Another Dose of the Deluge: Bird Report for 17/02/20 - 23/02/20

At this point, I think we're all resigned to the weather, be it wind, rain, sleet or snow. Nonetheless, there is still a lot out there to see, even if I had to endure some unpleasant side effects to get out and see it!

Where better to begin than on the beach with our waders? Taking shelter from the high winds they were often hunkered down in the shelter of a rock, whilst occasionally braving the gale to run along the shore in search of food. Hardest to spot are the Turnstones, whose mottled backs offer the perfect camouflage amongst the seaweed pebbles. Once they make a run for it though you can pick them out, and there were as many as 38 on the beach this week. Often seen running alongside them were Ringed Plover, whilst Oystercatchers, Curlew and Redshank were common sights all along the beach. Among them was a lone Dunlin, likely blown in by our numerous storms. This still wasn't all of our waders however, as 11 Bar-tailed Godwits were recorded later in the week. Finally, a small flock of 4 Grey Plovers was seen past the end of Fishers Lane, but they refused to stay put for a picture!

Days later, and we finally got a Grey Plover photo!

With the amount of rain we've had recently, everything is very muddy and boggy, so birds in the fields might as well be waders. As always we had our large flock of Pale-Bellied Brent geese - accompanied by their Dark-bellied cousin - who graze in the Swan Fields. This week they seemed to grow a little, with one count recording over 270 Geese (previous counts have them around 200). Pink-footed Geese can still be heard coming into roost at night, and a flock of 200 birds was counted. We even had a couple of Greylags down on the Wig, including an immature bird.

Continuing the trend of large flocks, and the gulls have been gathering in good numbers this week. Whilst Black-headed and Great Black-backed gulls appeared in regular numbers, both Common and Herring Gulls were recorded in flocks of over 150 birds. We also got some new gulls this week, not in huge numbers, but 5 Kittiwakes were very nice to see as they took shelter from the storm. They weren't the only birds taking shelter in our calmer waters though, as we had several Gannets visit the loch over the week.

Perhaps the best suited to these storms are the divers, after all, it's already very wet when you're underwater! Red-throated Diver numbers were a little low this week, peaking at 21 birds. This is probably not a reflection of the number of birds out there though, and more just our inability to see them. They weren't alone, as we also had a record of a Black-throated Diver, as well as a few Great-Northern Divers.

On the surface of the water, we had our regular complement of ducks, including Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Eider and Goldeneye. Their numbers were a bit down from usual, but that was to be expected given the circumstances. One species who appeared unaffected was the Common Scoter, which whilst seen daily also were recorded in a flock of up to 300 birds.

You can tell its been raining - edge of Corsewall Estate

As you go round the Wig, instead of turning up Fishers Lane you can continue along the beach a bit further. This takes you past a patch of marshland (now very wet thanks to all that rain) which this week had Grey Herons, and up to 60 Teal - even if they are often easier to hear than see. Further along this stretch, we had another new species for the Blog, a pair of Bullfinches! Bullfinches are rather scarce locally, and the Wig isn't their preferred habitat (woodlands - or even gardens are ideal) so they are a rare record for us. This doesn't mean they are rare bird themselves, just their natural habitat and elusive natures make them hard to spot and so they could well be under-recorded.

Following down the trail along the beach, you should eventually reach a gated path bearing left, which loops back around through the Corsewall Estate and ends up in Kirkcolm Village. There are still a few signposts to go up, but once complete this should be a nice addition to the circuit and provide some new habitats to explore. Wrapping along the edge of the woodland, it is a great spot to listen out for some birds. From across the field, you often hear the whistling of Teal, whilst in the tree's Great-spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatches are regular callers. Blue, Great and Coal Tits were all recorded here this week, as well as a Jay which was nice to see.

