On the move - Bird Report for September 2025

A nice start to the month was the arrival of four Pale-breasted Brent Geese at the Scar on the 6th; thereafter, a small but regular passage of birds became evident. I logged a peak count of 84 birds on the 28th. My first Pink-footed Geese of the season were not until the 20th when two flocks of 120 and 100 birds, respectively, headed south above Loch Ryan.

It has been a while since I have seen any Black Swans on the sea-loch. In the past it has usually been a single bird involved, so imagine my surprise when I saw a party of four amongst a host of Mute Swans at Bishop Burn, on the 14th. The latter species was a familiar sight to me throughout the month with birds concentrated along the shore from Low Balyett to Bishop Burn. I registered a peak count of 102 birds on the 13th and the 29th. Two Whooper Swans were at the Wig on the 20th and were the first of the autumn season on my local patch. They were followed a few days later (the 23rd) by a noisy throng of 20 birds.

Black Swans with Mute Swans, at Bishop Burn

A morning visit to the freshwater site of Loch Connell, on the 21st, resulted in multiple records of local interest. First off were two handsome drake Gadwall. These, however, were upstaged by the presence of a female Garganey. A duck Shoveler almost went unnoticed amongst a tangle of Reed Sweet-grass, whereas in excess of 100 Teal were conspicuous out on open water, having been disturbed from the margin by the feeding activity of an Otter. Lastly, a chocolate and russet coloured drake Wigeon (in eclipse plumage) was another first of the season on my home patch. The following week (on the 28th) a female type Pintail frequented the same body of freshwater.

Sightings of Common Scoter on Loch Ryan typically increase in September as passage and wintering birds begin to move through the area: a peak count of 116 on the 23rd was reasonable enough, slightly exceeding that for Eider, which came in at 111 on the 22nd. I saw the first of the ‘winter’s’ Goldeneye return to Wig Bay on the 16th - a female type - and presumably the same bird again on the 23rd. Over 100 Red-breasted Mergansers were recorded on ten days across the month, so confirming the importance of Loch Ryan for this species. I logged an impressive count of 179 birds on the 16th, yet this was surpassed earlier in the month (on the 4th) by a staggering 568 (including a single flock, 370 birds strong) - my highest here, ever!

I had heard on the birding grapevine that several Red-necked Grebes had been reported from the southern end of Loch Ryan. This information came as no surprise to me because in the calendar year September is the month that I typically associate with the arrival of this species to the said sea-loch. However, for my first sighting of the season I had to wait until the 23rd when two adults, still in their striking-looking breeding plumage, showed up at the Wig. Presumably they were the same birds I saw a few days later, on the 29th. I registered only two observations of Slavonian Grebes from that same location: a singleton on the 20th and a delightful 22 birds on the 23rd. A resplendent adult Great Northern Diver, wearing a chequered black and white overcoat, brought cheer to my heart on the sullen day of the 21st as the tide carried the bird ever so slowly down the length of the loch. Small parties of Red-throated Divers were regular visitors across the month, with notable counts of 89 on the 23rd and 76 on the 28th.

There may never be seen vast numbers of waders on my local patch but there is often a diversity of species. September is usually a prime time to encounter many of these visitors but this year numbers of some species were low. A singleton Common Sandpiper was at the Scar on the 12th and a lone Curlew Sandpiper was at the same location on the 3rd. This same spit of land held very few Dunlin during the month, my highest count being a mere five birds on the 12th. Thankfully, Golden Plovers were more frequent and abundant, with a peak of 304 on the 27th. A singleton Greenshank was at the Wig on the 3rd and another was at Loch Connell on the 21st. My only observation of Knot was of four birds at the Scar on the 8th. As expected, Ringed Plover were recorded frequently, with highs of 70 on the 6th and 60, or so, on the 16th and 17th. The Scar also held three Ruff on the 3rd and the 16th: a rather poor showing for this, and for the next, Sanderling, which I logged a single party of four birds on the 12th. There were seven Snipe at Loch Connell on the 28th. My largest flock of Turnstone was 28 birds at the Wig on the 23rd, whilst finding 10 Whimbrel feeding in a grassland, on the 11th, was a welcome bonus.

