Winter at the Wig - November 2022 Bird report

Thanks to E. and Jeni Grover for contributing to the records used in this report, which was supplied courtesy of the author, S. Grover.

In any given month there is usually something to be witnessed that lodges in the memory - maybe not for a lifetime, but even that does sometimes happen; such an event, an occasion, an experience … call it what you will .. is there for you to relive time and time again. One such day happened on the 28th this November. It was not because of the number of any rarities seen, but the large number of bird species (78) that day on the Wig. As every local patch recorder knows, the number of species logged will depend on many factors. Chance plays an important part. Go try on your own stomping ground, and see what I mean!

Mute Swans numbered 117 at the southern end of Loch Ryan on the 4th and remained high until the 15th when a sudden decline followed, as birds presumably left the immediate area to forage inland when cold temperatures set in. Whooper Swans continued to pass through in small numbers, although a visit to Soulseat Loch, on the 13th, revealed 82 birds.

Grey geese were sparse on my patch this month. The stalwart Pale-bellied Brent Geese, however, were present in good numbers at the Wig, peaking at 282 on the 20th.  Canada Geese at Loch Connell also faired well, with 152 birds there on the 6th. A Wetland Bird Survey count at Piltanton Estuary, on the 13th, logged 96 Shelducks - a welcome increase over the paucity of birds recorded there in previous months.

A Pintail at the Wig, on the 1st, was an unexpected bonus bird, whilst a Shoveler at Loch Connell, on the 13th, was equally nice to see, especially as it was a handsome drake sporting a rich-chestnut waistcoat and a bottle-green head.  The latter site scored well for Teal, too, with 196 birds on the 20th.  Numbers of Wigeon at the Wig varied daily, with a high of 200 on the 10th.  Eiders were widespread on Loch Ryan, with a tendency to form small parties rather than one large group.  Nonetheless, I registered 201 birds on the 28th.  Long-tailed Ducks, as usual, were highly mobile, but I did succeed in counting 11 at the Wig, on the 29th.  The amount of Common Scoters about the sea loch seemed to vary from one day to the next: my highest count of them being 119 on the 28th.  I had just one record of Velvet Scoters: a party of three, also on the 28th.  Goosanders are expected visitors at this time of year so two ‘redheads’ at Loch Connell on the 17th were a nice discovery but not unusual.  However, a male and female at the Wig, on the 18th and 19th, was very much out of the ordinary.  Red-breasted Mergansers, on the other hand, are commonplace on the sea loch; 91 were counted here on the 3rd.

Loch Ryan was once known as a regular wintering haunt of Black-necked Grebes in Scotland, not that there ever were many birds present.  But circumstances change over time, and today they exist here only in the memory of only a few birdwatchers. Or so I thought!  Thus, it was a pleasant surprise for me to spy one such bird from my house, paddling on the calm waters of the Wig, on the 17th.  (I later learned that this bird had been observed several days prior to my sighting).  Thereafter, I saw it intermittently up to the month’s end.  On the 19th, I was especially privileged, because the bird appeared in the same ‘scope view with a Great Crested, a Red-necked and a Slavonian Grebe.  Rather ungraciously, I admit, I did hope for a Dabchick to pop up in the same view and complete the ‘set of regular British grebes’ but, upon reflection, a quorum of four species was more than a satisfactory outcome.  Singleton Red-necked Grebes were observed on several occasions across the month, with two birds together at the Wig on the 28th.  Being more abundant, Slavonian Grebes were seen regularly, including a tightly bunched party of 17 on the 28th, when an impressive tally of 56 birds in total was registered.

Black-necked Grebes with their fellows 

Unusually, sightings of Black-throated Divers were a regular feature of the month, including two birds on the 1st and again on the 28th.  Not to be outdone, Great Northern Divers followed a similar pattern to the preceding species, and included three on the 3rd and two on the 28th, whilst on the 10th a singleton still in full breeding plumage was noted.  A Pacific Diver, noted in last month’s blog, made an appearance at the Wig towards the close of the month.  Its habit of consistently diving for periods of 30 seconds, suggests to me that it might be the returning bird of previous winters.  Weather affected many of my attempts to gauge the numbers of Red-throated Divers using Loch Ryan. I did, however, succeed in making a respectable count of 65 birds on the 28th.