A Tree Sparrow waits in the queue

You don't need an estate garden to be able to see a good diversity of species though. In our own garden, we've had Carrion Crows (and the Hybrid), Collared Doves, Starlings, Chaffinches, Robins, Goldfinches, Dunnocks, and at one point, over 50 House Sparrows. It's amazing what will stop to visit if you have a little food out in your birdfeeders. Indeed, it is the food that attracts our semi-regular Tree Sparrow, as we only record it after we fill up the birdfeeders! It's nice to see it still about, and perhaps if we keep feeding it, it will become a resident.

And so another week comes to a close. Whilst the wind and rain don't seem to be stopping any time soon, the good news is that February is drawing to a close. A new month will hopefully bring new weather and the promise of spring. I hope you all enjoyed this post, and we'll be back next week with another bird round-up. 

(All photos and records belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them)

A Wetland Birds Paradise - Piltanton Burn

This week I thought I would highlight a great local birdwatching spot, the Piltanton Burn. Located between Dunragit and Glenluce, the burn flows out into the Luce Bay and provides a variety of habitats for numerous species. It is here where we do our monthly WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) counts, and so we visit it often and have racked up over 110 different species. 

Piltanton Burn - taken from the Stranraer and the Rhins OS Map

The burn can be accessed by turning off the B7084 and parking up at the golf course. From here there is a track that runs alongside the golf course before reaching the shore. There is a parking area at the end of the track for those who would like to walk less distance. In the fields and hedges, you can get all sorts of species, including House Sparrows and Tits, to Stonechats and Greenfinches. 

Upon reaching the beach the Luce Sands stretch out in front of you and can be further accessed by walking in either direction. These sands are a hotspot for waders and have species like the common Oystercatcher and Curlew, to the exciting Greenshanks and Knot, with all kinds of Plovers and Sandpipers in between. When the tide is out they can be scattered across the miles of sand and mud, and you can easily spend a good hour scanning through them all. Its always worth it to look though, as occasionally you get some rarities like the White-rumped Sandpiper we had last year, which was a first for Dumfries and Galloway.

The sands of the estuary are also a great place for ducks, with Mallard and Wigeon being very common on the banks of the burn. Shelducks are often spread out across the flats with sometimes over 50 birds feeding on the shore. They aren't without rarities though, as amongst its cousins a Ruddy Shelduck was once recorded.

Being on the shore this area gets a lot of seabirds, especially if the tide is right in and they come into binocular range. Guillemots and Razorbills are often out on the sea itself, whilst Gannets are easier to see flying overhead. There are bound to be plenty more species out at sea, but occasionally they will come in close enough for us to make out. So whilst we've had a record of Pomarine Skua, its very likely that Arctic Skuas are out there as well.

Piltanton Estuary at low tide 

Like anywhere on the coast, this is a great place for gulls. Alongside the common species like Herring and Black-headed Gulls, we've also had Lesser Black-backed gulls and the occasional record of an Iceland and Glaucous Gull.

With all of these birds flocking to the estuary, it can be a veritable banquet for raptors. Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, and Kestrels are a common sight coming out from the woods. Between these and the Peregrines and Merlins, there is always something hunting on the burn. We occasionally, get harriers as well, including Marsh and Hen Harriers. Finally, being a burn and on Luce Bay, there is one additional food source for those specialized to catch it. And so there have been several records of Ospreys flying overhead as they pass over on a fishing trip.

Piltanton Burn has one more feature beyond all its birds that makes it such a good visit. In the summer months, on a warm day, you may want to watch where you place your feet when walking in the undergrowth. Sometimes very hard to spot (I myself have walked right past them), Adders can often be seen sunning themselves on a warm patch of sand. Their small size makes them easy to miss, but when found they are unmistakable. Often they will just move away when they hear you coming, but on occasion, it is possible to go right up to them and get some great photographs!

A female Adder trying to warm up in the sun

And with that, you're back at the car park! Whilst only a short walk it is easy to spend hours on the beach trying to take in all there is to see. This definitely is the spot if you're wanting to see wetland birds, and with its easy access, I would always recommend checking it out.