Common Sandpiper, at the Scar

Great Black-backed Gulls are big brutes. Their size alone makes them stand out from the crowd. Adults in particular are visually striking, whether they be alone or with others of their kind. A tight knit group of nine such powerful-looking birds, which stood in a grassland beside the Wig (on the 12th), were enough to raise goose-pimples on my skin and send shivers down my spine as I viewed them in close-up through the aid of my field scope. Slightly smaller are Herring Gulls, which can be no less fearsome looking than the preceding species. At this time of year I often see them in troops gathered about the Wig and Scar in regimented blocks, reminding me of those tactics deployed by the Duke of Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo. This species is also a familiar sight on the freshwater of Loch Connell: one such company, 447 birds strong, made for a fine sight on the morning of the 14th. Two adult Kittiwakes passed the Scar on the 2nd, as did seven birds (including a juvenile) on the 15th. An excellent count at Loch Connell was that of 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (23 being adults), on the 14th. A juvenile Little Gull was a surprise find at the Scar on the 3rd, while in the same general area I logged an adult Mediterranean Gull on the 4th, 5th and 23rd.

A single Arctic Tern sat on the Scar on the 8th. Three Common Terns frequented Wig Bay on the 3rd, with a singleton on the 14th and a party of four on the 8th. Sandwich Terns were considerably more frequent and abundant than the two preceding species, with observations spanning the month. High counts of 117 birds on the 3rd and 9th and 161 on the 10th were exceeded by flocks of 224 and 258 birds settled on the Scar on the 8th and 11th, respectively - least to say these were among several highlights of the month. And when there are so many terns on view there is always the expectation of skuas to accompany them. A pale morph Arctic Skua sat in isolation on the Scar on the 1st. A different pale phase bird harassed terns and small gulls, alike, in typical skua fashion as it manoeuvred its way across Wig Bay on the 6th. Yet another pale type bird caused similar panic and consternation on the 8th, as did a dark morph bird on the 9th and, presumably, another dark bird on the 16th. The potential victims of these attacks had good reason to complain…and complain they did...vociferously! I, on the other hand, was spell bound and captivated by these piratical visitors, which seldom venture to Loch Ryan.

The number of Gannets visiting the sea-loch was still strong in the early part of the month: a high of 62 birds on the 6th was a more than respectable tally, in my mind. Most days in September were free of sightings of Black Guillemots…until, that is, the 23rd when ideal conditions prevailed and I successfully logged 154 - a better than excellent result that was well worth the frustration of waiting for suitable conditions to apply. During the month I had two observations of Guillemot on Loch Ryan: a singleton on the 17th and three on the 23rd. Like the preceding species, Razorbill were also noted twice, with two on the 3rd and an impressive aggregation of 50 on the 23rd.

Arctic Skua chasing Sandwich Terns

The biggest number of Cormorants I logged was 52, on the 2nd, whilst my peak count of Shags was 218 (with 184 forming a convenient line along the length of the Cairnryan Pier) on the 23rd. Six Little Egrets congregated at the Wig, on the 12th. The presence of a large female Peregrine cleared the Scar of all other birds, on the 8th; she sat there, consuming her prey, undisturbed for a considerable length of time. A very dark-looking Peregrine similarly emptied the Scar on the 19th, as it pressed home an attack on the panic-stricken birds that twisted and swirled in the air after take-off in an attempt to evade capture. One Turnstone was not so fortunate as the others that escaped to live another day!

House Martins were in short supply, with just seven on the 4th and six - my last of the month - on the 23rd. Swallows faired a little better, being registered on six days, with the largest count of 31, also on the 23rd, and a singleton on the 27th being the last entry in my logbook.

