Do Not Dismiss the Pleasures of a Garden! - August 2024 Bird Report

Probably because Canada Geese in Britain are descended from introduced stock, and therefore not considered native, they are neglected by many of the birdwatching fraternity. From an artists point of view, however, they are subjects of inherent beauty, providing elegant shape and form combined with crisp and contrasting plumage tones, all of which lure the eye and draw attention. But enough eulogy. This species is common enough in the manicured countryside, but less so where salt-water dominates, such as Loch Ryan. A party of six at the Wig, on the 9th, thus provided me with a pleasant distraction. Feral Greylags are thought of in similar fashion to their black and white counterparts, just mentioned. After breeding they too congregate in flocks. There are usually a few birds to be seen in the vicinity of Loch Connell. A closely knit gaggle of 82 here, on the 18th, was typical of such post-breeding dispersal. Meanwhile, if it is Mute Swans that you seek then the sea-loch just over the hill from Connell can heartily be recommended. The numbers of swans here steadily increased as the month progressed, rising to a peak of 90 on the 29th.

Mallard are one of several species that are more common at the southern end of Loch Ryan than about the Wig, to the north. So although I may never see many here when bay watching, I am usually assured of some on the freshwater at Connell, should I ever be in need of a ‘fix’ of this species. A count at this inland site on the 11th resulted in a respectable 45 being entered into my logbook, the majority of which were males in eclipse plumage. Amongst them was a female type Shoveler, which presumably was the same bird I saw there the following week, on the 18th. Loch Connell is also a site favoured by Teal, especially during the winter months: I was content with the 11 birds present on the 18th.

Naturally enough sea-faring ducks are more at home on the saline water of Loch Ryan. I saw four Common Scoters on the 14th and five on the 28th. Eiders were of course seen daily, with a peak count of 258 on the 21st. Less abundant were Red-breasted Mergansers: a reasonable tally was 80 at the Wig, on the 20th.

Not unexpected, but nevertheless somewhat scarce on my local patch, were two Coots at Loch Connell on the 11th and 18th. The same site held a Great Crested Grebe and a Little Grebe (alias Dabchick) on the 25th. The larger of these two species of grebe I recorded frequently about the Wig, with a high of 12 birds on the 8th. Here also I logged three separate individuals of Red-throated Diver, on the 15th, 16th and 17th.

I would have expected to log at least a couple of Black-tailed Godwits this month but there were none. I did, however, record singleton Bar-tailed Godwits at the Scar on the 17th and 23rd. Numbers of Curlews at the Wig peaked at 65 on the 31st, whereas the highest count of Dunlins (11) came from the same location, on the 8th, when the first Golden Plover of the season also happened to be recorded. The highest counts of the latter species came on the 26th and 29th, with a rather poor showing of just 10 birds. A party of 12 Knot paused briefly at the Scar on the 20th. Loch Connell held 18 Lapwings on the 11th; a singleton observed in the Wig Fields on the 29th was an unusual record. Oystercatchers steadily increased in numbers about the Wig, peaking at 128 on the 31st. Numbers of Redshanks here were considerably fewer, with five being the largest flock I encountered, on the 8th. The passage of Ringed Plovers seemed to be almost constant, with a peak count of 52 being registered on the 28th. There were few juveniles amidst their ranks. Just one Ruff was logged, at the Scar on the 24th. Sightings of Sanderlings were spread across the month, with eight being the highest tally on the 12th. A wisp of five Snipes were at Loch Connell on the 11th and 18th. Back on the strand line, under the constant ebb and flow of the tide, the seaweed seemed to be ever shifting by the bulldozing activities of Turnstones forever in search of crustaceans and other tasty morsels. A flock of 24 birds was the largest I encountered, on the 31st. Many of those I saw still wore resplendent summer dress rich in orange, brown, black and white.

So far this year Black-headed Gulls have been noticeably sparse on my patch; to see plus 100 of them was thus something of a relief, on the 10th. Mediterranean Gulls are always scarce birds on my doorstep, so to record them on five days this month was a delight: an adult on the Wig Fields, on the 6th, followed by a first-winter bird on the 9th, 10th and 17th, and another adult at this same location, on the 23rd. Sandwich Terns were observed on five days, beginning with 10 (4 juveniles) at the Scar on the 1st and concluding with 14, also here, on the 31st.

Although Gannets were observed most days they were generally few in number, with 17 being the highest count on the 31st. Immature birds were noted on two occasions: a third year bird on the 19th and another of probably the same age class on the 28th. Cormorants stood in sentinel-like fashion at a few favoured locations, making assessment of their numbers relatively straightforward. 39 were present at the Scar on the 28th. The same sites were also used by Shags, with the pier at Cairnryan being particularly favoured. 31 gathered here on the 8th.