(All photos are the property of Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you want to use them)

Waiting for the Wind to Pass: Bird Report for 10/02/20 - 16/02/20

We had storms at both ends of this week, and so as you can imagine the weather has not been too kind for birdwatching. Nonetheless, we still have a veritable hoard of records from all over Loch Ryan and even further afield. 

Given the weather, a lot of our birdwatching was done from the safety of home. From our upstairs landing, we can gaze out and (with a good telescope) see past the shore and far out onto the Loch. The most common sights are diving birds, which we get a huge variety. Starting with their namesake, we have had as many as 34 Red-throated Divers in one day, as well as a single Black-throated Diver alongside them. There are still some Great Northern Divers on the Loch as well, as we've seen a pair on several occasions this week. Grebes have also been fairly commonplace, however, in smaller numbers with the highest counts being 3 Great-crested Grebes and 5 Slavonian Grebes.

A Great-crested Grebe braves the waves

Another lot of sub-surface feeders are the diving ducks. Of these the most numerous are Common Scoter, of which we saw daily and in numbers up to 260 birds. Goldeneyes, Eider,  and Red-breasted Mergansers are just as regular and were seen from as few as 1 bird to as many as 50 individual birds in a day. Finally, we had a lone Scaup on the Wig, though they are more common in other areas of Loch Ryan, with 14 recorded at Bishop Burn. 

Bishop Burn is also a great spot to see Pintail, and the same pair has been seen there for a while now. Moving onto our other surface-feeding ducks, and some Mallards made their way round to the Wig this week, as well as single Teal was seen on the marshland just up past the beach. More of both of these were seen on Loch Connell, along with a group of Tufted Ducks. Loch Connell was also the sight of some Whooper Swans, with a flock of 22 present over the week. 

Keeping with the theme of alternative birdwatching locations, we also had a lot of records from Piltanton this week. This is an estuary where the Piltanton Burn flows into Luce Bay, but more about that in this week's feature article. It is a very good spot for Waders and this week had Oystercatchers, Redshanks, 3 Greenshank and over 250 Golden Plover. The fields surround the estuary are also great for grazers and contained Curlew, a lone Mute Swan, and on the shores of the burn, over 30 Shelduck. This was a bit of a low count for the area, however,  that is understandable given the storm blowing at the time of recording.

Shelducks on the Shore

At the Wig, we had our own selection of waders, including Ringed Plovers, Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit. Alongside them, we also had a great selection of gulls, including Black-headed Gulls, and flocks of over 100 Common and Herring Gulls. We also had the occasional Great Black-backed Gull, as well as an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull. 

Whilst the waters of Loch Ryan may have been plentiful, the surrounding fields were less so this week. Despite the apparent scarcity though, we still had a flock of 20 Twite, 32 Redwing, and one Skylark.  In the shelter of the woods, things looked much better and we had our many regular species including Blue Tits, Great Tits, and Goldfinches. Whilst not as common, we still had at least one record of Nuthatch, Goldcrest, and Siskin, with the Great Spotted Woodpecker returning too.

Returning to our garden and between the gales, our Tree Sparrow returned. That was until the birdfeeder ran empty! This has been a surprisingly regular sighting over the past few weeks, so it's very likely the same bird that is touring the village bird feeders. Alongside it was, of course, the House Sparrows and our other garden residents including Collared Dove, Starling, and Chaffinch. 

Nearby we have several Rookeries, and so it is no surprise that we had a single flock of over 300 birds this week. They weren't the only corvids out in force, however, as we also had a flock of over 100 Jackdaws earlier in the week, alongside the regular Carrion Crows and their hybrid companion. Ravens even managed to brave the winds, with a couple spotted throughout the week. 

"Rook To C-Shore"

That's quite a lot on the bird front, however, we have one last record before we finish. Scurrying along the garden wall of Corsewall Estate, we had a Red Squirrel! We do have a small resident population in the woodland surrounding Kirkcolm, but they are still rare sightings and always a pleasure to see. 

Somehow I've managed to waffle on even longer than usual so I'll bring it to a close now. As always I hope you enjoyed it, and here's hoping for no more storms this week!

