This week has certainly been full of surprises, from some interesting records from within Stranraer to not only one, but two new species to the blog - which could be among the most exciting records we've had this year. Summer is really starting to come alive and as always we've got a great selection of species from around the Wig.
Following on from last week's focus on nesting birds and we have even more instances across many species. Over in Stranraer fluffy little Herring Gulls are starting to hatch (though not on cars this time!), whilst back along the coast, we have had several records of Black Guillemot nests. Several birds are still flaunting their breeding plumages, including Turnstones and Sanderlings that were seen on the beach this week.
All these young birds mean the hunting is good for many species, and so we have seen lots of hunters this week. The Peregrines are still out and about, and this week were joined by the record of a single Kestrel - an irregular species in these parts. Our local pair of Buzzards are still a common sight, though sadly there is no sign that they have successfully bred this year. All of these birds however were dwarfed by the arrival of a new species, a White-tailed Eagle! This individual was an immature bird, and so was just passing through as it explored the coastlines. Still, these are very rare records for us, and as a lover of all types of birds of prey, it's definitely the highlight of the week for me.
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| A Siskin on the bird feeders |
Something that has always intrigued me is the difference in garden birds we see between Stranraer and Kirkcolm, despite only being 8 miles apart. We of course share many of the common species, including House Sparrows, Starlings and Blackbirds. Barely 10 minutes into some gardening in Stranraer however, and we already had records of Greenfinch, Swift and Siskin. Historically we have had records of all of these, but in the past couple of months, they have been strangely absent. Nonetheless, it was nice to know that they are at least not too far away.
The huge flocks of male Eider still dominate the loch (399 on Thursday), however we have seen a resurgence of our other ducks. Common Scoters have been very scarce since the winter, however this week we've had a few records of some decent sized flocks (70+). Teals have also been a little thin on the ground these past few weeks, so to have three males and females was confirmation that they are still about. Shelduck at least have been consistent varying in numbers from 2-8 each day as they move around the Wig and Scar. Over at Loch Connell there was the usual complement of Mallards, however amongst them was a very unusual record. A White-faced Whistling Duck would not only be a new record for the blog, but for Dumfries and Galloway, if not the UK itself. That is, if it weren't an escapee. Originally from Central Africa and South America, these are non-migratory ducks (indeed it's thought they originated in Africa and then were brought over to America by humans). Due to their striking appearance, they are commonly kept in zoos and wildfowl collections, and so it is likely that our bird has managed to break free and then found itself a little lost. Nevertheless, it is still a very unique record and definitely caused a lot of excitement!
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| A similar size to Mallards, they are at least easy to pick out |
This week has already been chock full of interesting records, so I thought I would finish by highlighting some more uncommon species we had this week. This includes Lesser-black Backed Gulls at the Wig, a Jay in the estate woods, and a small flock of 8 Knot on the beach. Whilst none of these are considered rarities, they are pretty irregular and so its always nice when we get a record of them.
Finishing the week off is a quick round-up of our mammals. As always we have had Roe deer all over the place, I even disturbed one whilst on my short walk in the Kirkcolm Woods. We also had a few Common Seals, and lastly, a pair of Bottle-nose Dolphins found their way into the Loch. Being this close to the sea its not too surprising to see them, however we always appreciate their visits and wouldn't mind seeing some more!
That seems like enough for this week, and what a thrilling week it has been. it never fails to amaze me the sheer variety of species that we get around the Wig, and just goes to show that if you're lucky to be in the right place at the right time, you can even find the rarest of birds. Hopefully, you check back in next week, where we'll have plenty more exciting records (though I can't guarantee any more eagles).
[All photographs were taken by and belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them.]
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