True to form the spring season impacted upon the community of birdlife here on my local patch. Considerable fluctuations in the numbers of Pale-bellied Brent Geese was particularly evident with no two counts ever the same. The peak tally came early on with 347 observed on the 2nd. A few days later, on the 6th, numbers had dropped to 116 (the last big count of the month); thereafter, few birds were noted on just four days, the last sighting being of a singleton at the Scar on the the 23rd. On the 12th a Dark-bellied Brent accompanied a party of its paler congeners that fuelled up, grazing the sward in a field beside the Wig track that is so favoured by this visiting species. Migrating Pink-footed Geese were more often heard than seen. I saw 740 birds flighting over on the 2nd. The last were heard calling on the 21st.
Two pairs of Mute Swan were at Loch Connell on the 19th, with one of the pairs busy constructing a nest. A singleton was observed on Loch Ryan, out in mid-water, on the 24th. The sea-loch also held a small party of Whooper Swan on the 21st: they rested in the shallows at Low Balyett before taking to the air and heading northbound, passing the Scar several minutes later.
There were few entries of Shelduck in this month’s log. A group of seven birds on the spit of land known as the Scar did however catch my gaze on the 25th. A surprising report came my way involving a pair of Mandarin Duck (a fairly common feral species in parts of England but still very local in Scotland) on the burn that flows through Glen Plantation, in the heart of the village of Kirkcolm. This was not a single incident but one of several that was passed to me by several local residents that I spoke to whilst out on walkabouts during the course month. Of particular interest here is, although not yet seen by myself, these sightings constitute (to the best of my knowledge) a new species of bird to be added to the extensive list of those to be seen about the Wig and its surrounds, and already curated by myself. Watch this space, as they say!
A drake and a duck Pintail were at Loch Connell on the 5th but not seen thereafter. At the same site the number of Teal steadily reduced from 60 on the 5th to 23 con the 24th; likewise, did Wigeon, from 10 (also on the 5th) down to a single male on the 12th; he remained there for the rest of the month. Two were present at the Wig on the 3rd. Common Scoter were regularly observed on Loch Ryan throughout the month although their numbers varied widely, generally decreasing as the month progressed. The peak count was 125 on the 3rd whereas on the 27th they were down to five. My observations of Eider were relatively few, with a maximum count of just 66 birds on the 3rd. I’m guessing there were considerable more at large that remained out of view. The seasonal changeover in birds was especially evident in Goldeneye: I had few sightings and none after the 13th, when two were logged. My highest count of them at Wig Bay was a mere 11 on the 5th. At Loch Connell four were present on the 5th and just a single female on the 12th. The 13th also happened to be the last date on which I saw any Long-tailed Duck (six birds) but prior to that they were more frequently occurring than the preceding species, with a high of 15 (which included five males wearing their brown overcoats of summer) on the 3rd.
There was the inevitable reduction in the numbers of Tufted Duck at Loch Connell this month: the peak was 18 on the 5th while on the 24th there was just three present. Incidentally, Pochard and Goosander were absent from both fresh and salt water sites on my local patch. There were however good numbers of Red-breasted Merganser about the Wig in the early part of the month, with a high of 109 on the 3rd and only slightly less, 92, on the 9th. After that here seemed to be few of them at large.
I sometimes have to pinch myself just to make sure that I am not dreaming, or more usually, to remind myself how lucky I am to have such a rich diversity of wildlife on my doorstep. It is all too easy to be complacent and take such wonders for granted, even when I know that there are many other people out there who are less fortunate in this respect than myself. Take divers, for example: throughout the late autumn, winter and spring, I can look out of the ’viewing window’ in my house and see these most captivating of birds on a regular basis. They are species’ which humble me to the bone. Comparatively few people, I am guessing, can - figuratively speaking - wake up with them in the morning and then retire to bed with them at night, knowing that come the ’morrow they will be there again to be enjoyed … But I digress, lost in a moment of nostalgia .. Divers, yes. A singleton Black-throat’, seen on the 13th, was my only record of this species at Loch Ryan throughout the month. Making up for this paucity, I had seven sightings of Great Northern Diver - all lone birds, with the exception of a brace on the 9th. The bird I saw on the 20th was particularly striking in appearance, decked out in a pristine summer plumage that is likely to have procured a lingering gaze of admiration from any onlookers; I tipped my hat in a nod of appreciation and approval as the bird swam by, in all probability, oblivious to its own visual charm. I, however, found myself even more affected by the steady stream of Red-throated Divers that I saw passing through the area, so much so that a memory of that protracted event is now firmly ingrained in my mind, where it will undoubtedly remain until an accident or chance wipes clean the slate or death takes me … and it may even continue for a time after that as well! To cut to the chase, spring is always a good time to the said species on Loch Ryan but this April stands out above all others in my own history of those occasions. On most evenings, when the weather was calm and viewing conditions were good, I saw herds of these birds floating on the blue expanse of the loch. My biggest counts of the species came on three days in close succession: 101 on the 20th, 105 on the 23rd, and 96 birds on the 25th. The count on the 23rd, as well as being the peak for the month was special in another way, also: it included a flock that was, quite literally, 100 birds strong - not a bird less, nor more. A truly magnificent sight to behold. This veritable feast would of course not have been possible to experience without that most quintessential piece of equipment that birdwatchers use for long distance viewing, the telescope … field scope … spotting scope - call it what you will - but without which so many visual adventures (and misadventure!) might never be realised. I use it unreservedly both to view the wildlife about the salty Loch Ryan and its close neighbour the freshwater site of Loch Connell. It is to the latter that I now draw your attention.
