SCOTLAND Ring-necked Duck, Pitlochry, Perthshire
Highlights
The rediscovery of the Mainland, Shetland,
Tengmalm’s Owl
(10th, later relocated on Unst, 14th), was set to be the biggest story of the month. But it was trumped by a Mourning Dove on North Ronaldsay, Orkney on 29th. ABERDEENSHIRE ABERDEEN: On 5th it was reported that the Little Ringed Plover and Green Sandpiper were still present on Milltimber Sugs. A Black Redstart was in the allotments at Girdle Ness (16th). Late Waxwings stayed briefly in Powis Crescent (19th). The 26Th saw a Pied Flycatcher at Girdle Ness – a Yellow Wagtail and a male Black Redstart were also present.
FORVIE SAND NNR: An Avocet was feeding on the Ythan upstream from the Fisherman’s Hut (9th) and was seen on the reserve to month’s end. A juvenile White-tailed Eagle was seen heading up the estuary (10th). A good flock of Black-tailed Godwits were at Inches Road (12th). Three Cranes were reported on the Ythan from Waulkmill Hide (24th). On the 25th migrants seen included three Lesser Whitethroats, Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipit, Wheatear and Whimbrel. There were four Cranes and an Avocet from Walkmill Hide (27th). A Spotted Redshank could be seen from the Snub car park (28th). A Moltonis Warbler was found near the Visitors Centre (28th).
LOCH OF STRATHBEG: A Great White Egret, Spoonbill and Green-winged Teal were seen from the Tower Pool Hide (2nd) and through the month. A Crane was seen (4th) then three (5th) and five (8th), and they were seen off and on all month. A redhead Smew was on the south end of the Loch (10th). Two Avocets could be seen from the Visitors Centre (22nd). An Osprey visited the Loch (18th). A pair of Scaup were with Tufted Ducks (21st) at the south end of the Loch. On 23rd a Little Ringed Plover was seen from the Visitors Centre. A Pied Flycatcher and a Lesser Whitethroat were in the Plantation (27th).
OTHER SITES: Three drake Mandarins were on the River Strathbogie at Huntly at the start of the month. White -billed Divers were found off Portsoy (11th). A Ring-necked Duck was at the Loch of Skene (12th). A Green-winged Teal was on Loch Davan (16th). A single male Yellow Wagtail of flavissima sub-species was seen at Coralhill Farm near St Combs (22nd), when a White-tailed Eagle flew over Loch Muick. On the 23rd a Savi’s Warbler was found at Longhaven SWT reserve. A pair of Dotterel were seen from the track to Rattray car park (26th). A Black Redstart was at St Cyrus NNR (28th). Rattray had a Black Redstart and six Whimbrel (29th). Mike Chandler ARGYLL ISLAY: First dates included a House Martin at Finlaggan (3rd), a Corn Crake in Portnahaven (6th), an Arctic Tern at Gortan and a Sandwich Tern plus Osprey at Loch Gorm (7th), Swallows at Cornabus (10th) and Willow Warblers at Bolsay (11th). Ring Ouzels were at Kintra and Risabus (12th), when two Snow Buntings passed through. Two Cuckoos were at Gearach (21st), with two Common Sandpipers at Kilchiaran (21st) and four Crossbills at Ballygrant (22nd). Two Grasshopper Warblers were near Port Wemyss (23rd). Three Dotterel and a Sedge Warbler were at The Oa (23rd), with a Whinchat and 50 Twite there (24th). A Great Skua was on Loch Indaal and six Whimbrels at Rockside (24th). A Whitethroat was at Port Charlotte (25th). There were 318 Black Guillemots around the Mull of Oa (12th). Four Short-eared Owls were at Ardmenish on Jura (24th).
TIREE: A Black-winged Stilt at Heylipol Church (16th-18th) was the first for Argyll. A Greater Yellowlegs at Loch a’ Phuill (28th) was the first for Tiree, as was a Mandarin at Cornaigmore (20th). Two Ring-necked Ducks remained at Loch Bhasapol (to 27th). Loch a’ Phuill had a Scaup (to 11th) and Osprey (19th). White-tailed Eagles were at Balevullin (5th) and Hough (21st). A Coot was at Loch Bhasapol (27th). A Redstart was at Balevullin (11th).
Balephuil had a Tree Pipit (23rd), Whinchat (20th), Rook (15th-16th), Brambling (9th), Great Tit (4th) and Greenland-race Wheatear (23rd). Mealy Redpolls were at Scarinish (22nd) and Balephuil (23rd). A Siskin was at Carnan Mor (24th). Woodpigeons were at Scarinish (8th) and Heylipol (29th). There was a scattering of Goldcrests and White Wagtails.
