The daily presence of Pale-bellied Brent Geese feeding in grassland beside the Wig track was a comforting sight to me: a reminder that it was still winter whilst at the same time signifying the imminent change to spring was just around the corner. There was a near constant flock of 140 birds although, alas, very few were youngsters. On a few clear days the sound of their low, guttural growls drifted through an open window, or a door, in my house, so letting me know of their continued presence even when I could not see them. The month’s peak count came on the 19th when I registered a grazing flock of 178 birds, indicating also that there must have been a passage of others of their kind as well as the regular party. It should be said however that when different sized flocks are observed in any one day, such might be an indication of a passage of birds, or, just a redistribution of the regulars, depending on the numbers of birds involved. In consideration of this sentiment then the 28th might have seen at least 304 coming through, even though the largest single flock recoded that day comprised 128 birds. In retrospect it may be best to just regard the largest flock encountered (unless others were seen at the very same time) as the peak number of birds and not trouble the mind with other possible peculiarities and scenarios that can only lead to confusion if dwelt upon for too long. On the 1st, a party of 52 birds strayed from their usual, favoured fields at the Wig and ventured closer to the village of Kirkcolm, where they cropped the sward in a field beside the main road, opposite to Kirkland Court. A Dark-bellied Brent was present amongst the ranks of the paler race on the 29th.
There were 218 Greylag Geese at Loch Connell on the 8th; whether these were genuine Icelandic migrants or roaming feral birds will never be known but, given the time of year, they could have been either. The number of Pink-footed Geese observed varied with each of the numerous sightings, suggesting to me that they were all birds on their homeward journey to breeding grounds in Iceland. The largest northern bound congregation that I saw comprised in excess of 1,100 birds, on the 9th. They made a fine sight, and sound, calling as they passed overhead. The last birds of the month were heard calling on the 21st.
I had just three records of Mute swan on my local patch this month, which, although not altogether surprising was a tad fewer than I had expected. One was at the Wig on the 6th; three were at Loch Connell on the 15th; and 13 were at the Wig on the 20th. Whooper Swan were noted on four days, with a peak of 49 at Loch Connell on the 22nd. A pair of Shelduck were observed on several occasions across the month, whilst on the 14th a party of four were seen briefly at the Scar.
A male Gadwall was at Loch Connell on the 2nd but was not seen thereafter. Pintail were at this same freshwater site throughout the month, with the highest count coming on the 8th when seven (four males and three females) were logged; three pairs were noted there on the the 15th and the 22nd - all in all an excellent tally of this most elegant looking of waterfowl. Loch Connell also hosted Shoveler, with a male on the 2nd and 8th (presumably the same bird) and a drake and his duck on the 22nd. More abundant at this site were of course Teal, with a peak count of 231 on the 2nd, and an equally impressive 116 on the 8th. But, on the same day, even this common dabbling species was outdone here by a flotilla of 226 Wigeon (of which 124 were males). In comparison, my highest count of this species at the Wig was a sparse 36 birds, on the 14th.
There appeared to be a steady build up in the numbers of Common Scoter on Loch Ryan that could be discerned from the Wig, with 24 birds on the 2nd and culminating in a peak of 132 on the 19th. Eider on the sea-loch were present in even bigger numbers than the preceding species, with a high of 311 on the 8th. Goldeneye, however, were considerably fewer: a peak tally of 22 on the 3rd; and at Loch Connell, 14 between the 2nd and the 8th, inclusive. Low numbers of Long-tailed Duck were present about the Wig throughout the month, with a party of 12 being my highest count. However, examining my records - number of birds, sex ratios, plumages, etc - it is clear that more birds present than the peak count alone might otherwise suggest.
My observations of Pochard and Tufted Duck all emanated from Loch Connell; of the former species, a male and two females were present until at least the 8th, and of the latter there was a peak of 48 birds on the 2nd. This same body of freshwater held six Goosander, also on the 2nd, whilst there was a drake at the Scar on the 7th and a male and a female at the Wig on the 19th. Red-breasted Merganser were so widely dispersed on the sea-loch that my peak count of them, 65 on the 2nd, is likely to be an under representation.
A single Black-throated Diver, seen on the 13th, is indicative of the uncommonness of this species on Loch Ryan. I logged Great Northern Diver on seven dates: four on the 3rd, one on the 7th, two on the 9th and 12th, and singles on 18th, 19th (an adult transitioning into breeding plumage) and the 24th. Red-throated Diver is the commonest of the diver species to visit the sea-loch; birds were observed most days of the month although their numbers were generally low: my highest count being 38 on the 3rd. Worthy of mention were three birds in full breeding attire, on the 22nd … and very handsome they were, too! Notable were three Great Crested Grebe at Loch Connell on the 8th. Although Slavonian Grebe were observed almost daily on Loch Ryan there did not appear to be many. I saw the first of several summer-plumaged birds on the 6th. It was dressed to the nines, sporting brick-red neck and flanks, a purple-glossed back, and those distinctive golden ear-tufts. On the 19th, I logged the highest count of this species during the month - 21 birds, which included 11 in full breeding dress, each just as handsome as the first bird I had seen. A veritable feast for eyes, indeed!