(All records and photos are the property of Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them)

Wind, Waves and a Waxwing: Bird Report for 03/02/20 - 09/02/20

It's a momentous occasion for the blog this week, we recorded our 100th species of the year! We also had the onset of Storm Ciara but despite the gusty weather its been a very balanced week, with lots of records across all the families of birds. 

This week's records start on Loch Connell, a small lake just outside of Kirkcolm that yields a surprising diversity of species. Its surrounding fields are a great spot for all sorts of birds to graze. These regularly include large flocks of geese, and this week there were over 450 Pink-footed Geese happily feeding. Amongst them were also small flocks of both Greylag and Canada geese, along with a lonesome Whooper Swan. Less conspicuous were the Curlews, of which almost 100 also fed amongst the grass. And on the loch itself was a nice selection of ducks, including Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and flocks of over 100 Wigeon and Teal. 

Looking out on Loch Ryan and there was no shortage of ducks to see there either. Such numerous species included almost 300 Eider, approximately 50 Red-breasted Mergansers and over 250 Common Scoters. Slightly less prolific were the Goldeneye and Shelduck, but all seen on a regular basis. Finally, a pair of Velvet Scoters were spotted on Wednesday. 

Male Eider on Loch Ryan

We also had some seabirds on the water this week, perhaps sheltering in advance of the coming weather. A group of 4 Razorbills were recorded, along with our first Guillemot of the year. A more common sight were the Black Guillemots, of which 13 were recorded in a single day, including one bird in adult breeding plumage. And that wasn't the only bird with propagation on the brain, as individuals of both Slavonian Grebes and Long-Tail Ducks had similar breeding plumages. They must have been exceptionally keen since these plumages aren't normally seen until April. 

Last week I mentioned the Hooded Crow-Carrion Crow hybrid, and this bird was seen again several times this week, alongside several regular Carrion Crows. We also had regular Jackdaws and Rooks, and even a pair of Ravens! That wasn't the end to the corvid compilation, however, as to round it all out, we had a new species for the blog with a pair of Jays. 

It wouldn't be the Wig without some waders, and we always get a nice selection no matter the state of the tide. This week had all our regulars including Oystercatcher, Redshanks (a count of over 30 birds at Bishop burn) and Turnstones, as well as a lone Bar-tailed Godwit and a flock of over 40 Ringed Plovers.

A Ringed Plover wades in the mud

From waders, we move into the woods and there was a nice surprise waiting for us. Alongside the commoner Great Tits, Coal Tits, and Goldfinches, we also had more records of Goldcrest and Nuthatches. New to the blog however was a Great-spotted Woodpecker, located by its distinctive "chip" call. 

Woods weren't the only place thronging with smaller birds, however, as we had some great species recorded on the beach and surrounding fields. Groups of Rock Pipits were seen pretty regularly, along with a Stonechat and a record of 5 Skylarks. Skylarks can be hard to find in winter, though we should be seeing more soon as many will breed here. 

This past week there has been a bit of a Waxwing fever, with some great records and photo's coming out of the Dumfries area. Not to be outdone, we had our own Waxwing on Saturday. They're quite rare out here on the Rhins and normally you would expect to see them slightly further inland, so perhaps it was taking shelter from the coming storm. They will go whenever there is food though, and Rowan Berries are a particular favourite of theirs so keep your eyes peeled, you never know where they might turn up. 

It seems fitting to end this week on perhaps my favourite bird, the Peregrine Falcon. This was recorded on Friday as it came in off of the sea heading into Stranraer, and I'm sad to have missed it. We do have a local population, however, and you stand a good chance of seeing one further up near the mouth of the loch.

A Peregrine on the lookout for prey

And that's another week of records! Hopefully, the stormy weather will soon pass and we can get out to do some birdwatching! You never know, it might have blown in something exciting and unusual as well. As always thanks for reading, and I hope you all have a nice week's birdwatching!

[All photographs were taken by and belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them.]

