Mute Swans are never an abundant species at Loch Connell: a count of nine adults on the 3rd was, although seemingly low, an exception and thus notable. On the nearby salt-water site of Loch Ryan this species is considerably more common. I recorded 56 birds on the 9th, rising to 90 on the 29th. Two adults with five, brown, grown-up sized cygnets in tow at the Wig on the 19th were presumably the same family of birds that originated from a nesting on the lake at Agnew Park, Stranraer; they had since paddled northwards up the sea-loch for five or six miles. A lone Whooper Swan (originally present with a friend, up to the 18th May, thereafter a singleton only) was present until at least the 17th of this month, but not seen since. It may have gone elsewhere, but is likely to have fallen victim to predation, such as by a fox.
I had just two records of Gadwall, both of which came from Loch Connell: a male on the 24th and two female types on the 31st. At the same site my best count of Mallards was 89, also on the 24th. The majority of these were drakes in eclipse plumage. The number of Teal at this freshwater site rose from eight on the 3rd to 40 on the 31st. Interestingly I saw two birds at the Scar, Loch Ryan, on the 23rd. The sea-loch hosted six male Common Scoters on the 29th, at least 140 Eiders on the 11th (the 23rd being the only date in the month that I did not record this species) and a series of good counts of Red-breasted Merganser: 70 plus, north of the beach at Kirkcolm on the 7th, 96 at Soleburn on the 12th, 84 at the Wig on the 18th and the largest tally (also at the Wig) of 140 birds on the 29th.
Having lived in the village of Kirkcolm for 17 years it is only this year that Great Crested Grebes have successfully nested at Loch Connell, raising a single youngster. The juvenile remained on site until at least the 24th, my last visit of the month. Adults of this species have often completed their breeding cycle come August, and begin to turn up on Loch Ryan, where numerous of them overwinter. Three birds was my highest count of them, on the 11th. Slavonian Grebes typically arrive later on the sea-loch than their aforementioned cousins. I was both surprised and delighted to register four birds, still in their nuptial plumage, on the 29th. Accompanying them was a fine-looking Black-throated Diver. The passage of Red-throated Divers through Loch Ryan began earlier in the month. I saw three on the 11th, rising to 14 on the 29th.
It was pleasant to log a reasonable selection of waders on my local patch, following a quiet summer. Singleton Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits at the Scar on the 22nd and 18th, respectively, were somewhat less than I expected, or hoped, to see. I, however, had no such qualms regarding the lone Common Sandpiper that I logged at Loch Connell on the 6th and at the Wig on the 7th. This species used to be a more common and regular visitor but is now less predictable in its occurrence. Although Curlew numbers continue to fall UK wide, I was delighted to see 40 at Loch Connell on the 6th, a tightly packed bunch of 54 at Soleburn and 46 at the Wig on the12th, and my largest single flock of the month, 73 at the Wig on the 19th. There are many factors that influence the numbers of Dunlin stopping off at Loch Ryan during periods of passage. In recent years I have witnessed smaller flocks of them, but on the plus side they at least still show up. Their ’dun’ colours help conceal them from predators and birdwatchers, alike. I spied my first juveniles of the season at the Scar on the 7th; they were in the company of other waders that had come to forage and rest on the shore as high tide approached. My peak count of birds however came on the 19th when I logged 36. Golden Plover are somewhat larger than the aforementioned species, potentially making them easier to spot. Their overall spangled brown tones camouflage them well on the ground, especially when seen against the combined similar hues of wrack, sand and pebbles at the Scar. From a distance ‘goldies’ can be almost invisible, their presence revealed only when one of them then raises its wings, revealing a ‘flash’ of white on the undersides and flanks. Applying patience allowed me to regularly record flocks, spanning the month, the largest of which comprised 57 birds on the 19th.