Single Chiffchaffs were in my garden on the 2nd, 22nd and 23rd. A first-winter Melodious Warbler eating berries in my garden during pouring rain on the 3rd was both unexpected and extraordinary, if not monumental; not only is this species a rare bird in mainland Scotland it is the first - and in all probability, the last - that I will ever encounter within the humble setting of my garden…a great big, humongous, “Wow!” The Willow Warblers that I saw in my garden during the days that followed the aforementioned, and which consisted of singletons on the 11th, 15th, 20th, and a fantastic six birds on the 19th, did not somehow fill me with the same feeling of elation, despite being an excellent run of birds in their own right.

Immature Yellow Wagtail, at the Scar

To wind up this month’s offering, I logged a party of four Mistle Thrushes (the first I have recorded on my patch in seemingly an age) on the 3rd, my first Redwings of the season - eight on the 29th; two Wheatears at the Wig, on the 23rd; and finally, and of particular interest, an immature Yellow Wagtail at the Scar (also on the 23rd) - the latter representing only my second or third record (if memory serves me correct) of this species on my local patch during my 17 year residency in Kirkcolm.

What delights may there be in store next month, I wonder?

This article and the accompanying images were provided courtesy of the author, S. Grover

Bird Report for August 2025

Mute Swans are never an abundant species at Loch Connell: a count of nine adults on the 3rd was, although seemingly low, an exception and thus notable. On the nearby salt-water site of Loch Ryan this species is considerably more common. I recorded 56 birds on the 9th, rising to 90 on the 29th. Two adults with five, brown, grown-up sized cygnets in tow at the Wig on the 19th were presumably the same family of birds that originated from a nesting on the lake at Agnew Park, Stranraer; they had since paddled northwards up the sea-loch for five or six miles. A lone Whooper Swan (originally present with a friend, up to the 18th May, thereafter a singleton only) was present until at least the 17th of this month, but not seen since. It may have gone elsewhere, but is likely to have fallen victim to predation, such as by a fox.

I had just two records of Gadwall, both of which came from Loch Connell: a male on the 24th and two female types on the 31st. At the same site my best count of Mallards was 89, also on the 24th. The majority of these were drakes in eclipse plumage. The number of Teal at this freshwater site rose from eight on the 3rd to 40 on the 31st. Interestingly I saw two birds at the Scar, Loch Ryan, on the 23rd. The sea-loch hosted six male Common Scoters on the 29th, at least 140 Eiders on the 11th (the 23rd being the only date in the month that I did not record this species) and a series of good counts of Red-breasted Merganser: 70 plus, north of the beach at Kirkcolm on the 7th, 96 at Soleburn on the 12th, 84 at the Wig on the 18th and the largest tally (also at the Wig) of 140 birds on the 29th.

Having lived in the village of Kirkcolm for 17 years it is only this year that Great Crested Grebes have successfully nested at Loch Connell, raising a single youngster. The juvenile remained on site until at least the 24th, my last visit of the month. Adults of this species have often completed their breeding cycle come August, and begin to turn up on Loch Ryan, where numerous of them overwinter. Three birds was my highest count of them, on the 11th. Slavonian Grebes typically arrive later on the sea-loch than their aforementioned cousins. I was both surprised and delighted to register four birds, still in their nuptial plumage, on the 29th. Accompanying them was a fine-looking Black-throated Diver. The passage of Red-throated Divers through Loch Ryan began earlier in the month. I saw three on the 11th, rising to 14 on the 29th.