The SOC West Galloway Branch Meeting

Next week is the February meeting for the SOC West Galloway Branch. These are great opportunities to come together with like-minded people and hear about birding experiences from all over the world. This month's meeting is on Tuesday the 11th, and the talk will be "Access all areas: How we successfully removed invasive Black Rats from the Shiant Isles" by Tom Churchyard. It will be held in the Stranraer Library (access via fire escape entrance) at 7.30pm and all are welcome. It's free and you don't even have to be a SOC member! If you think this might interest you then I thoroughly recommend coming along to try, it's a great chance to meet with fellow birders, discuss what's in the area and enjoy a high-quality talk. 

The Beauty of Birds: Why do we Birdwatch?

I've often wondered how people become birdwatchers. For me, it was a family thing. I grew up with parents who are keen birders, and so it was just natural for me to pick it up. Not everyone has such a similar environment growing up though, so what is the appeal of birds? In this article, I want to discuss some possible reasons for our interest in birds, and why we keep coming back to them.

A Fascination with Feathers

The reasons to love birds are as varied and numerous as there are species to look at. However, I think there are 3 key factors that every ornithologist, amateur or professional, can relate their passion for birdwatching to.

1. Alluring Avians

Birds are an incredibly diverse group of animals, both in location and appearance. In our local area alone we've had over 230 species, the British list stands at about 570, and around the world, there are an estimated 18000 different species of birds. If you then account for different plumages relating to age and season, interspecies hybrids and just the general individuality within a species, there is a near-infinite amount of birds to see. This creates the very basis of birdwatching, our natural curiosity. We look at birds to see what they are. Maybe we're searching for a new species, counting Eider for a survey or just looking for your favourite birds, the curiosity that makes us look and the excitement upon discovery is the essence of birdwatching. 

Another benefit of this great variety is the inevitable beauty that has evolved across the many species. Birds exist in all shapes and sizes with feathers coloured in every shade of the rainbow. This results in some truly spectacular species, from the humble iridescence of a Pheasant to the many coloured feathers of a Mandarin duck, and even the breathtaking plumage of a Bird of Paradise. Each species is delightful in its own way and this subconscious admiration and appreciation of what we see are what drives us to look at birds time and time again.

Goldfinch and Mallard, common birds for many of us but no less beautiful because of that

2. There are no walls in the sky

The fundamental basis of birdwatching is an appreciation of the natural world. Yet the same things that make us like birds apply to plants and other animals, so why is it that Ornithology is a much wider practised hobby than Botany or Mammology? Indeed, I would imagine many of us are equally interested in these areas, and yet our knowledge and experience are far more limited. 

The reason for this is, quite simply, birds can fly. There are obviously a few exceptions to this, but the common birds we all know and love are associated with the sky. This means there are no limits on where they can travel, and so birds are seen from coasts to cities and all the surrounding countryside. This enhanced mobility makes them easier to spot as well, whether in the sky or on a shoreline our eyes are instinctively attracted to their movement. Wherever you live you are always going to be surrounded by birds, and all we need to do is look out and see them.

3. The Gift of Flight

Whilst flight is a mechanic which makes birds so available and easy to spot, it is also something that enhances their natural beauty. Plants can be as colourful and as varied as birds, however, they are largely static organisms. Birds are the aerial masters, and their graceful glides, stoops, jinks and mighty soars are both elegant and breath-taking to behold. Alongside invoking a sense of wonder, I think we are able to relate on some level with birds, after all, they struggle and succeed in life just as we do. However, for all of our science, technology and philosophies, they will always have that which we do not, flight and the freedom that comes with it. I think on a subconscious level we are envious of this, and this primordial instinct is what drove us to develop our own methods of flight. Even now though, I think there is something wistful about watching a flock of birds take off, and because of that I think so long as birds exist, we will have a desire to watch them. 

