SCOTLAND
Highlights
The most exciting news of the month was of a White-throated Needletail on Barra, Outer Hebrides, on 22nd. Alas, it was not seen since. The Blackbrowed Albatross seen in the North Sea coast of northern England, appeared off the Borders coast on 29th and off Lothian the next day.
ABERDEENSHIRE
BLACKDOG/MURCAR: The scoter flock built up towards the end of the month. A Black Scoter remained with them (to 3rd). Velvet Scoters peaked at 12 (3rd). A Hobby flew over Murcar Golf Course (12th). The King Eider was at Blackdog (from 20th). FORVIE SANDS: The King Eider stayed on the Ythan Estuary (to 18th). A Mediterranean Gull was seen (7th). A Hobby was at Auchmacoy Bridge (14th). A Little Egret was at Inch Road (17th). LOCH OF STRATHBEG: A Roseate Tern and Spoonbill were noted (4th), with a Hobby (7th), Great White Egret (17th) and a Mediterranean Gull (18th). OTHER SITES: A Little Stint was at Cairnbulg (2nd). A Turtle Dove was in gardens at Muchalls (16th). Mike Chandler
ARGYLL
ISLAY: A Rose-coloured Starling and Merlin were near Laphroaig (21st). A Glaucous Gull was reported (9th). The Ring-necked Duck remained at Finalggan (to 29th). Ospreys were at Loch Gorm (1st), Gruinart (5th) and Loch Indaal (25th and 29th). White-tailed Eagles were at Loch Gorm, Kilmeny and Ballygrant. Corncrakes were at eight sites. Choughs at Kilchoman peaked at 50. Golden Eagles were at eight sites and Hen Harriers at 11. Four Little Terns, 15 Arctic Terns, three Common Terns and 28 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardnave (6th). Two Sandwich Terns, three Black Guillemots and 20 Great Northern Divers were on Loch Indaal (12th). Red Throated Divers were seen (7th, 26th and 29th). Some 200 Gannets and a Great Skua were seen from Frenchman’s Rocks (21st). Velvet and Common Scoters were seen from Port Charlotte (24th). TIREE: A Rose-coloured Starling was at The Green (3rd). A Glaucous Gull remained in West Tiree. A Pectoral Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Loch a’ Phuill (1st), with another Little Stint there (5th). Curlew Sandpipers were at Gott Bay (2nd) and Loch a’ Phuill (5th and 22nd). Island scarcities included 40 Storm Petrels (1st-15th), a Little Grebe at Loch Riaghain (28th), pale-bellied Brent Goose at Crossapol (8th), Pinkfoot at Loch Bhirceapol (9th), Sparrowhawk at Balephuil (8th), with a Woodpigeon there (22nd-24th) and Siskin (27th), two Knot at Loch a’ Phuill (5th), an Arctic Skua at Cnu Lochanan (16th), five Ruff, two Sandwich Terns (1st-18th), Swifts at Carnan Mor (8th) and Scarinish (11th), two Cuckoos (to 15th), and a Whitethroat at Carnan Mor (5th). Three Whooper Swans are summering. Several Great Northern Divers lingered around the coast. Five returning Golden Plovers were at Sandaig (25th). Unusually high numbers of Arctic Terns included 170 at The Green (28th) and 600 at Gott Bay (29th). The Corn Crake census revealed 313 calling males. There were three Grasshopper Warblers and Water Rails at three sites. The seabird breeding season is looking encouraging so far. Numbers of nesting Kittiwakes and Fulmars are up on 2013-16 levels and there were good numbers of Shag, Fulmar, Guillemot and Razorbill eggs and chicks at the month-end. Numbers of nesting Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls continue to dwindle. Scarce breeders included a pair of Greenfinches, a pair of Common Redpolls and a pair of House Martins. A summering Robin at Balephuil failed to attract a mate. Phill Catton (www.islaybirds.blogspot.com) and John Bowler (john.bowler@rspb.org.uk)
BORDERS
