It has been a while since the last posting of this blog, so a new year is perhaps a fitting point at which to resume it.
Bird highlights this month include Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Little Auk and Twite.
But before we begin proper, let me also highlight two special days: the 7th and the 29th. Both were notable on account of breaking the 70 species barrier on my patch. This month the average number of bird species that I recorded per day was 42. Registering more than 50 species is fairly common at certain times of the year; more than 60 is difficult, but achievable ad hoc; over 70 puts another level into the game and is generally something I can only ever aspire to achieving. For those of you in the know, my local patch comprises two distinct areas: (1) the circuit around the Wig, including the paths through the Estate woodlands, and (2) Loch Connell. If both sites are considered together then the 7th of the month is when a total of 74 species was recorded. If we consider the first mentioned circuit only, then the 29th is when a total of 70 species was recorded (a spectacular day with brilliant visibility).
Mute and Whooper Swans were notable by their general absence on my local patch. Pink-footed Geese were heard calling most days as they flew to and from their roosts. Their characteristic ‘wink-wink’ calls also emanated from the Connell fields nearby, where many of the birds fed during daylight hours. A minimum of 687 were counted here on the 26th. Canada Geese were also regular about Loch Connell, with a peak count of 107, on the 7th. The low but soft growling calls of Pale-bellied Brent Geese have been a daily sound coming through either an open window, or external door, of my house. There is something comforting in their sounds, and being able to look upon them feeding in the Wig fields moments after registering their distant voices only further enhances my delight. The geese are in the fields fattening up on the season’s new growth of grass in preparation for their return journey to their breeding grounds in the Canadian arctic. 200 birds have been in the vicinity all month, with over 230 having been logged on the 5th.
Shelduck are never common on Loch Ryan at this time of year: two at the Scar, on the 7th, did not upset that expectation. Flocks of Wigeon came and went, regularly being observed commuting between the Wig and Soleburn. The highest count of them was 268 at the former mentioned location, on the 7th, but I know that much larger flocks could be viewed at the southern end of Loch Ryan. Perhaps not surprisingly, the highest count of Teal on my local patch came from Loch Connell, with 119 logged on the 3rd. On the sea loch, reasonable numbers of Common Scoters were spread across the month, with the significant counts of them being 116 on the 7th and 142 on the 29th. Numbers of Eiders, too, were very respectable here with 333 on the 29th. Goldeneyes were also much in evidence, with a high of 53 (also on the 29th). Long-tailed Ducks, one of our highlight species this month, were, as expected, present most days at Wig Bay; they occurred in generally higher numbers than my records from previous years show. A congregation of 19 was observed on the 24th and 29th, only to be exceeded by 23 birds on the 30th. Not surprisingly - given the atrocious weather on many days - poor visibility from my house and the Wig prevented me from seeing Scaup at their usual locations at the southern end of the loch. It was only luck when a break in the weather allowed me to spy some 80 birds, on the 29th. Of the saw-bills, Red-breasted Mergansers were present in small parties, although 52 were registered on the 29th. Their close cousins, Goosanders, were regularly observed on the freshwater site of Loch Connell, with a high of 11 birds noted on the 14th.
In spite of the inclement weather that persisted for much of the month, divers were often to be seen, including 31 Red-throated divers on the 29th. Singleton Great Northern Divers were observed the length and breadth of Loch Ryan, though on the 29th a tally of seven birds was recorded, including one in handsome breeding attire. A Red-necked Grebe was seen at the Wig on the 2nd and 11th. Considerably more common were Slavonian Grebes, with birds seen almost daily, with 35 logged on the (you guessed it!) 29th.
Few Cormorants are present on Loch Ryan during January though they are certainly more frequent at some freshwater sites, as my daughter and I discovered when we visited Soulseat Loch, on the 5th, and counted 38 of these prehistoric looking creatures. Shags, on the other hand, are marine dwellers throughout the year; 52 (on 29th) was certainly an okay count on my patch.
Great White Egrets are relative newcomers in Dumfries and Galloway. I have recorded them on a few occasions at the Wig but never at Loch Connell. That, however, changed last year, on the 12th November to be precise, when a single bird showed itself. What I presume to be same bird has been in residence ever since - or at least up to near this month’s end. The same site held a Little Egret on the 21st. This species was responsible for causing my heart to flutter in excitement when I spied a ‘white heron’ moo-ching (pardon the pun!) about amongst a herd of cattle on the Wig Fields on the 9th. Alas, it was not a Cattle Egret, but I haven’t abandoned all hope of seeing one of these on my doorstep… not just yet, anyway.
