by Donald Wilson
August: Bittern, Spotted Redshank and scarcer seabirds bring up 200!
August is when, in my mind, the autumn migration really starts to kick in. You just never know what is going to turn up where and when.
This was the case for those fortunate enough to find themselves at Lochwinnoch on Wednesday the 20th. Not only was a Bittern found but soon after, yet another Marsh Harrier made an appearance. Lochwinnoch has, at least this year, been a real hot spot for this species. However, like previous records this year, it didn’t hang around and Marsh Harrier remains a scarce bird in Clyde and a real tough bird to connect with. Maybe with climate change and greater protection we may see more of these stunning birds gracing our region in the coming years.
Back to the Bittern. This is another scarce bird in Clyde with perhaps only one or two records per year (this was the first record this year for Clyde). Being a skulker, this makes it a very tough bird to see locally. Over the past twenty years or so there have been significant conservation efforts to improve the breeding success of Bittern in the UK which have been largely successful. The UK Bittern population in the late 1990s was almost extinct as a breeding bird but as of 2024 there was a record 283 booming males in England but so far it is not a modern breeding bird in Scotland. For those who don't know, 'booming' refers to their distinctive call, which I love to hear and hope to hear one day soon in Scotland (and why not locally here in Clyde).
This was the case for those fortunate enough to find themselves at Lochwinnoch on Wednesday the 20th. Not only was a Bittern found but soon after, yet another Marsh Harrier made an appearance. Lochwinnoch has, at least this year, been a real hot spot for this species. However, like previous records this year, it didn’t hang around and Marsh Harrier remains a scarce bird in Clyde and a real tough bird to connect with. Maybe with climate change and greater protection we may see more of these stunning birds gracing our region in the coming years.
Back to the Bittern. This is another scarce bird in Clyde with perhaps only one or two records per year (this was the first record this year for Clyde). Being a skulker, this makes it a very tough bird to see locally. Over the past twenty years or so there have been significant conservation efforts to improve the breeding success of Bittern in the UK which have been largely successful. The UK Bittern population in the late 1990s was almost extinct as a breeding bird but as of 2024 there was a record 283 booming males in England but so far it is not a modern breeding bird in Scotland. For those who don't know, 'booming' refers to their distinctive call, which I love to hear and hope to hear one day soon in Scotland (and why not locally here in Clyde).
A bird that featured regularly over winter 24/25 was Great White Egret. One was seen at Hillend Reservoir both 9th and 10th and Loudon Pond, Douglas Water on 15th August. Other scarcer species this month included a Quail which remained at South Medwin Pools into the early days of August and a Black-throated Diver in summer plumage was a great find at Daer Reservoir (South Lanarkshire) on the 1st, the first there since 2017, with another commuting between Loch Thom and Gryfe No.1 Reservoir on the 3rd.
Black-throated Diver © Michael Sweeney
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Bittern © Jim Crawford
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August is also a seabird month. Cloch Point is, in my opinion, the top seabird watching spot in Clyde. With the right weather (e.g. during and after Storm Floris which brought westerlies / north westerlies in early August), scarce sea birds can be found including, Arctic Terns, Great and Arctic Skuas, Fulmar (rare in Clyde, first record this year) and even Puffins (scarce, first record this year too). However, it can be quiet on the bird front, therefore time, effort and patience are prerequisites. For one particular observer this dedication paid off with all these species being recorded in August. It’s also a good spot for movement of Manx Shearwater with 170 recorded off Cloch Point on the 4th. Wemyss Bay had 106 past the following day too.
The evening of the 4th had three Arctic and one Common Tern at Strathclyde Loch. The next morning there was a Common Tern at Hogganfield Loch, and the 11th brought an Arctic Tern and four Sandwich Terns at Strathclyde Loch.
Warblers are on the move with a few late breeders hanging on but most warblers seen in this month are juveniles and any flocks of finches seen will also have a proportion of juveniles amongst them. Balgray Reservoir had 100 Goldfinches on the 31st with juveniles well represented, I’m sure. Other passerines this month included Tree Pipits noted in passage over Craigend Hill (three, 13th) and Hillend Reservoir (one on 14th).
Ducks can be really tricky to identify at this time of year with most drake (adult male) birds in what is known as eclipse plumage. They look quite different from when they were in their breeding finery earlier in the year. The males take on a drab appearance after the breeding season is over to not attract attention while they moult their flight feathers and can’t fly. Later in the autumn they’ll moult again and then they’ll look a lot more like the birds you find in your ID book!
