First signs of approaching springtime
January 2018 had a mean temperature more than a degree colder than the previous January and had almost twice as much rain as last year with snow at times even to low levels. While the weather was not conducive to being out of doors, almost 100 species were reported.
Highlights included: a pair of goosander at Fisherman’s Walk on 12th, four little grebe in Loch Ranza on 17th and a merlin on Braehead Farm on 20th. Two of our more secretive species were also re- ported: a water rail by Sliddery Shore on 12th and three moorhen at Port na Lochan on 22nd. In addition there were reports of all three divers including: two great northern diver in Catacol Bay on 18th, six black-throated diver off Largy more on 22nd and a red-throated diver off Sand braes on 29th.
Wintering wildfowl numbers included: 430 greylag geese in the Shiskine Valley on 9th, one whooper swan at Mossend Pond on 10th, six white-fronted geese in the Shiskine Valley on 18th, 43 wigeon in Feor line on 22nd, 18 pink-footed geese on Corrie cravie Moor on 25th, 17 barnacle geese over Sliddery on 26th and 92 teal at Kilpatrick Point also on 26th. Other winter visitors included: seven purple sandpiper at Silver Sands on 18th, 80 fieldfare at Sliddery on 19th, 14 rook in Sliddery also on 19th and 47 redwing on Corriecravie Moor on 25th. There were no January reports of waxwing or brambling.
Wintering flocks included: 17 lapwing on Kilpatrick Farm on 10th, 15 turnstone in Catacol Bay on 14th, 110 starling in Sliddery on 19th, 150 chaffinch on Braehead Farm on 20th, 65 curlew at Cleiteadh Buidhe on 22nd, 17 common crossbill at the Dyemill also on 22nd, 17 yellowhammer on Corriecravie Moor on 25th, 56 ringed plover at Blackwaterfoot on 26th and 12 redshank at Kilpatrick Point also on 26th.
Interesting garden birds included: two bullfinch in Whiting Bay on 9th, 30 siskin in Shiskine on 14th, one treecreeper in Lamlash on 19th, one great spotted woodpecker in Margnaheglish on 24th, 19 long-tailed tit in Lamlash on 26th, 11 collared dove in Corrie on 28th and one blackcap in Lamlash on 29th. In a future bird note there will be a report on the Arran RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend of January 27 to 29.
While there were only two records of returning gannet, a single north of Lochranza and a single south of Whiting Bay both on 29th, shelduck were on numerous coastal territories including Auchenhew, Clauchlands, Cosyden, Drumadoon, Fisherman’s Walk, Kildonan, Kilpatrick, King’s Cave and Pirnmill. Other signs of approaching spring included: 20 courting eider in Whiting Bay on 29th and displaying golden eagle over Lochranza on 30th. But the winter is not over yet. 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 2007-2012 as well as the Arran Bird Report 2016 and visit this website www.arranbirding.co.uk