September 2023

Bird Sightings

The weather in September was a month of two halves. The first part was settled, warm and dry with temperatures, at times, warmer than any temperature in July and August. The second part was unsettled and wet. The September rainfall was higher than in either July or August and the rain nearly all fell in the second half of the month. September is the start of the peak migration season when many birds are on the move after breeding. The weather was generally conducive for watching this migration.

In September summer visitors were leaving but some were still around including two Whitethroat on Cleats Shore on 2^nd, two Willow Warbler in Lamlash on 7^th, two Sand Martin in Blackwaterfoot on 10^th, thirty Lesser Black-backed Gull in Lochranza on 15^th, two Swift over Whiting Bay on 24^th and a Chiffchaff on Kilbride Hill on 29^th. For House Martin, the largest September group was twenty at Invercloy on 9^th and the latest one was two Whiting Bay on 28^th . For Swallow, the largest group was one hundred at Cordon on 3^rd and the latest one was forty in Silver Sands on 30^th. October should see the last of the House Martins, Swallows and other summer visitors departing south.

In September there were reports of returning winter visitors including: eighty-five Pink-footed Geese over Sliddery on 21^st, one hundred Greylag Geese in the Shiskine Valley on 27^th and also on 27^th a mixed flock of around fifty Redwing and Fieldfare. October should see increasing numbers of these species and others including Whooper Swan and Wigeon.

Species on migration were visible particularly round our coasts including: seven White-Wagtail at Porta Buidhe on 1^st, one Black-tailed Godwit on Cleats Shore on 2^nd, nine Dunlin on Silver Sands on 4^th, three Greenshank on Cleats Shore on 8^th, one Knot at Drumadoon Point on 9^th, one Sandwich Tern off Kildonan on 12^th, a Great Skua off Pladda also on 12^th, five Ring Ouzel on North Newton on 15^th, a male Merlin on Cleats Shore on 22^nd, two Sanderling at Blackwaterfoot on 25^th, an Arctic Skua and a Wheatear at Drumadoon Point also on 25^th and four Bar-tailed Godwit on Torrylinn Shore on 30^th.

At this time of year birds begin to flock together, often in preparation for migration. Reports included; one hundred Meadow Pipit on Cleats Shore on 2^nd, sixty Manx Shearwater in Brodick Bay on 7^th, two hundred and fifty Starling at Blackwaterfoot on 9^th, one hundred Skylark on Cleats Shore on 12^th, fifty Goldfinch at North Newton on 19^th, two hundred Kittiwake in Catacol Bay on 20^th, one hundred Linnet on Torrylinn Shore on 22^nd, thirty Turnstone at Blackwaterfoot on 25^th, one hundred Chaffinch at Torbeg on 26^th, fifteen Golden Plover at Dougarie on 27^th and 15 Mistle Thrush at Auchencar also on 27^th.This gives an indication of the numbers of birds that are on the move at this time of year.

Over one hundred species were recorded on Arran in September. Other interesting sightings this month included: six Goosander off Pirnmill on 1^st, three Little Grebe in Mossend Pond on 6th, two Yellowhammer at Tormore on 9^th, one hundred Gannet in Catacol Bay on 29^th, an adult white-tailed Eagle over Burrican Hill on 26^th, a Kingfisher at Glenashdalewaterfoot also on 26^th, one hundred Woodpigeon in Torbeg on 28^th, ten Teal in Carlo on 29^th and twenty-two Long-tailed Tit in High Kildonan on 29^th. In addition, there were almost twenty reports of the diminutive Goldcrest including one in Cordon on 23^rd. All three divers were also present in September including eleven Black-throated Diver off Cleiteadh Buidhe on 9^th, five Red-throated Diver off Drumadoon Point on 10^th and a Great Northern Diver off Newton Point on 19^th.

Finally, my thanks to all the “volunteers” who took part in the Eider survey in September. There will be a brief report on this in the October Notes.