It was pleasant to log a reasonable selection of waders on my local patch, following a quiet summer. Singleton Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits at the Scar on the 22nd and 18th, respectively, were somewhat less than I expected, or hoped, to see. I, however, had no such qualms regarding the lone Common Sandpiper that I logged at Loch Connell on the 6th and at the Wig on the 7th. This species used to be a more common and regular visitor but is now less predictable in its occurrence. Although Curlew numbers continue to fall UK wide, I was delighted to see 40 at Loch Connell on the 6th, a tightly packed bunch of 54 at Soleburn and 46 at the Wig on the 12th, and my largest single flock of the month, 73 at the Wig on the 19th. There are many factors that influence the numbers of Dunlin stopping off at Loch Ryan during periods of passage. In recent years I have witnessed smaller flocks of them, but on the plus side they at least still show up. Their ’dun’ colours help conceal them from predators and birdwatchers, alike. I spied my first juveniles of the season at the Scar on the 7th; they were in the company of other waders that had come to forage and rest on the shore as high tide approached. My peak count of birds however came on the 19th when I logged 36. Golden Plover are somewhat larger than the aforementioned species, potentially making them easier to spot. Their overall spangled brown tones camouflage them well on the ground, especially when seen against the combined similar hues of wrack, sand and pebbles at the Scar. From a distance ‘goldies’ can be almost invisible, their presence revealed only when one of them then raises its wings, revealing a ‘flash’ of white on the undersides and flanks. Applying patience allowed me to regularly record flocks, spanning the month, the largest of which comprised 57 birds on the 19th.

This month also saw Greenshanks being well represented, with 11 sightings registered. Most were of singletons at the Wig or the Scar, but three records were from Loch Connell, including a party of four birds on the 31st. The arrival of 16 Knot at the Scar, on the 1st, caught me by surprise by being somewhat earlier in the season than I had anticipated. More typically I encounter one, or maybe two birds, marking the start of their period of passage. Nevertheless, they were welcome visitors and as it turned out they represented my peak count of this high arctic breeder. Perhaps not surprisingly all of my Lapwing sightings were at Loch Connell, beginning with 14 on the 6th and maximum counts of 21 on the 16th and 24th. I had a very respectable count of 150 Oystercatchers at the Wig on the 23rd; in comparison, Redshanks were considerably fewer, with a high of just 16 (still a good number for this particular spot) on the 29th. Ringed Plovers were, naturally, present about the Wig and Scar in far greater numbers than the previous species, with 68 on the 1st and a peak count of 157 on the 29th. A juvenile Ruff put in an appearance at Loch Connell, on the 6th, and two birds were present at the Scar on the 17th. The very same shingle spit hosted a Sanderling on the 7th and four on the 19th and 23rd. A wisp of 19 Snipe was at Loch Connell on the 16th, with six there the following day and a singleton on the 24th. At the Scar 10 boldly marked, summer-plumaged, Turnstones were a veritable feast to mine eyes on the 7th. Come the months end (29th) many a juvenile, and adults with well worn plumages, formed a closely knit flock of 30 birds that flicked seaweed skywards with their strong bills as the company searched for morsels beneath the strewn vegetation along the strand-line .

It is appreciably more common for me to see Whimbrel on my local patch during the spring migration than during the autumn. This August, however, I had a spread of sightings across the month, four of which were of singletons (on the 1st, 2nd, 24th and 27th) and the others being five at Wig Bay on the 12th, and three at Loch Connell on the 31st. The wader highlight of the month was undoubtedly the Wood Sandpiper that I saw in the close-company of a Greenshank at the Scar on the 4th. I more typically associate this species with freshwater habitats, so it was both a huge surprise and a delight to see it pottering about in the shallows and on the shoreline of the sea-loch.

Gulls have traditionally been synonymous with the coast. They still are, of course, but for species such as the Common Gull their presence in my neighbourhood is strongly linked to the seasons. During the summer they can be near absent, while autumn shows an increase in birds as post breeding adults and offspring begin to pass through the area: increases in numbers can often be sudden and dramatic - much like the appearance of a rainbow after a heavy downpour. Over 150 birds in a grassland at Clendrie was one such spectacle, on the 27th. An immature Iceland Gull at Soleburn, on the 12th, was possibly the same individual that had frequented the locality during late-spring. It certainly seemed to be healthy enough in both appearance and actions in spite of its presence being unusual for the time of year. An adult Kittiwake was seen to pass the Scar on the 3rd and on the 30th. Lesser Black-backed Gulls became more frequent visitors; an especially well turned out party of six handsome adults caught my gaze as they half-dozed  the day away, loafing in grassland beside the Wig on the 7th. A juvenile Little Gull sat out on the Scar on the 14th was also much appreciated myself, being something of a rare treat on my home patch. Several observations of Mediterranean Gull were also not without merit: an adult flying above the middle of Loch Ryan, on the 8th; a different adult at Soleburn, on the 12th; a second-winter bird about the Wig on the 24th, and an adult in the same locality on the 27th and 28th.