Golden Plovers in Flight

Birdwatchers, one and all

From professional Ornithologists to those of us who watch garden birds from our kitchen window, there are many different ways in which we pursue our shared interest. We are all united though, and whether through curiosity, surprise, admiration or longing, we each have a passion for birds and proudly call ourselves birdwatchers. 

That seems like enough waxing lyrical for one article. I hope you were able to relate to some of these qualities from your own experiences, and I'd love to know how your intrigue for birdwatching came about.

(All pictures belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them)

Hunting and Hiding: Bird Report for 27/01/20 - 02/02/20

This week we finally entered February but it seems we're still unable to escape the cold wind of winter. Whilst it might be cold for us, these conditions are relatively mild for many birds and so they temporarily stop here, avoiding the harsher climates elsewhere. This means more birds for us, and yet again more new species for this blog were recorded. 

Before venturing out to the Wig, I thought I would start this week in the garden. This week sees the return of the elusive Tree Sparrow which frequented our feeders amongst large flocks of House Sparrows. Whilst not a sparrow (they're actually accentor's, though previously known as Hedge Sparrows) we had a regular Dunnock in the garden as well.  Other garden staples include Starlings, Collared Doves, and Carrion Crows, amongst which there hid a Carrion - Hooded Crow hybrid. Hooded Crows are common nearby in Belfast or the Isle of Man, and so occasionally we see them cross over the sea to produce these very similar looking hybrids. 

The Hybrid Crow - Hooded Crows have a much larger and paler grey patch

Setting out around the Wig now, and we have had our usual complement of waders: Oystercatchers, Curlew, Redshank, and Turnstone. What was especially nice, however, was a large flock of over 50 Knot. Slightly further up the beach, we've had Pied Wagtails, Stonechats, Rock Pipits, and a stone's throw away in the field, a Meadow Pipit. It was not alone though, with large flocks of over 60 Twite being a regular sight above the fields.

Somewhat easier to spot were the Mute Swans, which give their name to the Swan Fields. And these weren't the only Swans this week, a group of 5 Whooper Swans was recorded in the fields surrounding Loch Connell. 

A Whooper Swan between 2 Mute Swans

From swans to geese (yes, all those Brent Geese are still regular sights) to ducks, and this week we expand our duck selection yet again. Whilst species such as Eider, Shelduck, Common Scoter and Goldeneye are a common sight in flocks on Loch Ryan, our little patch of water also has a very regular, lone Scaup. She wasn't alone this week though, as we also had a record of a Lesser Scaup, which as an American species is an extreme rarity in these parts. Moving off the loch and both Mallard and Teal were seen in the Estate gardens and marsh area respectively. These species also had larger counts on Loch Connell (over 200 Teal!) and alongside them, a small flock of Tufted Ducks.

Sticking to the water, and our winter residents; the Long-Tailed Ducks and Great-Northern Divers, were still out in force. On the water beside them were Slavonian Grebes, Red-throated Divers, Cormorants and a large number of Black Guillemots.  

Sometimes on the beach, sometimes on the water and sometimes in the air, we always have a selection of gulls. No rarities this week (that we know of anyway) but we still had our regular species in Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls, alongside numerous Greater Black-backed Gulls in all versions of their many immature plumages. 

Progressing around the Wig, and in the woodland, we had a good selection of small birds singing as they flit between the trees. The Nuthatches were present yet again, alongside a Goldcrest, Great Tits, Coal Tits and Long-Tailed Tits. Finally, hiding from the world in a muddy indent, a Woodcock was spotted in a nearby field. 

A Buzzard gazes down from on high

And it was hiding for a good reason, for this week hunters were in the air. Buzzards have been regular sightings, often in pairs or more. But this week's raptor of renown goes to a female Merlin, which was caught mid-pursuit as she chased down some unfortunate small brown bird.  

And that seems like a great way to round off this week. Certainly, it was a suitably exciting way to complete January, with a total of 95 species having been recorded across the whole month. It was also a great start to February, so here's hoping that the following weeks will be just as jam-packed and diverse! 

(All records and photo's submitted by Stephen Grover, please ask for permission to use them)