Interesting avian activity in January

Wintering wildfowl included: 200 greylag geese in Torbeg on 2nd, 50 Canada geese in Lagg on 6th, two goldeneye on Mossend Pond also on 6th, 112 pink-footed geese in Shiskine Valley on 17th, 21 wigeon on Cleats Shore also on 17th, 50 teal in South Carlo on 19th and two whooper swan flying over Sliddery Shore on 25th.

Other wintering species included: two rook in Fisherman’s Walk on 1st, two purple sandpiper on Silver Sands on 3rd, a mixed flock of 100 redwing and fieldfare in Sannox on 10th, 12 fieldfare in Lagg on 28th, 25 redwing in Shiskine also on 28^th, and a male merlin in Auchenhew Bay on 29th.

Wintering flocks included: 500 common gull in Pirnmill on 9th, 100 starling in Clachaig on 12th, 100 jackdaw in Machrie on 13th, 60 lapwing in Cleats Shore on 17th, 30 pied wagtail in Blackwaterfoot on 21st, 91 curlew in Corriecravie on 29th and 12 turnstone on Silver Sands also on 29th.

Interesting garden birds in January included, a goldcrest in Corrie on 4th, a treecreeper in Lochranza on 23rd and a great spotted woodpecker in Kildonan on 27th. In a future Bird Note, there will be a report on the Arran RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend held over the last weekend in January.

In January there were two reports of returning gannet. There were also a number of reports of returning shelduck on coastal territories including Auchenhew, Carlo, Clauchlands, Cleats Shore, Cosyden, Kildonan and Slidderywaterfoot. Other signs of approaching spring included shags with breeding crests at Imachar on 6th, collared doves copulating in Kilpatrick on 26th, grey heron carrying nest material over Brodick school on 28th, 20 eider displaying off Pirnmill on 30th and a song thrush singing in Sliddery on 31st. But the winter is not over yet.

Enjoy your birding.

Please send any bird notes with “what, when, where” to me at Kilpatrick Kennels, Kilpatrick, Blackwaterfoot, KA27 8EY, or e mail me at jim@arranbirding.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you. For more information on birding on Arran purchase the annual bird report. The “Arran Bird Report 2025” should be in outlets round Arran in time for Easter. Look out for it. The 2024 report was sold out. Plus visit the website www.arranbirding.co.uk/index.html At all times follow the Arran Wildlife Code.