July 2026
Bird Sightings
The first week of July was cool with some wet days. From the 8th there was a fine spell of fifteen consecutive days with temperatures in excess of twenty degrees. The last week of the month, the weather reverted to cooler and wetter weather. There was a marked contrast between the hot dry weather in the middle of the month and the cool wetter weather at either end of the month. Most of our passerine summer visitors seem to be having a good breeding season with plenty of juveniles around including Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Hirundines also seem to be doing better than last year. From reports across the island, Blackbird, Robin and Song Thrush are having a good breeding season. When the information from licensed ringers on the proportion of adult to young birds becomes available later in the year, the quality of the breeding season will become more apparent.
Other signs of a successful breeding season included: a family of Common Sandpiper at Imachar on 3rd, a young Great Spotted Woodpecker on a feeder in Kildonan on 6th, a family of Long-tailed Tit in Glenrickard on 9th, a family of Spotted Flycatcher in Kingscross on 10th, a pair of Mute Swan with four young in Clauchlands on 14th, a female Red-breasted Merganser with five young at Corrie on 23rd, a pair of Shelduck with five young on Cleats Shore on 29th, plus young reported at all island heronies. Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Kestrel were all reported with young. In addition there was confirmed breeding of Lesser Whitethroat on Arran. There will be information on Lesser Whitethroat on Arran in a future Bird Note.
On the downside, there is an ongoing concern about disturbance on shores of nesting Common Gull, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover by dog walkers. In addition, diminishing records of other ground nesting birds like Curlew and Lapwing is a continuing cause for concern. All people are urged to follow the Arran Wildlife Code and respect all notices re ground nesting birds to help protect our wildlife.
July marks the end of the breeding season for some birds. It can be an interesting time looking for species, that do not breed on Arran but coming here after dispersing from their breeding grounds. Many are any still in their breeding plumage. Reports included a Great Skua in Brodick Bay on 5th, a male Common Scoter off Rubha Glas on 12th, two Whimbrel in Porta Buidhe on 19th, a Kingfisher by the Rosa Burn also on 19th, a Dunlin in Blackwaterfoot on 24th, three Turnstone in Catacol Bay on 27th, nine Black-headed Gulls including young in Kildonan also 27th, two Red Kite including a juvenile and two Merlin in Glenscorrodale on 29th, a male Yellowhammer on Cleats Shore also on 29th and three Sandwich Term in Cordon on 30th.
In addition, after breeding many species begin to flock together. Reports included; 15 Linnet in Auchenhew on 1st, nineteen Kittiwake by Fisherman’s Walk on 5th, five Redshank in Blackwaterfoot on 7th, six Curlew at Sandbraes on 10th, twenty-four Ringed Plover in Clauchlands on 11th, fifty-three House Sparrow in Cordon on 17th, two hundred and thirty Manx Shearwater off Clauchlands Point on 18th, fifty Starling on Silver Sands on 19th, five Golden Plover in Catacol Bay on 31st and ninety-five Guillemot on Brodick Bay also on 31st.
Over one hundred species were reported in July. Other highlights included a White-tailed Eagle over Pirnmill on 2nd, fifteen Black Guillemot off Brodick Ferry Terminal on 5th, a Puffin in Brodick Bay also on 5th, a Fulmar by Drumadoon Point on 8th, twenty Swift over Kingscross on 10th, a Great Northern Diver off Pirnmill also on 10th, thirty Gannet off the Fallen Rocks also on 19th and twenty-five Great Black-backed Gull including juveniles at the foot of the Iorsa on 26th.The last date that I have at the moment for Cuckoo is 26th June when one juvenile was reported on the Boguille being fed by Meadow Pipit.
Finally in July there was one report of one Little Egret on Arran. Last July there were fourteen reports including four reports of two birds together. This colonising species is spreading north. The first confirmed breeding in Scotland was 2020. To date there have only been five confirmed breeding records in Scotland. None yet on Arran.