Sightings of Bar-tailed Godwit were uniformly spread across the month, although, as is typical, few birds were involved. Six was the highest count at the Wig, on the 18th. Curlew noticeably decreased in number after the 7th, when the peak of 48 birds on the shore of the Wig was registered. Wintering birds departing for their breeding grounds account for this reduction. Next to no Dunlin were logged, but that is nothing out of the ordinary, nor unexpected. A singleton was at the Scar on the 3rd and four were there on the 19th. Thankfully, there were more Golden Plover about to keep the interest in waders alive on my local patch. Indeed, they were observed on most days, frequenting the Scar and its associated beaches - the exception being a single bird seen flighting over Loch Connell on the 2nd. A flock of 250 birds, on the 10th, was only bettered by a count of 354 on the 24th. My only records of Snipe were from Loch Connell, with a welcome 43 birds on the 2nd and 11 on the 8th. The peak count for Turnstone was 29 at the Scar on the 3rd.
It is perhaps not unreasonable to say that Kittiwake are but casual visitors to Loch Ryan. I observed an adult on the 22nd; 13 settled at the Wig on the 25th and three flew past the Scar on the 28th. An adult Mediterranean Gull in breeding plumage was present at the Wig on the 17th. An exceptional discovery, made by my daughter, was that of an adult Ring-billed Gull at Bishop Burn, on the 11th (see also ‘The final round-up’, at the end of this posting), which I was fortunate to see later the same day at the Scar. We logged the bird about the Wig on four occasions after: on the 15th, 19th, 24th and the 29th. It is certainly not everyday that a person is lucky enough to see an American vagrant on ones’ local patch, thus adding another precious memory to those already existing within my mind. I round off this section with a species, which for me, marks the end of winter and signifies the promise of spring: the Sandwich Tern. One was at the Wig on the 7th, followed by a singleton on the 25th and 26th.
Black Guillemots made a welcome return to the logbook with 16 on the 3rd. A Guillemot was at Wig Bay on the 20th. Razorbill were more plentiful on the sea-loch than the latter mentioned species, being registered on nine dated spread across the month and which included a an outstanding tally of 63 birds on the 4th. The number of sea-faring Gannets rose slowly from a singleton on the 5th to a peak of 23 on the 23rd. On the 8th, two pairs of Heron were observed tending their nests. A single Little Egret was at Loch Connell on the 2nd and the 8th. The same site held eight Cormorant on the 2nd.
A Blackcap heard singing on the 18th was my first of the spring period. A flock of 27 Chaffinch was notable, on the 1st. Three Chiffchaff were in song on the 11th, rising to 15 birds scattered through the woods of the Corsewall Estate, on the 18th. On the 1st, these same plantations held six Coal Tit (also in song) and the very same number of Goldcrest. Lest I should forget, the only Fieldfare that my daughter and me logged during the month was a party of five birds at Loch Connell, on the 8th. Lesser Redpoll seem to come and go: according to my records their absence from the logbook was long overdue, so a return to those very pages was most welcome, with a singleton (often in song) about my garden on the 2nd, 8th, 24th and 26th. A party of four Mistle Thrush might not raise many an eyebrow within the birdwatching community but on my local patch the species is local enough for me, at least, to do so - and to tip my hat in an appreciative acknowledgement.
Despite the widespread distribution of summering Osprey in Britain these days, I rarely encounter any on my local home patch; spring birds are especially scarce so it is with utmost joy that I report my sighting of a bird over Loch Ryan on the 19th. Redwing can be a hit or miss at this time of year and in my case it is usually the latter. However, records this month’s show six sightings of the species (mostly by my daughter, I should add), with the highest tally of 15 on the 18th. Interestingly, up to two birds were heard singing - though I am sure that such was just lust at play rather than a serious attempt to proclaim territory and attract a mate.
It was a poor month for sightings of Rock Pipit along the shoreline of Wig Bay, with just a singleton on the 3rd and three on the 18th. Skylark were not much better recorded, but at least there was a flock of 17 of them at the Wig fields, on the 9th. Swallow were late in gaining entry into the logbook, with two on the 28th. A Tree Sparrow was again in my garden, with a couple of birds seen between the 13th to at least the 27th of the month. An early Wheatear was seen beside the Wig Car Park on the 5th, 6th and 9th, and a different individual there much later, on the 27th.
The final round-up, and in courtesy and thanks to to the effort and contribution made by my daughter, I offer this section as a testament to the differing community of birds that can occur between somewhat similar sites separated by only a few miles. The day in question was the 11th; the location, Bishop Burn (on the eastern edge of Stranraer), approximately five miles south of the Wig:
Wigeon 186; Scaup (not seen from the Wig) 168; Bar-tailed Godwit 10; Curlew 95; Oystercatcher 191; Black-headed Gull 1,369; Common Gull 291; Herring Gull 113; Lesser Black-backed Gull 8; Ring-billed Gull 1.
This article was provided courtesy of the author, S.Grover
