The Winds of Change are Afoot - April Bird Report

Whether or not we, as individuals, choose to accept that global warming and climate change are a real consequence of human activities there are certainly variations to be noted that are apparent within our bird populations and their seasonality, at both a national and local level.  Here at the Wig, and its surrounds, wintering wildfowl are leaving us earlier for their breeding grounds and the once predictable arrival and passage of some of our most common migrant small birds appears now disrupted and in a state of flux. Fortunately, there are still many birds for us to enjoy whatever the season; and this April has not been without its moments; so without further adieu a brief summary here follows.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese, from the Canadian high arctic, peaked at 201 birds on the 9^th and quickly declined thereafter, with a flock of 23 (including three juveniles) grazing the ‘Twite Fields’ on the 21^st. At the same location on the 30^th a sleety-snow shower grounded a ‘Grey Brant’ – a possible hybrid between a Pale-bellied Brent and a ‘Black Brant’, or even a species in its own right, depending on which authority you choose to believe; either way a new bird for the blog. There were 1300 Pink-footed Geese at the Scar on the 2^nd but come the 25^th of the month only eight were to be seen, grazing the abuttal fields at Loch Connell.  After a surprising, but delightful, 62 Whooper Swans on calm water at the Wig on the 1^st another 34 of them graced the same location on the 12^th.

The usual selection of waders for the time of year was recorded. Dunlins were relatively scarce, peaking at 28 on the 26^th; Ringed Plovers were more frequent, with a high of 108 on the 28^th, whilst Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit could only muster 12 and 10, respectively. Whimbrel fared even worse, with a maximum of four on the 28^th; there were just two Black-tailed Godwits, mid-month, and a single Sanderling on the 28^th and 30^th. The 10^th of the month saw two Common Sandpipers at Loch Connell.

A Ringed Plover contemplates going for a paddle

The maximum number of Teal at Loch Connell was 38 on the 25^th. Amongst them loafed a handsome drake Shoveler and close by – constituting their last record of the month – two female Goldeneyes continually dived.  Common Scoters were more numerous on Loch Ryan, with a maximum of just 29. Though numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers were generally low, 102 on the 20^th was most welcome. It should be remembered that the weather – be it rain, mist, snow, or the effects of heat haze – greatly determines visibility and the use to which optics, such as spotting scopes, can ordinarily be employed to improve a birders tick list! Many counts, therefore, are rarely definitive but do prove useful as a guide to what’s about. 

Spotting scopes particularly come into their own on mid to long range subjects (weather permitting, of course!). Divers and grebes invariably fall into this category. A flock of six Slavonian Grebes in resplendent breeding plumage were truly handsome, seen at both the beginning and mid-month (in all probability different birds). Their magnificence, however, was surpassed by the appearance of Great Northern Divers, immaculate in full summer dress, with up to three birds on the 13^th and 20^th. Remarkably, though not quite so well attired, were three Black-throated Divers on the 29^th. Not to be outdone, Red-throated Divers – some in breeding plumage, some still in winter apparel – were more frequent visitors on Loch Ryan with 24 birds present on the 29^th.

Spring is a time one often associates with migrants. Sand Martins have been with us for some time now but our first Swallow of the season only arrived on the 13^th, to be greeted by 10 singing Skylarks in the grassland beside the Wig track.  Wagtails and Wheatears typically favour these same fields on their spring passage but this year, as was indeed similar last year, their absence has been sorely felt. Just four White Wagtails were counted on the 20^th and a lone individual on the 29^th. Wheatears fared no better, with one on the 4^th, 10^th, 20^th and 28^th. Admittedly, the bird on the 20^th was of the larger, more brightly coloured, ‘Greenland’ race; and dandy he was, too. 

Wheatears are the masters of posing, be it on rocks or fence posts 

Gannets were observed in respectable numbers throughout the month with a maximum of 51 on the 30^th. Their sheer size, not to mention their striking white and black plumage, helps make them conspicuous. On the opposite side of the coin, the smallness of auks – Guillemot, Razorbill and Tystie (aka Black Guillemot) – makes them relatively inconspicuous at any distance except when occurring in large flocks; needless to say they were only seen in ones and twos.

Sandwich Terns were regular throughout the month: 55 of their elegant forms brought additional charm to the Scar on the evening of the 15^th. A single Common Tern (the only record of the month), also on the 15^th and two Arctic Terns on the 21^st made for a poor showing. An immature Glaucous Gull at the Scar on the 9th was an unforeseen visitor and an actual count of 385 Herring Gulls, also at the Scar, on the 30^th made for a refreshing change from the usual guesstimate numbers for this species. Common Gulls, as is typical at this time of year, have almost vacated the Wig and Black-headed Gulls have considerably reduced in number there.

Small ‘bachelor’ parties of Carrion Crows were ever present, along with ‘paired’ birds; two such pairs include birds of hybrid ‘Hoody’ origin. A Raven, though regularly seen, made a splendid sight on one occasion congregating with its smaller cousins which had gathered to forage in the ‘Flash Fields’; a great side-by-side comparison of the two species, and in a field in which I have never  seen a Raven stood before in my 12 years of residence here.

Perhaps the star bird - if one should label it so presumptuously – was a Hoopoe, briefly glimpsed as it fed in a field on the outskirts of Kirkcolm on the 25^th; a spectacular one day wonder!

Not every bird waits for the camera! - Impression of the Hoopoe

The estate woods have at last come alive with the sounds of summer migrants. Initially there were three Chiffchaffs voicing their ‘slip-slap’ songs on the 1^st, nine the next day and by the 12^th there were at least 11. Blackcaps were the next to arrive on our patch with two singing on the 2^nd, five on the 12^th, and eight on the 29^th. Willow Warblers did not arrive until the 15^th when four were heard singing, then nine on the 29^th. In previous years ‘Willows’ have outnumbered ‘Chiffs’ but changes in recent woodland management practices have altered the habitat resulting in a shift in favour of the ‘Willows’.

Common Whitethroats are often late to arrive at the Wig and were duly not recorded until the 27^th. Sedge Warblers usually arrive earlier than the preceding species but were not picked up ‘till two days later on the 29^th when two birds were vociferous in their proclamation of territory at the marsh.

A Common Whitethroat surveys from atop a bush

Finally, let us not forget the humble garden habitat.  Yet again a Tree Sparrow has made a visit to our abode – or to the feeders, I should say. There was one bird on the 24^th and, presumably, the very same bird likewise on the 27^th. No doubt it did the rounds of all the gardens in the neighbourhood and, perhaps, favoured better stocked feeders than ours! More exceptionally – for us a least – was a Greenfinch singing his little heart out from the canopy of our birch tree, at the end of the month.

With spring passage still ongoing May is likely to be equally rewarding so stay tuned in for the next post. 

This article, photos and information presented within were provided by courtesy of S. Grover.