The lousy weather has not been conducive to watching, or even seeing, many raptors. My daughter and I did, however, have a chance sighting of a Hen Harrier and a Red Kite, within minutes of each other, at Loch Connell on the 14th.
Readers of previous postings of this blog will be aware that Coots are somewhat scarce on my patch, with Loch Connell being the origin of virtually all my records of this species. That hasn’t changed, with four birds present on the 7th and probably thereafter for the remainder of the month. Down the hill from Connell, on the Estates marsh, two Water Rails were heard calling, on the 12th.
A total of 13 species of wader were recorded this month. The highest count of Bar-tailed Godwits at the Wig was four (on the 18th), whilst on the same day, on adjacent grassland, 144 Curlews were observed. Dunlins were absent for most of the month until the 26th, when 97 magically appeared - or so it seemed - at the Scar. In contrast, Golden Plovers were seen on many days at this site, with the largest count of them being approximately 200 on the 14th. As was expected, there were a smattering of sightings of Knot, including 50 at the Wig on the 7th. When it was blowing a hoolie, on the 13th, at least 80 Ringed Plovers and 56 Turnstones hunkered down amongst the pebbles and cobbles at the Scar. Woodcock - ever elusive birds - were registered on just two occasions: on the 7th and 23rd.
Ardent birdwatchers among the readership will know of the latest winter gull roost survey ‘WinGS’, which commenced this January, with locations on Loch Ryan selected as part of that nationwide study. In recent years gulls have been hit hard, with many factors evident for their decline. Certainly on my local patch Black-headed Gulls have tumbled the most out of all those utilising the area. This became particularly obvious to me when, since the beginning of the month I have been keeping a close eye on the numbers of birds about the Wig. Even pre-roost flocks at the Scar have scarcely risen above 50 or so birds, usually a lot fewer.
It is widely known that many of our seabird colonies have been drastically affected by avian flu, which of course has an impact on the number of those birds visiting Loch Ryan. That, coupled with the storms this month has resulted in only a few of the larger auk species bing entered in my logbook. Just a single Guillemot at the Wig on the on the 24th, 27th and 29th, and nine Razorbills on the 26th and two others on the 29th. Black Guillemots faired better, with a peak count of 17 on the 29th, which included birds in their striking black and white breeding plumage. Perhaps not surprisingly the storms blew in a few Little Auks - rare visitors, generally - to the Wig, with one on the 7th, two on the 24th and one on the 29th.
Skylarks are
rarely abundant at this time of year, so 56 on the Wig fields, on the 1st, was
an unexpected bonus. Similarly, Meadow Pipits are generally sparse,
making the 15 noted at the same location, and date, a noteworthy addition in my
data bank. Records of Grey Wagtail are usually ever casual only:
singletons were observed along the Corsewall Burn on the 4th, 23rd, 24th and
29th, possibly all the same bird.
The so-called common passerine species are frequently passed by in favour of those more scarce and rare. Thus, species such as Robin do not always receive the attention they, and others like them, warrant. A consistent run of 16 individuals logged on the 1st, 7th and 12th, along with 18 on the 24th, hopefully redresses that unfairness. Other species in this category were noted during walks circuiting the Wig and estate woodlands, including 24 Blackbirds on the 24th, 3 Mistle Thrushes on the 12th and 26th; Redwings numbered 33 on the 12th, and there were 17 Song Thrushes on the 1st, along with 20 Blue Tits, also on the 1st. There was only one record of Jay all month: two birds on the 4th.
A single Greenfinch was observed on three separate days along the Wig track. Records of Bullfinches are typically few and far between but this month the species was noted on nine days, including a pair in my garden on the 19th. A male, incidentally, was ringed (under BTO licence) at this site on the 2nd. All other sightings of this species involved birds eating seeds adorning bushes of Buddleia (clearly not just a plant for attracting butterflies, it would seem). Unlike Bullfinches, which show a preference for more sheltered, wooded areas, Twite are very much birds of wide, open spaces. Their decline as winter visitors to my local patch in recent years has been marked. The largest flock I encountered was just 17, on the 7th.
Every day is different, to be sure. It matters
not whether it rains or shines, there is always the possibility of nature
enriching our daily lives. It is not a necessity for every person to record in
detail the wildlife they happen across in order for pleasure, or a sense of
satisfaction, to be gained. Although the records I collect are of importance to
me, I like to think that they also help others in the understanding of nature
that is all around them. I play this game - for a game it is - for my own amusement.
However, should it incite you to play, too, then I guarantee you will be out
more on your own local patch, using rules you have adopted yourself, and,
ultimately, enjoying the richness and the environment offered by the natural
world. Surely that is important to your well being, is it not? Here’s to making
each day count!
The contents of this article are courtesy of the author, S Grover.