on the 6th was my peak count of Swallows, at 80 birds. They however decreased more steadily, down to two on the 29th. Three Chiffchaffs on the 16th was my only record of this species all month and, likewise, a Greenland Wheatear at Loch Connell on the 22nd. More frequent were Pied Wagtails, being logged on four days, with the highest count coming on the 16th when 18 were logged, including five White Wags’; birds of this pale race were also noted on the 4th (two birds), 5th (3 birds) and 6th (6 birds) - considerably better than last year’s paucity of records.

A single Bullfinch in my garden on the 21st was my only observation of this species, and entered in my Logbook accordingly. A large flock of plus 400 finches (most probably Linnet, Twite, or a combination of the two) was notable, as well as making an impressive sight above the Wig Fields on the 4th.

The contents of this article are courtesy of the author, S Grover.