Maxima included 165 Black-tailed Godwits, 4,350 Golden Plovers, four Knot and just a few pale-bellied Brent Geese. Barnacle Geese and Greenland Whitefronts departed en masse (6th-7th). There was an influx of 26 Pinkfeet to Loch an Eiein (9th-11th) with 20 more at Kilkenneth (26th). Fourteen Canada Geese and 14 Whooper Swans were noted.
First dates included Corn Crake (20th), Manx Shearwater (2nd), Lesser Redpoll (3rd), Chiffchaff (4th), Blackcap, White Wagtail and Great Skua (5th), Sand Martin and Linnet (6th), Whimbrel, Little Tern, Swallow, House Martin and Willow Warbler (11th), Greenshank (13th), Grasshopper Warbler and Arctic Tern (20th), Common Sandpiper (21st) Sandwich Tern (22nd), and Common Tern, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat (23rd).
Phill Catton (www.islaybirds.blogspot.com) and John Bowler (john.bowler@rspb.org.uk)
CENTRAL REGION
HIGHLIGHTS: A Blue-headed Wagtail was at Skinflats Pools (18th) with a Garganey there (20th-21st). A White-tailed Eagle flew over Cambus (21st). A Dotterel was on Ben Cleuch, Ochils (23rd) and another flew over Glen Finglas (22nd). A Wood Sandpiper was at Loch Tay (26th). First dates included Swallow (2nd), House Martin (6th), Willow Warbler (11th), Whitethroat (18th), Grasshopper Warbler (19th), Common Sandpiper (19th), Cuckoo (27th), Whinchat (29th) and Redstart (30th).
CLACKMANNANSHIRE: Longcarse held two Wheatears (2nd), with five Shovelers, a Whimbrel, two Common Sandpipers, two Guillemots and three Wheatears (19th). Five Guillemots were at Cambus (17th).
FALKIRK DISTRICT: Two Little Egrets were at Higgin’s Neuk (4th), with two late Barnacle Geese there (29th). Twelve Crossbills were in Chacefield Wood (10th).
SKINFLATS POOLS: There was a Hooded Crow (4th-8th), four Wheatears (8th), a Gadwall, seven Shovelers, 223 Black-tailed Godwits and a White Wagtail (11th), two Little Egrets, nine Shovelers, five Pintails, two Short-eared Owls
and 30 White Wagtails (18th), and three short-eared owls (21st).
Stirling District: A Merlin was on sheriff Muir (1st). three ospreys were at Carron Valley reservoir (6th). six Great Crested Grebes, two red-breasted Mergansers, five ringed plovers and a redshank were at Cambusmore/gart Gp (7th). Nine Guillemots were in stirling (17th), when a Jack snipe was on Flanders Moss. A short-eared owl was on kippen Moor (18th). A Greenshank and Grasshopper Warbler were at Loch tay (26th).
Neil Bielby
Dumfries and Galloway
Highlights: A Water pipit, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtail and hooded Crow were at Mersehead. A tree pipit was at threave estate. southerness and seafield logged 22 sandwich terns, eight Arctic terns, 17 ‘Commic’ terns, two Arctic skuas, a Long-tailed skua, Little Gull, puffin, razorbills, 50 kittiwakes, Gannets, Common scoters and red-breasted Mergansers. Five Greenshanks were at Carrick shore. A Curlew sandpiper was at Browhouses. A Common sandpiper was at Dumfries. some 4,000 Barnacle Geese were between Caerlaverock and Mersehead. Fourteen Whimbrels, sandwich and ‘Commic’ terns, and Little egrets were on the southern coasts. Migrants included osprey, Chiffchaff, Wheatear, Whitethroat, swallow, sand Martin, house Martin, Blackcap, pied Flycatcher, Cuckoo, Whinchat, Willow Warbler and Wood Warbler.
Other Sites: three Fulmars, two razorbills, a kittiwake, Bullfinch, Linnet and rock pipit were at Balcary heughs. A Goosander and oystercatcher were in Dumfries. A Whooper swan and pinkfoot were at Maxwellton Lochan. ringed plovers, knot, Gannets, and Great Crested Grebes were between seafield and southerness. two Bar-tailed Godwits, five Black-tailed Godwits, a snipe and Little ringed plover were at Mersehead. red kite, oystercatcher and kingfisher were at threave estate. Green and Great spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch and Buzzard were at Caulkerbush. there were 120 pinkfeet at Creetown.
