Toadally Unexpected! Bird Report for February 2024

If you truly wish to appreciate the wonders that nature can offer then there is no substitute to going out and experiencing it first hand. This, however, is often easier said than done. But try we should, if only to momentarily bring relief from more dominating, pressing matters. But enough philosophical twaddle and on to life-enriching moments…

In store this month our highlights include Barnacle Goose, Kingfisher, probable Pacific Diver, Pintail, Red Kite, Red-necked Grebe, Velvet Scoter and Woodcock, plus other discoveries.

Barnacle Geese are scarce, if not rare, visitors to my local patch; they are certainly by no means annual. A singleton holding company with 102 Canada Geese at Loch Connell, on the 4th, was most welcomely received. The usual Pale-breasted Brent Geese milled about the Wig, with over 200 birds on the 1st and 24th. However, numbers of them seemed to vary daily, suggesting that a movement, or passage, of birds was underway. Pink-footed Geese also seemed to be on the move, with 1,000, or so, birds observed heading north on the 16th. Loch Connell harboured a lone Whooper Swan, on the 25th. This site also hosted a few Shelducks across the month, with a maximum of nine on the 18th.

Loch Connell nestled a pair of Pintail, from the 11th onwards, along with a high of 136 Wigeon on the aforesaid date. Common Scoters were observed in generally small flocks on Loch Ryan, though on the 16th a tally of 313 was registered. Eiders here numbered 270 on the 19th and some 250 birds gathered at the Scar, on the 24th. A peak count of 64 Goldeneyes (at least 50% males) were logged on the sea loch (on the 16th), whilst the highest count of Long-tailed Ducks was 19 at the Wig, on the 1st, and a notable flock of 15 here on the 29th. Records of Tufted Ducks came from Loch Connell only, with a high of 14 on the 25th. Velvet Scoters were observed on the sea loch on the 10th, 11th, 16th and 18th, presumably involving the same two males on each occasion. The freshwater site of Loch Connell supported Goosanders throughout the month, with a peak count of 24 on the 18th. The nearby sea loch accounted for all of my sightings of Red-breasted Mergansers, including 85 on the 16th.

Moorhens are more often heard than seen at Loch Connell, so it was good to be able to view five of them there, on the 18th, when a Great Crested Grebe was also encountered here, along with its smaller cousin, a Little Grebe. Most of my grebe records, however, emanate from the much larger Loch Ryan. It is from here that recent history tells of Red-necked Grebes being regular, annual visitors. But times change and the species is no longer as predictable here as it once was. It was thus gratifying to reunite with the species on eight days this month, including two birds at the Wig on the 1st, 15th and 16th. It was especially nice to be able to see this species side-by-side with Great Crested and Slavonian Grebes, for a direct comparison of their features. The latter species, of course, is a Loch Ryan stalwart: 21 were logged on the 16th, with birds showing a great variety of plumage transitions. The same site is favourable for spotting Black-throated Divers; alas, I only saw three birds all month, with individuals on the 13th, 16th and 18th. Great Northern Divers faired considerably better, being recorded on 13 days, including three on the 11th and four on the 16th. A probable Pacific Diver was seen a few hundred yards offshore of the Wig on the 7th and 14th. By comparison, Red-throated Divers were two-a-penny, although counts of them were generally low. However, 52 were registered on the 16th and a flock of 25 were noted on the 24th.

At the Scar Dunlins frequently mixed with Ringed Plovers. The highest count of the former was 90 on the 2nd, whilst of the latter there was 70 birds on the 4th. At the same site Golden Plovers peaked at 160 on the 3rd, whilst at Piltanton, during a Wetlands Bird Survey count on the 7th, an impressive 946 were logged. At the latter site and during the same survey a total of eight Greenshanks were noted, compared with just one bird all month at the Wig, on the 11th. Lapwings, ever scarce birds on my patch, tallied 28 at Loch Connell, on the18th, and six flew west across the Wig Fields on the 11th. These same fields were frequented by parties of Oystercatchers all month, with a peak count of 276 on the 16th.

On the 2nd, a night-time survey was carried out on Corsewall Estate, with consent of the landowner. During the course of the evening at least five Woodcock and three Snipe were noted using the area. Of particular curiosity, however, were not only the birds but, also, the number of Common Toads that were seen in the beams of our torches. The amphibians were all returning to their breeding pools in preparation for mating and spawning. Most of the 180 we counted were males, and their croaks were heard coming from far and wide.

