by Donald Wilson
July: Mediterranean Summer brings us to 199 species for the year so far
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Ruff © Donald Wilson
Comparing Green Sandpiper (centre) and the smaller Common Sandpiper which joins from the right © Donald Wilson
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July for me was – usually – more about insects than birds, including butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies – but more on that later!
Since I started being more pro-active in my local area, adopting a “patch” and spending more time in the field, I gradually started to realise that late June, and into July, was actually the start of the wader “autumn”. Firstly, non-breeding or perhaps failed breeding adult waders start to appear early in the month, and by the end of the month juvenile waders start to pass through. This year has been a record Wood Sandpiper year with at least 7 different individuals recorded at Baron’s Haugh. This month we saw a single bird between 11–13 July and one, perhaps two, from 22nd through the remainder of the month. A Ruff was a new species for the year, with one seen – again at Baron’s Haugh – from 23rd, remaining faithful to the site through to the end of the month. Green Sandpiper numbers peaked at 13 going into the final week of the month, and Greenshank also found the conditions just right at Baron’s Haugh with different individuals dropping in across the month and staying for a few days, with a peak count of two. Towards the end of the month there were ten different species of wader being seen simultaneously, which was an amazing spectacle for an inland site! (For the record, these were Lapwing, Snipe, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Greenshank, Ringed Plover and Dunlin.) |
Greenshank were also seen at Ardmore (11th and 14th), two were at Finlaystone Point (20th), two at RSPB Lochwinnoch (25th). Whimbrel, another bird seen in this area on passage, were seen at Ardmore (11th, 14th and 30th), Cardross (23rd) and Longhaugh Point field pools (26th), while Black-tailed Godwits were on the move earlier in the month including 59 at Baron’s Haugh on 2nd July and 18 at Balgray Reservoir the same day. Good-sized flocks were also seen on 6th with 57 noted past Newshot Island, 27 at Lochwinnoch, 26 at Ardmore, 20 at Netherton Farm and 11 at Longhaugh Point.
Finally, our breeding Little Ringed Plovers at RSPB Lochwinnoch fledged three juveniles, while the juvenile Redshank noted last month was seen taking short flights early in the month. At Baron's Haugh there were sightings of up to two Little Ringed Plover in the middle of the month.
Finally, our breeding Little Ringed Plovers at RSPB Lochwinnoch fledged three juveniles, while the juvenile Redshank noted last month was seen taking short flights early in the month. At Baron's Haugh there were sightings of up to two Little Ringed Plover in the middle of the month.
Spoonbill © John Agnew
Now, the waders were one aspect of local July birding I had cottoned onto, but this wasn’t the main attraction this month.
The other phenomenon was highlighted with the advent of social media, and in particular our own, very successful, WhatsApp service.
“To what does he refer”, I hear you ask! Put simply, we are now seeing more unusual species being recorded locally, especially those more usually associated with the Mediterranean. Finders are getting the news out, in most cases, instantly and not only are we aware of these specialities being found, but there is a decent chance others can connect and see them too.
Once again it was RSPB Baron’s Haugh that played host to these, with the Lanarkshire site having a real “purple patch” this month, with not only one but three rare and unusual species being found. The sort of species that, back in the day, one could only have dreamed would be seen in Clyde!
Firstly, a cracking adult Spoonbill was found mid-morning on the 14th July. It remained for two days, allowing quite a few to connect. This bird being the 9th record for Clyde and the fourth in the last ten years.
Next came the amazing sighting of not one but two Cattle Egrets on the 20th, these being the 4th Clyde records – previous records are of single birds in April 2016, November 2018 and October 2020.
Spoonbill has attempted to breed in Scotland but that was some time ago, but both it and Cattle Egret are now regular breeders in England and no longer a scarce vagrant. Both species are following in the footsteps of the Little Egret. Once a "mega" rare vagrant, it is now part of the regular birding scene in Clyde with records far and wide – but the Clyde estuary is a real hot spot, and Ardmore Point in particular at this time of the year with up to 16 seen this month.
The third bird – and one that we have almost taken for granted now that several birds are seen most years – was a Mediterranean Gull on the evening of the 26th. It had been seen at Strathclyde Park the day before. Other Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Balgray Reservoir, Battery Park, Greenock (including a Polish colour-ringed individual, 20th) and two at the nearby Cardwell Bay (21st).
The other phenomenon was highlighted with the advent of social media, and in particular our own, very successful, WhatsApp service.
“To what does he refer”, I hear you ask! Put simply, we are now seeing more unusual species being recorded locally, especially those more usually associated with the Mediterranean. Finders are getting the news out, in most cases, instantly and not only are we aware of these specialities being found, but there is a decent chance others can connect and see them too.
Once again it was RSPB Baron’s Haugh that played host to these, with the Lanarkshire site having a real “purple patch” this month, with not only one but three rare and unusual species being found. The sort of species that, back in the day, one could only have dreamed would be seen in Clyde!
Firstly, a cracking adult Spoonbill was found mid-morning on the 14th July. It remained for two days, allowing quite a few to connect. This bird being the 9th record for Clyde and the fourth in the last ten years.
Next came the amazing sighting of not one but two Cattle Egrets on the 20th, these being the 4th Clyde records – previous records are of single birds in April 2016, November 2018 and October 2020.
Spoonbill has attempted to breed in Scotland but that was some time ago, but both it and Cattle Egret are now regular breeders in England and no longer a scarce vagrant. Both species are following in the footsteps of the Little Egret. Once a "mega" rare vagrant, it is now part of the regular birding scene in Clyde with records far and wide – but the Clyde estuary is a real hot spot, and Ardmore Point in particular at this time of the year with up to 16 seen this month.