A Great White Egret was a nice find in a bay to the north of the beach at Kirkcolm (on the 8th), where ready comparison could be made with it and an accompanying Grey Heron. On the same day I saw a Little Egret energetically chasing fry in the shallows at the Scar; a few days later (the 11th) a bird was at Loch Connell, and at the end of the month one at the Wig; I like to think that it was the same bird on all three occasions, roaming in search of food, but without any distinguishing marks or features they could just as easily have been separate birds.

A Hobby seen hunting over the Wig Fields was a most pleasant discovery on the 25th. Alas, I never saw it (or another) again. Similarly, I feasted my eyes upon a Merlin that came in low over the sea, on the 20th, then proceeded purposefully over the Wig Fields and beyond, towards Connell Hill. It was my first of the season; let’s hope it will not be the last!

Now to the Hirrundines and lookalikes. Thankfully there were more House Martins to gaze upon this month than last. In the sky above Loch Connell I counted the most, 106 in all, on the 18th; I also thought that the 76 swirling birds above the Wig Fields on the 30th was a respectable gathering. It was at the aforementioned freshwater loch that accounted for my sightings of Sand Martins this month. Over 40 birds mingled with 82 of their white-rumped cousins, on the 25th, making for a confusion of martins until I had gauged the numbers of each species present. To compound the task a solitary Swift and a couple of Swallows cavorted amongst them. The latter species was also widespread elsewhere, and my highest count was of 64 sunning themselves on the roof of my house, on the 30th.

I saw a male Blackcap in my garden on the 8th and another on the 29th. Also in the garden, but on the 26th, were two Chiffchaffs. There was a Whitethroat at the Wig on the 8th and other singletons elsewhere on the 11th and 18th. Most of the Willow Warblers I observed were in my garden, with two on the 9th, one on the 10th and two on the 19th; an additional two were encountered down Fisher Lane on the 31st.

To round things up: there is typically an appreciable increase in the number of Linnets visiting the area during August. Some years there is a gradual build up, other times sudden, almost overnight. On the 8th the Wig Fields harboured 35 birds, on the 12th there were some 100, and come the 30th I counted over 250. By comparison there were few Meadow Pipits to be seen on passage: in fact, just one on the 20th and another on the 31st. Undoubtedly I missed many … perhaps a great many! Nuthatches are relatively quiet at this time of year, as perhaps suggested by my only record - a singleton, on the 11th. Robins, too, pass by in silence through the summer, though begin to make their presence known again in late August when they burst forth in song, advertising themselves and their claim to territory. Early in the month I saw barely a handful of spotty juveniles on my travels: at the month’s close (31st) I heard ten adults in full song. A lone Skylark (on the 8th) was the only one of its species that I entered into my logbook the entire month long; however, like meadow pipit, I am guessing that many went undetected. A pleasant sighting was that of a Wheatear at the Wig, also on the 8th; but I was even more surprised to see a spotty juvenile near the Scar on the 20th - surely, a bird bred locally. A further two birds were in the same vicinity on the 31st.

Leaving the best ’til last, as it is said, my garden was host to an extraordinary occurrence in the early morning of the 20th. Gazing through a house window I noticed a Great Spotted Woodpecker (an uncommon but not unexpected visitor) in the Eucalyptus tree, a Spotted Flycatcher (exceedingly rare visitor to my garden) perched in a fruit tree, and a Wryneck (a garden first!) down on the paving. Awesome! They were present momentarily, then they were gone.

Signs of Autumn are in the Offing - July 2024 Bird Report

July shares similarities with the preceding month, being a quiet time on the birding front. Usually it is towards the month’s end that hints of autumn are suggested by an increase in the number of passage species that typify this turning point in the calendar: birds such as Arctic Skua and Black-tailed Godwits being examples of such.

Greylag Geese seen during the summer are generally birds that have descended from feral stock. Family groups begin to congregate so that come the month’s end sizeable flocks may be seen. Loch Connell is a good location at which to monitor this build up: the peak count here was 153 on the 28th. Numbers of Mute Swans on Loch Ryan show a similar increase as the month progresses; the highest count logged was 42 on the 24th and 25th.

The first returning Teals were four at Loch Connell on the 7th, increasing to eight birds on the 21st. I had just one record of Common Scoters moving through the area when a flock of 24 were observed on the sea-loch on the 10th. Numbers of ‘black’ Eiders (males in full eclipse plumage appear entirely dark when seen at any distance) steadily increased, rising to a peak of 262 on the 8th; a female with three large ducklings was at the Wig on the 5th and, possibly the same birds (ducklings have grown and fledged, now sporting proper juvenile plumage) on the 23rd. Red-breasted Mergansers tended to be in small, scattered flocks, but a raft of 62 birds was on, or near, the beach at Kirkcolm on the 29th.

I saw very few Great Crested Grebes in Wig Bay during the course of the month: my highest counts being just three on the 7th and four on the 14th. As expected I saw no Little Grebes on the sea-loch but one was at Loch Connell on the 21st, and two there on the 28th. A singleton Red-throated Diver at the Wig on the 26th was my only record of this species.

