The poor weather conditions that influenced last month’s sightings persisted through this month also, resulting in generally low numbers of many species being recorded.
Up to the 14th of the month there were regularly in excess of 200 Pale-breasted Brent Geese feeding in the grasslands beside the Wig track, with a peak of 228 on the 2nd. Thereafter numbers dropped to 140 birds, or thereabouts, and remained at this level to the month’s end, with the exception of a count of 178 birds on the 23rd. A Dark-bellied Brent was seen amongst its paler brethren on the 11th and 12th. I saw relatively few flocks of Pink-footed Geese on my local patch, the largest of which comprised more than 700 birds over the ‘Connell’ fields on the 14th. The only Mute Swans that I saw were three at Loch Connell on the 1st. I shall no doubt see more when summering birds return to occupy Loch Ryan in the months ahead. Atypically, I had more sightings of Shelduck than I did of the preceding species. These striking and boldly marked birds prospect for nest sites early in the year. Two pairs were at Loch Connell on the 23rd.
If memory serves me correct, then the number of Mallard wintering on the freshwater site of Loch Connell has fallen in recent years, thus a count of 42 there on the 1st put a smile on my face. Two pairs of Pintail (presumably the same birds from last month) occupied this same body of freshwater all month long. Here, too, resided Teal with, interestingly (at least to my mind), similar high counts of 107 and 108 on the 8th and 23rd, respectively. Wigeon were generally few, with my largest count coming from the Wig where 78 birds were logged on the the 1st, although my daughter did record a significantly greater number, 175, at Soleburn (two miles to the south) on the 28th.
A tally of 85 Common Scoter seen from the Wig on the 12th was not an unreasonable amount, I thought, especially considering the less then perfect viewing conditions. More than 250 Eider, between the Scar and Cairnryan, on the 22nd, was perhaps a little more than I was expecting to count and consequently were much appreciated by myself. Loch Connell once again proved its worth with a high of 28 Goldeneye on the 8th. Long-tailed Duck were regular visitors to Wig Bay, even if their numbers were few, with a high of 10 birds on the 1st. Three Pochard were at Loch Connell all month, whilst at the same site Tufted Duck peaked at 47 strong, on the 15th - possibly my highest count ever of the species at this tranquil pool. Although I saw no Scaup on my patch this month, I include here for you interest a count of 300 birds at Bishop Burn on the 2nd, which was reported to me by a visiting birdwatcher. This burn, on the edge of Stranraer, outlets into Loch Ryan some five miles from the Wig. The observation (like the comment regarding Wigeon, above) highlights the difference in conditions that can occur between sites separated by a relatively short distance…none at the Wig but bucket loads at Stranraer!
The numbers of Goosander at Loch Connell varied with each of my visits; a peak of 18 was logged on the 15th. The highest count of Red-breasted Merganser at the Wig was 52 on the 1st.
Singleton Great Northern Diver were observed on five days spread across the month, and two on the 23rd. Sightings of Red-throated Diver on Loch Ryan were likewise spread, with a high of just 18 on the 1st and the 22nd. A pair of Great Crested Grebe occupied Loch Connell throughout February and seven Little Grebe were at the same site on the 15th. My observations of Slavonian Grebe were confined to the sea-loch, where birds were registered on most days. Much like Red-throated Diver, their numbers were distinctly low - attributable to the generally poor weather and viewing conditions - with a peak count of six birds at Wig Bay on the 1st and 19th.
In spite of me registering Bar-tailed Godwit at the Wig on only three dates and at widely spaced intervals across the month, it is probable that at least one bird was present throughout. I recorded three birds there on the 28th, whilst on the same date my daughter observed eight at Soleburn. My highest count of Curlews was on the 2nd, when 96 were seen commuting between the shoreline at high tide and the fields close by. As was to be expected for the time of year Golden Plover were both few in number and occurrence at the Scar: 23 being the highest count on the 22nd. Greenshank are always a delight to see during the winter; reports from birdwatchers I encountered seem to indicate Soleburn as being a favoured location. My daughter recorded three there on the 2nd and a singleton on the 28th. My only records of Grey Plover involved an individual at the Scar on the 14th and 15th. Here also, on the 9th, I logged a party of five Lapwing that were seen to hunker down on the leeward side of large stones, which provided them some shelter from the fierce wind. A tally of 281 Oystercatcher at the Scar on the 2nd of the month was most excellent and, indeed, 219 there on the 22nd was not bad, either. Wig Bay held few Redshank during the month, with seven being my highest count on the 2nd. The random flocks of Ringed Plover along the bay’s shoreline were small, with a peak of 22 birds on the 15th. The elusive nature of Snipe, their superb camouflage and, frankly, a myriad of suitable places in which they can feed and shelter undoubtedly accounts for my only record for the month - a singleton at Loch Connell on the 23rd. The same, or similar, could be said of aforementioned species' forest relative, the Woodcock, which I happened upon beside a pathway, on the 13th.
The primarily ocean going habits of auk species makes them (perhaps with the exception of Black Guillemots, which are more coastal in their requirements) infrequent visitors to Loch Ryan during the wintertime, as evidenced by a single Razorbill seen on the 28th. The first Gannet of the new year (incidentally, an adult, as is usual) showed up on the sea-loch on the 14th; it also represented my only sighting of this species here throughout the month. My highest tally of Cormorants was 12 birds at Loch Connell on the 15th, whereas the peak count of Shag on Loch Ryan was 54 on the 2nd. Four Coot were present throughout the month at the aforementioned freshwater site, and eight Herons there on the 15th was exceptional.
Given the abysmal weather that dominated the month it will come as no surprise that few raptors were recorded. Three Buzzards circling together over the Corsewall Estate woods was a welcome sight on the 13th, as was a Peregrine on the same day.
Barely a handful of Chaffinch ever turn up in my garden at any one time, so 16 on the 18th was indeed notable; my daughter was fortunate to see a flock of 71 dapper-looking birds whilst on a walk through the local woods on the 21st. A party of 11 Fieldfare, on the 13th, was the only record of this species during the month. A Grey Wagtail was observed on two occasions: on the 13th and the 28th. A flock of 23 Meadow Pipits was a great observation to have recorded on the 15th. Mistle Thrushes were noted on four occasions, including a party of five on the 22nd. On a stroll through the local estate, on the 13th, a notable five Nuthatch were logged, along with a flock of 20 Redwing. Lastly, I had eight sightings across the month of Tree Sparrow in my garden, four of these were of singletons and four of two birds.
This article was provided courtesy of the author, S. Grover
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