HIGHLIGHTS: Ospreys showed at Watch Water (Lammermuirs) and Yetholm Loch. Mute Swan numbers showed a big increase at the latter site, with 152 (21st). Also present were two Shovelers, a Scaup and eight Gadwall. Two Green Woodpeckers called at Hen Poo’, Duns Castle. Redstarts were also reported there. The Kingfisher returned to its favourite site by Tweedside Hide at Paxton House. Passage Sand Martins there numbered 1,411 (7th) and 2,475 (12th). The new hide at Hule Moss (Greenlaw Moor) had a site first, with Shelducks producing nine young. 10 Tufted Ducks were also present and a pair of Peregrines interacted. Passage Swifts included 585 (17th) and a splendid 1,135 (23rd). Gannets are attempting to nest at St Abb’s Head. A surprise there was a passing Black-browed Albatross. Two Cranes visited farmland at Eccles. James D Lough
CENTRAL REGION
HIGHLIGHTS: Four Sanderling were at the head of Loch Tay (7th). CLACKMANNANSHIRE: There were 51 Black-tailed Godwits in Devonmouth Pool (4th). A Marsh Harrier was at the Blackdevon Wetlands (22nd). STIRLING DISTRICT: A Cuckoo was at North Third Reservoir. (3rd). Two Short-eared Owls
were near Sheriffmuir Inn (8th). A Quail was at Sheriffmuir (23rd). Neil Bielby
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
HIGHLIGHTS: A Black-headed Bunting was at New Galloway (16th-17th). A Mediterranean Gull was at Drummore (20th). Five Ospreys were at both Threave Estate and Caerlaverock, with another at Loch Doon. Nightjars were seen across the region. Breeding Spotted Flycatchers and Grey Wagtails were at Buckland. A Mandarin was at Eskrigg (6th). A Redstart was at Garroch Estate. A Woodcock was at Kirkconnell Flow. MULL OF GALLOWAY/RHINS: Shags, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, Guillemots and Kittiwakes bred. Red Kite, Linnet and Wheatear were seen. OTHER SITES: A Jay and young Curlews were in Dumfriesshire. A Peregrine, Red Kite, Buzzard, Canada Geese, Willow Warblers and Sedge Warblers were at Threave Estate. Kingfishers were at Caerlaverock and on the River Dee. Tree Sparrows were at Mainsriddle. Tawny Owls bred at Eskrigg. Three Whinchats were in Laurieston Forest. Oystercatcher, Curlew and Red Kite were at Kirkcudbright Bay. Kirkbride Loch held young Greylags, Little Grebes, Tufted Ducks and Reed Buntings. Pam Woods (Dumfriesandgallowaybirding@yahoogroups.com)
FIFE
HIGHLIGHTS: A Scaup remained at Kilconquhar Loch (to 2nd). A Surf Scoter was off Kinshaldy (23rd). A notable 67 Goosanders were off West Wemyss on 25th. A Quail was at Morton Lochs (11th). A Red-throated Diver flew past Fife Ness and a Great Northern Diver was in Dalgety Bay (12th). Manx Shearwaters passed Anstruther (five on 1st, 120 on 13th), Dalgety Bay (seven on 15th), Cellardyke (20 on 21st), Pathhead (four on 25th) and Fife Ness (100 on 28th). Fife Ness logged five Storm Petrels (29th). Little Egrets were in Balgove Bay and off the Eden Estuary Centre. A Spoonbill flew over Ferry Hills and then appeared at Torryburn (18th). An Osprey flew over Kilmany. Two Greenshanks and six Little Terns were at Tentsmuir Point. Guardbridge held a Whimbrel. An Arctic Skua flew past Fife Ness (28th). Little Gulls were at Guardbridge (11th) and Fife Ness (29th). Pairs of Cuckoos were at East Wemyss (15th), Kilminning (14th) and Wormiston (25th). Two Grey Wagtails were in Cupar. Whinchats returned to Glen Vale with three there (5th). A pair of Ravens displayed over Kilrenny (3rd). David Heeley (dw.heeley@btinternet.com)
HIGHLANDS
HIGHLIGHTS: A Common Rosefinch was at Scourie (4th). A Hawfinch visited Ullapool (8th-11th). A Lesser Whitethroat was at The Mound, Loch Fleet (3rd-12th). An Icterine Warbler held territory at Nigg (from 2nd). A Woodchat Shrike was at Garbole, Strathdearn (8th-11th). BADENOCH AND STRATHSPEY: A Pied Flycatcher and two Wood Warblers were at Craigellachie (1st). Three Black-tailed Godwits and a Pied Flycatcher were at Insh Marshes (25th). A Green Woodpecker was in Glen Tromie (21st). EASTER ROSS: Seawatching off Tarbat Ness produced maxima of 225 Common Scoters (28th), 98 Manx Shearwaters (21st), two Arctic Skuas (29th) and six Great Skuas (30th). A Purple Sandpiper, Glaucous Gull (3rd) and Iceland Gull (23rd) were also noted. INVERNESS-SHIRE AND BLACK ISLE: A Curlew Sandpiper visited Udale Bay (2nd). A Little Egret was at Brahan (1st). Two Little Gulls were off Chanonry Point (8th). Forty Manx Shearwaters were off Fort George (28th). A Pied Flycatcher sang at the entrance to Glen Mazeran, Strathdearn (13th). SKYE AND SOUTH WEST: Quails called at Kilmuir (6th) and Hallin (1st). A Short-eared Owl was at Upper Halistra (30th). A Pintail visited Loch Treaslane (10th). A Little Gull was at Broadford (6th). Six Whimbrels were at Ardnish (12th). WESTER ROSS AND SUTHERLAND: A Sooty Shearwater was off Strathy Point (17th). There were 22 Great Skuas at Culkein Drumbeg (10th) and three Arctic Skuas at Raffin (27th). A Mediterranean Gull visited Loch Torridon (22nd). Two Arctic Skuas (27th), two Glaucous Gulls (5th) and Little Gulls (5th and 14th) were off Brora. A Brent Goose was at Dornoch Point (19th). Tom Wells
LOTHIAN
HIGHLIGHTS: A Black-browed Albatross, seen in North Yorkshire the day before, was briefly observed from Seacliff, heading towards the Bass Rock in very bad weather (29th). This is the fifth record for Lothian, with the others in 2002 and three years’ worth of sightings (all of the same bird presumably) from 1967-69. The wet north-easterly winds of the 29th also brought an adult Sabine’s Gull to Belhaven Bay. MUSSELBURGH AREA: An immature Mediterranean Gull was seen (7th). Nine Gadwall, 32 Goosanders and a Black-tailed Godwit were present (10th). A Barn Owl was at nearby Goshen Steading (13th). ABERLADY AREA: Single Quails were heard
(11th & 17th) with two calling (14th). Two Ospreys flew over the bay and two Whimbrels were seen (11th). A Lesser Whitethroat was still singing (30th). TYNINGHAME AREA: The Reed Warbler continued to sing at Seafield Pond until the 14th. A Red Kite was seen over Belhaven Bay (4th). A female Garganey was at Seafield Pond (17th). Twenty-eight Manx Shearwaters, a Bonxie, an Arctic Skua and two Little Terns flew past Scoughall (30th). BARNS NESS AREA: A Red Kite flew over White Sands (4th). A Quail sang at Barn Ness (10th). Two Yellow Wagtails were at Skateraw (14th). OTHER SITES: A Roseate Tern was at Leith Docks throughout the month, where it paired up with a Common Tern. Five Cuckoos were seen in the Pentlands at Loganlea (1st) with a Little Ringed Plover (25th) and immature Med Gull (26th) at nearby Threipmuir and an Osprey at Bavelaw (25th). Meanwhile four Cuckoos, a pair of Whinchats and a Barn Owl were in the Lammermuirs (9th) with an Osprey hunting at Faseny (18th). Thirteen Crossbills were counted at Beecraigs CP (3rd). An Osprey was seen at Cramond (5th), where three Scaup (25th), two Pintails, three Whimbrels and 80 Manx Shearwaters (all 26th) were also seen. A nocturnal Quail was heard over Longniddry (8th) with others in fields to the south of the village throughout the month and another at Damside near Loanhead (18th). Loanhead also held a Cuckoo (19th) in fields opposite Ikea (19th). A Ring-necked Parakeet was seen in Morningside (16th). Jim Nicholson
MORAY
HIGHLIGHTS: An Iceland Gull was at the Lossie Estuary (2nd), with a Glaucous Gull there (16th-29th) and a Sooty Shearwater (26th). Quails were at Darkland (4th and 10th), Golford (5th), Keith (two on 7th), Kinloss (14th-19th), Roseisle (21st) and Elgin (21st). A Curlew Sandpiper was at Findhorn Bay (3th-4th). Two Great Northern Divers were off Kingston (17th). A Little Egret was at Findhorn Bay (27th). OTHER SIGHTINGS: Seawatching brought records of Manx Shearwater, Great Skua, Gannet, Fulmar, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Arctic Skua, Puffin, Sandwich Tern, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Sooty Shearwater, Common Tern, Eider, Great Northern Diver and Arctic Tern. Findhorn Bay had Whooper Swan, Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwit, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-breasted Merganser, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Lossiemouth had Wigeon, Sanderling, Peregrine, Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Yvonne Watson
