In the birding world the month of May has traditionally been marked by migration – the arrival of our summer visitors and the departure of those that have wintered with us. It is very much a cross-over month in this respect and is, generally, witness to some unexpected – or at least, irregular – visitors. That tradition was upheld this year with more than one species adding to the delight of the place that I now call home.
A few Pale-bellied Brents
usually linger into May; but not this year – their absence about the Wig was a
notable loss. Pink-footed Geese were
present but in low numbers, with just seven on the 1st at Loch
Connell and the last observation of two birds at the same site on the 22nd. In contrast, and at the same site, Greylag numbers increased although
these birds were considered to be all of ‘feral’ stock, with up to 46 adults –
including four pairs with goslings. Also
from here came the only record of a lone Whooper
Swan on the 1st, whilst Mute
swans on Loch Ryan itself were scarce. A notable party of them (58) was, however, recorded at Piltanton Estuary
on the 22nd during a WeBS count.
The highest count of Teal
was on the 1st when ten were at Loch Connell. Diving ducks were, thankfully, more in
evidence than their ‘dabbling’ counterparts on Loch Ryan. Unlike many scarce birds in these parts two,
stunning, drake Velvet Scoters were
not one day wonders but habitually sat off the Scar from the 1st to
the 15th of the month, coming in to the loch on a rising tide and
each day leaving it on a receding one. Common Scoters, which are ordinarily
more frequent visitors than ‘Velvets’, can be a bit of a hit-and-miss species
at this time of year on account of their habit of spending much of their time
on the loch well off-shore and out of view; this, coupled with the blurry heat
haze of late has been attributable to their apparent poor showing this
month. A flock of 40 on 11th
and 42 on the 29th was thus confirmation of their presence. Regular visiting birdwatchers will know that Scaup are birds of the winter months
and typically frequent the southern end of the loch bordering Stranraer. At the Wig they occur intermittently so a
flock of 14, comprising nine females and five males, was a very welcome sight
on the evening of the 12th. On the evening before (the 11th) a fine party of eight male Long-tailed Ducks in full summer attire
displayed around two females, and was perhaps even more resplendent – certainly
more unusual to see – than the Scaup of the following day. Numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers on the loch fell quickly after the 1st
when 37 were counted. Eiders on the other hand showed their
usual rapid increase, going from just 28 on the 1st to 265 on the 31st. Only a handful was females, the remainder
males that were gathering to moult.
The spring passage of Red-throated
Divers continued throughout the month with a total of 64 (including a flock
of 46) on the 1st, a pair in full breeding dress, posturing, at the
Wig on the 4th and a most respectable flock of 82 on the 7th
and 59 on the 11th; thereafter numbers on Loch Ryan declined
steadily to just a single on the 31st. Great
Northern Divers were, not surprisingly, scarcer with individuals on the 1st,
the 11th and 13th.
On the 12th, however, there were two birds together, both of
them in full breeding apparel – immaculate, pristine and handsome to boot. A probable White-billed Diver – sadly glimpsed only – was seen flying past the
Scar on the 21st. There was
just a single record of a lone Great
Crested Grebe on the 11th and a singleton Dabchick at the Wig on the 23rd.
Recent years have seen a contraction in the already small number of Fulmars visiting. A single bird on the 6th and two on the 22nd was encouragement enough for me to further investigate their usual haunts; come the 27th three or four pairs had established themselves. Gannets, on account of their impressive size and grandeur, are perhaps the most conspicuous birds over the loch and good numbers of them were observed throughout the month, most notably on the 2nd and 21st when 75 and 77 were noted, respectively. Not as abundant or obvious as Gannets in this month are Shags and Cormorants, both of which breed locally. Shags, being the smaller of the two, favour cave sites in which to nest; consequently, they are more difficult to census accurately. Cormorants are the opposite, adopting more open and exposed ground where their nests are obvious – not only on account of their bulk but by the accompanying smattering, splattering and liberal wash of guano that marks them. At least five Shag nests were noted and 18 of Cormorants; many of the latter contained grotesque squabs of various ages and sizes.
The passage of Ospreys
might well be considerable across the country but Loch Ryan rarely sees any, so
one on the 1st followed by another on the 7th were
notable indeed. Whilst not raptors
themselves owls still have the trademark hooked beaks and sharp talons of birds
of prey. It was nice to confirm the
presence of breeding Tawny Owl. Typically nocturnal they may also be heard
calling during the day especially when there are hungry young to be fed and wet
nights limit foraging by the adults. A Barn Owl mid-month was an additional
bonus.
