When the Wind Blows. Bird Report for October 2025

Two consecutive days stood out this month, the 3rd and the 4th. They were special because a variety of species uncommon to the local area, or of other significance, were likely brought together by prevailing inclement weather conditions. On the 3rd those species were Curlew Sandpiper, Purple Sandpiper, Richard’s Pipit, Wheatear and Twite, and on the 4th, Barnacle Goose, Gannet, Grey Phalarope, Kittiwake, Leaches Petrel, Little Gull, Red-necked Grebe, Sandwich Tern and Swallow. As for all the other species and for information on the above species, please continue to read the remainder of this post.

There were seemingly few Pink-footed Geese about my local patch this month, with 90 birds seen flying over being my highest count, on the 9th. The so-called ‘black geese’ were better represented. Barnacle Geese are always a scarce visitors to the area about Kirkcolm so a party of five that I watched passing the Scar during rough weather on the 4th was notable; this was followed later the same day by a lone bird heading west. Another singleton flew over the Wig on the 17th and one was at Loch Connell on the 27th, where it grazed in the company of 275 larger Canada Geese. At the Wig, I recorded Pale-bellied Brent Geese almost daily, with well over 100 birds logged on 14 days across the month, including three counts of in excess of 200 birds: 202 at the Scar on the 22nd and 250 there the following day (23rd), and 296 on the 26th.

What I like about Mute Swans is that they are big, white (at least the grown-up birds are) and at this time of year have a fondness for gathering in flocks with others of their own kind. For birdwatchers, such as myself, this combination of attributes has a two-fold advantage: it makes them relatively easy to identify and, hence, count, even when viewed from a considerable distance away, such as I regularly experience at Loch Ryan. The recording process is therefore mostly stress-free - the same of which cannot be said for counting distant Scaup or Scoters! Thus, from six miles away in my house I am reasonably confident of the tallies I make of the Mutes that congregate along the southern shore at Stranraer. (A prerequisite to this task is of course the aid of a powerful spotting scope and suitable weather conditions). My peak count of the species this month was 112 birds observed on the 17th. However… and there is always a however or a but… astute persons amongst the readership may have detected a flaw in my approach.  ”What about confusion species, like the similar sized Whooper Swan, which readily associates with its commoner cousin: can the author be certain of excluding them from any counts?” This is a valid question and any answer I offer is likely to be fraught with circumspection, so please note the following. Any count… of any species… that any person ever makes.. is likely to be a source of error if constantly challenged and opposed: there are very few tallies reported that are absolute, unequivocal and definitive. We as people have to accept that error and discrepancy are constituent, and try to reduce these to a minimum to put the odds forever back in our favour. As for myself, I prefer to rely on my experience of any given species and put my trust in that. Thus, after a slight digression, back to waterfowl…I had nine observations of Whoopers Swan spread across the month, with birds at the Wig on six dates, the largest party being six birds on the 17th and 22nd. Loch Connell held the biggest flock, comprising 22 adults on the 5th. Shelduck at Loch Ryan are fast becoming one of those species consigned to memory only. Fortunately they are not quite there yet but it was still a delight to see four plump birds huddled together on the Scar during the blowy and otherwise dreary morning of the 23rd. Perhaps not surprisingly they represented my only sighting of the species during the month.

In many ways drake Gadwall are mundane-looking birds, especially when observed from a distance; but up close, when viewed through the magnifying power of a scope, the detail of their plumage is revealed, with many of their feathers showing fine bars, spots, or streaks - all in shades of grey, black, brown and white. Alas, it is not often that I get the chance to appreciate the delicate patterning of this species thus I relished the opportunity when a bird turned up at Loch Connell, on the 5th. On the same day this body of freshwater also held over 200 Teal hidden amongst the marginal vegetation, with, I suspect, many more obscured from view if their distant whistles were any measure of their presence. My highest counts of Wigeon came from the sea-loch, with a pleasing 144 at the Wig on the 22nd and a large flock of 668 mustered on the exposed flats at Low Balyett on the 10th.

I believe that having high hopes at the beginning of each month is a natural condition among birdwatchers. I certainly held that very sense of anticipation leading to the arrival of this October, looking forward to seeing large rafts of Common Scoters on Loch Ryan. As it turned out I saw relatively few birds, mostly because gusting winds and precipitation affected viewing. On one vaguely clear day (the 14th), I did succeed in making a count of 76 birds. My counts of Eider were similarly affected - the best being 164 on the 10th. Goldeneye were distinctly lacking about the Wig, with a high of just three birds on the 11th, and the situation with Long-tailed Duck was much the same with a winter-plumaged male on the 28th and 29th. Better than none, I suppose.

