February 2026

Bird Sightings

In terms of weather, October to January were four very wet months in a row and, although February had about half the rainfall of January, it was still wet with more than forty percent more rain than last February.

Surf Scoter was the highlight of February. On Tuesday 17 February there was a report of a pair of Surf Scoter at the south end of the Pirnmill. This North American native sea duck gave excellent views throughout the rest of the month from the car park at the south of Pirnmill. This pair of Surf Scoter seemed to prefer the waters off Arran to the more usual wintering grounds off the coast of North America. At times this pair were also in the company of three of the more familiar Common Scoter. Last year a female type Surf Scoter was reported in the same area between 3^rd and 9^th March 2025. This year the pair may continue to hang around this favoured area. For more information on Scoters click here.

Wintering divers were also giving good views including: six Great Northern Diver off Pirnmill on 1^st, two Red-throated Diver in Blackwaterfoot on 2^nd and four Black-throated Diver in Alltgobhlach on 23^rd. Other winter visitors included: twelve Fieldfare at Balmichael on 8^th, a male Merlin at Dougarie on 19^th and fifteen Redwing at Corriecravie on 20^th plus several reports of Blackcap dominating bird feeders in gardens round Arran

Wintering wildfowl continued to be present including; two Whooper Swan in South Carlo on 3^rd, sixty-seven Canada Geese in High Clachaig on 7^th, thirty Teal at Merkland Point on 11^th, two hundred Greylag Geese on the Rodden on 20^th, six Wigeon at Porta Buidhe on 22^nd, one male Goldeneye on Port na Lochan on 26^th and one hundred Pink-footed Geese in Feorline on 27^th.

Other wintering flocks included: one hundred and ten Ringed Plover in Machrie Bay on 7^th,twenty-two Curlew in Kilpatrick on 8^th, thirty-five Chaffinch in Balmichael also on 8^th, one hundred Starling in Kilpatrick on 9^th, twenty Rock Pipit in Porta Buidhe on 13^th, seventy Herring Gull also in Porta Buidhe on 15^th, twenty-three Turnstone in Cleiteadh Buidhe on 18^th, one hundred Common Gull on Lenamhor shore on 19^th, one hundred and thirty Jackdaw in Pirnmill on 24^th and thirty-five Lapwing in Torbeg on 26^th.

Throughout February there were regular sightings of Kingfisher round Brodick Bay including one by Brodick pier on 2^nd and there were more than twenty reports of Little Egret including three at Merkland Point on 3^rd. Other interesting sightings included: one Treecreeper at Knockenkelly on 5^th, two Dipper by the Auchrannie Hotel also on 5^th, one Moorhen on Port-na-Lochan on 7^th, two Black-headed Gull at Sandbraes on 13^th, two Little Grebe in Mossend Pond on 16^th, three Kittiwake in Brodick Bay on 21^st, five Bullfinch in Sannox on 23^rd, one Goldcrest in north Newton on 25^th and one sub-adult White-tailed Eagle over Brodick Bay on 27^th.

In February, there was one report of returning Gannet, one in Brodick Bay on 21st, and one report of returning Lesser Black-backed Gull, two in Kilpatrick on 25^th . Other signs of approaching spring included: Song Thrush singing at Port na Lochan on 7^th, Shelduck establishing territories on shores round the island including six in Auchenhew Bay on 8^th, a pair of Golden Eagle display flying over Lochranza on 23^rd, four Grey Heron carrying nest material in Brodick on 24^th , Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Lagg on 27^th and numerous reports of garden birds checking out nest boxes.

While there were few records of Goldfinch and Siskin at garden feeders these sightings should increase in March. March could see the arrival of some of our summer visitors like Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sand Martin, even Swallow and House Martin, but their arrival will be dependent on the weather. Keep an eye out for these migrants and let me know when you first see them.