The third bird – and one that we have almost taken for granted now that several birds are seen most years – was a Mediterranean Gull on the evening of the 26th. It had been seen at Strathclyde Park the day before. Other Mediterranean Gulls were seen at Balgray Reservoir, Battery Park, Greenock (including a Polish colour-ringed individual, 20th) and two at the nearby Cardwell Bay (21st).
Cattle Egret © Andrew Russell
Let’s take a look at the other usual species seen this month.
A Quail was heard calling early morning of 4th July from the grazing marsh just east of Newshot Island. The Quail reported last month near South Medwin Pools, Dunsyre, remained in the area too.
Our Glasgow West End Peregrines continued to be seen between the University and the City Chambers, while other dispersing Peregrines have started to be seen at sites like Ardmore, Balmore Pool, Lochwinnoch and Frankfield Loch. Do look out for colour rings on the Peregrines and report your sightings on BirdTrack or our local WhatsApp Group. Ospreys were regularly recorded throughout the month at many of our reservoirs and lochs – as well as on the shallower parts of the Clyde like Langbank and Finlaystone. This is another species where our local ringers have been hard at work and many of this year's juveniles have been colour ringed. Look out for blue rings and again, please do report your sightings. Four Red Kites together at Lowther Hill area on the 11th, while a lone Barn Owl was spotted on a fence post near Carbeth in the early hours of the 6th.
Waterfowl included Mandarin Ducks, with up to four at RSPB Lochwinnoch, while a female Shoveler with chicks was noted there early in the month. Flocks of Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and Mute Swans began building at Barr Loch as birds move away from their breeding sites. Broods of Shelduck were seen at South Medwin Pools while up to six larger juvenile Shelduck were at Baron's Haugh. A Gadwall with eight ducklings was reported from Baron's Haugh too. Not to be outdone, a Red-breasted Merganser with fifteen ducklings was noted on Loch Lomond, and Goosanders were counted in double figures at Newshot Island.
Seabirds included Manx Shearwaters off Cloch Point and Wemyss Bay (130 seen in the afternoon on the 5th). The same day saw a Kittiwake (a bird not seen often within Clyde), and several Guillemots with young were noted off Ironotter Point.
Lastly, this month is great for bumping into newly fledged birds, especially our warblers such as Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler - and even species like Spotted Flycatcher - all being particularly visible – which adds another dimension to July’s birding. So what’s not to like, and proof there’s plenty to see and discover in July.
Oh and what a year it’s been for butterflies! Wow! The WhatsApp group has had sightings of Comma, Holly Blue, Purple Hairstreak, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Clouded Yellow, remarkable numbers of Scotch Argus, as well as commoner species. Golden-ringed dragonfly was also reported this month and we had a number of reports of Hummingbird Hawk-Moths this month including in Ruchill, Mugdock and East Kilbride gardens, providing a colourful end to a highly productive month.
A Quail was heard calling early morning of 4th July from the grazing marsh just east of Newshot Island. The Quail reported last month near South Medwin Pools, Dunsyre, remained in the area too.
Our Glasgow West End Peregrines continued to be seen between the University and the City Chambers, while other dispersing Peregrines have started to be seen at sites like Ardmore, Balmore Pool, Lochwinnoch and Frankfield Loch. Do look out for colour rings on the Peregrines and report your sightings on BirdTrack or our local WhatsApp Group. Ospreys were regularly recorded throughout the month at many of our reservoirs and lochs – as well as on the shallower parts of the Clyde like Langbank and Finlaystone. This is another species where our local ringers have been hard at work and many of this year's juveniles have been colour ringed. Look out for blue rings and again, please do report your sightings. Four Red Kites together at Lowther Hill area on the 11th, while a lone Barn Owl was spotted on a fence post near Carbeth in the early hours of the 6th.
Waterfowl included Mandarin Ducks, with up to four at RSPB Lochwinnoch, while a female Shoveler with chicks was noted there early in the month. Flocks of Mallards, Tufted Ducks, and Mute Swans began building at Barr Loch as birds move away from their breeding sites. Broods of Shelduck were seen at South Medwin Pools while up to six larger juvenile Shelduck were at Baron's Haugh. A Gadwall with eight ducklings was reported from Baron's Haugh too. Not to be outdone, a Red-breasted Merganser with fifteen ducklings was noted on Loch Lomond, and Goosanders were counted in double figures at Newshot Island.
Seabirds included Manx Shearwaters off Cloch Point and Wemyss Bay (130 seen in the afternoon on the 5th). The same day saw a Kittiwake (a bird not seen often within Clyde), and several Guillemots with young were noted off Ironotter Point.
Lastly, this month is great for bumping into newly fledged birds, especially our warblers such as Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler - and even species like Spotted Flycatcher - all being particularly visible – which adds another dimension to July’s birding. So what’s not to like, and proof there’s plenty to see and discover in July.
Oh and what a year it’s been for butterflies! Wow! The WhatsApp group has had sightings of Comma, Holly Blue, Purple Hairstreak, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Small Skipper, Clouded Yellow, remarkable numbers of Scotch Argus, as well as commoner species. Golden-ringed dragonfly was also reported this month and we had a number of reports of Hummingbird Hawk-Moths this month including in Ruchill, Mugdock and East Kilbride gardens, providing a colourful end to a highly productive month.
Little Ringed Plover © Rick Bolton
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Spotted Flycatcher © John Chapman
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So that gives us 4 new species since June - and one correction from June too. Manx Shearwater was seen in June but was missed from our lists. So the new species since our June report are as follows:
| Manx Shearwater (June) | Ruff | Spoonbill | Cattle Egret | Kittiwake |
This brings the list to 199*
(197 confirmed - *Yellow-legged Gull subject to assessment by SBRC. Lesser Scaup subject to assessment by BBRC. )
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