Checking up on the Commons - July Bird Report

This article and the images contained within were supplied by courtesy of S. Grover 

Following on from last months excitement, July was dominated by sightings of so-called ‘common’ species.

The single Pink-footed Goose remained at Loch Connell until at least the 17th, when numbers of feral Greylags here peaked at 120 birds.  Two Mute Swans also occupied the same site intermittently throughout the month, whilst on Loch Ryan this species steadily increased, with 41 adult birds present on the 24th.  Adult Shelducks leave the area at this time to go and moult elsewhere; consequently, only one was seen, on the 29th; however, a female with three near fledged offspring was noted earlier on at Loch Connell on the 4th.

The only observation of Teal was four at Loch Connell on the 11th.  Also here, a duck Mallard with a juveniles here rose to 78 on the 17th.  On the 11th, two female type Tufted Ducks were at the same site.   Presumably, the same two male Velvet Scoters reported last month on Loch Ryan were spied on the 6th but without any subsequent sightings thereafter.  Either they departed the area or were ‘lost’ from view amidst the rafts of ‘black-looking’ male Eiders sporting  a full eclipse plumage.  Indeed, the last mentioned species had built up to 423 birds by the 6th and peaked at 481 on the 20th.  At least four female Eiders, each with less than a handful of ducklings, were noted about the Wig until the 22nd.  Common Scoters were scarce about Loch Ryan with just ten on the 8th and six on the 24th.  Red-breasted Mergansers were more frequently sighted but numbers were down considerably on previous years, with a maximum of 42 on the 1st.  Unusual was a Goldeneye on the 28th - a female type bird seen briefly at the Wig.

These ducklings are as fluffy as Eiderdown! 

The Little Grebe is an expected visitor to Loch Connell in July.  A singleton was observed on the 4th, increasing to three birds by the 24th.  Great Crested Grebes are more typical on Loch Ryan: there were two adults in resplendent breeding plumage at the Wig on the 17th, three on the 19th and five on the 27th.

The only Manx Shearwater observation was of three passing the Scar on the 11th.  Gannets were present daily, with a high of 23 on the 6th.  Similarly, Cormorants were just as frequent in occurrence; a maximum of 25 on the 25th, with the highest count of juveniles being five at the Scar on the 19th.  Shags, which like the preceding species breed locally, are - perhaps, surprisingly - rarely encountered about the Wig or, indeed, further south on the loch at this time of year; for some reason they are more commonly seen in the water’s off Lady Bay and towards the mouth of the Loch Ryan.

Artists sketch of the Manx Shearwaters

Coots are one of those birds that receive little attention from birdwatchers in general.  Every body of fresh water of moderate size, and even some salt water environments, are presumed to have them.  Assume not, says I.  They are at best sporadic visitors to Loch Connell (despite having bred there on occasions in the past).  One bird on the 4th was thus a treasure to be savoured.

I mentioned last month that an increase in waders should be expected in July - the arrival of failed breeders and the beginning of the autumn passage.  I am glad that this proved to be so.  First up was a Common Sandpiper on the beach adjacent the estate marsh on the 1st; another was on the muddy margins of Loch Connell on the 21st.  Sightings of Dunlin were spread across the month and virtually all were of adults in breeding dress.  Loch Connell had eight on the 11th; all other sightings came from the Wig, with 20 birds on the 12th being the largest flock encountered.  Ringed Plovers were regular passage visitors though proved difficult to count with any accuracy; often it was just a case of watching and waiting ‘till a ‘pebble’ moved a few steps forward!  28 ‘pebbles’ was the highest count, on the 17th.  Their larger cousins, Golden Plovers, were seen on just two occasions: 26 at the Scar on the 8th and two there on the 17th.  Turnstones were commoner but like the Ringed Plovers frequently merged in to their surroundings; six birds on the 19th was the highest count.  Two male Ruff in partial breeding plumage was a nice find at the Scar on the 9th whilst another bird of this species was there on the 19th.  Curlew peaked at 64 on the 8th and a solitary Whimbrel on the 13th was a notable highlight.  As to be expected for the time of year small numbers of Black-tailed Godwits turned up on several dates, with the highest count of nine birds on the 5th.  Redshanks were more numerous - including speckled juveniles - with a high of 41 birds (an exceptional count at the Wig) on the 12th.  The only record of Greenshank was three birds at the Piltanton Estuary during a Webs count on the 24th.  Lapwings were at Loch Connell on the 4th and 17th, with six and four birds, respectively.  Despite Oystercatchers being obvious birds about the Wig it is their very commonness that typically exempts them from mention; a count of 114 at the Scar on the 21st - though not exceptional when compared to the higher numbers frequently seen at the southern end of the loch, at Stranraer - was more than respectable and worthy of note.