Black-tailed Godwits are scarce visitors to my neighbourhood at this time of year: two were present, often on the Wig Fields, from at least the 14th to the 18th.  By comparison, Curlews are reasonably common and widespread, generally occurring in relatively small, scattered flocks feeding in the grass fields.  On the 28th, a flock of 141 birds in a field beside the Wig was an unusually high count.  The drab tones of winter plumaged Dunlins allows them to forage without drawing undue attention to themselves.  The 30 birds I encountered at the Scar, on the 15th, was a consequence of luck rather than keen vigil.  The Scar also hosted most of the Golden Plover flocks that I noted during the month, the largest comprising 400 birds, on the 28th.  A Wetland Bird Survey count at Piltanton, however, resulted in a considerably larger congregation of some 2000 being recorded, on the 13th. A Greenshank, on the 18th, was an unexpected visitor at the Scar, whilst 60 Knot here on the 10th were also welcome additions to the log.

Black-tailed Godwits in the Wig fields

It is largely because Oystercatchers are everyday birds on my study patch that they go uncounted for much of the time; it is, however, useful to occasionally check upon their status.  A high tide roost at the Scar on the 18th held 270 birds, which was rather more than I had expected. Numbers of Ringed Plovers at this site were also generally higher than I thought they would be: there were in excess of 100 birds present on at least four occasions across the month, with the highest count of 114 coming in on the 1st.  No doubt the smattering of Woodcock sightings was a consequence of the recent cold spell that gripped the parish.  A walk passing through the estate woods on the 20th revealed three separate birds.

Outside of the breeding season Kittiwakes are truly oceanic birds.  They do sometimes pass close by to mainland shores, especially during periods of strong prevailing winds: but such conditions rarely push birds onto Loch Ryan.  The presence of three birds observed passing the Scar on the 25th were thus something of an enigma, given the calm weather of that day.  Lesser Black-backed Gulls, too, are usually scarce about the sea loch during November, so it is pleasing to be able to report the presence of at least eight birds on the 15th.  Of particular note was the late record of a Sandwich Tern at the Scar, on the 3rd.

Razorbills continued to be widespread on Loch Ryan across the month, if only in small numbers: 13 being my highest count of them on the 3rd.  An almost ‘white’ Black Guillemot was observed about the Wig on the 22nd.  In winter plumage this species is predominantly pale-looking anyway, and made even more so in certain lights; this particular bird, however, was more than that, suggesting to me that its origin was from the high arctic.  I have been fortunate to see one such ‘white’ bird on the loch during the past few winters, so perhaps - like the Pacific Diver - it too might be a returning bird … or not!  (Another little unsolved mystery to be added to the growing pile of queries that nature presents to any curious mind).

The sea loch supports a rich diversity. Shags are a characteristic part of that community.  As a species, these dark sentinels do not often attract the attention of birdwatchers - which is a shame because like Rooks (who bothers to look at them, too?), they are full of individualistic character and … dare I say it .. charm.  Anyway, good numbers of them were to be seen throughout the month.  Often as not I saw them in ones and twos or in small parties but, occasionally, larger congregations mustered on the Scar and the Cairnryan Pier.  Indeed, on the 18th, an impressive tally of 156 were logged, which included 94 on the Scar and another 62 on the pier.

Elusive Water Rails can often be detected on sound alone: two were heard calling from the estate marsh on the 19th and the 28th.  A Kingfisher at a puddle of freshwater beside the beach at Kirkcolm was an unexpected treat on the 19th, whilst a Merlin at the Wig, on the 28th, was the only record of that species on the local patch for November.

Regular readers of this blog may have noticed that the presentation of species roughly, wherever practical, follows an order, or groupings, dictated by the current accepted evolutionary taxonomy; so, for example, swans are followed by geese, then ducks, and so on, with buntings coming at the end.  This month  the passerine section is alphabetical, on account of the mishmash of my records!

