Recent Sightings
Bird Sightings
The aim of this page is to keep everyone, residents and visitors alike, up to date with what "unusual" birds are about. Observers are asked to contact me on info@arranbirding.co.uk. The intention is to keep the page up to date so that others can benefit from the sharing of observations. In the event of rarities being found, further details will be required from observers.
arranbirding.co.uk has complete discretion as to what information is added to these pages. In particular, any details which might reveal breeding sites of vulnerable species will be excluded. No information will be published which may in any way put birds at risk.
Species
Details
Whinbrel. On Monday 15 July a Whimbrel was photographed on a shore in Kildonan. Whimbrel is a regular passage migrant, mainly in the spring. Last year of the fifty Whimbrel reports received. forty-seven were in the spring. Three were in July. These July birds are either non-breeding or failed breeding birds on their way from breeding grounds in the north in the north to wintering grounds in West Afica.
Kingfisher. On Monday 15 July there was a report of a Kingfisher in Brodick. This is the first Arran Kingfisher report this year. The last report received was on 27 December 2023 again from the Brodick area. For more information on Kingfisher on Arran click here.
White-tailed Eagle. On Friday 28 June two adult White-tailed Eagle were photographed moving through Machrie Bay. This is the fifteenth Arran report this year of this vagrant species. Last year there were nine reports.
Greenshank. On Wednesday 26 June a Greenshank was phographed in Catacol Bay. This is the first Arran report this year of this uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. Last year there were twelve reports, mainly in the autumn.
Little Egret. On Thursday 20 June there was a report of a Little Egret feeding at Cordon. The last Arran report received was on 19 April at Carlo. This may be an indication of birds beginning to return from established breeding areas.
House Sparrow, an albino. On Monday 10 June an albino House Sparrow was photographed on the south of the island. It was pure white with an absence of colour in the bare areas and pink eyes. While over the years I have had a number of reports of leucistic birds of various species with varying amounts of white on the feathers, including all white birds , this is the first albino that I have had reported to me.
Knot. On Friday 31 May a juvenile Knot was on the shore in front of the Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot at early morning high tide along with other waders including Sanderling and Dunlin. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular passage migrant. The last Arran record was from Silver Sands on 21 October 2023. There were seven reports last year.
Little Stint. On Tuesday 28 May the Little Stint was, as yesterday, on the shore in front of Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot where it was photographed. To see some of the photographs taken and learn more about this long distance migrant click here. The bird was last reported on evening of Thursday 30 May.
Little Stint. On Monday 27 May a Little Stint was on the shore in front of the Kinloch Hotel in Blackwaterfoot feeding on rotting seaweed along with twenty Sanderling and eight Dunlin. The Little Stint was smaller. It was in breeding plumage while the group of Dunlin and Sanderling had birds in breeding and in non-breeding plumage. This is the first Arran report this year of this uncommon passage migrant. The last Arran record of this uncommon passage migrant was twenty-two years ago in September 2002.
Swift. On Wednesday 22 May there was a report of two Swifts flying over Sliddery in the mid-morning. This is the first Arran report this year of this summer visitor. It does not breed on Arran but flies vast distances in search of aerial food. There were fifteen records last year. The first one was on 7 May.
Garden Warbler. On Monday 20 May there was a report of a Garden Warbler in North Sannox. This is the first Arran report this year of this scarce summer visitor. There were only three records last year. The first one was on 12 May.
Sanderling. On Sunday 19 May there was a report of fourteen Sanderling at Drumadoon Point. This is the largest group in recent years of this regular passage migrant. This is the third record this year. Last year there were twelve reports from six locations.
Spotted Flycatcher. On Tuesday 14 May there was a report of a Spotted Flycatcher at Whitefarland. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 18 May.
Bar-tailed Godwit. On Thursday 2 May two Bar-tailed Godwit were photographed on Porta Buidhe shore, Kildonan. This is the first Arran report this year of this uncommon passage migrant. The last Arran record was on 3 November 2023 on the shore at Lenamhor. Last year there were seven reports from six locations.
Sedge Warbler. On Sunday 28 April there was a report of a Sedge Warbler singing by Silver Sands in the morning and a report of one singing in Feorline in the afternoon. These are the first Arran reports this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was also on 28 April.
Whinchat. On Sunday 21 April there was a report of a Whinchat on Machrie Moor. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 11 May.
Whitethroat. On Sunday 21 April there was a report of a Whitethroat singing in Sliddery. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 28 April.