Pam Woods (Dumfriesandgallowaybirding@ yahoogroups.com)
fife
Highlights: kilminning held Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, sedge Warblers, Wheatears, Black redstarts, redstarts, Bramblings, Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, White Wagtails, Yellow Wagtails, Fieldfares, house Martins, pied Flycatchers and a Green Woodpecker. Fife Ness logged Manx shearwaters, sandwich terns, red-throated Divers, Black-throated Divers, kittiwakes, scaup, Fulmars, Common scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, puffins and red-breasted Mergansers. twenty Whooper swans flew over st Andrews (2nd). An egyptian Goose was at Letham pools with a flock of pinkfeet. pintails and shovelers were at the Wilderness. smew remained at Lochore Meadows and Cameron reservoir. red-throated Divers were at Lower Largo (11th). A Great Northern Diver was off ruddons point (7th). the Black-necked Grebe remained at elie (to 19th). slavonian Grebes and red-necked Grebes were at Lower Largo.
A Great Crested Grebe visited Letham pools (8th). Little egrets remained at the eden estuary. ospreys flew over kirkcaldy, Guardbridge and Loch Glow (two on 2nd). A red kite was seen again at thornton. Marsh harriers were at Letham pools, Luthrie (19th) and Mugdrum island. kellie Law held a hen harrier (25th). Water rails were at rossie Bog (21st). two Avocets were at tentsmuir (17th), with possibly the same pair past kingsbarns (28th). kingsbarns logged 18 purple sandpipers (20th). Whimbrels were in the eden estuary and at Dalgety Bay. A Little Gull was at Ferry hills and a Mediterranean Gull at Anstruther. A Little tern was at Leven (22nd). A Black Guillemot was at Anstruther (4th). Cullaloe held a Barn owl (28th). short-eared owls were at Caiplie and kilrenny. A Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail was at Letham pools (16th). A hoopoe was at Boarhills (17th). Late Waxwings were at Glenrothes (20th).
A Black redstart was at Balcomie. Wheatears were at rossie Bog, Luthrie, Dunshalt, Ferry hills and Balcomie. two pairs of Whinchats returned to Glen Vale. Wood Warblers were in Denburn Wood (26th). Garden Warblers were at Burntisland (28th) and Cullaloe (30th). Lesser Whitethroats were at Anstruther and st Andrews. Grasshopper Warblers were at rossie Bog (21st), Wilderness (21st) and Loch Gelly. pied Flycatchers were in Denburn Wood (26th-28th). Nuthatches were in ravenscraig park and Dunfermline. Four Crossbills were at Lochore Meadows (14th).
Dave Heeley (dw.heeley@btinternet.com)
lothian
Highlights: A drake American White-winged scoter (presumably last year’s bird) was at Musselburgh (8th onwards). A Marsh harrier was at Aberlady Bay (16th) and a Jack snipe showed well at Musselburgh (17th). Wrynecks were seen at hopes reservoir (20th) and Barns Ness (26th-27th).
Aberlady Area: three Little egrets were present (2nd-7th). Four sandwich terns were in Gosford Bay (5th). A short-eared owl, Green Woodpecker and two Bramblings were seen (10th). A Brent Goose (16th-23rd) and pochard (28th) were noted. A drake surf scoter (21st) and 3,300 Common scoters (26th) were off Gullane point. early migrants included a Willow Warbler (10th), two ring ouzels (15th), two Grasshopper Warblers and a sedge Warbler (19th), Lesser Whitethroat (21st), tree pipit and Yellow Wagtail (23rd), Cuckoo (25th) and Whinchat (28th).
BARNS ness Area: White sands Quarry held three Long-tailed Ducks (3rd-16th) and two Gadwall (25th). A Water pipit was at skateraw (7th) where an early Whitethroat (22nd) was also recorded. two Whimbrel and a redstart were at torness (18th). the skateraw/torness midden held a grey-headed (18th-19th) and two blue-headed (27th) Yellow Wagtails among its collection of pipits and commoner wagtails.
Musselburgh Area: the long-staying drake surf scoter was joined by a female (4th) and then by another pair (23rd), with at least one of the pairs seen mating. two drake scaup and eight Gadwall (4th), a shoveler (9th), a Black-throated Diver (11th) and two red-necked Grebes (29th) were seen offshore. the scrapes held two shovelers and an early Common sandpiper (11th), a Brent Goose (12th-14th), four Little ringed plovers (17th), three Whimbrels (21st) and 17 Black-tailed Godwits (25th). A Willow Warbler (11th), 78 redpolls (21st) and a Black redstart (27th) were also noted.
tyninghame Area: two house Martins were at seafield pond (1st). tyninghame Bay held a female scaup (all month), two Little egrets and five Greenshanks (2nd), an immature Glaucous Gull (17th) and three pintails, seven Barnacle Geese and two Common terns (29th). An osprey flew over JMCP (10th). three Yellow Wagtails plus two black-headed birds were at Belhaven (20th). scoughall featured two Common terns (20th), three tree pipits (19th) and a redstart (28th).