It can be hard to capture the majesty of the ruffs plumage with just a sketch

Post breeding dispersal of gulls saw an increasing number of these species about the Wig compared to last months showing.  The largest single flock of Black-headed Gulls was 50 at the Scar on the 1st.  Notable across the month was the general lack of juvenile birds of this species.  This was also mirrored in the small number of Common Gulls present, but, with an average flock size of only eight or so birds, gauging the breeding success of this species is perhaps best not worth consideration.  Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the local patch are typically scarce in July, as indicated by the monthly maxima of just three adults at Loch Connell on the 11th.  The highest count of Great Black-backed Gulls was nine at the Scar on the 10th.  The passage of Sandwich Terns was steady throughout the month, with notable peaks of 142 on the 12th, 92 on the 15th, and 81 on the 29th.  Common Terns were noted on just four dates around mid-month with highs of four birds on the 21st and 22nd.  A single Arctic Tern at the Scar on the 8th was the only record of this species, whereas Roseate Terns were observed on two consecutive days: four birds (two adults with two juveniles) on the 15th and two adults on the 16th.

Roseate Tern Juvenile (left) and Adult

The sunny weather and the resultant heat haze that affected distant visibility meant that Black Guillemots undoubtedly went under-recorded, with just a single observation of three adults on the 14th.

Bucking the usual trend of Swifts during the summer, individuals were noted in good weather above the village of Kirkcolm on no less than five occasions: on the 9th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 21st; it is tempting to assume that it was the same bird each time, but, it is also possible that different birds were involved - such is the mystery of nature and the questioning mind of humankind.  Small numbers of Sand Martins were regularly seen above Loch Connell, with notable counts being 68 on the 4th and 104 on the 11th.  Swallows and House Martins are, sadly, reducing with each years passing; there were peaks of just 39 an 42, respectively, on the 17th.

Last year was a bumper one for Spotted Flycatchers locally.  This year, seemingly not so - just one bird on the 19th.  Likewise, Stonechats were down in numbers although breeding was confirmed.  A Wheatear - a juvenile moulting in to first-winter plumage - was at Loch Connell on the 24th and is likely to have been raised nearby.

Jays can be inconspicuous birds during the summer so it was good to be able to confirm the presence of at least two of them in the Corsewall estate woods on the 13th.  On the same date and in the same place another, often elusive, resident was observed - a Treecreeper.  Starlings are common enough birds about town and country: 130 at the Wig on the 11th was an expected number, comprising glossy adults, drab brown juveniles, and a combination of appearance between the two in first-winter birds.  Linnets are a ubiquitous breeding species in the North Rhins.  At this time of year family parties come together to form substantial flocks; they in turn are joined by others from outside the area to form roving super-flocks in autumn and winter.  After last months encouraging start of this phenomena when a flock of 100 or so birds was reported the anticipated build up in July did not occur.  The highest count was of 69 birds, attributable, no doubt, to the parched landscape of the local area and the consequent dearth of suitable and available weed seeds that ordinarily attract them.

The many stages of Starling plumage

Depending on weather patterns - not just here but also elsewhere - August should be a promising month in the birding calendar if previous years are anything to go by; so until the next instalment remember to enjoy whatever nature send your way.