Tree Pipit. On Saturday 20 April there was a report of a Tree Pipit singing by Whiting Bay Golf Course. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 07 May.
Grasshopper Warbler. On Saturday 20 April there was a report of a Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Burrican by the Ross Road. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 22 April.
Whimbrel. On Thursday 18 April there was a report of three Whimbrel on the shore at Kildonan. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular passage migrant. For more information on Whimbrel on Arran click here.
Cuckoo. On Wednesday 17 April there was a report of a Cuckoo on High Newton. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 19 April.
Common Redstart. On Saturday 13 April there was a report of a Redstart calling at Largiebeg. This is the first Arran report this year of this scarce summer visitor. Last year there was one Arran report on 11 May.
Common Sandpiper. On Monday 8 April there was a report of two Common Sandpiper on Merkland shore. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 17 April.
Swallow. On Sunday 7 April there was a report of two Swallow in East Bennan. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 6 April.
House Martin. On Saturday 6 April there was a report of ten plus House Martin flying around the Lagg Hotel. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 11 April.
Sandwich Tern . On Wednesday 3 April there was a report of a Sandwich Tern resting on the shore in Whiting Bay. This is first Arran report this year of this regular passage migrant. The first Arran report last year was also on 3 April.
White Wagtail . On Wednesday 3 April there was a report of a White Wagtail on the shore at Porta Buidhe. This is first Arran report this year of this regular passage migrant. The first Arran report last year was also on 3 April.
Manx Shearwater . On Monday 1 April there was a report of five Manx Shearwaters in Whiting Bay. This is first Arran report this year of this regular passage migrant. The first Arran report last year was on 8 April.
Grey Plover. On Monday 1 April there was a report of a Grey Plover on Silver Sands, Kildonan between four o'clock and five o'clock. This uncommon passage migrant was photographed. This is the first Arran report of Grey Plover since there was one on Cleats Shire five years ago on 26-27 April 2019.
Sand Martin. Around midday on Monday 1 April there was a report of four Sand Martin flying along Kilmory Shore. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 28 March.
Willow Warbler. On Sunday 31 March there were two reports of Wilow Warbler singing one at Auchencar and one at North Newton. These are first Arran reports this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 5 April.
Great Skua. On Saturday 30 March there was a report of a Great Skua in Brodick Bay in the late afternoon. This is the first Arran record this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were two reports from two locations.
Red Kite. On Saturday 30 March there was a report of a Red Kite over Whitefarland in the morning. This was the third Arran record this year of this occasional visitor. The two previous records were also on the west coast of Arran. Last year there were two reports from two locations.
Ring Ouzel. On Sunday 24 March there were two reports of a male Ring Ouzel from two locations in the northern mountains. One male was singing. This is the first Arran report this year of this scarce summer visitor and passage migrant. Last year there were eight reports from six locations.
Chiffchaff. On the morning of Monday 18 March there was a report of Chiffchaff singing in the woods in North Kiscadale, Whiting Bay. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 23 March.
Wheatear. On Sunday 17 March there was a report of a male Wheatear in a coastal field in Thunderguy. This is the first Arran report this year of this regular summer visitor. The first Arran report last year was on 21 March.
Grey Heron ( leucistic). On Friday 15 March a leucistic Grey Heron was photographed in Lochranza. Grey Heron showing leucistic colouration have been reported intermittently in and around Lochranza since July 2017. For more information on this condition click here. Leucistic Grey Heron should not be confused with other white heron species like Great White Egret and Little Egret.
Garganey. On Monday 11 March there was a report of a pair of Garganey on the shore at the east end of Auchenhew Bay in Kildonan. This is only the third Arran record of this summer visitor. For more information on Garganey click here.
Osprey. On Thursday 29 February there was a report of an Osprey in Brodick Bay giving good views from Fisherman's Walk. This is the first report this year of this pasage migrant and summer visitor. In 2023 there were six records from five locations. All single birds. The first record in 2023 was on 11 March.
Red Kite. On Monday 26 February there was a report of a Red Kite in the afternoon flying above the twelve apostles in Catacol. This is the first report of this occasional visitor this year. In 2023 there were two records both of single birds. The last record was one by Clauchan Water on 20 October 2023. In 2022 there were five records.
Common Scoter. On Thursday 15 February there was a report of a female Common Scoter off Fairy Dell in the north of Arran. This is the fourth report of this occasional winter visitor this year.
White-tailed Eagle. On Monday 12 February a sub-adult White-tailed Eagle was photographed by the coast near Shannochie. This is the fourth report of this vagrant species this year.
