Quietness Abounds - June 2024 Bird Report

June is perhaps the quietest of months in the birding calendar. It is dominated by those species that breed in habitats available to them, which, on my patch is a diverse range. That said, breeding birds tend to be less conspicuous than at other times of the year: when there are families to raise it pays for them to be as unobtrusive as possible. The consequence of all this secretiveness is that even the so-called common, everyday birds, are not recorded as often as one might hope and certainly not in the numbers that we might otherwise expect.

A meagre 32 species are recorded upon here, reflecting the quietness of the period covered.

A pair of Greylag Geese was present at Loch Connell throughout the month; they had three goslings which, naturally enough, got ever bigger as the days went by. The pair of Mute Swans here (mentioned in a previous posting) abandoned the site, having failed to breed successfully. Being a large and white species, they are hence less easy to miss than say are other smaller birds.  Loch Ryan is thus another good place to look for them, where at this time of year they form non-breeding flocks, which I am able to detect and identify from a considerable distance (eg. from my house to Bishop Burn, a span of five miles as the crow flies). The largest flock I registered was 33 birds at Leffnoll, on the 24th. 

Notable by their general absence have been Shelducks, with a high of just two birds at the Scar, on the 19th.

There were 32 male Mallards, all in eclipse plumage, at Loch Connell on the 30th, and a duck and drake Teal there on the 16th, along with a male Wigeon (probably an early passage bird). Common Scoters are scarce visitors to Loch Ryan in June so the two seen in mid-channel on the 17th and three on the 20th, were welcome entries in the logbook. Also on the sea-loch there is a tradition of a moulting flock of male Eiders: I counted 182 on the 1st, comprising in the main of ‘text book-looking’ black and white birds in winter apparel. The flock rose in size to some 250 birds on the 11th, with a noticeable change in their plumage apparent. Come the 20th I logged 334, the majority of which were now predominantly black in colouration, with flecks, patches and streaks of white present upon closer inspection. There are few female Eiders to be seen on the loch in June: one with four small ducklings was at the Wig on the 2nd and the 7th, with another tending four downy youngsters there on the 12th, and a third bird with three bite-sized offspring, on the 20th. Numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers about the Wig dropped considerably; a male seen displaying vigorously to a female Eider (with ducklings), on the 7th, was an unusual observation. Hormones, eh!

There were two adult Great Crested Grebes in breeding attire at the Wig on the 1st. Red-throated Divers are never common on the sea-loch during the summer so it was nice to log a singleton about the Wig on the 2nd, and another in mid-channel on the 20th. 

A Bar-tailed Godwit at the Scar was my only record of this species. Curlews faired better although they were few in number: my highest count being 16 at the Wig on the 19th. A lone Lapwing was at Loch Connell on the 16th, with another two there on the 30th. Oystercatchers were observed daily about the Wig, with 51 (presumably non-breeders) at the Scar being my highest count on the 10th.

As was to be expected few Common Gulls were logged, with a party of eight in a recently cut silage field being the biggest flock I saw (on the 3rd). There were however many more Herring Gulls but I counted few assemblies of them, apart from the 62 at the Scar on the 29th. Just one Arctic Tern was registered, at the Scar on the 3rd, when there was also a Common Tern present. Four of the latter species were also seen mobbing a crow at the Cairnryan Pier (on the 19th), suggesting that a breeding attempt took place here. Small numbers of Sandwich Terns were regularly noted across the month, with peak counts about the Scar of 12 on the 7th and 22nd.

Viewing conditions over the sea-loch were rarely conducive to detecting Black Guillemots at any great distance. Fortunately a bird was close enough inshore at the Wig, on the 5th and 6th, for the species not to be omitted from this month’s record sheet. Gannets, much like swans, are large birds and hence are generally obvious on or above the water and at distances great and small, though they are easy to lose sight of under conditions of shimmering haze. Adult birds are the norm’ (peak counts of 15 on the 3rd and 19th) but immatures (birds in their second calender year or older) were noted on the 9th (two: 2nd/3rd year), the 17th (one: 3rd/4th year) and one of undetermined age on the 28th. Cormorants roamed widely over Loch Ryan, with 20 being the largest congregation at the Scar, on the 19th. Grey Herons are largely solitary by nature but sometimes they will clan together at rich feeding sites. A party comprising two adults and two juveniles at Loch Connell, on the 2nd, were probably a family unit - perhaps the same birds that bred in one of the Estate woodlands this year.

 Thankfully, Barn Owls have again become regular inhabitants on my local patch, though catching glimpse of them is no simple matter compared to listening out for their raucous screeches in the night. A bird turned up in my garden on the 20th and made for a splendid sight, illumined as it was by artificial light from the house and neighbouring properties and the low glimmer of natural light that frequently pervades any tranquil summer’s evening. Great Spotted Woodpeckers have also become more obvious of late, mostly on account of there having been several wandering, and noisy, juveniles at large, familiarising themselves with their new found surroundings in search of food. One such bird visited my garden on the 14th and 20th, amusing me greatly as it clung to the heavily flower laden stems of Phormium that swayed this way and that in a strong breeze. It searched each bloom diligently, no doubt after the many invertebrates that are attracted by the plants musty scent. 

In spite of a Raven’s large size and loud ‘kronking’ calls this species can be just as elusive as many other smaller birds, but then they also roam over large territories which considerably reduces the probability of them being discovered by a casual birdwatcher; a pair of birds, on the 2nd, was my only record of this still much maligned species. Rock Pipits are generally more common during the winter months on my patch, but failed breeders and/or juveniles disperse to areas outside of their natal zone, which probably accounts for the two birds I saw at the Corsewall Burn outlet on the 19th. Perhaps because colonies of Sand Martins are thinly spread in the Rhins of Galloway the species is not often entered in my notebooks: six birds at Loch Connell, on the 9th, was largest count. 

Warblers in general give the impression of being skulking birds. Certainly, when they are not in song they can be more difficult to detect; but June, as already noted, is a very quiet month. It was thus a pleasant surprise when chance had me glance out of a window in to my garden (on the 15th) and there, no more than six feet away was a most handsome Sedge Warbler flitting and foraging amongst the foliage. These days I rarely get to see this species at such close quarters so it was a delight to relish its warm brown tones and distinctive markings that define it. If I were to see them like that everyday then I guess I would quickly become numb to their splendour (in the same way we folk barely give a second glance to the humble House Sparrow). Thank goodness therefore that such sightings are one in a million - so to speak - and that I am able to convey my enjoyment of the occasion to you, dear reader. Another visitor to the garden was a Siskin, on the 22nd. Actually, there was two of them, with one being a juvenile. There are times when I often hear this species calling - hence, I am aware of their presence in the vicinity - yet I always find it reassuring to learn that another generation of birds is present to, hopefully, continue their future.

Last, but not least, I mention Swifts. From previous postings of this blog you will be aware that this species does not commonly occur on my local patch: at best it is an irregular visitor. Four sightings of singletons over the village this month (on the 4th, 9th, 12th and 27th), though perhaps not unprecedented, was a noteworthy occurrence.

The contents of this article are courtesy of the author, S Grover