February is typically the month when the first returning Gannets are spied over Loch Ryan. Unfortunately, their absence so far this year is perhaps an indication of avian influenza having impacted upon their population. The coming months should reveal the extent of that attrition, so we will all have to wait and see.

Little Egrets are not yet residents about Loch Ryan: just one bird at the Scar on the 16th and 24th were the only records on my patch this month.

The first of the year’s displaying Buzzards were observed on the 12th, and five were noted over the hillside above Cairnryan on the 26th. A rather handsome Peregrine stood sentinel at Loch Connell on the 11th and two Red Kites quartered the wooded slopes by Cairnryan on the 22nd. Hunters of the night sky are, for obvious reasons, less frequently recorded than their diurnal brethren. I was therefore delighted to hear two Tawny Owls calling during the evening of the 2nd, and on the 24th, a Barn Owl. The last mentioned species also provided me with an additional means of study and one which is eminently suitable for any budding nature detective: owl pellets. My daughter and I checked out a local roost site, from where we collected three wholesome, disgorged, pellets and numerous small skulls littering the floor. Back in the comfort of home the evidence was examined and analysed, giving an insight in to the diet of this particular Barn Owl. A total of 14 Field Voles, three Bank Voles, two Common Shrews, a Wood Mouse and a Chaffinch were identified from the remains.

Goodies obtained from a Barn Owl roost site

A Kingfisher at Marian Jetty, Wig Bay, was glimpsed on the 13th. The first drumming of the year by a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard on the 26th. Two Nuthatches announced their presence on the 2nd and 11th, uttering their distinctive and far carrying whistles. Rock Pipits about the Wig are usually encountered in ones or twos so it was nice to register parties of eight birds on the 2nd and 13th of the month.

Goldcrests are very much birds for a younger generation of naturalists to record because their high-pitched calls are generally lost on us oldies, whilst trying to see such diminutive creatures amongst a tangle of twigs and foliage so favoured by them is likewise better suited to the keen eyes of younger members of our fraternity. In this respect my daughter has oneupmanship over me, allowing her to detect these fiery crested birds on numerous of our excursions together, including three birds on the 22nd. Parties of Goldfinches are forever roaming in search of food during the winter. A respectable 37 birds were encountered on the 17th. Siskins are similar in many respects to the preceding species, and often consort with them. 10 of these energetic green and yellow sprites were noted on the 8th. The pink-breasted Bullfinches are more often as not seen in pairs, so a party of eight, on the 17th, was a visual feast to behold.

I suspect that House Sparrows are a familiar sight to many folk living in towns and villages in the Rhins of Galloway, but further afield, especially in some other parts of the United Kingdom, they are somewhat scarce … dare I say it .. rare! It is usually only when I see a sizeable flock of them, such as the 100, or so, in my garden on the 17th, that it occurs to me just how lucky - nay, privileged, I am to so regularly witness their common audacity.

The contents of this article are courtesy of the author, S Grover.

If You Go Down to the Loch Today... - January 2024 Bird Report

It has been a while since the last posting of this blog, so a new year is perhaps a fitting point at which to resume it.

Bird highlights this month include Long-tailed Duck, Red-necked Grebe, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Red Kite, Little Auk and Twite.

But before we begin proper, let me also highlight two special days: the 7th and the 29th. Both were notable on account of breaking the 70 species barrier on my patch. This month the average number of bird species that I recorded per day was 42. Registering more than 50 species is fairly common at certain times of the year; more than 60 is difficult, but achievable ad hoc; over 70 puts another level into the game and is generally something I can only ever aspire to achieving. For those of you in the know, my local patch comprises two distinct areas: (1) the circuit around the Wig, including the paths through the Estate woodlands, and (2) Loch Connell. If both sites are considered together then the 7th of the month is when a total of 74 species was recorded. If we consider the first mentioned circuit only, then the 29th is when a total of 70 species was recorded (a spectacular day with brilliant visibility).

Mute and Whooper Swans were notable by their general absence on my local patch. Pink-footed Geese were heard calling most days as they flew to and from their roosts. Their characteristic ‘wink-wink’ calls also emanated from the Connell fields nearby, where many of the birds fed during daylight hours. A minimum of 687 were counted here on the 26th. Canada Geese were also regular about Loch Connell, with a peak count of 107, on the 7th. The low but soft growling calls of Pale-bellied Brent Geese have been a daily sound coming through either an open window, or external door, of my house. There is something comforting in their sounds, and being able to look upon them feeding in the Wig fields moments after registering their distant voices only further enhances my delight. The geese are in the fields fattening up on the season’s new growth of grass in preparation for their return journey to their breeding grounds in the Canadian arctic. 200 birds have been in the vicinity all month, with over 230 having been logged on the 5th.