Blackbirds rarely flock together but occasionally small groups temporarily form, such as the six seen on the 18th, when a walk through the estate woods revealed a tally of 20 birds in total.  Bramblings are irregular visitors in my neighbourhood and are not recorded annually.  Three on the 18th, five on the 20th and two on the 27th were, thus, meritorious.  Equally notable was a male Bullfinch in my garden on the 4th.  Chaffinches may never be headline news but over 50 together on my beat are always worthy of mention.  On the morning of the 27th I started to count what I thought was a small party of them feeding in a beech grove; at first I saw 12, the 32, then - following the arrival on the scene of a hunting Sparrowhawk - 82 sped away in to deep cover.  I had but two incidences of Greenfinches at the Wig: six on the 1st and 12 on the 22nd.  My neighbour feeds the birds daily, which, in part, is a reason why I have a host of House Sparrows in my garden for most of the year.  It was heartwarming to log 80 of these garrulous birds on the the otherwise dreary day of the 14th.  Fieldfares continued to pass through in variable numbers, the highest being 250 on the 2nd.  Long-tailed Tits are always a delight to see, wherever they turn up.  A party of six in my garden, on the 23rd, was unusual, and great, simultaneously!

A pair of Bramblings

Three late Swallows appeared out of the grey, heading south (surprise, surprise!), on the 1st.  On the 4th a Tree Sparrow arrived in my garden.  It was joined by another a couple of days later.  The same two birds, presumably, were observed almost daily thereafter.  Whether these particular sparrows had come from a local stock whose whereabouts were hitherto unknown, or had originated from further afield, is not determined; but the sporadic visits by this species made to my garden in recent years clearly warrants investigation.  Another interesting sighting relates to that of a late Willow Warbler - also in my garden - on the 29th.  Not only was the bird observed flitting about in characteristic warbler fashion, but it also paused on occasion to vent forth song.

This month we close with Woodpigeon - a common species that rarely receives mention.  November, however, is a month noted for the movement of these birds on a broad front.  On the 13th, whilst paying my weekly respects to the wildlife at Loch Connell, I witnessed the south-westward passage of over 550 birds within the short period of an hour.

The Old and the Gold - October 2022 Bird report

This article and the images contained within were provided courtesy of the author, S. Grover

Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen more or less daily at the Scar, with numbers fluctuating widely - depending on the weather, the time of day, and the state of the tide.  Flocks of over 100 birds each were counted on 11 days, with a maximum of 180 geese on the 21st and 25th.  However, it was difficult to gauge the true number of birds passing through, or staying to overwinter, on account of their mobility.  They were seen frequently commuting between the Scar and Soleburn, and vice versa; and on the 25th, although the maximum flock size recorded was not exceeded, it is possible that upwards of 300 birds were utilising Loch Ryan that day.  More certain was the low number of juveniles present within the flocks: out of 150 Brents at the Scar on the 24th just one was a youngster.

Given the large feral population of Canada Geese in Britain you may find it surprising to learn that this species is, by and large, a seasonal visitor to my local patch: 110 at Loch Connell, on the 16th, was thus worthy of mention; likewise the three seen in mid-channel on the salt water of Loch Ryan, on the 17th.

This October witnessed an increase in the presence of Pink-footed Geese locally.  Over 1000 birds lifted off the Scar during the early morning of the 13th, making for a fine sight that was accompanied by the equally splendid and clamorous, pre-breakfast, chorus of these early risers.

The number of Mute Swans on Loch Ryan remained constant throughout the month, at a few over 100 birds; they mostly concentrated at the southern end of the shore-line, around Bishop Burn.  Whoopers Swans were frequently observed flying south down the sea-loch, the highest number winging over being 17 on the 24th.

Shelducks numbered three at the Scar on the 24th, constituting my only record of this species during the month.  Shovelers were equally scarce, with two ‘brown’ birds at the Wig on the 17th.  Teal were more numerous, at least at Loch Connell, where a high of 42 was observed on the 30th.  Numbers of Wigeon were low at the Wig (60 being my highest count, on the 30th) in comparison to the abundance of them at the southern end of the loch, but then that is nothing unusual.

Common Scoters were generally too distant for me to properly assess their status on Loch Ryan, but 112 were registered on the 8th and 93 on the 20th.  Even though the majority of Eiders I saw were conspicuous males in well-advanced breeding plumage, most days I logged very few; on the 8th I did manage to count 192.  Goldeneyes remained scarce about Wig Bay, with five drab, female types, appearing on the 24th.  My first Long-tailed Duck of the season was a male (still in breeding plumage) at the Wig, on the 12th; the three I saw on the 24th were also males but wearing predominantly winter dress.  Red-breasted Mergansers peaked at 154 on the 10th, whilst Scaup were totally absent from my log, despite other people having noted good numbers of them off Bishop Burn.  Unlike the congregations of Mute Swans at this site, which I am readily able to see and count from the Wig, Scaup are considerably smaller birds and their plumage patterning of black, brown, grey and white successfully breaks up their appearance over long distances - rendering them mostly invisible, or rarely identifiable with any certainty.