An immature Pochard was at Loch Connell on the 20th and a Scaup was at the same location on the 27th. The latter species is however more familiar on Loch Ryan but it is rare for me to see this species from either the Wig or my house. But on the 17th lady luck smiled upon me and under the prevailing clear conditions I logged 32 birds off Innermessan during a routine scan of the loch from my house. There were good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers about the Wig during the early part of the month. A flock of 96 close inshore, on the 4th, was handsomely beat the following day (the 5th) by a significant raft of 200 birds, reducing to 123 the next day, then to 105 on the 9th.

Great Crested Grebes were one of the staple species to be seen at Wig Bay during the month, often occurring in small but scattered groups. My highest count was 33 on the 20th. An unusual record was that of a Little Grebe at the Wig, on the 29th. The same locality had an adult Red-necked Grebe in breeding plumage, on the 4th; another on the 20th, two on the 22nd and 27th and a singleton on the 28th. Slavonian Grebes were of course more frequent than the preceding species, with a high of 22 birds on the 17th. A Black-throated Diver moulting out of breeding plumage was at Wig Bay on the 26th, whilst a resplendent summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver was here on the 6th and 7th, followed by two on the 20th, 27th and 29th. One species that seemed near impossible for me to miss was Red-throated Diver on account of them seemingly being everywhere on Loch Ryan that I cast my gaze: the 22nd was particularly notable, when I logged 223, including a tight raft of 110 birds.

I had a few surprises on the wader front this month, beginning with American Golden Plover. It might be said that this species has become an annual visitor to the Scar in recent years; I have certainly had a good run of birds. The key to finding one is regular and patient scrutinisation of sizeable flocks of the more common and familiar ‘Goldie’, searching through them one bird at a time for something that looks a tad different. A classically marked juvenile was present at the Scar on the 7th and 8th, and a slightly less neat-looking bird there on the 17th followed by a moulting adult on the 29th. At the Wig a juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit was present on the 3rd, with two on the 7th and a single on the 22nd. Also here on the 3rd was a very active, feeding, Common Sandpiper, which foraged amongst the pebbles and cobbles on the beach in the manner of a Turnstone. My best count of Curlew was on the 29th when I observed 72 feeding in the sloping grassy fields at Clendrie. Curlew Sandpipers are always nice birds to happen upon: two juveniles were at the Scar on the 3rd and another - with a very short bill (often appearing straight or with very little curve) - on the 7th. I confess, the bill of the last mentioned bird initially caused me consternation before further close study revealed to me its true identity.

There is something appealing about sizeable flocks of Golden Plover, whether they be carpeting the exposed flats at the Scar when the tide is out, or cavorting in the air above it, twisting and turning, flashing ever changing tones of dark and light as they bank first one way and then the other. If my artistic abilities were ever good enough then such golden spangled flocks would be high on my list to paint. But, I am content just to view the works of others, such as the late C. F. Tunnicliffe, and happy that I am able to view such splendid aggregations of birds from the comfort of my home. This month the Scar was ripe with burgeoning flocks, with over 600 strong, recorded on the 1st and 31st and several larger gatherings in between, including an awesome 923 birds on the 12th. And yes… before you should query it… when it comes to counting birds that are settled on the ground my preference is to count them individually, one at a time, rather than guesstimating blocks of 50 or so birds and then using that as a measure to gauge the number of birds present. This approach is of course painstakingly slow and fraught with peril as birds often do lift off on mass in response to disturbance, such as from a passing raptor or a dog walker. Sometimes the birds will alight nearby, allowing the count to begin again from scratch… 1, 2, 3, etc… and sometimes they will leave the area entirely. Their cousins, Grey Plover, are much less problematic to count, owing to the fact that barely a handful of birds are ever present - in fact, this month there was just a single juvenile on the 17th and two on the 23rd. 