Shelduck are never common on Loch Ryan at this time of year: two at the Scar, on the 7th, did not upset that expectation. Flocks of Wigeon came and went, regularly being observed commuting between the Wig and Soleburn. The highest count of them was 268 at the former mentioned location, on the 7th, but I know that much larger flocks could be viewed at the southern end of Loch Ryan. Perhaps not surprisingly, the highest count of Teal on my local patch came from Loch Connell, with 119 logged on the 3rd. On the sea loch, reasonable numbers of Common Scoters were spread across the month, with the significant counts of them being 116 on the 7th and 142 on the 29th. Numbers of Eiders, too, were very respectable here with 333 on the 29th. Goldeneyes were also much in evidence, with a high of 53 (also on the 29th). Long-tailed Ducks, one of our highlight species this month, were, as expected, present most days at Wig Bay; they occurred in generally higher numbers than my records from previous years show. A congregation of 19 was observed on the 24th and 29th, only to be exceeded by 23 birds on the 30th. Not surprisingly - given the atrocious weather on many days - poor visibility from my house and the Wig prevented me from seeing Scaup at their usual locations at the southern end of the loch. It was only luck when a break in the weather allowed me to spy some 80 birds, on the 29th. Of the saw-bills, Red-breasted Mergansers were present in small parties, although 52 were registered on the 29th. Their close cousins, Goosanders, were regularly observed on the freshwater site of Loch Connell, with a high of 11 birds noted on the 14th.

In spite of the inclement weather that persisted for much of the month, divers were often to be seen, including 31 Red-throated divers on the 29th. Singleton Great Northern Divers were observed the length and breadth of Loch Ryan, though on the 29th a tally of seven birds was recorded, including one in handsome breeding attire. A Red-necked Grebe was seen at the Wig on the 2nd and 11th. Considerably more common were Slavonian Grebes, with birds seen almost daily, with 35 logged on the (you guessed it!) 29th.

Few Cormorants are present on Loch Ryan during January though they are certainly more frequent at some freshwater sites, as my daughter and I discovered when we visited Soulseat Loch, on the 5th, and counted 38 of these prehistoric looking creatures. Shags, on the other hand, are marine dwellers throughout the year; 52 (on 29th) was certainly an okay count on my patch.

Great White Egrets are relative newcomers in Dumfries and Galloway. I have recorded them on a few occasions at the Wig but never at Loch Connell. That, however, changed last year, on the 12th November to be precise, when a single bird showed itself. What I presume to be same bird has been in residence ever since - or at least up to near this month’s end. The same site held a Little Egret on the 21st. This species was responsible for causing my heart to flutter in excitement when I spied a ‘white heron’ moo-ching (pardon the pun!) about amongst a herd of cattle on the Wig Fields on the 9th. Alas, it was not a Cattle Egret, but I haven’t abandoned all hope of seeing one of these on my doorstep… not just yet, anyway.

The lousy weather has not been conducive to watching, or even seeing, many raptors. My daughter and I did, however, have a chance sighting of a Hen Harrier and a Red Kite, within minutes of each other, at Loch Connell on the 14th.

Readers of previous postings of this blog will be aware that Coots are somewhat scarce on my patch, with Loch Connell being the origin of virtually all my records of this species. That hasn’t changed, with four birds present on the 7th and probably thereafter for the remainder of the month. Down the hill from Connell, on the Estates marsh, two Water Rails were heard calling, on the 12th.

A total of 13 species of wader were recorded this month. The highest count of Bar-tailed Godwits at the Wig was four (on the 18th), whilst on the same day, on adjacent grassland, 144 Curlews were observed. Dunlins were absent for most of the month until the 26th, when 97 magically appeared - or so it seemed - at the Scar. In contrast, Golden Plovers were seen on many days at this site, with the largest count of them being approximately 200 on the 14th.  As was expected, there were a smattering of sightings of Knot, including 50 at the Wig on the 7th. When it was blowing a hoolie, on the 13th, at least 80 Ringed Plovers and 56 Turnstones hunkered down amongst the pebbles and cobbles at the Scar. Woodcock - ever elusive birds - were registered on just two occasions: on the 7th and 23rd.