Other Sites: in edinburgh, five or more short-eared owls were seen near Gilmerton (4th), 20 Waxwings were in eildon street (8th), a Whinchat was at Little France (22nd) and a reed Warbler was heard singing at an undisclosed location (29th). the Lammermuirs held a red kite (1st), four ring ouzels (16th), a redstart (22nd) and two Fieldfares (28th). elsewhere a Cuckoo sang at roslin (22nd), 38 Long-tailed Ducks were off Ferny Ness (24th) a “Channel” Wagtail was at Dunbar (26th), a swift flew over Byers hill (28th) and two Garden Warblers sang at straiton pond (30th).
Jim Nicholson
outer hebrides
Highlights: A serin was at Nask, Barra (29th-30th). A Cackling Goose was among 2,000 Barnacle Geese at Balranald (2nd), when a Cackling Goose and the small-race Canada Goose were at kyles paible. the Canada Goose remained on Barra (to 10th).
Other Sites: An American Wigeon was at Loch an sticir (1st). Green-winged teal were at Loch sandary (2nd-5th) and on the howmore river (15th). Garganeys were at Loch stiapabhat (27th-29th), Loch na reivil (27th-28th) and Frobost (27th). A Mandarin was in stornoway (28th-30th). the ring-necked Duck remained at Coot Loch (to 26th). A White-billed Diver was at the Butt of Lewis (20th). A Crane circled over Vatersay (23rd). two Avocets were on the howmore river (27th-30th). three Dotterel were at eoropie (29th). A Green sandpiper was on Vatersay (28th) and a ruff at Loch Fada (26th). A few Glaucous and iceland Gulls remained. A kumlien’s Gull was at Balranald (6th). sandwich terns were on Barra (16th & 18th), with two at North tolsta (29th). A stock Dove was near Loch stiapabhat (27th). A Black redstart was at Fivepenny (10th).
A Great tit remained on Barra. A treecreeper was at Northbay (10th). Away from stornoway, Jackdaws were at Balranald and on Barra. An influx of tree sparrows included one on Vatersay (26th), two at Brevig and one at Grogarry (30th). hawfinches were at Balemore (4th-8th) and Carishader (8th). A Lapland Bunting was at Balranald (12th).
Steve Duffield (www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk)
tayside
Highlights: Montrose Basin held three Avocets (21st), and a Grasshopper Warbler and Green sandpiper (27th). Murton reserve logged a ruff (1st), three Little ringed plovers, three Green sandpipers and a Common sandpiper. An osprey was at Balgavies Loch (1st), with 31 sand Martins and two swallows there (9th). Loch of kinnordy had three ospreys, four Marsh harriers, a red kite, Little Gull, six sand Martins, a Garganey, ruff, Little ringed plover, four Blackcaps, a sedge Warbler, iceland Gull and Wood sandpiper. two Golden eagles, a peregrine, raven, two swallows and three Wheatears were in an Angus glen (9th). A Black redstart was at West haven (17th). three sandwich terns and 55 Gannets flew north at Arbroath (18th). there were six sandwich terns at Monifieth Bay (20th). two White-tailed eagles were on an Angus reserve (21st), with another past Forfar (28th). Barry Buddon held six swallows (26th) and a Whitethroat (27th). Mains of Usan had a Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Whitethroat (26th). Glen prosen held two Cuckoos and two Black Grouse (28th).
Montrose BASIN: the count (7th) recorded five Cormorants, three Little egrets, 59 Mute swans, 10 Whooper swans, 101 pinkfeet, 202 shelducks, 255 Wigeon, 54 teal, 62 Mallards, 519 eiders, six red-breasted Mergansers, 59 pintails, a Goosander, two Moorhens, 223 oystercatchers, two ringed plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit, 215 Curlews, 911 redshanks, a Guillemot, razorbill, 33 herring Gulls and a Great Black-backed Gull.
Other Sites: Barry Buddon held three stonechats, a Wheatear, six Meadow pipits, two Buzzards, 25 starlings and two pairs of oystercatchers on nests. Monikie Cp held 25 sand Martins (7th). two Collared Doves, a Grey Wagtail and Lesser Black-backed Gull were at keptie pond, Arbroath (9th). West Woods of ethie (9th) held two Green Woodpeckers, with another at Loch of Lintrathen (11th). Forfar Loch held two pairs of Great Crested Grebes, with one pair nesting.
Bob Mccurley BW