July 2025
Bird Sightings



In comparison to June and in comparison to last July, this July was warmer and drier. On one day the temperature was over thirty degrees. The last time this happened was in July 2016. Most of our passerine summer visitors seem to be having a good breeding season with plenty of juveniles around including Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Hirundines also seem to be doing better than last year. From reports across the island, Blackbird and Song Thrush are having a good breeding season. When the information from licensed ringers on the proportion of adult to young birds becomes available later in the year, the quality of the breeding season will become more apparent.
Other signs of a successful breeding season included: family of Greenfinch in Pirnmill on 8th, family of Long-tailed Tit on Lamlash Golf Club also on 8th, family of Rock Pipit in Blackwaterfoot on 10th, family of Shelduck at Clauchlands on 13th, family of Common Sandpiper at Porta Buidhe on 14th, family of Great Spotted Woodpecker at Clachaig on 17th, family of Pied Wagtail at Porta Buidhe also on 17th, family of Mute Sawn at Port na Lochan on 27th plus young reported at all island heronies. Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Kestrel were all reported with young.
On the downside, there is an ongoing concern about disturbance on shores of nesting Common Gull, Oystercatcher and nesting Ringed Plover by dog walkers. There were several reports of nesting Common Gull colonies producing few fledged gull. One observer reported on 28th on one shore eighty-two gulls of which only five were young. In addition, diminishing records of breeding Curlew, Fulmar and Lapwing is a continuing cause for concern. There was only one report of one Fulmar this July. All people are urged to follow the Arran Wildlife Code to help protect our wildlife.
July marks the end of the breeding season for some birds. It can be an interesting time looking for breeding species dispersing from their breeding grounds, many still in their breeding plumage. Reports included; a Sandwich Tern in Auchenhew Bay on 10th, a Kingfisher in Sandbraes on 12th, six Black-headed Gull in Porta Buidhe on 17th, two Whimbrel in Porta Buidhe on 26th, five Turnstone in Dougarie on 27th, a Dunlin also at Dougarie on 29th and a Greenshank at Carlo on 31st. In addition there was a report of a female type Marsh Harrier over Machrie Moor on 24th. Last Arran record was August 2022.
In addition, after breeding many species begin to flock together. Reports included; fifty Starling in Blackwaterfoot on 10th, sixty Swallow on Silver Sands also on 10th, thirty-five Chaffinch in Corrie on 13th, forty House Sparrow on Shiskine Golf Course on 19th, sixty-five Shag off Pladda also on 19th, twenty-three Curlew at Clauchlands on 24th, eighteen Red-breasted Merganser in Machrie Bay on 29th, fifty Golden Plover at Machriewaterfoot also on 29th, sixty Jackdaw at Blackwaterfoot on 30th and twenty-five Linnet on Cleats Shore also on 30th.
Almost a hundred species were reported in July. Other highlights included a Garden Warbler at Dougarie on 1st, a Black-throated Diver off Pirnmill on 3rd, a Swift over Sliddery on 11th, a leucistic Herring Gull at Blackwaterfoot on 17th, two hundred Manx Shearwater off Kildonan, thirty Gannet in Brodick Bay, a leucistic Grey Heron in Lochranza all also on 17th, ten Storm Petrel off the south coast on 24th and the last date that I have at the moment for Cuckoo is 28th June when one juvenile was reported on Corriecravie Moor being fed by Meadow Pipit.
Finally in July there were fourteen reports of Little Egret on Arran. Last July there were none. Little Egret are spreading north. First confirmed breeding in Scotland was 2020. To date there have only been four confirmed breeding records in Scotland. None yet on Arran, but this July four of the reports were of two birds together, all on the east coast. Next year?