Ardent birdwatchers among the readership will know of the latest winter gull roost survey ‘WinGS’, which commenced this January, with locations on Loch Ryan selected as part of that nationwide study. In recent years gulls have been hit hard, with many factors evident for their decline. Certainly on my local patch Black-headed Gulls have tumbled the most out of all those utilising the area. This became particularly obvious to me when, since the beginning of the month I have been keeping a close eye on the numbers of birds about the Wig. Even pre-roost flocks at the Scar have scarcely risen above 50 or so birds, usually a lot fewer.

It is widely known that many of our seabird colonies have been drastically affected by avian flu,  which of course has an impact on the number of those birds visiting Loch Ryan. That, coupled with the storms this month has resulted in only a few of the larger auk species bing entered in my logbook. Just a single Guillemot at the Wig on the on the 24th, 27th and 29th, and nine Razorbills on the 26th and two others on the 29th. Black Guillemots faired better, with a peak count of 17 on the 29th, which included birds in their striking black and white breeding plumage. Perhaps not surprisingly the storms blew in a few Little Auks - rare visitors, generally - to the Wig, with one on the 7th, two on the 24th and one on the 29th.

Skylarks are rarely abundant at this time of year, so 56 on the Wig fields, on the 1st, was an unexpected bonus. Similarly, Meadow Pipits are generally sparse, making the 15 noted at the same location, and date, a noteworthy addition in my data bank. Records of Grey Wagtail are usually ever casual only: singletons were observed along the Corsewall Burn on the 4th, 23rd, 24th and 29th, possibly all the same bird.

The so-called common passerine species are frequently passed by in favour of those more scarce and rare. Thus, species such as Robin do not always receive the attention they, and others like them, warrant. A consistent run of 16 individuals logged on the 1st, 7th and 12th, along with 18 on the 24th, hopefully redresses that unfairness.  Other species in this category were noted during walks circuiting the Wig and estate woodlands, including 24 Blackbirds on the 24th, 3 Mistle Thrushes on the 12th and 26th; Redwings numbered 33 on the 12th, and there were 17 Song Thrushes on the 1st, along with 20 Blue Tits, also on the 1st. There was only one record of Jay all month: two birds on the 4th.

A single Greenfinch was observed on three separate days along the Wig track. Records of Bullfinches are typically few and far between but this month the species was noted on nine days, including a pair in my garden on the 19th. A male, incidentally, was ringed (under BTO licence) at this site on the 2nd. All other sightings of this species involved birds eating seeds adorning bushes of Buddleia (clearly not just a plant for attracting butterflies, it would seem). Unlike Bullfinches, which show a preference for more sheltered, wooded areas, Twite are very much birds of wide, open spaces. Their decline as winter visitors to my local patch in recent years has been marked. The largest flock I encountered was just 17, on the 7th.

Every day is different, to be sure. It matters not whether it rains or shines, there is always the possibility of nature enriching our daily lives. It is not a necessity for every person to record in detail the wildlife they happen across in order for pleasure, or a sense of satisfaction, to be gained. Although the records I collect are of importance to me, I like to think that they also help others in the understanding of nature that is all around them. I play this game - for a game it is - for my own amusement. However, should it incite you to play, too, then I guarantee you will be out more on your own local patch, using rules you have adopted yourself, and, ultimately, enjoying the richness and the environment offered by the natural world. Surely that is important to your well being, is it not? Here’s to making each day count!

The contents of this article are courtesy of the author, S Grover.

Caught up in the Counts - February 2023 Bird Report

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

Flock sizes of Pale-bellied Brent Geese about the Wig varied as much as the changeable weather that accompanied them. Even during the course of a single day the numbers of birds altered, suggesting an interchange of birds about Loch Ryan, or a continual passage of migrants.  A flock of 308 birds grazed the ‘Twite Field’ at the Wig, on the 15th; this represented the highest single count of them during the month. Perhaps another indication of the Brent migration was the ten birds logged at Piltanton during a Wetlands Bird Survey count on the 19th - the species is something of a rarity at this site, at least if my monthly counts are anything to go on, so any found here are an unusual occurrence and are likely indicative of a movement of birds. 

Pink-footed Geese were more often heard than seen, flying out to feed in the early hours of the morning and returning under the cover of darkness late in the night. I did manage to log over 400 birds lifting off from the Scar beach at dawn on the 22nd.