This month also saw Greenshanks being well represented, with 11 sightings registered. Most were of singletons at the Wig or the Scar, but three records were from Loch Connell, including a party of four birds on the 31st. The arrival of 16 Knot at the Scar, on the 1st, caught me by surprise by being somewhat earlier in the season than I had anticipated. More typically I encounter one, or maybe two birds, marking the start of their period of passage. Nevertheless, they were welcome visitors and as it turned out they represented my peak count of this high arctic breeder. Perhaps not surprisingly all of my Lapwing sightings were at Loch Connell, beginning with 14 on the 6th and maximum counts of 21 on the 16th and 24th. I had a very respectable count of 150 Oystercatchers at the Wig on the 23rd; in comparison, Redshanks were considerably fewer, with a high of just 16 (still a good number for this particular spot) on the 29th. Ringed Plovers were, naturally, present about the Wig and Scar in far greater numbers than the previous species, with 68 on the 1st and a peak count of 157 on the 29th. A juvenile Ruff put in an appearance at Loch Connell, on the 6th, and two birds were present at the Scar on the 17th. The very same shingle spit hosted a Sanderling on the 7th and four on the 19th and 23rd. A wisp of 19 Snipe was at Loch Connell on the 16th, with six there the following day and a singleton on the 24th. At the Scar 10 boldly marked, summer-plumaged, Turnstones were a veritable feast to mine eyes on the 7th. Come the months end (29th) many a juvenile, and adults with well worn plumages, formed a closely knit flock of 30 birds that flicked seaweed skywards with their strong bills as the company searched for morsels beneath the strewn vegetation along the strand-line .
It is appreciably more common for me to see Whimbrel on my local patch during the spring migration than during the autumn. This August, however, I had a spread of sightings across the month, four of which were of singletons (on the 1st, 2nd, 24th and 27th) and the others being five at Wig Bay on the 12th, and three at Loch Connell on the 31st. The wader highlight of the month was undoubtedly the Wood Sandpiper that I saw in the close-company of a Greenshank at the Scar on the 4th. I more typically associate this species with freshwater habitats, so it was both a huge surprise and a delight to see it pottering about in the shallows and on the shoreline of the sea-loch.
Gulls have traditionally been synonymous with the coast. They still are, of course, but for species such as the Common Gull their presence in my neighbourhood is strongly linked to the seasons. During the summer they can be near absent, while autumn shows an increase in birds as post breeding adults and offspring begin to pass through the area: increases in numbers can often be sudden and dramatic - much like the appearance of a rainbow after a heavy downpour. Over 150 birds in a grassland at Clendrie was one such spectacle, on the 27th. An immature Iceland Gull at Soleburn, on the 12th, was possibly the same individual that had frequented the locality during late-spring. It certainly seemed to be healthy enough in both appearance and actions in spite of its presence being unusual for the time of year. An adult Kittiwake was seen to pass the Scar on the 3rd and on the 30th. Lesser Black-backed Gulls became more frequent visitors; an especially well turned out party of six handsome adults caught my gaze as they half-dozed the day away, loafing in grassland beside the Wig on the 7th. A juvenile Little Gull sat out on the Scar on the 14th was also much appreciated myself, being something of a rare treat on my home patch. Several observations of Mediterranean Gull were also not without merit: an adult flying above the middle of Loch Ryan, on the 8th; a different adult at Soleburn, on the 12th; a second-winter bird about the Wig on the 24th, and an adult in the same locality on the 27th and 28th.
Two Arctic Terns made a brief appearance at the Scar on 1st. Common Terns were logged on a few days across the month, with a peak of six birds at the Scar on the 14th. Also here was a Little Tern, which was a delightfully unexpected find on the evening of the 5th. It was outdone, however, by a party of six adult Roseate Terns on the 28th, and two juveniles of the same species the following day (29th). This bunch of sea-faring waifs would not be complete without inclusion of the most common and abundant of their kind to be seen in Wig Bay, Sandwich Terns. I observed this species almost daily, with especially notable counts of 42 on the 1st, 60 on the 12th, 74 on the 17th and 85 on the 28th - all on the Scar, of course.
