March 2026

Bird Sightings

Spring is an exciting time of year, awaiting the arrival of our summer visitors and seeing the last of our winter visitors leaving. The timing of the northerly spring migration is dependent on the weather, not just locally, but throughout the whole length of the migration route. On Arran, March was much wetter than last March with fifty percent more rain. There was also a large temperature range of almost twenty degrees in March with few calm settled days. A few pioneer summer migrants did arrive. Chiffchaff were first reported singing on 19 March in Auchenhew Bay, Catacol, Cladach, Kildonan and Whiting Bay. These first reports were later than the first report last year which was 13 March. Other species were first reported in March (Last year’s first report is shown in brackets) Wheatear on 20 March (20 March), White Wagtail on 27 March ( 6 April), Sandwich Tern on 28 March (2 April) and Sand Martin on 31 March (31 March). These were all the regular summer visitor species first reported in March. April should see improving weather and the arrival of other species like Manx Shearwater, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, House Martin, Swallow, Common Sandpiper and Cuckoo – all signs of the approaching summer. Please look out for all these summer visitors and keep me posted.

In March, our winter visitors were still to the fore including: fifteen Wigeon at Porta Buidhe on 16^th , thirty-six Pink-footed Geese and twenty-four Teal on Sliddery Shore on 20^th, male Blackcap in Margnaheglish also on 20^th, three Fieldfare by Lochranza distillery on 25^th, one Purple Sandpiper on Silver Sands also on 25^th and four White-fronted Geese with two hundred Greylag Geese in the Shiskine Valley on 31^st. In addition, there were further reports of Surf Scoter and Common Scoter, first reported in February off South Pirnmill. The pair of Surf Scoter, a North American species, continued to give good views in the same area until 9^th while three Common Scoter continued to be reported until the end of the month.

In March there were many other signs of migration. Multiple reports of all three divers, Black-throat, Great Northern and Red-throat, were round the coast all month, one hundred Kittiwake off Pirnmill on 16^th, a Snow Bunting on Goatfell on 19^th, sixty-one Whooper Swan flying over Lamlash Golf Course also on 19^th, twenty-one Turnstone on Lamlash shore on 26^th, a female Merlin in Blackwaterfoot on 27^th and two Lesser Black-backed Gull at Dougarie on 31^st. Gannet sightings began to slowly increase during the month with six off Pirnmill on 25^th being the largest group reported. In addition, there was an increase in numbers of Goldfinch and Siskin at garden feeders from several areas, as these species began to move north.

In a month when over one hundred species were reported, here is a small selection of other interesting March records: three Goosander at Glenashdalewaterfoot on 2^nd, eight Black Guillemot at Imachar on 3^rd, a Kingfisher on Fisherman’s Walk on 4^th, two White-tailed Eagle over Pirnmill on 5^th. Two Little Grebe on Mossend Pond on 11^th, a Water Rail calling by Sliddery Shore on 20^th, two Bullfinch in Merkland on 21^st and two Dipper at Benlister on 27^th. After no reports of Magpie in 2024, in 2025 there were nine records between 23 March 2025 and 3 April 2025, probably generated by a single bird on tour visiting Machrie, Brodick, Whiting Bay and Kildonan. This year again a series of sightings of a single bird starting in Shiskine on 22^nd, then Whiting Bay, Clauchlands and Kingscross on the last day of the month. It will be interesting to see when the tour ends this year. Again, Little Egret has over-wintered on Arran. That’s the fifth year in a row. There were twenty-one records throughout March including three birds by Merkland Point on 17 March. Perhaps this year year they will stay to breed. That would be a first for Arran

Spring is a great time to be birding, as most birds are getting on with the business of breeding. The business of breeding involves attracting a mate by song, courtship display and ritual, defining a territory, nest building, and generally establishing relationships. In March the signs were there including thirty Eider courting in Whiting Bay on 9^th, a Coal Tit collecting dog hair for nest building in Corrie on 16^th, eight Shelduck displaying in Auchenhew Bay on 19^th, Song Thrush with nesting material at Lamlash Golf Course also on 19^th, three Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Merkland on 20^th, Dunnock singing by Silver Sands on 24^th, Greenfinch singing in Corrie on 26^th, Chaffinch singing on Shiskine Golf Course on 31st and numerous reports of sky dancing Hen Harriers display flying over Arran’s moors.

I am interested in all records of arriving summer migrants and any signs of breeding birds.

Please remember that under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is being built or used. Take particular care on our shores and beaches and please keep your dogs on a lead at this time. They are a danger to all our ground nesting birds.