Shelducks remained Scarce all month at the Wig, with a maximum of three birds recorded on the 17th. Good numbers of Pintail are regularly seen on the Solway, such as at Caerlaveroc, but here on the Rhins of Galloway they are only ever few and sporadic in occurrence. Four at Loch Connell, on the 12th, were thus a welcome sight. Presumably they were the same birds still present here on the 26th: a gorgeous drake and another, younger, moulting male alongside two females. The same location hosted 198 Teal on the 5th. Numbers of Wigeon on my local patch were considerably down on last month.

Eiders are one of the most familiar sea ducks to birders acquainted with Loch Ryan. Their large size makes them more obvious than most, for sure; but when they are seen at any great distance that familiarity is all but lost and they appear as dark shapes. Then, they could be mistaken for scoters, mergansers, or some other species; only astute, patient observation and cognisance of jizz can confirm their presence. There were several such irresolute identification incidents this month! The opportune moment arrived on the 19th when I was successfully able to log 241 birds. 

Waterfowl on Loch Ryan, including distant Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Scoters

Female and immature Goldeneyes are easily overlooked, especially when there are boldly marked drakes about to attract the viewer’s attention. The males have the habit of throwing back their heads and momentarily pointing their bills skywards when displaying - a performance they readily practice at this time of year. Although it is always my intent to count these birds, I all too easily become distracted by the ceremonies in which these birds engage. On the the 7th, however, I refrained from such diversion for long enough to tally 38 birds - only a small sample of those actually occupying Loch Ryan. It is equally easy for me to become absorbed by the activities of resplendent Long-tailed Ducks when I should be concentrating on the daily log. A flock of nine was the largest I registered, which included a male in nearly full breeding plumage - a very different dress from the typical winter attire. It is fortunate that this species can be readily observed at the Wig, unlike Scaup, which mostly reside at the southern end of Loch Ryan. During a brief stop at Bishop Burn, on the 19th, I registered 517 of the latter species. Curiously, a female Scaup was also present at the freshwater site of Loch Connell on the same day.

Common Scoters were observed daily on the sea-loch, with over 100 birds being registered on seven days, with a peak of 173 on the 18th. Velvet Scoters were noted on three days, with four on the 2nd, a male on the 4th, and a male and female on the 6th. These sightings, being close together, were probably the same birds. Loch Connell hosted a small number of Tufted Ducks, with seven being the highest count on the 12th. This site also held several Goosanders, with nine on the 19th. Red-breasted Mergansers were present throughout the month on Loch Ryan. They were mostly observed in small, highly mobile parties, which made it a tad tricky to ascertain their true numbers without the risk of double-counting. However, on the 7th, a confirmed tally of 66 was registered … with a further 38 probables, I might add!

Great Northern Divers are big birds: consequently they can be easier to spot a long way offshore. This probably accounts for them being logged on 16 days across the month, with a maximum of four birds on the 7th and the 16th. The smaller Red-throated Divers were considerably more abundant, with a peak of 63 on the 7th. In recent years Red-necked Grebes have become an expected sight about Wig Bay during the course of the winter, but this February they have been in short supply: a singleton on the 7th, and three on the 18th. It is likely that birds were present throughout the period but were occupying areas of Loch Ryan that were not visible from any of the stations I am able to observe from. Slavonian Grebes made up for the paucity of their cousins: 20 were noted on the 16th, including one bird in full summer plumage, sporting a brick-red neck and golden ear-tufts. Lovely!

Now is the time of year when small parties and larger flocks of Golden Plovers begin to pass through the area on their migration to their breeding grounds. The largest flock I encountered at the Scar was 44 birds, which isn’t big by any standards, but greater numbers will undoubtedly be recorded when the Spring passage gets properly underway. Grey Plovers, likewise, stop off here, though never in high numbers: three on both the 23rd and the 26th was my highest count. A single Lapwing at the Scar is summary enough of this species’ status on my local patch.

The trio of smaller waders - Dunlin, Turnstone and Ringed Plover - that frequent the shore-line of Wig Bay are easily missed whenever they hunker down amongst the pebbles, stones and seaweed. Only the latter species formed a flock worthy of mention, with 44 birds at the Scar on the 18th.

Numbers of Common Gulls appeared to be down on last month, with a flock of 275 being the largest I noted. The leucistic bird, mentioned in last months offering, turned up on the Wig Fields, on the 1st. It was a very white-looking bird indeed, which temporarily added to my confused state the following day, the 2nd, when a different white gull, the probable Ivory Gull (also referred to in the previous blog posting) reappeared at the Scar; I subsequently saw it there on the 5th and the 6th. I had just one record all month of Lesser Black-backed Gull: a solitary bird at the Scar on the 19th.