Male Red-breasted Merganser moulting into breeding plumage

On the 11th a pair of Black-throated Divers enriched the melee of birds at the Wig, whilst a splendid looking Great Northern Diver, in breeding apparel, graced the area on the 12th, 24th and the 30th.  A possible Pacific Diver (perhaps the returning bird from last winter?) - was viewed in the distance on both the 20th and 21st.  On the 23rd, and in the same area, a small diver in obvious distress was seen briefly before finally sinking beneath the waves, not to re-appear.  Whether this was the same bird that I took to be a Pacific, or just a fatally-ill Red-throat, will never be known. This is unfortunate as, if this was the returning bird, and followed the pattern of long-staying from last year, it’s presence would have given more chances for other birders’ observations. My highest count of Red-throated Divers on Loch Ryan was 56 on the 14th; also worthy of mention was the tightly-bunched raft of 44 birds that I saw on the 8th: their gleaming white necks (all winter plumaged adults) contrasting with the grey of the sea, impressing a memorable image in the archives of my mind.  How anyone can ever find nature dull is beyond my comprehension!

Great Crested Grebes are generally more abundant at the southern end of the sea-loch, so 39 about the Wig on the 14th was of delightful interest to me.  As indeed were the two Little Grebes, or Dabchicks, that I had the pleasure in seeing on the calm water of the harbour at Stranraer, on the 18th, and the nine I saw earlier, on the 16th, at Loch Connell.  Slavonian Grebes were present throughout the month on Loch Ryan; usually I saw them in groups of two or three, so a whole bushel of 15 birds at the Wig, on the 16th, was an extraordinary sight.

Scanning through this month’s log I noticed that I had five entries for Little Egret.  As the species becomes more widespread and commoner in Scotland it is likely that there will be more records from Loch Ryan.  Four of this month’s records referred to a singleton at Soleburn, whilst the fifth came from a Wetland Bird Survey count at Piltanton on the 11th, when ten birds were registered.

Winter is definitely approaching because the number of Gannets recorded fell appreciably as the month progressed.  The highest count was 19 on the 3rd, dropping to one on the 20th, which may well constitute the last sighting of the year from Loch Ryan.  Just three juveniles were noted, but I am sure that most readers will be aware of the catastrophic breeding failures at many seabird colonies this summer as a direct consequence of avian flu.

Five immature Cormorants were logged at Loch Connell, on the 8th - a noteworthy occurrence at this site.  Their cousins, Shags, are strictly sea-faring: 80 at the Scar was a good count.  Water Rails are elusive, best detected by listening for their peculiar calls, which are varied to say the least.  A vocal bird heard on the estate marsh was a welcome addition to the month’s log, on the 23rd.

Curlews are just one of a regular selection of waders that can be found about the Wig at this time of year.  They are just as likely to be seen feeding in nearby fields as they are on the shore-line.  My highest count of them, 64, came from one of those grasslands, on the 19th.  Dunlin were frequently observed on the tide-line: 50 were logged at the Scar on the 5th.  The great variability in the size of Golden Plover flocks recorded suggests that the passage of birds was continuous across the month.  There were counts of over 100 birds on 14 days and in excess of 500 birds on four days.  The largest single flock comprised 870 birds at the Scar on the 12th, although it is possible that an additional 450 birds were moving through that day.  On the 11th, a flock of 182 birds was put into flight by a dog intent upon chasing every bird that it saw on the beach.  In doing so it presented me with views of an additional bird, a marginally smaller plover of slighter build, sporting a predominantly black belly, breast and chin.  The Golden Plovers flashed their white underwings as they swirled in the sky; the accompanying bird, however, showed no such contrast to its uniformly grey toned underwings: it was a Lesser Golden Plover.  However, strictly speaking, this species no longer exists.  Taxonomy is forever changing and what was, until very recent times, labelled as this species has since been split into American Golden Plover (washed over with greyer tones) and Pacific Golden Plover (more obvious yellow tones); of course there are other key differences separating the two, which can be readily gleaned by consulting appropriate literature.  On this occasion the sighting was too brief to allow that distinction to be made, hence my reference to it as a ‘Lesser’.  American Golden Plover has become an annual visitor to the Wig in recent years, so it is more probable to be that species.  Also at the Scar on the 11th, stood a lonesome Grey Plover.  This species is rarely seen to mix with its more abundant cousins, the ‘goldies’.

