Recent Sightings
Bird Sightings
The aim of this page is to keep everyone, residents and visitors alike, up to date with what "unusual" birds are about. Observers are asked to contact me on info@arranbirding.co.uk. The intention is to keep the page up to date so that others can benefit from the sharing of observations. In the event of rarities being found, further details will be required from observers.
arranbirding.co.uk has complete discretion as to what information is added to these pages. In particular, any details which might reveal breeding sites of vulnerable species will be excluded. No information will be published which may in any way put birds at risk.
Species
Details
Snow Bunting On Sunday 9 November there was a report of two Snow Bunting on North Goatfell. The previous day on the 8th there had been a report of a possible flock on Mullach Buidhe. The light was bad and the species was not confirmed but news of this sighting had inspired the jaunt to look for the species on the 9th. This is the first record this year. The last record was one on Ceum na Cailach on 2 December 2024.
White-fronted Goose On Saturday 8 November there was a report of two White-fronted Geese in the Shiskine Valley in a flock of over two hundred Greylag and Pink-footed Geese. This is the first autumn record this year of this occasional winter visitor. The last record was six in the Shiskine Valley on 20 March.
Brambling On Tuesday 14 October there was a report of a Brambling along with Redwing and Fieldfare in Sliddery. Two days later there was a report of a group of nine Brambling along with Fieldfare and Redwing in Sliddery. These are the first autumn reports this year of this irruptive winter visitor. Numbers vary each year. Last year there were only two records. Some years there are none. In 2022 there were thirty-seven records. For more information click here.
Redwing On Wednesday 8 October there was a report of six Redwing in Lagg. This is the first autumn report this year of this regular winter visitor and passage migrant.
Whooper Swan. On Wednesday 1 October there was a report of three Whooper Swan in the Shiskine Valley, two adults with a young bird. This is the first autumn report this year of this regular winter visitor and passage migrant.
Fieldfare. On Sunday 28 September there was a report of four Fieldfare by the Narachan track. This is the first autumn report this year of this regular winter visitor and passage migrant.
Sanderling. On Saturday 20 September a group of five Sanderling was photographed on the shore by Drumadoon Point. This is the fourth report this year of this regular passage migrant, the second autumn report. Last year there were twenty-five records from nine locations of this Arctic breeding species. This is a good time of year to be looking out for passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Bar-tailed Godwit. On Saturday 20 September a single Bar-tailed Godwit was photographed on the shore at Torrylinn. This is the fourth report this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were five records. This is a good time of year to be looking out for uncommon passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Pink-footed Geese. On Saturday 20 September there was a report of seventy-nine Pink-footed Geese on Cleats Shore. On Wednesday 17 September there was a report of twenty Pink-footed Geese flying over Sliddery. These are the first autumn records of this regular passage migrant and winter visitor. This is a good time of year to be looking out for returning winter visitors.
Purple Sandpiper. On Thursday 18 September there was a report of a Purple Sandpiper on Hamulton Rock at Clauchlands Point. This is the first autumn record of this regular passage migrant and winter visitor. Last year there were fifteen reports. This is a good time of year to be looking out for uncommon passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Black-tailed Godwit. On Thursday 18 September there was a report of a Black-tailed Godwit on Blackwaterfoot shore, still with some breeding plumage. This is only the second report this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were two records, one in September and one in Octobert. This is a good time of year to be looking out for uncommon passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Red Kite. On Wednesday 17 September there was a report of a Red Kite flying along Torrylinn shore heading towards Cleats Shore. This is only the second record this year of this occasional visitor. The last report was in February. Last year there were eight records.
Little Egret. On Tuesday 16 September there was a report of five Little Egret in Cordon. This is the largest group reported on Arran of this colonising species.
Wigeon. On Monday 15 September there was a report of twenty Wigeon on Clauchlands shore. This is the first autumn report this year of this regular winter visitor and passage migrant.