A drake Ring-necked Duck appeared on the Forth and Clyde Canal at Port Dundas from the 3rd and later at Bingham’s Pond, Glasgow. Mandarin Ducks were often to be seen on the Lochwinnoch scrape especially around dawn, peaking at five drakes by the 31st. Tufted Ducks reached 200 at Barr Loch and 16 Goldeneye were moulting off Langbank. An eclipse Pintail was in Cardross Bay on the 6th and two were in Ardmore Bay towards the end of the month.
The evening of the 4th had three Arctic and one Common Tern at Strathclyde Loch. The next morning there was a Common Tern at Hogganfield Loch, and the 11th brought an Arctic Tern and four Sandwich Terns at Strathclyde Loch.
Warblers are on the move with a few late breeders hanging on but most warblers seen in this month are juveniles and any flocks of finches seen will also have a proportion of juveniles amongst them. Balgray Reservoir had 100 Goldfinches on the 31st with juveniles well represented, I’m sure. Other passerines this month included Tree Pipits noted in passage over Craigend Hill (three, 13th) and Hillend Reservoir (one on 14th).
Ducks can be really tricky to identify at this time of year with most drake (adult male) birds in what is known as eclipse plumage. They look quite different from when they were in their breeding finery earlier in the year. The males take on a drab appearance after the breeding season is over to not attract attention while they moult their flight feathers and can’t fly. Later in the autumn they’ll moult again and then they’ll look a lot more like the birds you find in your ID book!
A drake Ring-necked Duck appeared on the Forth and Clyde Canal at Port Dundas from the 3rd and later at Bingham’s Pond, Glasgow. Mandarin Ducks were often to be seen on the Lochwinnoch scrape especially around dawn, peaking at five drakes by the 31st. Tufted Ducks reached 200 at Barr Loch and 16 Goldeneye were moulting off Langbank. An eclipse Pintail was in Cardross Bay on the 6th and two were in Ardmore Bay towards the end of the month.
Spotted Flycatcher © Frank Gibbons
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Ring-necked Duck (eclipse plumage Drake) © Jim Coyle
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August can be an excellent wader month. Again, you just never know what might turn up. Hot spots like Ardmore, Longhaugh Pools, Lochwinnoch and Baron’s Haugh are all worth checking. Arguably the best wader record of the month was a scarce Spotted Redshank at Baron’s Haugh on the 31st, again, a bird that may only be recorded here once or twice in the year.
The month started with a single Wood Sandpiper at Baron’s Haugh, before one dropped in at Hillend Reservoir (11th) and two were seen regularly at Longhaugh Point field pools from 15th to 20th, dropping to one through to 27th. Up to three Ruff were at Baron’s Haugh during the month with at least one seen most days. Longhaugh Point had two Ruff in the middle of the month with numbers peaking at seven on the 30th. Other Ruff were seen at RSPB Lochwinnoch on 14th (two) and 19th (one), then at Newshot Island (24th) and Crom Mhin, Loch Lomond (29th). Numbers of Green Sandpiper peaked at ten on the 14th at RSPB Baron’s Haugh, with others seen at Longhaugh Point regularly (up to two), two also at Loudon Pond, Douglas Water (14th), one there on 15th and one at RSPB Lochwinnoch on 15th.
Black-tailed Godwits were present across several sites, notably Longhaugh Point, RSPB Baron's Haugh, and RSPB Lochwinnoch with up to 33 at Baron's Haugh on 21st August. Bar-tailed Godwits were recorded at Ardmore and between West Ferry and Langbank. Greenshank were recorded at Hillend Reservoir, Parklea, Cardross, and South Medwin Pools. Common Sandpiper were still seen regularly at RSPB Baron's Haugh and Hillend Reservoir. Juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were seen this month at both RSPB Lochwinnoch and RSPB Baron's Haugh. Ringed Plover were part of a notable fall at Hillend Reservoir on 11th August. Whimbrel were seen at Ardmore, Cardross, and Finlaystone Point, and Knot were recorded too with six between West Ferry and Langbank.
Snipe records included, 30 present on the 11th, at RSPB Lochwinnoch rising to 44 by the 16th. At RSPB Baron’s Haugh 66 were noted on the 19th. 30 were counted at Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond on the 24th. Lapwing numbers remained high with 285 (7th) increasing to 303 (16th) at RSPB Baron’s Haugh.