The next species is a fine example of being in the right place at the right time - a Grey Phalarope, seen flying past the Scar on the 4th. Knot seemed to have been scarcer than usual this autumn, so one on the 7th, 16 on the 16th and 7 on the 23rd were very much appreciated by me. An unexpected treat… but a very welcome one at that.. was two Purple Sandpipers at the Scar on the 3rd. Double figures of Redshank at the Wig are always of significant note: 10 were duly registered in the logbook on the 22nd. Ringed Plover is another staple species of the shoreline during autumn. In spite of this they are not always as obvious to me as I would like on account of their small size and bold plumage which effectively render them invisible against the equally disruptive pattern of pebbles and sand of the beach. Consequently, I was more than pleased with the 64 birds I counted on the 23rd. Like the preceding species, Turnstone are also camouflaged for the environment they inhabit but, perhaps, because they are slightly bigger they are easier for me to spot, particularly if the are dashing along the strand-line. 82 birds at the Scar on the 3rd was an excellent count, I thought. A Whimbrel observed in a grassland beside the Wig, on the 29th, was my only record of this species during the month.

On the 4th, five Kittiwake flew past the Scar, whilst on the spit itself sat a first-winter Little Gull amongst a host of commoner species. Two days later (the 6th) at high-tide a second-winter Mediterranean Gull sat on the shore by the Wig Car Park. The following day (the 7th) the very same spot was occupied by an adult bird in winter dress. I presume that the immature just mentioned was the same bird I saw paddling on the flood water in the Pool Field (to the north of the Scar) on the 22nd. A lone Sandwich Tern frequented Wig Bay on the 4th, constituting my only record of the species for the month.

Auk species were surprisingly few and far between: a singleton Guillemot at the Wig on the 17th and two there on the 20th; just a single observation of Razorbill, comprising a party of 11 birds on the 17th. On the seabird front the highlight was probably a Leach's Petrel, which I saw fly past the Scar on the 4th. As expected given the time of year numbers of Gannet were low, peaking at 23 (including a juvenile bird) on the the 4th; there were an additional two juveniles on the 5th and four more on the 6th; the last sighting of the month was of two adults on the 20th. My highest tally of Shag on Loch Ryan was up on the previous month, with a minimum of 256 being logged on the 3rd, split between some 140+ on the pier at Cairnryan and 116 on the Scar.

The Coal Tit is a species that I more regularly see and hear when I am out wandering through areas of woodland in the vicinity of my home. However, very recently they have become frequent visitors to my garden, probably because my neighbour puts out a variety of foods at his well stocked feeding station. The tits benefit from the food provided and I benefit by seeing the birds that are attracted: a win-win situation all round. And because I have recently cleared some of the scrubby growth from my garden there now exist small open patches which the tits use as places to stash their spoils gleaned at the feeders. I saw eight birds doing this very thing, on the 23rd. Feral Pigeon rarely feature in this blog. They are however a constituent part of the village bird community. I expect to come across small bands of them feeding out in the stubble fields or occasionally on the shore of the sea-loch. To see 48 of them at my neighbour’s garden feeding station, on the 6th, was somewhat unexpected.

Pipits are a notoriously difficult group of birds to identify, well known to induce headaches and acute frustration among even the most accomplished birders. It is therefore nice to sometimes come across a ‘text-book’ bird that readily displays all the salient features as might be found illustrated and described in an authoritative field guide. I saw one such bird foraging beside the beach at the Scar on the 3rd - it was a Richard’s Pipit, no less! Funnily enough it was in the very same location that I saw a bird of the same species some several years previous. Observing 35 Skylark on the Wig fields was an encouraging sign early in the month, on the 3rd. That number was exceeded  by a party of 42 birds that flew over the Wig Car Park on the morning of the 29th. I noted a single Swallow on the 3rd and 4th and two birds later, on the 8th. It remains to be seen whether or not any others of this summering migrant will be recorded next month.

There was a welcome return of ‘wintering’ Twite to the fields beside the seashore, with a ‘confirmed’ flock of 80 near the observation hut at the Scar on the 22nd. However, I noted some 240 birds on the 14th, which appeared to comprise mostly Twite, with an unknown number of Linnets. I hadn’t recorded a Water Rail in, seemingly, an age; I was thus pleased when I heard one calling from the estate marsh on the 18th. A Wheatear of the Greenland race was at the Wig on the 3rd and a bird of the year was there on the 7th. Two White Wagtails at the same location as the previous species made a change from the more usual Pied’s that frequent the area. Rounding up this month’s offering, migrating flocks of Woodpigeon are more typically seen on my local patch during November but there was no doubt to the passage of over 400 heading south-west on the 27th.

All in all it was another great month full of equal measures of surprise and delight, both of which outshone the manifest frustrations caused by the poor weather. What will next month bring, I wonder?