Many days of rain coupled with generally poor visibility over Loch Ryan hampered my viewing of Black Guillemots. However, sometimes all it takes is for just one clear day and amenable conditions to unite in order to allow an insight to the number of these small, compact, auks that occupy the loch. This month that day was the 21st. I successfully managed to log a minimum of 70 birds just by viewing through my telescope, from the comfort of my house. A crude exercise for sure, but experience has taught me that such a tally could probably be doubled if a more accurate assessment of their status is required. It is considerably easier to assess the numbers of Gannets using the loch, on account of the species large size and conspicuous white and black plumage. 89 birds on the 1st was my highest count, which included four immatures and a ‘chocolate-brown’ juvenile. A Great White Egret at Loch Connell on the 17th was a pleasant discovery. I saw Little Egrets using the sea-loch on 11 occasions (an ever continuing improvement in the number of these white herons within the local area), including what to me was an impressive party of eight birds flying northbound across the Wig, on the 16th. Most memorable, however, was an adult bird that I saw perched in the top of one of the Sycamore trees in the playground of the village school - a most incongruous sight, I thought. The number of Cormorants present at the Scar clearly increased as the month progressed: 45 was my highest count of them on the 28th. Not to be outdone, I observed 60 Shags perched on the derelict pier across the water at Cairnryan, on the 7th.
Birds of prey always make for an impressive viewing. A Kestrel mobbing a juvenile female Peregrine that was perched atop a fence post at Loch Connell, on the 6th, made splendid entertainment, whilst an Osprey at the same location, on the17th, captured my attention for the two hours I remained there, trying in-between times to record the waterfowl that were present at the site. This uncommon visitor to my patch proved too much of a distraction for me, as it also did for a pair of crows that near constantly badgered the bird from a respectfully safe distance…most of the time! The raptor perched in the top of a Sallow, where it seemed to me to appear impressively huge in such a small tree, especially when its whiteness was heightened by the strong rays of the rising sun, effectively making it appear even bigger. Despite being harried the bird remained put on its perch, preening and sunning and no doubt enjoying the advancing warmth of the day. Only when I packed up my gear and headed towards home for breakfast did the Osprey depart, sailing in the direction of Loch Ryan. Perhaps breakfast was also on its mind!
During a routine scan of the sea-loch from my house, I heard a loud thud on one of the windows in another room. I continued with my survey of the birds out in bay, after which I headed outside to see if the window-bashing culprit, or unfortunate victim (depending how you choose to look at it) could be seen. Immediately upon opening an exterior door I was confronted by a juvenile male Sparrowhawk, sat on the ground a few feet in front of me. Clearly it had stunned itself when hitting the glass at speed (no surprises there then… except to the started bird!) and had taken a few minutes to regain its composure. It flew off, none the worse for its experience. I was somewhat relieved by not having to go to its rescue and risk a confrontation with its sharp claws and beak!
The number of pairs of House Martins breeding within what I would consider to be the main built-up zone of the village of Kirkcolm has been at an all time low this summer - barely a handful. Fortunately, there have been ‘outsiders’ to swell their ranks but even with these the number of birds has been low. The onset of the autumn passage helped swell the local population, with highs of 40 on the 3rd, 72 on the 13th, and a peak count in excess of 136 on the 18th. Sand Martins have always been few on my patch, as evidenced by just four birds at Loch Connell on the 17th. Swallows also seem to have shared the same poor year as their white dumped cousins: the monthly maxima was a tad over 60 birds on the 21st. In previous years Swifts have been but scarce visitors to my patch. This year, however, something extraordinary happened. At least one pair is known to have bred, meaning that sightings of the species were frequent throughout the summer. Their season is brief and birds depart for warmer climes early, so that come August most of their breeding areas have been vacated. I saw three birds on the 1st, a singleton on the 4th, and a final bird on the 13th.
Most of my observations of Chiffchaffs this month were of birds in my garden, with a notably better than average year if the number of records are an indication of anything. Four birds seen foraging amongst the shrubbery was pure delight on the 2nd. Two birds doing the exact same on the 29th rounded off the month nicely. A single Sedge Warbler and two Whitethroats were logged during a local walk on the 12th. I had only two records of Willow Warbler all month, both from my garden: one on the 3rd and another on the 11th.
Other observations that may be of interest to you, reader, are: 92 House Sparrows in my garden on the 28th; approximately 200 Linnets over the Wig fields, also on the 28th; a very poor showing of Meadow Pipits, with the highest count of just six birds, on the 27th; a return to song by Robins, with nine heard on the 19th; a pair of Spotted Flycatchers with three juveniles within the grounds of Corsewall House, also on the 19th; and lastly, a singleton Wheatear at the Wig, on the 7th.
This report is provided courtesy of the author, Stephen Grover
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