Two Arctic Terns made a brief appearance at the Scar on 1st. Common Terns were logged on a few days across the month, with a peak of six birds at the Scar on the 14th. Also here was a Little Tern, which was a delightfully unexpected find on the evening of the 5th. It was outdone, however, by a party of six adult Roseate Terns on the 28th, and two juveniles of the same species the following day (29th). This bunch of sea-faring waifs would not be complete without inclusion of the most common and abundant of their kind to be seen in Wig Bay, Sandwich Terns. I observed this species almost daily, with especially notable counts of 42 on the 1st, 60 on the 12th, 74 on the 17th and 85 on the 28th - all on the Scar, of course.

Many days of rain coupled with generally poor visibility over Loch Ryan hampered my viewing of Black Guillemots. However, sometimes all it takes is for just one clear day and amenable conditions to unite in order to allow an insight to the number of these small, compact, auks  that occupy the loch. This month that day was the 21st. I successfully managed to log a minimum of 70 birds just by viewing through my telescope, from the comfort of my house. A crude exercise for sure, but experience has taught me that such a tally could probably be doubled if a more accurate  assessment of their status is required. It is considerably easier to assess the numbers of Gannets using the loch, on account of the species large size and conspicuous white and black plumage. 89 birds on the 1st was my highest count, which included four immatures and a ‘chocolate-brown’ juvenile. A Great White Egret at Loch Connell on the 17th was a pleasant discovery. I saw Little Egrets using the sea-loch on 11 occasions (an ever continuing improvement in the number of these white herons within the local area), including what to me was an impressive party of eight birds flying northbound across the Wig, on the 16th. Most memorable, however, was an adult bird that I saw perched in the top of one of the Sycamore trees in the playground of the village school - a most incongruous sight, I thought. The number of Cormorants present at the Scar clearly increased as the month progressed: 45 was my highest count of them on the 28th. Not to be outdone, I observed 60 Shags perched on the derelict pier across the water at Cairnryan, on the 7th.

Birds of prey always make for an impressive viewing. A Kestrel mobbing a juvenile female Peregrine that was perched atop a fence post at Loch Connell, on the 6th, made splendid entertainment, whilst an Osprey at the same location, on the 17th, captured my attention for the two hours I remained there, trying in-between times to record the waterfowl that were present at the site. This uncommon visitor to my patch proved too much of a distraction for me, as it also did for a pair of crows that near constantly badgered the bird from a respectfully safe distance…most of the time! The raptor perched in the top of a Sallow, where it seemed to me to appear impressively huge in such a small tree, especially when its whiteness was heightened by the strong rays of the rising sun, effectively making it appear even bigger. Despite being harried the bird remained put on its perch, preening and sunning and no doubt enjoying the advancing warmth of the day. Only when I packed up my gear and headed towards home for breakfast did the Osprey depart, sailing in the direction of Loch Ryan. Perhaps breakfast was also on its mind!

During a routine scan of the sea-loch from my house, I heard a loud thud on one of the windows in another room. I continued with my survey of the birds out in bay, after which I headed outside to see if the window-bashing culprit, or unfortunate victim (depending how you choose to look at it) could be seen. Immediately upon opening an exterior door I was confronted by a juvenile male Sparrowhawk, sat on the ground a few feet in front of me. Clearly it had stunned itself when hitting the glass at speed (no surprises there then… except to the started bird!) and had taken a few minutes to regain its composure. It flew off, none the worse for its experience. I was somewhat relieved by not having to go to its rescue and risk a confrontation with its sharp claws and beak!