On the 24th of the month, viewing from a roadside field-gate, I took delight in, which for me, was a ‘first’ at Loch Connell - two pairs of of Great Crested Grebes. And what is more, they were both engaged in courtship display, with each couple performing a ritualised and well documented dance that has to be experienced ‘real-time’ if its glory is to be fully appreciated. Bring it on! An adult Red-necked Grebe was a surprise find at the Wig on the 3rd. Dressed in breeding attire it was handsome enough but, to me at least, it lost out to the next species. Surprisingly, perhaps, many of the Slavonian Grebes that I saw on the sea-loch were displaying, although not to the full extent as their larger cousins a few hundred yards away inland and over the intervening hill. Their efforts seemed rather half-hearted by comparison, more of a practise for more earnest times ahead when back on their breeding grounds. It was nevertheless a rare treat for me, enhanced (and made possible) by the ‘power’ of a ‘scope and all the benefits that such equipment can provide. My peak count of these misfits (because - and a personal view only - in their splendid breeding refinery they do look a tad over-dressed and out of place on Loch Ryan) was 25 on the 3rd and, as already hinted at, most of the birds were adults in gorgeous summer dress. Numbers dropped off sharply after this initial ‘invasion’ however (to a handful of birds, at most), with a singleton on the 28th being the last of the month.
Loch Ryan is not renowned for having high concentrations of waders; their main migratory routes and stop off points are elsewhere. Thus, I didn’t expect to see many Bar-tailed Godwit this month and so was not disappointed when I logged but a singleton at the Wig on the 10th, followed by three on the 17th and one on the 28th. I consider the seven Black-tailed Godwit that I recorded at the Scar on the 19th being very much as bonus birds and, yet another rare treat. Sporting a fine summer plumage of red, black and white served only to make the sighting of them even more delightful. With the majority of over-wintering Curlew having now departed to their breeding grounds the bulk of those I saw were probably on passage. My peak count of the species was 34 at the Wig on the 5th, with an additional party of 14 at Loch Connell on the same day. The paucity of Dunlin records in my logbook this month does probably not relate to there being a lack of birds but rather a consequence of the effort put in by the observer! On account of this small waders size it is all too easily missed when the scanning of their shore-line habitat (the Wig and Scar) is performed mostly from the comfort of my home, which is a little over half a mile away. But even when I did manage a walk to the beach the number of birds of this species did not increase beyond the four that I was able to see from my house, on both the 20th and the 24th. Golden Plover at the Scar peaked at 52 on the 8th. I saw a single Greenshank, at the Wig on the 30th. Local pairs of Oystercatcher were much in evidence. My highest count of this species however was a gathering of 134 at the Scar on the 2nd. An unexpected sighting was that of 24 Redshank at the Scar, on the 8th. Typically, numbers of them here are considerably lower, not to mention being scarce in the springtime. Disturbance by humans has a severe impact on those Ringed Plover that attempt to nest along the shoreline of Loch Ryan. Thankfully the species is still common enough on passage: a high of 40 birds at the Scar on the 6th was reasonable enough. Only two Snipe were espied, at Loch Connell on the 5th. There was however a better showing of Whimbrel on my local patch, beginning with two at the Wig on the 18th, rising to 22 there on the 29th.