Lesser Golden Plover (top left) in amongst a flock of regular "goldies"

The foreshore of Loch Ryan is a great place to see a variety of waders, but if it is Lapwings in particular that you seek then Loch Connell is as safe a bet as any locally: 47 there on the 23rd might not seem many but, as they say, it is quality not quantity that can make or break a day’s birding.  But if it is Ringed Plovers you require in order to quench your birding thirst, then look no further than Wig Bay, and in particular, the Scar.  I recorded flocks in excess of 100 birds on three days here in October, the largest comprising some 130 birds, on the 13th.  A wisp of nine Snipe at Loch Connell on the 30th was my only sighting of that species.  Turnstones were more plentiful, with a high of 60 at the Scar, on the 6th.

One of the grasslands beside the Wig hosted a Mediterranean Gull on the 12th and the 17th.  Presumably it was the same bird on both occasions because it wore a distinctive second-winter plumage.

Within the month I had just three sightings of Guillemots, with a pitiful two birds being the highest count.  Razorbills faired better, being registered on 12 days, although numbers were low with ten being my highest score on the 24th.

On my local patch, at least, October is the month when male Tawny Owls resume the proclamation of their territory by hooting.  It was not until the evening of the 26th that the familiar ‘hoo-hoo-hoo’ greeted my ears, shortly afterwards responded to by another male calling.

To see many of the species of bird that frequent the local patch - particularly small ones that typically occur outside the garden environment - a degree of effort is usually required on the part of the would-be observer.  And, as is the case with most species, the more times you go out and look, the greater are the chances of actually seeing them.  At this time of year Skylarks are not always as obvious as they can be in the summer, when their gay songs fill the air and attract attention to them.  During the autumn and winter they form roving flocks, sometimes of considerable size.  But here, on the outskirts of the village of Kirkcolm, such large congregations are rare.  A flock of 49 birds flighting over the Wig Fields, on the 8th, was the most I encountered this month.

Swallows are summer migrants and as such depart our shores for the winter.  I observed 40 birds on the 4th but that diminished to eight come the 31st.  My only record of a Willow Warbler was on the 12th, when one turned up in my garden.  And whilst those summer birds leave us, other birds arrive on our doorstep to over-winter.  October is often associated with the mass arrival of Fieldfares and Redwings into the country.  On my patch, however, influxes are typically on a small scale, so much so that the earliest arriving birds generally pass by largely unnoticed.  But this year - for unknown reason - a notable improvement occurred. Ten Fieldfares marked the beginning of a steady passage of birds; a flock of 80, on the 23rd, was the largest that I saw.  Redwings turned up on the 19th, with 12 birds present in my garden.  And like the preceding species, the passage appeared to be continuous, with a very respectable flock of 233 on the 26th.

A pair of Redwings

It was nice to get some Grey Wagtails under my belt, so to speak.  A succession of days saw a handful of birds passing over, including on the 14th a party of three above my garden. In last month’s blog I mentioned the possibility of White Wagtails appearing in October.  Alas, the space allocated to them in my summary log book remains empty.  But then the typical British race that you will know as the Pied Wagtail, was also significantly down in numbers compared to those of previous years’ passage.  Migrant Meadow Pipits were also at a low, with the largest flock I saw comprising just five birds.  Rock Pipits gave the impression of fairing better, although most of those the I saw were likely to have been of local origin redistributing for the winter: seven were noted on the 24th.  Tree Pipits are always scarce birds on my patch, so to bag two on the 8th was a small recompense for the dearth of their cousins and allied species.

A handsome male Greenfinch in my garden on the 4th was a pleasant addition to the tally of birds accrued during the month.  A few days later, on the 7th, the track alongside the Wig surprised me with seven more of these stocky-looking birds.  The Linnet and Twite conundrum presented itself again with flocks of ‘small brown jobs’, comprising some 200 birds, seen flittering above the Wig Fields on three days (4th - 6th) early in the month.  In the same area, on the 24th, I was confident with my assessment of several parties (79 birds total, largest flock 30) being all of the latter species.