The number of pairs of House Martins breeding within what I would consider to be the main built-up zone of the village of Kirkcolm has been at an all time low this summer - barely a handful. Fortunately, there have been ‘outsiders’ to swell their  ranks but even with these the number of birds has been low. The onset of the autumn passage helped swell the local population, with highs of 40 on the 3rd, 72 on the 13th, and a peak count in excess of 136 on the 18th. Sand Martins have always been few on my patch, as evidenced by just four birds at Loch Connell on the 17th. Swallows also seem to have shared the same poor year as their white dumped cousins: the monthly maxima was a tad over 60 birds on the 21st. In previous years Swifts have been but scarce visitors to my patch. This year, however, something extraordinary happened. At least one pair is known to have bred, meaning that sightings of the species were frequent throughout the summer. Their season is brief and birds depart for warmer climes early, so that come August most of their breeding areas have been vacated. I saw three birds on the 1st, a singleton on the 4th, and a final bird on the 13th.

Most of my observations of Chiffchaffs this month were of birds in my garden, with a notably better than average year if the number of records are an indication of anything. Four birds seen foraging amongst the shrubbery was pure delight on the 2nd. Two birds doing the exact same on the 29th rounded off the month nicely. A single Sedge Warbler and two Whitethroats were logged during a local walk on the 12th. I had only two records of Willow Warbler all month, both from my garden: one on the 3rd and another on the 11th.

Other observations that may be of interest to you, reader, are: 92 House Sparrows in my garden on the 28th; approximately 200 Linnets over the Wig fields, also on the 28th; a very poor showing of Meadow Pipits, with the highest count of just six birds, on the 27th; a return to song by Robins, with nine heard on the 19th; a pair of Spotted Flycatchers with three juveniles within the grounds of Corsewall House, also on the 19th; and lastly, a singleton Wheatear at the Wig, on the 7th.

This report is provided courtesy of the author, Stephen Grover

Bird Report for May, June and July 2025

Apologies are in order for my tardiness in not keeping this blog posting up to date: sometimes life and the many varied circumstances associated with its living conspire, interfere and disrupt even the best laid plans.

Although it is the so-called common species that form the bulk of any natural history dataset it is generally those species that we do not see often, or on a regular basis, which folk seek to learn more about. The following is thus not a summary but a selection of personal highlights of records of rare, locally significant, or key species, which I logged on my local patch during the three months covered by this report. The species are presented in alphabetical order within each month.

May 2025

Arctic Tern: singletons at the Scar, Loch Ryan, on the 1st and the 4th; a pair at the Cairnryan Pier on the 26th and 28th. Cetti’s Warbler: one singing, in suitable breeding habitat, on the 4th. This constitutes my first record of this Scottish rarity on my local patch. Eider: 242 males on Loch Ryan was the month’s peak count, on the 30th. Great Crested Grebe: a nesting pair at Loch Connell (on the 11th), present throughout the remainder of the month. Great Northern Diver: all records from Loch Ryan - an adult in breeding plumage on the 6th and 7th; seven birds (including a party of six) in full breeding plumage, on the 8th; a singleton on the 11th. Heron: two breeding pairs on active nests (on 2nd). Iceland Gull: an immature seen about the Wig, Loch Ryan, on the 19th. Kittiwake: five birds flying past the Scar, on the 25th. Lesser Whitethroat: one singing in suitable breeding habitat bordering the sea-loch, on the 8th. Osprey: a singleton observed flying over the Wig fields towards Loch Connell, on the 27th. Puffin: an adult on Loch Ryan, seen on the 3rd and 4th, was a rare treat. Red-throated Diver: recorded on the sea-loch on 13 days between the 1st (10 birds) and the 26th (one bird), with maximum counts of 26 birds on the 3rd, 4th and 8th. Sandwich Tern: highest count of 36 birds at the Scar, on the 1st. Slavonian Grebe: an adult in breeding plumage, seen almost daily in Wig Bay between the 8th and the 28th. Whimbrel: observed on eight days, between the 1st and the 28th, inclusive, with a maximum count of six at the Wig on the 4th. White-billed Diver: a smashing find of an immature at the Wig, on the 4th. Whooper Swan: three were at Loch Connell on the 4th, reducing to two birds on the 11th and then to a singleton on the 25th.