This article was provided courtesy of the author, S. Grover

On the move - Bird Report for September 2025

A nice start to the month was the arrival of four Pale-bellied Brent Geese at the Scar on the 6th; thereafter, a small but regular passage of birds became evident. I logged a peak count of 84 birds on the 28th. My first Pink-footed Geese of the season were not until the 20th when two flocks of 120 and 100 birds, respectively, headed south above Loch Ryan.

It has been a while since I have seen any Black Swans on the sea-loch. In the past it has usually been a single bird involved, so imagine my surprise when I saw a party of four amongst a host of Mute Swans at Bishop Burn, on the 14th. The latter species was a familiar sight to me throughout the month with birds concentrated along the shore from Low Balyett to Bishop Burn. I registered a peak count of 102 birds on the 13th and the 29th. Two Whooper Swans were at the Wig on the 20th and were the first of the autumn season on my local patch. They were followed a few days later (the 23rd) by a noisy throng of 20 birds.

Black Swans with Mute Swans, at Bishop Burn

A morning visit to the freshwater site of Loch Connell, on the 21st, resulted in multiple records of local interest. First off were two handsome drake Gadwall. These, however, were upstaged by the presence of a female Garganey. A duck Shoveler almost went unnoticed amongst a tangle of Reed Sweet-grass, whereas in excess of 100 Teal were conspicuous out on open water, having been disturbed from the margin by the feeding activity of an Otter. Lastly, a chocolate and russet coloured drake Wigeon (in eclipse plumage) was another first of the season on my home patch. The following week (on the 28th) a female type Pintail frequented the same body of freshwater.

Sightings of Common Scoter on Loch Ryan typically increase in September as passage and wintering birds begin to move through the area: a peak count of 116 on the 23rd was reasonable enough, slightly exceeding that for Eider, which came in at 111 on the 22nd. I saw the first of the ‘winter’s’ Goldeneye return to Wig Bay on the 16th - a female type - and presumably the same bird again on the 23rd. Over 100 Red-breasted Mergansers were recorded on ten days across the month, so confirming the importance of Loch Ryan for this species. I logged an impressive count of 179 birds on the 16th, yet this was surpassed earlier in the month (on the 4th) by a staggering 568 (including a single flock, 370 birds strong) - my highest here, ever!

I had heard on the birding grapevine that several Red-necked Grebes had been reported from the southern end of Loch Ryan. This information came as no surprise to me because in the calendar year September is the month that I typically associate with the arrival of this species to the said sea-loch. However, for my first sighting of the season I had to wait until the 23rd when two adults, still in their striking-looking breeding plumage, showed up at the Wig. Presumably they were the same birds I saw a few days later, on the 29th. I registered only two observations of Slavonian Grebes from that same location: a singleton on the 20th and a delightful 22 birds on the 23rd. A resplendent adult Great Northern Diver, wearing a chequered black and white overcoat, brought cheer to my heart on the sullen day of the 21st as the tide carried the bird ever so slowly down the length of the loch. Small parties of Red-throated Divers were regular visitors across the month, with notable counts of 89 on the 23rd and 76 on the 28th.

There may never be seen vast numbers of waders on my local patch but there is often a diversity of species. September is usually a prime time to encounter many of these visitors but this year numbers of some species were low. A singleton Common Sandpiper was at the Scar on the 12th and a lone Curlew Sandpiper was at the same location on the 3rd. This same spit of land held very few Dunlin during the month, my highest count being a mere five birds on the 12th. Thankfully, Golden Plovers were more frequent and abundant, with a peak of 304 on the 27th. A singleton Greenshank was at the Wig on the 3rd and another was at Loch Connell on the 21st. My only observation of Knot was of four birds at the Scar on the 8th. As expected, Ringed Plover were recorded frequently, with highs of 70 on the 6th and 60, or so, on the 16th and 17th. The Scar also held three Ruff on the 3rd and the 16th: a rather poor showing for this, and for the next, Sanderling, which I logged a single party of four birds on the 12th. There were seven Snipe at Loch Connell on the 28th. My largest flock of Turnstone was 28 birds at the Wig on the 23rd, whilst finding 10 Whimbrel feeding in a grassland, on the 11th, was a welcome bonus.

