December 2024

Bird Sightings

December was wet. In comparison to November, while the mean temperatures were similar, December had about double the rainfall of November. It was generally unsettled.

A highlight of December was Snow Bunting. On Monday 2 December there was a report of two Snow Bunting on Ceum na Caillich on the northern mountains. This is the first Arran report this year. There were none in 2023 but there were eighteen reports in 2022. The last report was on Cir Mhor, also on the northern mountains, when there was one on 9 December 2022.

Other winter visitors included: one Greenshank at Cosyden on 1^st, five Rook at Clachaig Farm on 2^nd, an over-wintering Blackcap in Alma Park on 16^th, a Merlin in Sliddery on 28^th and sixty Redwing with two hundred Fieldfare in Glenree on 29^th.

Wintering wildfowl were to the fore including: fifty Wigeon in Torbeg on 1^st, thirteen Whooper Swan over Pirnmill on 2^nd, three hundred Greylag Geese in Torbeg on 14^th, three Goldeneye on Mossend Pond on 15^th, forty Pink-footed Geese at the Rodden also on 15^th and thirty-eight White-fronted Geese flying over Sliddery also on 15^th.

Other groups of wintering birds included: fifty Jackdaw at Silver Sands on 1^st, twenty-five Curlew in Kilpatrick on 2^nd, fifty Herring Gull in Sannox Bay on 4^th, sixteen Lapwing in Port na Feannaiche on 14^th, twenty-one Turnstone at Silver Sands also on 14^th, ninety Mallard on Machrie Golf Course on 19^th, forty Siskin in Newton on 21^st,three hundred Starling in Glenree on 29^th, ten Pied Wagtail in Porta Buidhe also on 29^th, one hundred Common Gull in Kilpatrick on 31^st and nineteen Black-throated Diver off Sandbraes also in 31^st.

Again this year, both Kingfisher and Little Egret appeared on Arran after the breeding season. In December there were three further reports of Kingfisher, all from the east coast of Arran. All were of single birds. In addition, seventy-three reports of Little Egret were received from twenty-two different locations all around Arran’s coast. This is an increase on the forty-one that were received in December 2023. For more information click Wintering Little Egret .

Other interesting records this month included: one Great Northern Diver in Cosyden on 1^st, one Red-throated Diver off Pirnmill on 3^rd, a White-tailed Eagle over Aird nan Ron also on 3^rd, two Goosander off Pirnmill on 6^th, ten Common Crossbill on Kilbride Hill on 8^th, one Dipper on Fisherman’s Walk on 9^th, nine Red-breasted Merganser in Alltgobhlach on 11^th, one Yellowhammer in Sliddery on 19^th, a male Hen Harrier hunting along Kildonan shore on 23^rd, a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Kildonan on 27^th, four Little Grebe in Loch Ranza on 28^th and four Shelduck in Auchenhew Bay on 29^th.

Although still in the depth of winter there were some signs of approaching spring with, rafts of two hundred and forty Eider courting off Kingscross Point on 4^th, a Woodpigeon with fledged young on Fisherman’s Walk on 7^th and a Starling singing in Feorline on 30^th .

Gardens provide a safe refuge for some birds in winter. Among the many records received were: fourteen Greenfinch in Pirnmill on 3^rd, one Goldcrest in Pirnmill on 13^th, seven Long-tailed Tit in Corrie on 23^rd, sixty Goldfinch in Sliddery on 28^th, forty Chaffinch in Corrie on 29^th and thirty House Sparrow in Lamlash on 30^th.

Finally, here is a date for your diary: the weekend of Friday 24 to Sunday 26 January. That weekend stock up your bird feeders, spend one hour of your weekend watching your garden birds, and note down the highest number you see of each bird species. This is the weekend of the “Big Garden Birdwatch”. Last year nearly half a million people throughout the UK and over thirty on Arran took part in this valuable exercise. For more information and to get the free starter pack, visit the RSPB website Big Garden Birdwatch http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/ . If you do decide to take part, please share your records with me.