June 2025

Common Sandpiper: a walk along the shoreline of Loch Ryan into the town of Stranraer, on the 19th, turned up a single bird, foraging like a turnstone on the beach at Broadstone. Three Common Terns were at the Wig on the 10th, and one was at the Cairnryan Pier on the 25th. Eider: a female with two small ducklings was at the Scar on the 2nd, whilst 232 males were on the same spit of land on the 12th and a different female with two fully-fledged juveniles, on the 15th. With these two breeding records now archived in my data-base, I think it is safe to say that this has been the worst year of Eider productivity yet. ‘Where have all the Eiders gone’ could be a question the next up-and-coming generation of naturalists might be asking sooner, rather than later! Great Crested Grebe: a single chick was observed at Loch Connell on the 8th and was still present at the month’s end. Curiously, the adults seem to take turns to flight over the intervening hill to forage for food in Loch Ryan. Red-throated Divers on their breeding grounds are widely known to follow this practise but it is not something that I have ever associated with Great Crested Grebes. Little Egret: only one record this month - a single at the Wig on the 28th. Mediterranean Gull: two adults were in one of the grass fields beside the Wig, on the 13th; an adult and a first-summer bird were at the same location on the following two days (13th/14th); a different first-summer bird frequented Wig Bay on the 16th, and an adult and an immature were in the same general area on the 18th and 20th. Pacific Golden Plover: a stunning-looking bird in full-breeding dress, bearing all the hallmarks of this species, was present in the grassland beside the Wig track, on the 12th and 13th. This constitutes my first record of this species on my local patch. Red-breasted Merganser: numbers at Wig Bay were generally low but I made a respectable count of a flock of 44 birds on the 23rd. Whooper Swan: the lone bird from last month remained at Loch Connell throughout June.

July 2025

Arctic Tern: two birds on the Scar, on the 8th and six birds there on the 29th, followed by two birds the next day (30th). Bar-tailed Godwit: one at the Wig on the 15th. Black-tailed Godwit: a singleton at Loch Connell on the 13th; one at the Scar on the 15th, with three there on the 31st. Common Tern: three birds about Wig Bay on the 25th, nine on the 29th and a single on the 30th. Common Sandpiper: a party of five at Kirkcolm beach on the 17th. Eider: a count of 153 at the Scar on the 9th was only exceeded by 158 at the same location on the 29th. Golden Plover: just 18 birds at the Scar on the 15th was a rather poor showing. Greenshank: a singleton was at Loch Connell on the 20th and two were at the Wig on the 30th. Kittiwake: two adults flying past the Scar were unexpected visitors on the 29th. Lapwing: three at Loch Connell on the 13th and 20 there on the 20th. Little Egret: a total of nine were at the Wig on the 30th. Manx Shearwater: a disappointing two records only, with one flying past the Scar on the 10th and a party of three doing the same on the 17th. Mediterranean Gull: an adult observed at Wig Bay on the 3rd and 29th. Osprey: a single bird spent much of the day sat on the Scar, occasionally moving off to hunt in the bay before returning to its chosen post…or should that be, pebble, to rest! Red-breasted Merganser: high counts of 107 and 119 at the Wig on the 8th and the 30th, respectively. Roseate Tern: an adult flew about the Scar on the 29th. Ruff: three at the Scar on the 15th and one there on the 28th. Snipe: singletons at Loch Connell on the 13th and 20th. Wheatear: a first-winter bird was at Loch Connell on the 13th, and at the Wig on the 30th. Whimbrel: one at the Wig on the 17th and four there on the 30th. Whooper Swan: the same bird as reported on last month remained at Loch Connell throughout July.

This report is provided courtesy of the author, Stephen Grover.