Common Sandpiper, at the Scar

Great Black-backed Gulls are big brutes. Their size alone makes them stand out from the crowd. Adults in particular are visually striking, whether they be alone or with others of their kind. A tight knit group of nine such powerful-looking birds, which stood in a grassland beside the Wig (on the 12th), were enough to raise goose-pimples on my skin and send shivers down my spine as I viewed them in close-up through the aid of my field scope. Slightly smaller are Herring Gulls, which can be no less fearsome looking than the preceding species. At this time of year I often see them in troops gathered about the Wig and Scar in regimented blocks, reminding me of those tactics deployed by the Duke of Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo. This species is also a familiar sight on the freshwater of Loch Connell: one such company, 447 birds strong, made for a fine sight on the morning of the 14th. Two adult Kittiwakes passed the Scar on the 2nd, as did seven birds (including a juvenile) on the 15th. An excellent count at Loch Connell was that of 33 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (23 being adults), on the 14th. A juvenile Little Gull was a surprise find at the Scar on the 3rd, while in the same general area I logged an adult Mediterranean Gull on the 4th, 5th and 23rd.

A single Arctic Tern sat on the Scar on the 8th. Three Common Terns frequented Wig Bay on the 3rd, with a singleton on the 14th and a party of four on the 8th. Sandwich Terns were considerably more frequent and abundant than the two preceding species, with observations spanning the month. High counts of 117 birds on the 3rd and 9th and 161 on the 10th were exceeded by flocks of 224 and 258 birds settled on the Scar on the 8th and 11th, respectively - least to say these were among several highlights of the month. And when there are so many terns on view there is always the expectation of skuas to accompany them. A pale morph Arctic Skua sat in isolation on the Scar on the 1st. A different pale phase bird harassed terns and small gulls, alike, in typical skua fashion as it manoeuvred its way across Wig Bay on the 6th. Yet another pale type bird caused similar panic and consternation on the 8th, as did a dark morph bird on the 9th and, presumably, another dark bird on the 16th. The potential victims of these attacks had good reason to complain…and complain they did...vociferously! I, on the other hand, was spell bound and captivated by these piratical visitors, which seldom venture to Loch Ryan.

The number of Gannets visiting the sea-loch was still strong in the early part of the month: a high of 62 birds on the 6th was a more than respectable tally, in my mind. Most days in September were free of sightings of Black Guillemots…until, that is, the 23rd when ideal conditions prevailed and I successfully logged 154 - a better than excellent result that was well worth the frustration of waiting for suitable conditions to apply. During the month I had two observations of Guillemot on Loch Ryan: a singleton on the 17th and three on the 23rd. Like the preceding species, Razorbill were also noted twice, with two on the 3rd and an impressive aggregation of 50 on the 23rd.

Arctic Skua chasing Sandwich Terns

The biggest number of Cormorants I logged was 52, on the 2nd, whilst my peak count of Shags was 218 (with 184 forming a convenient line along the length of the Cairnryan Pier) on the 23rd. Six Little Egrets congregated at the Wig, on the 12th. The presence of a large female Peregrine cleared the Scar of all other birds, on the 8th; she sat there, consuming her prey, undisturbed for a considerable length of time. A very dark-looking Peregrine similarly emptied the Scar on the 19th, as it pressed home an attack on the panic-stricken birds that twisted and swirled in the air after take-off in an attempt to evade capture. One Turnstone was not so fortunate as the others that escaped to live another day!

House Martins were in short supply, with just seven on the 4th and six - my last of the month - on the 23rd. Swallows faired a little better, being registered on six days, with the largest count of 31, also on the 23rd, and a singleton on the 27th being the last entry in my logbook.

Single Chiffchaffs were in my garden on the 2nd, 22nd and 23rd. A first-winter Melodious Warbler eating berries in my garden during pouring rain on the 3rd was both unexpected and extraordinary, if not monumental; not only is this species a rare bird in mainland Scotland it is the first - and in all probability, the last - that I will ever encounter within the humble setting of my garden…a great big, humongous, “Wow!” The Willow Warblers that I saw in my garden during the days that followed the aforementioned, and which consisted of singletons on the 11th, 15th, 20th, and a fantastic six birds on the 19th, did not somehow fill me with the same feeling of elation, despite being an excellent run of birds in their own right.

Immature Yellow Wagtail, at the Scar

To wind up this month’s offering, I logged a party of four Mistle Thrushes (the first I have recorded on my patch in seemingly an age) on the 3rd, my first Redwings of the season - eight on the 29th; two Wheatears at the Wig, on the 23rd; and finally, and of particular interest, an immature Yellow Wagtail at the Scar (also on the 23rd) - the latter representing only my second or third record (if memory serves me correct) of this species on my local patch during my 17 year residency in Kirkcolm.

What delights may there be in store next month, I wonder?

This article and the accompanying images were provided courtesy of the author, S. Grover

Bird Report for August 2025

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 the 12th, 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 the 17th, 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