Long-tailed Duck. On Sunday 11 February there was a report of a female Long-tailed Duck on the sea off Pirnmill. The last Arran report of this Arctic breeding species was a male off Porta Buidhe on 5 January 2021.
Nuthatch. On Tuesday 30 January there was a report of a Nuthatch in Strathwillan. In 2023 one bird at Cnoc na Dail on 10 October was the only record. There were no records in 2022. In 2021 one over-wintering bird generated forty reports. This species is moving north through the UK. More information here.
Common Scoter. On Wednesday 3 January there was a report of a single Common Scoter off Pirnmill. This is the first report this year of this under-reported species. The last autumn record of this occasional visitor was on Friday 17 November 2023, a male in Catacol Bay. The previous report was a report of five Common Scoter off Machriewaterfoot on 4 May 2023.
White-fronted Goose On Sunday 31 December there was a report of two White-fronted Geese in the Shiskine Valley with Greylag Geese. The last Arran report of this occasional winter visitor was five on 16 March also in the Shiskine Valley.
Gannet. On Sunday 31 December there was a report of a single Gannet in Kilbrannon Sound off Newton. Gannet normally winter further south off Spain or west Africa. The last Arran record was one off Pirnmill on 7 November. Not sure if this latest record is a lingering bird or an early return. The weather in the Atlantic has been very lively of late.
Purple Sandpiper. On Tuesday 21 November there was a report of two Purple Sandpiper on the shore at Silver Sands, Kildonan. This is the first autumn record this year of this regular winter visitor. The last report was a report of two Purple Sandpiper at Dhunan on 7 April 2023.
Little Egret Update. There have been five further November records including reports on Sunday 19 November from two locations. In the morning there was a report of a single bird at Cordon on the east coast and also in the morning a report of a single bird between King's Cave and Drumadoon on the west coast. In the afternoon there was a further report from Cordon. These reports would suggest at least two Little Egret on the island.
Common Scoter. On Friday 17 November there was a report of a single male Common Scoter in Catacol Bay. This is the first autumn record this year of this occasional visitor. The last report was a report of five Common Scoter off Machriewaterfoot on 4 May 2023.
Waxwing Update. In November there have been four further reports of Waxwing, all in the Lochranza area. The largest group was thirteen in trees between the outdoor centre and the church on Saturday 11 November. The last Arran report of this irruptive winter visitor was was one in a garden in Cordon in February 2020. For more information on Waxwing on Arran click here and here
Little Egret. On Monday 6 November two Little Egret were photographed at Drumadoon Point. This is only the tenth autumn record this year of this species which first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996. Its colonization followed naturally from this range expansion into western and northern France in previous decades. The first confirmed Scottish breeding record was in 2020 in Dumfries and Galloway. This year there have been sixty-eight reports on Arran. Almost all have been of single birds. There was a report of two in South Carlo on 8 January and a report of three in Cordon on 8 May.
Waxwing. On the morning of Tuesday 31 October three Waxwing came into a garden in Newton, Lochranza, along with Fieldfare and Redwing. The observer managed to get this photograph through binoculars. The last Arran report of this irruptive winter visitor was was one in a garden in Cordon in February 2020. For more information on Waxwing on Arran click here and here
Brent Goose pale-breasted. On Sunday 15 October a solitary Brent Goose was photographed in the shallow water from Sandbraes road, just past the Kingscross burn. This is the first autumn record this year of this occasional winter visitor. The last autumn report received was two on Cleats Shore on 5 October 2021. For more information on Brent Goose on Arran click here.
Wigeon. On Wednesday 11 October there was a report of eight Wigeon at Cosyden. This is the first autumn record this year of this regular winter visitor. Last year the first autumn report of this winter visitor was 29 October.
Ring Ouzel. On Wednesday 11 October there was a report of a male Ring Ouzel by the Narachan track to Laggan. ( See also Friday 15 September) This is only the third Arran record this year of the scarce summer visitor and passge migrant. Last year there were eight records from six locations and one of those locations was Newton on 22 October 2022.
Goldeneye. On Monday 9 October there was a report of a male Goldeneye in Brodick Bay. This is the first autumn record this year of this regular winter visitor. Last year the first autumn report of this winter visitor was 8 December.
Great Skua. On Monday 9 October there was a report of a Great Skua alongside the Caledonian Isles approaching Brodick Bay. This is only the second Arran record this year of this uncommon passage migrant. Last year there were two records both in July.