Some features of the probable Ivory Gull

An immature, female Merlin was seen coming in off the sea and then hunting over the Wig Fields, on the 22nd. A single Little Egret was a pleasant addition to the otherwise common species that I logged at the Wig on the 20th. Shags continued to be present in reasonable numbers about the sea loch, with a flock of 88 being registered at the Scar on the 10th.

The mild conditions that prevail on the Rhins of Galloway (a consequence of the warm Gulf Stream ocean current) means that signs of the Spring season are witnessed earlier in the year than more inland locations. A Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming in Corsewall Estate woods, on the 26th, is one such example. Rooks have been seen attending their nests for a while now, but winter flocks are still commonplace: some 400 birds in a grassland near Kirminnoch (just west of Loch Connell), on the 12th, was a healthy congregation. Like the woodpecker mentioned above, other birds have also been venting song, including Skylark, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock and Chaffinch; these sounds became a daily presence during the latter days of the month.

Regular followers of this blog may recall the House Sparrow X Tree Sparrow in the previous two postings. Well, one such bird was again in my garden, on the 1st. This, however, was a different bird, with a wholly brown cap just like a genuine Tree Sparrow. Alas, no further sightings of any of these unusual hybrids were made thereafter.

Grey Wagtails are one of those species that are probably more common than the number of sightings of them would suggest. It is usually by a lucky accident that I encounter one. A very handsome and spritely bird enriched my day when I happened across it at St. Columba’s Well on the Corsewall Estate, on the 17th. The lemon-yellow in its plumage seemed to act like a spotlight marking its position and enabling me to track its progress amongst the otherwise drab tones of the surroundings in which it foraged. Rock Pipits are widespread along the shoreline of Loch Ryan during the winter. The diffuse brown tones of their plumage serve well to conceal them in the places they inhabit. A bird I saw at the Corsewall Burn outlet, on the 22nd, was subtly different however. It was much cleaner in appearance, with a whiter belly and greyish, not brown, tones topside. There is much variation within the tones displayed by this species; the general appearance of this bird suggested to me that it might be of the Scandinavian race, littoralis. Some of these regularly overwinter in Britain, especially on the east coast, but they only become apparent at this time of year when their summer plumage begins to show through.

Rock Pipit as seen at the Corsewall Burn outlet.

In my summary log book I have always allocated space for each species I record; this follows a certain taxonomic order. That, however, has always proved problematical for some birds, in particular, the Linnet/Twite conundrum. With close views it is easy to separate these species but with more distant ones that identification becomes nigh impossible. As I become older, less active and less mobile, I find there is in increasing tendency for me to register such flocks in my notebook as Linnets/Twites, rather than making the distinction. And so to the dilemma - where to enter into the log such uncertainties - such as the 20 birds I saw on the 5th and the 18th of February? My preference, based upon past experience, would always err towards them being Twite … but we have to be accurate if the data generated is to be taken seriously; thus they are entered into my spreadsheet in the section reserved for such anomalies.

Quite the Conundrum - January 2023 Bird Report

Thanks to Jeni, Eleanor and Benjamin Grover for contributing records and much thoughtful discussion.  This article and the images contained within were provided courtesy of the author, S. Grover.

A remarkable month that presented three interesting identification challenges; alas, they were never satisfactorily resolved.  Read on to learn more!

Are not Brent Geese great?!  At this time of year they can be seen grazing the sward of the Wig Fields, fattening up in readiness for the journey that will take them back to their breeding grounds in arctic Canada.  Their guttural calls often reach my house and waft in through an open window.  A stirring sound to be sure, especially first thing in the morning when the dawn breaks and the first rays of daylight appear over the moor behind Cairnryan, on the far side of Loch Ryan, brightening swiftly to illuminate the day.  The Brents - pale-bellied ones, to be precise - have maintained a constant presence throughout the month, peaking at 238 birds on the 6th.  In fact, 200 or so birds were seen most days, feeding in the fields at high tide and then on the exposed algae and eel-grass when the tide turned.

An intervening hill separates my house from Loch Connell in the west.  Although my view of this site is thus effectively masked from home, my ears often inform me of a multitude of geese there.  On the 8th the presence of these birds was betrayed by the overwhelming chorus that came from over the hill.  The sound lured me to go and check them out.  Upon arrival I was not unduly surprised by the sight of 122 Canada Geese and in excess of 736 Pink-footed Geese feeding in the adjacent grasslands.

