March 2025

Bird Sightings

Spring is an exciting time of year, awaiting the arrival of our summer visitors and seeing the last of our winter visitors leaving. The timing of the northerly spring migration is dependent on the weather, not just locally, but throughout the whole length of the migration route. On Arran, March was much drier with about a quarter of the rain of last March. There was also a large temperature range of almost twenty degrees in March with a number of calm settled days A few pioneer summer migrants did arrive. Chiffchaff on 14 March was earlier than last year (18 March). Swallow on 20^th was also earlier than last year (7 April). Sand Martin on 31^st was a day earlier than last year. Willow Warbler also on 31^st was the same date as last year and Wheatear on 20^th was later than last year (17 March). These were all the regular summer visitor species first reported in March. April should see improving weather and the arrival of other species like Sedge Warbler, White Wagtail, Sandwich Tern, House Martin, Common Sandpiper and Cuckoo – all signs of the approaching summer. Please look out for all these summer visitors and keep me posted.

In March, our winter visitors were still to the fore including: four Purple Sandpiper at Blackwaterfoot on 3^rd, a male Blackcap in Corrie also on 3^rd, twenty Redwing in East Bennan on 11^th, two hundred and forty Pink-footed Geese in Sliddery on 19^th, two hundred Greylag Geese and six White-fronted Geese in the Shiskine Valley on 20^th, thirty-five Wigeon at Machriewaterfoot on 22^nd, fifty Fieldfare on Corriecravie Moor on 25^th and one Rook in Sliddery on 26^th.

In addition, there was a further report of Long-tailed Duck first reported in February. There was a pair of these scarce winter visitors off Pirnmill on 3rd. Plus, there was the second ever record of Surf Scoter for Arran and for the Clyde and the Clyde Islands with this North American Duck giving good views off the west coast between 3^rd and 9^th. For more information on Surf Scoter click here.

In March there were many signs of migration. Multiple reports of all three divers, Black-throat, Great Northern and Red-throat, were round the coast all month, and six Manx Shearwater off Porta Buidhe on 7^th, sixty Curlew on Sliddery shore on 16^th, one hundred Whooper Swan flying over Newton on 20^th, twelve Linnet on Cleats Shore on 24^th, one Twite at Pirnmill on 27^th, twenty-seven Turnstone at Blackwaterfoot on 28^th, a Merlin in Sliddery on 30^th and two reports of Ring Ouzel passing through. There was a male Ring Ouzel in Glenree on 19^th and a female on the Narachan on 31^st. Last year there was only one report.

Gannet sightings began to slowly increase during the month with twelve off Pirnmill on 31^st being the largest group reported. In addition, there was an increase in numbers of Goldfinch and Siskin at garden feeders from several areas, as these species began to move north.

In a month when over one hundred species were reported, here is a small selection of other interesting March records: three reports from the south coast of a single White-tailed Eagle, three Common Crossbill in Clauchan Glen on 2^nd, two Little Grebe in Lochranza on 3^rd, four Kittiwake off Pirnmill on 6^th, four Bullfinch in Glenashdale Wood on 14^th, a Kingfisher in the Rosa Burn on 20^th, four Lesser Black-backed Gull at Kilpatrick Point on 21^st, a Snipe on Sliddery Shore on 22^nd, and, after no reports of Magpie in 2024, one was on tour at the end of the month, with reports of a single bird on Machrie Moor road on 23^rd, Largybeg on 24^th and Whiting Bay on 27^th.

Again, Little Egret seems to have over-wintered on Arran. That’s the fourth year in a row. There were thirty-two records throughout March including two birds by Merkland Point on 15 March. Perhaps one year they will stay to breed.

Spring is a great time to be birding, as most birds are getting on with the business of breeding. The business of breeding involves attracting a mate by song, courtship display and ritual, defining a territory, nest building, and generally establishing relationships. In March the signs were there including Skylark singing in Glenshant on 7^th, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Sannox on 14^th, Woodcock roding over Lakin on 23^rd, twelve Shelduck courting on a southern shore on 24^th, four Fulmar on a breeding cliff on 29^th, a Dunnock singing in Kildonan on 30^th, ten Black Guillemot in Brodick Bay on 31^st and numerous reports of sky dancing Hen Harriers display flying over Arran’s moors.

I am interested in all records of arriving summer migrants and any signs of breeding birds.

Please remember that under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is being built or used. Take particular care on our shores and beaches and please keep your dogs on a lead at this time. They are a danger to all our ground nesting birds.