by Donald Wilson
May: Skuas and Passage Waders
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May is, and always has been, a special month in the birding calendar. It is right in the epicentre of Spring and it’s all happening!
By the end of the month all the summer breeding migrants have arrived although this year they were all in well before the month ended. It feels like that was earlier than usual. Did you make it out to hear the Dawn Chorus this year? We’ve all heard about dawn chorus but how many of us have got up at 4am, gone out birding to a good spot and actually heard it? I thoroughly recommend it even if you only do it once! If you didn't make it this year, put a note in next year's calendar for early in May. you won't regret it. My tip - you can always go for a wee snooze when you get back! |
Arctic Skua © John Sweeney
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May always brings the chance of something special turning up and it can be any category of bird from passerines, waders or even an unusual duck.
For us this May, despite the wader passage being particularly poor (I’ll come on to that later) a couple of more interesting waders were found, namely a Little Stint at Endrick Mouth on the 20th and a Pectoral Sandpiper from 19th–21st May on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch. There was another probable Pectoral Sandpiper at Endrick Mouth too on the same day as the Little Stint, with 14 Ringed Plovers and two Dunlins. As I mentioned last month, one theory regarding the poor wader passage this year could be put down to the long sustained high pressure with dry sunny conditions. It has probably been the warmest and driest spring I can remember. With bright clear skies and no grim depressions to ground migrating birds, they just headed on straight through, as the drive to get to the northerly breeding grounds is the main priority, and there was no need to stop.
For us this May, despite the wader passage being particularly poor (I’ll come on to that later) a couple of more interesting waders were found, namely a Little Stint at Endrick Mouth on the 20th and a Pectoral Sandpiper from 19th–21st May on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch. There was another probable Pectoral Sandpiper at Endrick Mouth too on the same day as the Little Stint, with 14 Ringed Plovers and two Dunlins. As I mentioned last month, one theory regarding the poor wader passage this year could be put down to the long sustained high pressure with dry sunny conditions. It has probably been the warmest and driest spring I can remember. With bright clear skies and no grim depressions to ground migrating birds, they just headed on straight through, as the drive to get to the northerly breeding grounds is the main priority, and there was no need to stop.
Pectoral Sandpiper © Susan Wheeler
Both Little Stint and Pectoral Sandpiper are more reliably discovered in the autumn but do occur in Spring. Looking back there have been around 30 records of Pectoral Sandpiper but this is only the second spring record for Clyde. The first was at Endrick Mouth on 5th June 1993.
It has been a good spring for Wood Sandpiper, with records last month from RSPB Lochwinnoch and RSPB Baron’s Haugh. Both sites went on to record further passage birds this month – Baron’s Haugh on the 3rd and RSPB Lochwinnoch on the 7th – while another Wood Sandpiper was seen at South Medwin Pools, Dunsyre, on the 21st.
Other waders continued to be seen on passage, with Whimbrel numerous. Counts peaked at 45 at Barr Loch on 4th May with double digit numbers seen on other days too. Other Whimbrel records came in throughout the month from sites including Longhaugh Point, West Ferry, Cardross and RSPB Baron's Haugh. Black-tailed Godwits dropped in too, with a peak count of 26 on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch (31st) and another double figure count from Longhaugh Point earlier in the month. Eight Bar-tailed Godwits were at Cardross on 27th.
Another bird that is a safe bet as a spring migrant is Garganey. This attractive dabbling duck is a scarce Southern England breeder as well as a passage migrant further north. We've had records this year in March (Wards Pond) and perhaps two in April (Balmore Pool and later RSPB Lochwinnoch), while one, or possibly two different drakes spent time at Baron's Haugh too this month. and was last reported on 30th May.
It has been a good spring for Wood Sandpiper, with records last month from RSPB Lochwinnoch and RSPB Baron’s Haugh. Both sites went on to record further passage birds this month – Baron’s Haugh on the 3rd and RSPB Lochwinnoch on the 7th – while another Wood Sandpiper was seen at South Medwin Pools, Dunsyre, on the 21st.
Other waders continued to be seen on passage, with Whimbrel numerous. Counts peaked at 45 at Barr Loch on 4th May with double digit numbers seen on other days too. Other Whimbrel records came in throughout the month from sites including Longhaugh Point, West Ferry, Cardross and RSPB Baron's Haugh. Black-tailed Godwits dropped in too, with a peak count of 26 on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch (31st) and another double figure count from Longhaugh Point earlier in the month. Eight Bar-tailed Godwits were at Cardross on 27th.
Another bird that is a safe bet as a spring migrant is Garganey. This attractive dabbling duck is a scarce Southern England breeder as well as a passage migrant further north. We've had records this year in March (Wards Pond) and perhaps two in April (Balmore Pool and later RSPB Lochwinnoch), while one, or possibly two different drakes spent time at Baron's Haugh too this month. and was last reported on 30th May.
Black-tailed Godwit © John Agnew
A Wryneck briefly in a private Elderslie garden on May 2nd was a great record for Clyde. This is the first record of this bird for eight years when one was seen in Lochwinnoch in May 2017. Before that, you need to go back to 1995! (See Online Clyde Bird Reports for other records.)
You might remember that April also produced a White Stork and there was a probable sighting of another at Gleniffer Braes on 22nd.
