November 2023

Bird Sightings

November was much colder than October with the mean temperature four degrees lower. November was drier than October. In comparison to last November, it was colder with less rain.

Not surprisingly in November, winter visitors were to the fore. There were six reports of Waxwing, three from Lochranza area and three from Sliddery. The largest group was thirteen in Lochranza on 11^th. Fieldfare and Redwing reports were down compared to October but included forty Fieldfare at Lenamhor Farm and one Redwing at Dereneneach both on 3^rd. Other reports included three Twite in Blackwaterfoot on 3^rd, five Yellowhammer in Sliddery on 25^th, a Brambling at the entrance to Cnoc na Daill on 26^th and two reports of wintering Blackcap in gardens, one in Pirnmill on 18^th and one in Sliddery on 25^th.

Other records of wintering birds included: three Dunlin on Silver Sands on 1^st, two Bar-tailed Godwit at Lenamhor on 3^rd, five Rook in Clachaig on 4^th, nineteen Turnstone at Porta Buidhe on 17^th, four Purple Sandpiper on Silver Sands on 28^th, seventy Golden Plover in Machrie on 30^th and thirty Lapwing in Clachaig also on 30^th.

Reports of wintering wildfowl included: eleven Whooper Swan flying over Fairy Dell on 11^th, thirty-five Teal at South Carlo on 16^th, a male Common Scoter in Catacol Bay on 17^th, a male Goldeneye at Clauchlands on 19^th, seventy-four Wigeon at Merkland Pointon 28^th and eighty Greylag Geese at South Feorline on 29^th.

Gardens are safe refuges during the winter months with many people providing regular food and water for their feathered friends. These are a small selection from the many reports from gardens round the island in November: fifty Chaffinch in Pirnmill on 1^st, four Goldcrest at Dereneneach on 3^rd, eleven Blue Tit at Corriegills on 10^th, eight Coal Tit in Lochranza on 18^th, two Treecreeper in Clauchlands on 26^th and twenty Long-tailed Tit in Corrie on 29^th.

There were some November records of birds usually associated with warmer months of the year. One House Martin in Kildonan on 2^nd, two Lesser Black-backed Gull in Catacol on 6^th and the last Gannet was reported off Pirnmill on 7^th.

Here is a further selection of highlights from what has been another exceptional month for bird-watching on Arran: a Little Grebe in Loch Ranza on 1^st, two Goosander also in Loch Ranza on 5^th, four Black-throated Diver off Corrie on 7^th, a Kingfisher by Fisherman’s Walk also on 7^th, five Great Northern Diver off Pirnmill on 11^th, a Shelduck at Carlo on 16^th, two Red Grouse in Glaister on 17^th, one hundred and fifty-three Eider at Kingscross Point on 21^st and a Dipper at Sandbraes on 24^th.

Finally, Little Egret: In November twenty-three reports of Little Egret were received from both east and west coasts of the island. Almost all were reports of a single bird. There were two at Drumadoon Point on 6^th, two at Rubha Salach on 29^th and also on 29^th on the other side of the island, there were three at Cosyden. This suggests that there could have been at least five Little Egret on Arran in November. Egrets exploring before becoming established?

In December continue to look out for Waxwings.