Highlights included little egret. Continuing from December and January data, in February there have been 24 data.
Nineteen of those data have been of a single hen, 4 have been of two birds collectively and one in all three birds collectively.
It will likely be fascinating to see how lengthy little egret keep on the island this 12 months. In 2022, there have been data from the beginning of the 12 months to May 22 and from August 13 to December 31.
In 2023, there have been data from the beginning of the 12 months to May 18 and from August 20 to December 31.
When little egret ultimately do keep to breed, I anticipate the heronries across the island might show to be engaging.
Wintering guests included: eight purple sandpiper on Silver Sands on eleventh; six fieldfare in Glen Sannox on twelfth; two rook in Kilpatrick on nineteenth; one yellowhammer in Sliddery on twenty seventh; 20 redwing in Whiting Bay on twenty ninth plus a number of experiences of blackcap dominating hen feeders in gardens round Arran.
Purple sandpiper, one other common winter customer. Photograph: Dennis Morrison.
A sub grownup white-tailed eagle at Shannochie. Photograph: Brian Couper.
Wintering wildfowl continued to be current together with: 50 wigeon on Cleats Shore on fifth; 128 pink-footed geese in Clachaig on eighth; two goldeneye on Mossend pond, additionally on eighth; one long-tailed duck off Pirnmill on eleventh; one frequent scoter off Fairy Dell on fifteenth; 200 greylag geese in Shiskine on 18th; one whooper swan, additionally in Shiskine, on 18th; six white-fronted geese in Feorline on nineteenth and 38 teal in South Carlo on twenty fifth.
Other wintering flocks included: 23 chaffinch in Brodick Castle gardens on 2nd; seven gray heron in Whiting Bay on seventh; 27 turnstone in Auchenhew Bay on tenth; 200 frequent gull in Kilpatrick on seventeenth; 150 jackdaw in Kilpatrick on nineteenth; 40 lapwing in Shiskine on twenty first; 13 skylark at Torrylinnwater Foot on twenty fourth; 30 woodpigeon in Pirnmill on twenty sixth and 12 dunlin in Loch Ranza on twenty ninth.
Courting black guillemot in breeding plumage. Photograph: Helen Logan.
March ought to see rising numbers of siskin at backyard feeders round Arran. Photograph: Joan Thomson.
Other fascinating sightings included: one moorhen in Mossend pond on tenth; 4 black-throated diver at Clauchlands on eleventh; three nice northern diver in Kildonan, additionally on eleventh; 4 black guillemot at Brodick ferry terminal on twelfth; two little grebe in Mossend pond on nineteenth; six bullfinch in Brodick Castle gardens on twenty fourth; two red-throated diver in Pirnmill on twenty sixth and a juvenile merlin in Kildonan on twenty seventh. It had been killed in a window strike.
A future Bird Notes will have a look at glass, the invisible killer.
In addition, there have been two experiences of purple kite on the afternoon of February 26; one at Auchencar, then later within the afternoon one in Catacol. This might have been the identical hen.
In February there have been a number of experiences of white-tailed eagle, together with two that moved between Blackwaterfoot and Sliddery on sixth; a juvenile that disturbed the geese within the Shiskine Valley on ninth and one which was photographed over Shannochie on twelfth.
Red kite are occasional guests to Arran. Photograph: Angela Cassels.
In February, there have been two experiences of returning gannet, each experiences in Brodick Bay. But there have been no experiences of returning lesser black-backed gull.
There have been, nevertheless, another indicators of approaching spring together with: nice noticed woodpecker drumming in Lagg on sixteenth; tune thrush singing in Corrie on 18th; shelduck establishing territories on shores around the island together with 4 in Silver Sands on twenty second; 17 shag all with their wispy breeding plumage crest at Imachar, additionally on twenty second, and quite a few experiences of backyard birds trying out nest containers.
Finally, there have been good shut views from the Fisherman’s Walk of an early returning osprey in Brodick Bay on twenty ninth.
Siskin experiences in February have been rising and are anticipated to build up in March because the birds transfer north. Check out siskin teams for the similar-sized lesser redpoll: one or two have already been reported.
March might additionally see the arrival of a few of our summer season guests like wheatear, chiffchaff, willow warbler, sand martin, even swallow and home martin, however their arrival will likely be depending on the climate. Keep a watch out for these migrants and let me know while you first see them.
Enjoy your birding.
Please ship any hen notes with “what, when, where” to me at Kilpatrick Kennels, Kilpatrick, Blackwaterfoot, KA27 8EY, or e-mail me at [email protected]. I look ahead to listening to from you.
For extra info on birding on Arran, “The Arran Bird Report 2023” ought to be on the market in shops round Arran in time for Easter. Look out for it. Last 12 months it was bought out. Plus additionally go to www.arranbirding.co.uk/index.html
