November 2025

Bird Sightings

The weather in November was very unsettled. This was the second consecutive very wet month. November was the wettest month of the year so far. The rainfall was three times the rainfall of last November. The weather was not conducive to being out of doors. Having said that, over two thousand sightings were shared with me on over ninety species. That was much appreciated.

A highlight for the month was on Sunday 9 November when there were two Snow Bunting on North Goatfell. The previous day on the 8th there had been a report of a possible flock on Mullach Buidhe. The light was bad and the species was not confirmed but news of this sighting had inspired others to look for the species on the 9th. The last record was one on Ceum na Cailach on 2 December 2024.

Not surprisingly in November, winter visitors were to the fore. Fieldfare and Redwing continued to be reported in November but in smaller numbers than previous years. The largest flock was a mixed group of over four hundred in the Shiskine valley with around equal numbers of both species. Other reports included two male Brambling in North Newton on 1st and a male and a female Blackcap in Alma Park on 10^th.

Other records of wintering birds included: thirty Lapwing in Torbeg on 8^th, thirty-five Turnstone at Whitefarland on 9^th, fifteen Golden Plover at Corriecravie on 20^th, fifty-eight Curlew on Sliddery Shore on 22^nd, seventy Ringed Plover at Sandbraes on 23^rd, one thousand Common Gull at Pirnmill on 24^th, a female Merlin at Lagg Distillery on 29^th plus good numbers of Jack Snipe, Snipe and Woodcock..

Reports of wintering wildfowl included: one hundred and twenty Pink-footed Geese on the Rodden on 8^th, forty Wigeon in Torbeg also 8^th, two hundred Greylag Geese and four White-fronted Geese in Feorline on 9^th, thirty-six Teal on Sliddery Shore on 22^nd, and seven Whooper Swan on Cleats Shore on 20^th. There were no reports of Goldeneye in November. For more information click here..

Gardens are safe refuges during the winter months with many people providing regular food and water for their feathered friends. These are a small selection from the many reports from gardens round the island in November: fourteen Coal Tit in Corrie on 16^th, five Dunnock in Kildonan on 17^th, ten Long-tailed Tit in Lochranza on 19^th, eight Collared Dove in Brodick on 23^rd, a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Lagg on 26^th, a Goldcrest in Alma Park on 27^th and seven reports of over-wintering Blackcap.

In November there are occasionally records of birds usually associated with warmer months of the year. Last year there was one report of Gannet in November. This year there were seventeen reports of Gannet throughout the month including a juvenile off Pirnmill on the last day of the month.

Here is a further selection of highlights: five Little Grebe in Loch Ranza on 2^nd, five hundred Razorbill off Pirnmill on 4^th, three Black-throated Diver off Pirnmill on 6^th, two Bullfinch at the Dyemill on 8^th, one Red Grouse reported on a U3A walk to Coire Fhionn Lochan on 9^th, four Great Northern Diver calling off Pirnmill 17^th, a Shelduck on Silver Sands on 24^th and twelve Red-breasted Merganser off Imachar on 26^th. In addition there were ten reports of Dipper and fourteen reports of Kingfisher. Almost all these reports were on the coast adjacent to or in river and burn mouths. Higher reaches of most watercourses were in spate where their food would be less accessible.

Finally Little Egret. In November over fifty reports of Little Egret were received from all round Arran’s coast, including eight south of Corrie on 2^nd and six at Merkland Point on 4^th. This will be the first year that records of this colonising species will have been received each month throughout the year. Little Egret will feature in a future Bird Note.

Enjoy your birding.