OUTER HEBRIDES
HIGHLIGHTS: A White-throated Needletail was at Gleann, Barra (22nd). A White-winged Black Tern was at Loch Mor/ Fada (19th). A Rose-coloured Starling was at Eoligarry, Barra (22nd-30th). OTHER SITES: A Garganey was in the Balranald area (3rd-13th). A Pintail was at Loch Mor (16th). Quails were at Eoligarry, Swainbost, Galson and Skigersta. A Water Rail was on Mingulay (20th). An Osprey was at Loch Euphort and Askernish. Two Little Stints were at Loch Paible (2nd), with others at Aird an Runair, South Boisdale and Ardvule (6th). Four Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Paible (6th). A Purple Sandpiper was at Aird an Runair (23rd). Two Little Gulls were at Loch Stiapabhat (10th-11th) with one lingering (to 16th). Ruff were at Loch Sandary and in the Loch Mor area throughout the month. A handful of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls remained. Three Long-tailed Skuas flew north off Aird an Runair (6th), and one was over Paible (7th). Two Pomarine Skuas were seen from the Lochmaddy-uig ferry (12th). A Turtle Dove was in South Glendale (1st-2nd). Swifts were over Loch Branahuie (14th) and at Hougharry (21st). A Redwing was at Carnan (8th). A Lesser Whitethroat was in South Glendale (5th), when a Reed Warbler was at Carnan. A Wood Warbler was on Barra (1st). Four Siskins were at Loch Eynort (6th) and a male was seen feeding two recently fledged juveniles at Langass Lodge (8th). 10 Crossbills were at North Loch Eynort (27th). Steve Duffield (www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk)
TAYSIDE
HIGHLIGHTS: The Lurgies held a Spoonbill (1st), with two (2nd-11th), a Little Stint (9th), two Ospreys (10th), two Little Egrets (15th), with three (26th), and a Red Kite (25th). Murton Reserve held a Little Ringed Plover (7th). A Garganey was on the Slunks (9th). A Great Northern Diver visited Lunan Bay (11th), with three Little Terns there (14th) and 300 Manx Shearwaters (26th). A Great Skua was at Mains of Usan (11th). A Black-throated Diver was at Kinnordy (12th). Seafield Farm held a Quail (19th). A Great Northern Diver was at Craig Mill Burn mouth (26th). MONTROSE BASIN: There were nine Common Sandpipers and three Greenshanks (25th). Maxima were 14 Cormorants, five Herons, 92 Mute Swans, two Greylags, 152 Shelducks, five Wigeon, five Teal, 10 Mallards, 766 Eiders, five Red-breasted Mergansers, eight Goosanders, a Moorhen, seven Ringed Plovers, 296 Oystercatchers, a Little Ringed Plover, eight Dunlin, two Black-tailed Godwits, 63 Curlews, a Redshank, 246 Black-headed Gulls, 43 Common Gulls, 40 Herring Gulls, eight Great Black-backed Gulls, a Sandwich Tern, 130 Common Terns, and 27 ‘Commic’ terns. Two Water Rails were seen (26th). OTHER SITES: Murton Reserve, Forfar (7th) held two Shovelers, a Gadwall, Sand Martins, eight Lapwings with two juveniles, two Mute Swans with two cygnets, Cormorants, Coots, a Magpie, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Pied Wagtail, and two Redshanks. Craig Mill Den (8th) held a Spotted Flycatcher. Lunan Bay (11th) held four Sandwich Terns, 10 Kittiwakes, 10 Fulmars, three Red-throated Divers and a Gannet, plus four Velvet Scoters (25th). Glen Esk (17th) held a Redstart, Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper and Sedge Warbler. Barry Buddon (18th) held Blackcap, Buzzard, Mistle Thrush, Whitethroat, Swallows, Sky Larks, Willow Warbler, two Magpies and Swifts, plus a Wheatear (29th). Fish Town of Usan (26th) recorded 15 Manx Shearwaters. Bob Mccurley