Black grouse released in the month when you could expect the unexpected
September was the driest month of the year so far with less than a third of the rain of both July and August. This settled spell was ideal for many species preparing for migration. September is the start of the peak migration season, when many birds are on the move. There was a wide range of species recorded. It was certainly the time to expect the unexpected.
The highlight was the first record this year of turtle dove. This was seen by the track to Cleats Shore on 30 September. It is an occasional passage migrant not recorded every year. Other unusual records included: five blacktailed godwit on Cleats Shore on 5th and a tufted duck off Blackwaterfoot on 10th.
Other birds on migration included: four dunlin on Silver Sands on 2nd, a knot, two sanderling and four bar-tailed godwit at Drumadoon Point on 3rd, four sandwich tern at Sandbraes also on 3rd, 14 white wagtail on Cleats Shore on 5th, 13 black-throated diver in Machrie Bay on 26th, 22 turnstone at Blackwaterfoot also on 26th, a merlin on Cleats Shore on 28th, 36 redshank at Sand braes on 29th and a wheatear in High Kildonan on 30th.
At this time of year, birds begin to flock together, often in preparation for migration. Reports included: 100 house martin at Dippin on 4th, 120 kittiwake at Sand braes on 10th, 120 gannet off Pladda on 18th, 100 goldfinch, 200 linnet and 300 meadow pipit on Cleats Shore also on 18th, 103 golden plover and 86 ringed plover at Machrie-water foot on 26th, 80 starling at Kilpatrick Point on 27th and over 500 skylark passed through Cleats Shore in three hours on 29th. This gives a clear indication of the numbers of birds that are on the move at this time of year
Some of our winter visitors began to be reported including: a wigeon at Cosyden on 9th and five rook on Cleats Shore on 18th.
Having said that, some summer visitors were still around including: a grasshopper warbler in Shiskine on 3rd, a whitethroat at Silver Sands on 5th and 10 lesser blackbacked gull in Lochranza on 28th. The following are the last September reports of the hirundines: 10 sand martin in Sannox on 3rd, one house martin in Auchencar on 28th and 18 swallow in Kilpatrick on 30th. October should see the last of the house martins and swallows departing south.
Other sightings this month included: eight common scoter at Cosyden on 26th, two moorhen at Port na Lochan on 27th, two little grebe in Loch Ranza on 28th, 12 longtailed tit on Whiting Bay Golf Course on 29th and 10 twite on Cleats Shore on 30th. In addition, the Arran Black Grouse Group released 20 pairs of black grouse on 16 September above Corrie. To try to monitor these birds, 25 have radio tags but 15 have no tag. Kate Sampson, head ranger at Brodick Country Park, would be delighted to have a note of any sightings of black grouse. To date some have been reported as far as the main Goatfell path.
Finally, my thanks to all the ‘volunteers’ who took part in the eider survey in September. Total number of birds recorded round Arran was 107. Last year, the total for Arran was 116. Ten years previously, it was considerably more at over 600. There was almost total coverage of the Arran coastline. The data on the eider survey contributes to the ongoing research of Chris Waltho who has been monitoring eider in the Clyde Estuary for over 20 years. The population trend is down. For the latest report from Chris visit this website. http://www.arranbird-ing.co.uk/files/clyde_eider_news_no_13_aug_2015.pdf Enjoy your birding Please send any bird notes with ‘what, when, where’ to me at Kilpatrick Kennels, Kilpatrick, Blackwaterfoot, KA27 8EY, or e-mail me at jim@arranbirding.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you. For more information on birding on Arran purchase the Arran Bird Atlas 20072012 as well as the Arran Bird Report 2014 and visit this website www.arranbirding.co.uk