Despite being a common wintering species locally the Curlew is scarce hereabouts during May;
little surprise that few were thus noted. Whimbrels, however, are
usually more frequent. What began with a
promising four birds at Loch Connell on the 1st didn’t meet general
expectation thereafter with just three birds at the Wig on the 11th
and 12th, a commendable ten on the 13th and two on the 17th;
thus concluding the spring passage of Whimbrel for this year, at least. But before we depart this species it is worth
noting that all the present noted birds were silent visitors – usually it is
their seven note whistle that draws ones attention to them. Bar-tailed
Godwits faired even worse with just a single record of three birds on the 4th;
this was not bettered any by a lone Black-tailed
Godwit at the Wig on the 1st and another bird at Piltanton
during WeBS day on the 22nd. An
unexpected two Greenshanks at the
Scar on the 1st was a pleasant delight but, overall, thank goodness,
says I, for the smaller, commoner, waders. Ringed Plovers, present
across the month peaked early, on the 2nd, with a flock minimum of
220; but due to increased people traffic (a consequence of Covid regulations!)
there were no breeding attempts made – a sad first in my years of residency
here. The maximum count of Dunlins was 47 on the 1st;
also on that date a Common Sandpiper graced
Loch Connell. Sanderlings did not arrive until the 23rd and a small
number of them were seen thereafter, peaking with eight in dappled reddish
breeding plumage at the Wig on the 27th. A roding Woodcock
on the evening of the 19th was yet another unexpected delight as I
went my way along the footpath through the estate woods at twilight listening
out for the ultrasonic sounds of bats on my detector.
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| A Whimbrel on the wing |
Sandwich Terns were present about the Wig throughout the month but numbers were generally low, excepting a count of 42 on the 2nd and which coincided with the first Arctic Tern of the season. Common Terns were not detected until the 16th when two were present. Observations of both Arctic and Common Terns were sparse but that may be attributable to the effects of heat haze on viewing conditions rather than an absence of birds; indeed, many a tern was espied but had to remain unidentified on account this atmospheric blurriness.
On the evening of the 23rd the sighting of a bird
provoked in me a memory of ‘Shorelands Summer Diary’ (by the late C. F.
Tunnicliffe). A colour image reproduced
in that book captured the very pose I saw adopted by a Roseate Tern as if flew about the Scar. Very much a rare species in Scotland, I was
fortunate to see a “Rosie” about the Wig thereafter up to the end of the month,
with two birds present on the 25th and on the 31st a bird
flying purposefully along carrying a fish. One can only hope (and dream one does!) that nesting was underway locally.
No Guillemots
were seen this month and there were few Razorbills:
a maximum of 14 on the 11th. Amazingly, however, two Little
Auks, in summer plumage, made an appearance on the 21st. These diminutive birds bobbed about together
off the Scar in the early evening. Despite being one of the world’s commonest birds – in sheer numbers,
that is – they are decidedly rare along Scotland’s west coast and typically
occur in winter only. In recent years I
have been fortunate enough to see a handful of them on Loch Ryan but never
before have I seen one – let alone, two – in breeding dress in British
waters. Certainly, for me, they were
star birds of the month – unexpected, yes; and privileged, indeed, I felt for
having spied them; plus, a memory made to last a lifetime in the process.
Common Whitethroats arrived on the 1st and quickly occupied all their usual haunts thereafter. Lesser Whitethroats – very recent colonisers of the North Rhins – were first noted on the 4th; after which three or four territories were located along the shoreline from the outlet at the end of Fisher’s Lane north to Lady Bay. A Grasshopper Warbler, on the 2nd, was heard ‘reeling’ at the marsh where just a single Sedge Warbler was also heard in song; the latter increased to seven singing males at this site at the end of the month.
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| Sedge Warblers also inhabit reeds, and even brambles! |
Greenland Wheatears are typical passage visitors of May but few were seen this year, with two on the 1st at Loch Connell, another there on the 10th, three at the Wig on the 12th and the last one on the 27th. Cuckoos are always worth a mention because they are scarce birds about the Wig; the first was on the 4th and singletons occurred on the 19th and 31st. Notable was a Hooded Crow at the ‘Twite Fields’ on the 2nd in the company of one of the resident hybrids, providing an excellent side-by-side comparison. Another was at Piltanton on the 22nd.
Siskins are sporadic breeders locally; a couple of birds singing were thus an encouraging sign. Similarly, Lesser Redpolls are equally scarce. One in song at the marsh on the 19th was unusual. Remarkably, it was joined briefly by two Mealy or (Common) Redpolls.
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| Smile for the camera! A Siskin in the hand |
This blog would not be complete without the mention of some usual
garden birds. Roving flocks of Starlings, some 50 birds strong, have
been a common sight towards the tail-end of the month, comprising as they have
of mostly brown-washed juveniles. House Sparrows, too, have formed
sizeable groups: family parties of adults with their offspring. A flock of 92 in the garden was a good
record, but not totally unexpected.
June is, generally, very much a quiet month in the birding
calendar. However, given the surprises
of May it might be worth keeping a watchful eye for the next blog posting.
This article and the information presented within were
provided by courtesy of S. Grover.
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