The wader population visiting my local patch tends to climb towards the month’s end when non-breeding adults and failed breeders start to make their way through on passage. There was a Bar-tailed Godwit at the Scar on the 29th, a Black-tailed Godwit at Loch Connell the day before (28th) along with five Snipes. The number of Curlews in the general vicinity varied from day to day, with 25 of them being my largest count at the Wig, on the 6th. Records of Dunlin were scattered across the month, with the first (four birds) at the Scar on the 10th and the biggest flock of them (32) on the 29th. All were adults. I did not record any Redshank until the 28th, when there four at the Wig, with two the following day. Ringed Plovers are one of the commonest waders to be encountered in the local area. My efforts to see them this month were, however, shameful. Consequently I logged them on few days, and with a disappointing high of just 26 birds on the 29th. Adult Sanderlings were observed at the Scar on the 11th, 29th and 30th, with six, 10 and eight birds, respectively. My only record of Turnstone was a party of four at the Scar on the 29th.

Gulls are often perceived as being a specialised group within the birdwatching community on account of their general similarities of appearance to one another, and especially within the ranks of their immature plumages. Despite this, it is a relatively easy task to separate large (such as Herring) from small (such as Black-headed). The ‘small’ gulls have been particularly sparse on my patch all month - more so than usual. My highest count of Black-headed Gulls about the Wig was a mere 23 birds on the 6th. I saw few juveniles of this ordinarily common and abundant species.

There are usually a few pairs of Arctic Terns that breed locally but they hardly ever pass by my way. My best chance to see any is therefore to wait until the spring, or autumn, passage is underway, which occasionally brings flights of birds to Loch Ryan. This year autumn seems to have come early, with eight birds at the Scar on the 10th, six on the 11th, 12 on the 12th and two on the 13th. Sightings of Sandwich Terns were almost daily, with high counts of 40 on the 11th and 56 on the 14th and 15th; very few juveniles, however, were noted. Skuas are often associated with movements of terns: knowing this is one thing, catching a glimpse of these parasitic raiders of the sky is often another. I saw a pale morph Arctic Skua passing the Scar on the 16th, then spent a good 15 minutes watching another (also a pale morph) harassing Sandwich Terns in Wig Bay, on the 20th.

Flicking back through may notebook for the current year, I noticed a distinct lack of records for Tysties (alias Black Guillemots). Until evidence should prove otherwise I have to attribute this paucity to a number of factors operating at a local level, including weather conditions affecting visibility across Loch Ryan and issues restricting my field excursions, hence, site coverage. Throughout this July I had only four days of registrations of these small sea-faring birds. Seeing as they are such a common, but local, species I treat this as a poor sign rather than an impending omen of disaster. Gannets, on the other hand, have been regular as clockwork, although their numbers may have been slightly down on previous years’ data: 28 being my largest count, on the 25th.

Birds of prey are generally encountered ad hoc. Any observations of them are thus always useful, if only to indicate their continuing (for the regular species, that is) presence. I heard a Barn Owl calling in the late evening of the 5th and 13th; observed a Buzzard on the 8th and 28th (usually I would expect more sightings); and watched a Peregrine hunting over the Scar, on the 10th.

It has not been a great year on may patch for swallows and martins. Some days it was plain hard work just to enter one bird into the logbook. Vaguely reasonable counts of House Martins were 16 on the 23rd and 30 on the 29th. Swallows also peaked on this last date: a mere 24 birds. Somewhat surprisingly, sightings of Swifts exceeded all expectations, being registered on a mammoth six days spread across the month. Granted, the highest count of birds was only two (on the 15th) but I was well chuffed to have even them. (What does that tell you about the status of this migrant in my neck of the woods!).

July is not the best of months for registering warblers about the village of Kirkcolm. Consequently, I was more than satisfied with a single Sedge Warbler on the 7th, one Willow Warbler in the garden on the 2nd and another two on the 13th; also, a lone Whitethroat on the 2nd, 3rd, 14th and 29th (the first two were in the garden and the last at the Wig).

This leaves us with the odds and sods, as they say - perhaps better referred to as the miscellaneous. First up, Lesser Redpoll: a bird singing in my garden on three consecutive days (4th - 6th) and constituting the my first records of the summer season, no less. Secondly, a Robin on the 29th was my only record on my patch during the whole of the month. Just goes to prove how elusive common birds can be … or how unobservant the recorder is! Thirdly, Spotted Flycatcher: undoubtedly more widespread and common than my records might suggest but always a delight to mine eyes whenever I espy one; in this instance, a pair accompanied by two ‘spotty’ juveniles (the adults are mostly plain), on the 13th, and a couple of birds on the 23rd. We close this month’s blog with Skylark: a lone, single, solitary, songster above the Wig Fields on the 3rd. I know there were more of them earlier in the season but quite where they have all gone I am at a loss!