Shelduck were scarce about Loch Ryan, with five at the Scar being my highest count.  It was a different story at the Piltanton Estuary however when I carried out a Wetland Bird Survey there on the 23rd; in spite of the rain I logged 131 birds.

On my local patch I had just one record of a Shoveler: a female at Loch Connell on the 15th.  Teal were most numerous at this site, with a high of 443 on the 8th.  I sometimes find it interesting to gauge the ratio of males to females within flocks; on the 15th, I counted 430 together, 70% of which were males.  Seven of this small duck species rode the choppy water off of the Scar, Loch Ryan, on the 27th.  They bought to mind plastic ducks bobbing up and down on rough water such as you might see on a fast moving stream where a festival ‘duck race’ is being held.  Back to Loch Connell, where I was delighted to record 208 Wigeon on the 8th; lesser numbers are typically the norm’ here.

A pair of Wigeon looking rather splendid

Common Eiders are a staple of Loch Ryan.  I saw them in small, scattered flocks, but knew from experience that many more were actually present: thus, towards the end of the month I put in a bit more of an effort to discover their true numbers.  On the 27th I counted a respectable 204 birds but sensed that there were more out there.  Conditions for counting them were even better the following day, resulting in 339 being logged. 

A possible King Eider on the 8th presented the first challenge for the family.  During a routine scan of Wig Bay from the comfort of my home I noticed a smallish, dark-looking Eider just off the Scar.  Its head was somewhat truncated in appearance, lacking the obvious wedge shaped profile of a typical Common Eider.  To me, at least, its appearance suggested a first-winter male King Eider.  One by one each member of my family took a turn to view the bird through the spotting scope and formulate an opinion.  A closer look was required.  The rest of the family headed off to the Scar whilst I remained on station to monitor the bird’s whereabouts.  Upon their return each member recounted their experience of what they had seen of the bird resting on the Scar, floating on the water, and in flight.  The shape of the head, neck and bill, seen in profile, was agreed by the majority to be atypical compared to Common Eider;  but it was the consensus that several more features lacking needed to be satisfied, in order for a positive identification.  The conclusion was in limbo and that, alas, is where it shall remain.

Common Scoters on the sea loch were, as usual, active and mobile, which made counting them with any accuracy difficult: on the 26th I logged a mere 20 birds.  Entered into the records the following day, the 27th, was my only Velvet Scoter of the month: a female seen at the Wig.  Eight Scaup were also observed at this location on the 2nd, along with two on the 6th and a singleton male on the 27th.  The species faired considerably better at Bishop Burn where a rather low count of 87 birds was made, on the 5th; however, our family party may have been distracted by the presence of what we presumed were two hybrid Scaup X Tufted Duck.  These were a minor identification challenge compared to the ‘three main-event’ birds in this category.

Probable hybrid (2nd from right) in amongst regular Scaup

A handsome black and white (although they do have bottle-green heads, when seen close-to and in good light), male, Goosander was noted at Loch Connell on the 15th and the 23rd, whilst on the 27th a total of 101 Red-breasted Mergansers on Loch Ryan was logged.

Notable this month was the dearth of Cormorants about Loch Ryan.  Barely a handful were seen at the Scar.  Wintering birds seem to disperse from Loch Ryan early in the year.  Shags, on the other hand, linger longer; I counted 130 on the 26th, with 70 of these at the Scar.

Black-throated Divers were observed in Wig Bay on the 8th, 12th and 15th.  Great Northern Divers were more frequent in occurrence, being sighted on nine days across the month, with three birds registered on the 15th.  Red-throated Divers were considerably commoner than their cousins, with a creditable tally of 106 on the 26th.  A delightful trio of Little Grebes (Dabchicks) was seen in the harbour at Stranraer, on the 5th, and two sightings of Red-necked Grebe were registered at the Wig, comprising three birds on the 1st and a singleton on the 19th.  Slavonian Grebes were noted in small numbers, with a maximum of 29 logged, also on the 1st.

There is only ever a small presence of Bar-tailed Godwits about Loch Ryan.  We expect to find them on the shore but they are equally at home in the fields, especially when there has been flooding.  I regularly saw two birds on the Wig Fields, with three on the 26th.  Curlews are commonly found in grasslands: 116  at Clendrie was a good count, on the 18th.  Dunlins roosting on the stone revetments, forming the sea-wall alongside the railway station in Stranraer, provided good counting conditions on the 5th, when there were 88 birds.

Knot are becoming increasingly irregular visitors in my neighbourhood.  I have none to report from Loch Ryan this month, but the Piltanton Estuary surprised me with a flock of 330, during my monthly visit there on the 23rd.