The month started with a single Wood Sandpiper at Baron’s Haugh, before one dropped in at Hillend Reservoir (11th) and two were seen regularly at Longhaugh Point field pools from 15th to 20th, dropping to one through to 27th. Up to three Ruff were at Baron’s Haugh during the month with at least one seen most days. Longhaugh Point had two Ruff in the middle of the month with numbers peaking at seven on the 30th. Other Ruff were seen at RSPB Lochwinnoch on 14th (two) and 19th (one), then at Newshot Island (24th) and Crom Mhin, Loch Lomond (29th). Numbers of Green Sandpiper peaked at ten on the 14th at RSPB Baron’s Haugh, with others seen at Longhaugh Point regularly (up to two), two also at Loudon Pond, Douglas Water (14th), one there on 15th and one at RSPB Lochwinnoch on 15th.
Black-tailed Godwits were present across several sites, notably Longhaugh Point, RSPB Baron's Haugh, and RSPB Lochwinnoch with up to 33 at Baron's Haugh on 21st August. Bar-tailed Godwits were recorded at Ardmore and between West Ferry and Langbank. Greenshank were recorded at Hillend Reservoir, Parklea, Cardross, and South Medwin Pools. Common Sandpiper were still seen regularly at RSPB Baron's Haugh and Hillend Reservoir. Juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were seen this month at both RSPB Lochwinnoch and RSPB Baron's Haugh. Ringed Plover were part of a notable fall at Hillend Reservoir on 11th August. Whimbrel were seen at Ardmore, Cardross, and Finlaystone Point, and Knot were recorded too with six between West Ferry and Langbank.
Snipe records included, 30 present on the 11th, at RSPB Lochwinnoch rising to 44 by the 16th. At RSPB Baron’s Haugh 66 were noted on the 19th. 30 were counted at Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond on the 24th. Lapwing numbers remained high with 285 (7th) increasing to 303 (16th) at RSPB Baron’s Haugh.
Marsh Harrier © John Stevenson
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Spotted Redshank © Andrew Russell
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Raptors included regular sightings of Osprey at a number of sites. There were four together at Hillend Reservoir on several occasions and three over the Endrick Water at both Drymen Bridge and Net Bay on the 31st. Along the Clyde, Cardross, Parklea and Finlaystone Point regularly produced records, with as many as four together there on the 27th and again on the 31st often seen carrying fish or hunting over the shallows Birds were also noted at Hogganfield, Frankfield, Balmore and Lochwinnoch. Peregrine were regularly reported across urban Glasgow and the wider area, with individuals over Newton Mearns and Balmore Pool later in the month, and juveniles at Baron’s Haugh and Cornalees. Red Kite were noted at Daer, Glen Douglas and south of Red Moss, and two Hen Harriers hunted Wards Pond on the 24th. A Merlin was at Fyn Loch mid-month.
Lastly – and this really is making the point that anything can turn up anywhere, the most remarkable sighting this month was a roosting Nightjar in a Blanefield garden on 22nd August. This is a sight I personally can only dream of! It is though another bird which is increasing in Scotland on the back of climate change and one I believe may now be breeding in Clyde. Hopefully one day we can all get an opportunity to watch this mythical and magical bird within our local county.
Lastly – and this really is making the point that anything can turn up anywhere, the most remarkable sighting this month was a roosting Nightjar in a Blanefield garden on 22nd August. This is a sight I personally can only dream of! It is though another bird which is increasing in Scotland on the back of climate change and one I believe may now be breeding in Clyde. Hopefully one day we can all get an opportunity to watch this mythical and magical bird within our local county.
So that gives us 4 new species since July - and one that is pending review. The new species this month are as follows:
| Fulmar | Puffin | Bittern | Spotted Redshank | Honey-buzzard* |
This brings the list to 204*
(201 confirmed - *Yellow-legged Gull subject to assessment by SBRC. Lesser Scaup subject to assessment by BBRC. Honey-buzzard subject to assessment by CBRP. Yellow-browed Warbler has been assessed as Not Proven by CBRP. )
Until next month - enjoy your birds and birding.
A full current species list, month by month for 2025, can be viewed here - the order and nomenclature follow the Clyde list.
We welcome any corrections or suggestions - please do get in touch at: https://www.birdsinclyde.scot/contact-us.html
A full current species list, month by month for 2025, can be viewed here - the order and nomenclature follow the Clyde list.
We welcome any corrections or suggestions - please do get in touch at: https://www.birdsinclyde.scot/contact-us.html