The steady decrease in the numbers of Black-headed Gull observed visiting the Wig during the month was anticipated. The drop in the occurrence of Common Gull was marked, with just three on the 6th, present (but not counted) on the 8th, another three on the 10th and, lastly, one on the 13th. Although the numbers of Herring Gull logged varied widely from day to day there always seemed to be some on view. I did note in excess of 290 of them at the Scar on the 20th. Three sightings of Kittiwake were duly registered, with seven on the 1st, 12 on the 18th, and 18 on the 27th. Lesser Black-backed Gulls were few, with just a singleton at the Scar on the 6th and 13, also there, on the 8th. A crisply marked adult Mediterranean Gull in summer plumage and a 1st summer bird passed low over the Scar on the 2nd and, as always, were a pleasure to behold and welcome entries into the log, to boot. A few days later at this location were two Arctic Terns (my first of the year), followed by seven on the 9th. I also saw my first Common Tern of the year here, on the 5th, with another on the 9th and three on the 22nd. Sandwich Tern were observed daily at the Wig and Scar, with high counts of 35 on the 9th, 25 on the 20th, 46 on the 23rd and a peak of 50 on the 24th.
Guillemot were few on the sea-loch, with one on the 6th, two on the 18th and one on the 19th. Razorbill, by comparison, were more frequently occurring, being observed on 15 days across the month. Their peak count was on the 1st, when 54 was entered into the logbook. An exceptionally early record for Loch Ryan was that of a Manx Shearwater, seen passing the Scar on the 5th. Gannet on the other hand were regular visitors, including an excellent tally of 60 birds on the 9th.
Just two observations were made of Little Egret frequenting the Scar, both of singletons on the 13th and 19th. A male Peregrine sped across the fields beside the Wig on the 5th whilst a pair of Red Kite were watched flighting over the hilly terrain on the eastern side of the sea-loch.
I always look forward to seeing the return of House Martin to my local patch. It is comforting, reassuring … in the same way that summer follows spring, likewise the birds share that same sense of continuity .. steadfast, and secure. Unfortunately, the birds that do return are faced with a myriad of problems, one of which is having to deal with the so-called sagacity of humans, hell bent on keeping their own homes free from mud plastering little birds! Just four seen on the 20th does not bode well for their chances of raising any future generations within the village of Kirkcolm. For another species, the Sand Martin, the same village lacks suitable places for them to nest: that requirement is fulfilled by the presence of vertical banks of earth into which they can readily excavate nesting chambers. Consequently, these small brown birds are essentially casual visitors here. I saw three hawking insects above the Wig fields on the 13th, two over Loch Connell on the 24th and a singleton, also there, on the 26th. My peak count of Swallow was a mere seven birds on the 13th and the 26th. All in all not a promising start to the year for hirundines on my local patch.
On a short walk through a part of the Corsewall Estate I was pleasantly surprised to find seven Blackcap singing, on the 21st, while a similar stroll on the 13th revealed eight Chiffchaff in song. My first Sedge Warbler of the year was a songster at the estate marsh on the 23rd. Whitethroat was a little earlier than the preceding species in arriving, with two on the 19th. Willow Warbler were even earlier, with the first two heard singing on the13th.
Notable, at least in terms of rarity value, was a Corncrake on the 22nd. I was in my house at the time when I heard its grating song drifting up the hill in the early evening (1840 hrs, to be precise). Judging by the direction from which the sound came I surmised that the bird was located in the Pool Field, which, incidentally, was the location of my last record of the species on the 15th April 2025. Was this the same returning birds, I wondered?
I had only one observation of Grey Wagtail during the month, a singleton seen at Mayhaar on the morning of the 5th when my daughter and me walked up the road for our usual Sunday perusal of Loch Connell. Also on its lonesome was the one and only record of Lesser Redpoll, on the 3rd. Thankfully, there were a few more Siskin to be seen, with a peak of 24 on the 28th. The grassy fields beside the Wig track are home to the majority of Skylark that breed within my local patch: 14 birds sang on high here, on the 13th. A couple of Tree Sparrows were still visiting my garden up to the 3rd of the month, followed by a singleton at intervals, on the 9th ,16th, 23rd and 26th. And finally, observations of Wheatear were logged on a remarkable 15 days: starting with a male at the Wig on the 10th, rising to three there on the 13th and the 23rd, then to four on the 29th. The peak count of the month however was at Loch Connell where a party of six foraged amongst the boulders, stones and rubble at the water’s edge.
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