Marsh Harrier. On Monday 8 September in the morning there was a report of a Marsh Harrier, female type, flying in off the sea straight over Rubha Salach picnic area on the east coast before heading south. This is only the second Arran report of this rare vagrant species this year. (The illustrative photograph was taken recently by Jim Crawford at Lochwinnoch RSPB. )
White-tailed Eagle. On Monday 8 September there was a report in the morning of a juvenile White-Tailed flying along the shore below Levencorroch heading inland and eastwards. This is the thirteenth Arran report of this vagrant species this year
Knot. On Saturday 6 September two Knot were feeding among kelp at the waters edge by Drumadoon Point. This is the only the second autumn record of this regular passage migrant. The first record was in Pirnmill on 1st August. Last year there was one autumn record. In the last five years there have been thirty records. This is a good time of year to be looking out for passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
White Wagtail. On Friday 22 August two White Wagtail were photgraphed on Kildonan Shore. This is the first autumn record of this this regular passage migrant. Last year there were five autumn records. This is a good time of year to be looking out for passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season. White Wagtail is a tricky bird to distinguish from the much more common Pied Wagtail. For more information follow this link.
Arctic Tern. On Friday 22 August there was a report of four Arctic Tern on the shore at Silver Sands. This is the second report this year of this regular summer visitor. The last report was on 24 May. Last year there were seven records associated with the small breeding colony on Pladda. For more information on Arctic Tern on Pladda click here.
Sanderling. On Friday 22 August there was a report of a Sanderling on the shore at Blackwaterfoot. This is the third report this year of this regular passage migrant. The last report was on 29 May. Last year there were twenty-five records from nine locations of this Arctic breeding species. This is a good time of year to be looking out for passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Black-tailed Godwit. On Thursday 21 August there was a report of a Black-tailed Godwit on Sliddery Shore. This is the first report this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were two records, one in September and one in Octobert. This is a good time of year to be looking out for uncommon passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Rook. On Thursday 21 August there was a report of a Rook seen from Sliddery Shore flying towards Kintyre. This is the first Arran record since March and only the sixth record this year of this regular winter visitor. For more information on Rook on Arran click here.
Bar-tailed Godwit. On Thursday 21 August a single Bar-tailed Godwit was photographed at Kildonan. That same afternoon there was a report of a single Bar-tailed Godwit at Machriewaterfoot. These are the first reports this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were five records and one of these was in August. This is a good time of year to be looking out for uncommon passage migrants on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Greenshank. On Thursday 14 August a Greenshank was photographed at Cordon. This is the second record this year. Last year there were only two records. This is a good time of year to be looking out for this uncommon passage migrant on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season.
Dunlin. On Friday 8 August there was a report of one Dunlin at Sandbraes. This is a good time of year to be looking out for Dunlin on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season. This is the second record this autumn and only the ninth record this year For more information on Dunlin on Arran click here.
Osprey. On Thursday 7 August there was a report of an Osprey over Kingscross. This is the fourth report of this uncomon passage migrant on Arran this year. All have been on the east of the Arran.
Storm Petrel. On Friday 25 July there was a report of up to ten Storm Petrel flying off the south coast of Arran. This is a good time of year to be looking out for Storm Petrel.This is the first report this year. Last year there were four reports. For more information on Storm Petrel click here.
Marsh Harrier. On Thursday 24 July there was a report of a female type Marsh Harrier flying over Machrie Moor near Balnagore Farm. The last report of this species on Arran was in August 2022. For more information on this 2022 record click here.
Kingfisher. On Saturday 12 July there was a report of a Kingfisher flying up the burn at Sandbraes. This is a good time of year to be looking out for Kingfisher on Arran as birds are dispersing after the breeding season. For more information on Kingfisher on Arran click here.
Swift. On Wednesday 4 June there was a report of a Swift flying over Corrie. This is the first Arran report this year of this summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on the 22 May. Last year there was only four records of this species on Arran. The earliest report of Swift on Arran is 1 May 2009. For more information on Swift click here.
Arctic Skua. On Monday 2 June there was a report of a dark phase Arctic Skua in Brodick Bay. This is the second Arran report this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were two autumn reports of this species both of a single bird.