Cloch Point is our Clyde sea watching hot spot. It’s the most reliable site in Clyde for Manx Shearwaters, but also any passage sea birds including Skuas. Ok, sometimes you visit and it’s just very quiet, but that’s birding. However for two different observers, their patience was rewarded. The first with two Arctic Skuas and then on a separate occasion a different observer saw a Great Skua (aka Bonxie). These are both species I’ve never seen in Clyde and would like to remedy!
You might remember that April also produced a White Stork and there was a probable sighting of another at Gleniffer Braes on 22nd.
Cloch Point is our Clyde sea watching hot spot. It’s the most reliable site in Clyde for Manx Shearwaters, but also any passage sea birds including Skuas. Ok, sometimes you visit and it’s just very quiet, but that’s birding. However for two different observers, their patience was rewarded. The first with two Arctic Skuas and then on a separate occasion a different observer saw a Great Skua (aka Bonxie). These are both species I’ve never seen in Clyde and would like to remedy!
Sedge Warbler © Frank Gibbons
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Wryneck © Ken Ramsay
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Swifts continued to return to their breeding sites as we got further into the month. As the weather broke and the first significant rain for several weeks arrived in Clyde, 120 Swifts were seen over Strathclyde Loch on 24th May.
Spotted Flycatchers were recorded at several woodland sites including Mugdock, Cashel, and Muirshiel, as more birds returned to their favoured breeding areas this month. Pied Flycatchers were reported from Sallochy and Ross Wood, where up to five individuals – mostly singing males – were observed in the first week of the month. 14 singing Wood Warblers were recorded between Rowardennan and Rowcoish, east Loch Lomond on the 17th. Up to two Reed Warblers were heard at Newshot Island, and Whitethroat territories were widespread in appropriate scrubby areas, including a remarkable 17 singing at Brownside Braes. Whinchats were reported from upland habitats, especially in Culter Glen where Ring Ouzels also maintained territories. Green Woodpecker sightings included one at RSPB Loch Lomond on 28th which is unusual.
A Marsh Harrier is always a treat to see in Clyde, and one was seen at RSPB Lochwinnoch on 18th. Ospreys are more common these days and were seen across various sites including Castle Semple Loch and Aird Meadow (Lochwinnoch), Loch Arklet, and Carbeth Loch. Two Red Kites were seen in Culter Glen while single birds were observed over Houston and Mugdock.
Breeding records from RSPB Lochwinnoch included Lapwing chicks reported from mid-month, and a Shoveler with ducklings towards the end of the month. At the same site a pair of Little Ringed Plovers were noted to have begun incubation mid-month and were regularly seen throughout the month. Shelduck were recorded in good numbers at South Medwin Pools, with 43 noted early in the month and a female with ducklings later in the month.
Perhaps less good news was an impressive late-May gathering of 500 Oystercatchers at Ardmore which are likely to be non-breeders.
Spotted Flycatchers were recorded at several woodland sites including Mugdock, Cashel, and Muirshiel, as more birds returned to their favoured breeding areas this month. Pied Flycatchers were reported from Sallochy and Ross Wood, where up to five individuals – mostly singing males – were observed in the first week of the month. 14 singing Wood Warblers were recorded between Rowardennan and Rowcoish, east Loch Lomond on the 17th. Up to two Reed Warblers were heard at Newshot Island, and Whitethroat territories were widespread in appropriate scrubby areas, including a remarkable 17 singing at Brownside Braes. Whinchats were reported from upland habitats, especially in Culter Glen where Ring Ouzels also maintained territories. Green Woodpecker sightings included one at RSPB Loch Lomond on 28th which is unusual.
A Marsh Harrier is always a treat to see in Clyde, and one was seen at RSPB Lochwinnoch on 18th. Ospreys are more common these days and were seen across various sites including Castle Semple Loch and Aird Meadow (Lochwinnoch), Loch Arklet, and Carbeth Loch. Two Red Kites were seen in Culter Glen while single birds were observed over Houston and Mugdock.
Breeding records from RSPB Lochwinnoch included Lapwing chicks reported from mid-month, and a Shoveler with ducklings towards the end of the month. At the same site a pair of Little Ringed Plovers were noted to have begun incubation mid-month and were regularly seen throughout the month. Shelduck were recorded in good numbers at South Medwin Pools, with 43 noted early in the month and a female with ducklings later in the month.
Perhaps less good news was an impressive late-May gathering of 500 Oystercatchers at Ardmore which are likely to be non-breeders.
Dipper © John Chapman
So that gives us 5 new species since April - which are as follows:
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Little Stint | Wryneck | Arctic Skua | Great Skua |
This brings the list to 189*
(187 confirmed - *Yellow-legged Gull subject to assessment by SBRC. Lesser Scaup subject to assessment by BBRC. )
That's a pretty impressive total for Clyde with less than half the year gone. What’s next?
I fully urge you all to get out and adopt a 1km square or a "patch", and start recording what you see. Or just get out there and bird the “hot-spots”. You never know what you might bump into. Birds don’t find themselves! No matter how well covered you think a site is, nowhere in Clyde is covered all the time. And if you find it, shout it! 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
I fully urge you all to get out and adopt a 1km square or a "patch", and start recording what you see. Or just get out there and bird the “hot-spots”. You never know what you might bump into. Birds don’t find themselves! No matter how well covered you think a site is, nowhere in Clyde is covered all the time. And if you find it, shout it! 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