Small parties of Golden Plovers were observed on several dates at the Scar, Loch Ryan; over 300 were present, on the 18th.  Their cousins, Grey Plovers, frequently go undetected because their generally solitary nature and the cold, dull, plumage tones combine to blend them in to their surroundings of pebbles, stones and sandy-mud which they favour hereabouts.  Three birds were seen here on the 26th.  A pleasant surprise find was a Greenshank at the Wig on the 18th; Piltanton has become a more regular place to see them, and four were logged there on the 23rd.  Redshank are one of several species that are more numerous at the southern end of Loch Ryan than at Wig Bay: nine was my highest count from the latter location, on the 26th, whereas I recorded 126 on the stonework of the railway and harbour walls in Stranraer on the 5th.

During the early part of the month I had been seeing reasonably sized gatherings of Common Gulls about Wig Bay but it was not until the 18th that I had a proper stab at counting them.  A flock amassed a short distance off-shore.  Although there was a continual movement of birds I managed to log a minimum of 500.  On the 28th, I again fancied my chances.  Fortunately the birds were all settled; this time I counted 809.  

A leucistic Common Gull was reported to me by several birdwatchers that I encountered on my excursions.  Enter the next challenging conundrum… The skies were clear, so to speak, of any ‘white-wingers’ until the 27th when I happened to spy an incoming bird to the Scar.  Yes, this bird was Common Gull sized but its overall appearance was distinctly different, having a markedly broad arm and a noticeably pointed hand compared to the other Common and Herring Gulls, which it accompanied.  Was this the returning Ivory Gull from 2019, thought I?  … Well, I beckoned my wife .. hoping that a fresh pair of eyes might help to resolve the issue.  Alas, the light was fading fast and the viewing distance too great for precise details to be examined; consequently, an open verdict was registered.  

I went out the following day in the hope of a further sighting but, sadly, the gulls did not gather, on account of there being too much human disturbance.  I did, however, come across another interesting-looking Gull in plain view, associating with a raft of Black-headed Gulls.  It was an immature bird that was already wearing a partial, black,  summer hood.  When it flapped its wings they showed the typical pattern of a similar aged ‘Black-headed’ on the upper sides, but also included a prominent black trailing edge; the underside of the wings were mostly dark: a feature associated with adult Little Gull.  In short, its plumage (markings and tones) and bare parts shared similarities to both Black-headed and Little Gull, though it was obviously smaller than the first mentioned species and a good deal larger than a typical example of the second mentioned.  Could it have been a hybrid?  Or was it just an aberrant bird?  Anyway, three tricky identification challenges in one month was more than enough for this observer.

Artists rendition of the unusual gull

With the decline in the presence and numbers of Twite on my local patch it is little wonder that Merlins have become irregular visitors.  A female on the 8th was the only record.  Jackdaws, being such common birds, rarely receive mention in the blog.  To amend that failing on my part I hereby offer to faithful readers my sighting of more than 200 birds that I watched going to roost on the 28th.  Blackbirds, similarly, receive little attention, but very occasionally it is necessary to count them in order to gauge their status within the area.  A walk through the estate woods on the 6th resulted in a total of 44 birds logged, with the largest group seen together being a mere five.  The flocking tendency of wintering Fieldfares makes them somewhat easier to spot, although at this time of year these thrushes are generally scarce on my local patch.  A party of 12 was the largest congregation seen, on the 2nd.  Mistle Thrushes are less sociable compared to the preceding species.  Just a single bird was noted for a few short days early in the month, briefly seen entering my garden, on the 4th.  Redwings were heard more often than they were seen; 81 were registered on the 6th and 116 on the 11th.  Like Blackbirds, the presence of Robins is noted, but generally without much effort to ascertain their population.  The estate woods harboured a minimum of 43 birds on the 6th.

Blackcaps were recorded in my garden on four occasions: a female on the 4th and a male thereafter on the 8th, 11th and 16th.  Indeed, on the latter date the bird was caught and ringed (under British Trust for Ornithology licence) by my daughter, hence the picture accompanying this article.  A hybrid House Sparrow x Tree Sparrow was again seen in my garden, on the 4th, whilst on the 13th and 14th a lone Tree Sparrow was present here.  Remarkably, normally scarce Bullfinches were recorded in my garden on three occasions, including a male and a female on the 15th and, presumably, the same female of the pair was caught and ringed the following day, on the 16th (see photo).

A selection of birds caught and ringed from our garden