Osprey On Sunday 25 May there was a report of an Osprey flying north across Lamlash Bay. This is the first Arran report this year of this summer visitor. Last year, 2024, there were reports in the early part of the year in February, March, April as well as May. Throughout last year there were ten reports from ten locations. The breeding pairs on Bute continues to do well.
Spotted Flycatcher On Thursday 1 May there was a report of Spotted Flycatcher in Glenashdale Woods. This is the first Arran report this year of this summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on the 14 May The earliest report is 21 April 2011.
Wood Warbler. On Monday 28 April there was a report of a Wood Warbler singing in Corrie between 8.30am and 10.30am but no sign of it after that. This is the first Arran report this year of this summer visitor. Last year, 2024, there were no reports of this species which seems to be in decline. In 2023 there were only six reports. The earliest report is 25 April 2019. There was a second report at Glenashdale Woods on Thursday 1 May.
Hobby. On Friday 25 April there was a report of a Hobby at Drumadoon Point. Hobby is a summer visitor to England and Wales and a rare vagrant to Arran. A report of this sighting has been completed and submitted to the Clyde Bird Rarities Panel for its consideration.
Whinchat. On Thursday 24 April there was a report of three Whinchat singing in Glen Rosa. This is the first Arran report this year of this summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on the 21 April. The earliest report is 1 April 1988.
Tree Pipit. On Thursday 24 April there was a report of Tree Pipit singing in Glen Rosa. This is the first Arran report this year of this scarce under-reported summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on the 20 April. The earliest report is 7 April 1990.
Arctic Skua. On Monday 21 April there was a report of two Arctic Skua in Sannox Bay. This is the first Arran report this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were two autumn reports of this species both of a single bird.
Whitethroat. On Monday 21 April there was a report of Whitethroat singing in Silver Sands. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on the same date, 21 April. The earliest report is 13 April 2016.
Sedge Warbler. On Sunday 20 April there was a report of Sedge Warbler singing in High Clachaig. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 28 April. The earliest report is 14 April 2011.
Grasshopper Warbler. On Sunday 20 April there was a report of Grasshopper Warbler reeling on Corriecravie Moor. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was also on 20 April. The earliest report is 12 April 2011.
Garden Warbler. On Friday 18 April there was a report of Garden Warbler singing in Sannox. This is the first Arran report this year of this scarce summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 20 May. The earliest report is 12 April 1995.
Whimbrel. On Sunday 13 April there was a report of four Whimbrel on Cleats Shore. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular passage migrant. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 18 April. For more information on Whimbrel on Arran click here.
Common Sandpiper On Friday 11 April there was a report of a Common Sandpiper on the shore at Blackwaterfoot and a report of two Common Sandpiper on the shore at Rubha Salach. These are the first Arran reports this year of this regular summer visitor and passage migrant. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 8 April. The earliest Arran report was on 22 March 2019.
Cuckoo On Monday 7 April there was a report of a Cuckoo calling near the distillery in Lochranza. It was heard in the late morning and again in the afternoon. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 17 April. The earliest previous Arran report was on 8 April 2017.
White Wagtail On Sunday 6 April there was a report of a White Wagtail on the shore at Porta Buidhe. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor and passage migrant. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 3 April. The earliest Arran report was on 17 March 2021.
Sandwich Tern On Friday 4 April there was a report of a Sandwich Tern by the shore at Clauchlands. On Tuesday 8 April there was a report of a Sandwich Tern by the shore at Porta Buidhe. These are the first Arran reports this year of this regular summer visitor and passage migrant. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 3 April. The earliest Arran report was on 23 March 2019.
House Martin On Tuesday 1 April there was a report of House Martin visiting nest boxes in Sliddery. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor and passage migrant. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 6 April. The earliest Arran report was on 12 March 2017.
Sand Martin On Monday 31 March there was a report of two Sand Martin flying in Lochranza at the distillery end of the village. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor and passage migrant. Last year, 2024, the first report was on 1 April. The earliest Arran report was on 18 March 2009.
Willow Warbler On Monday 31 March there was a report of a Willow Warbler by the shore at Corriecravie. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor and passage migrant. Last year, 2024, the first report was on the same date, 31 March. The earliest Arran report was on 14 March 2019.