by Donald Wilson
September: Three waders and a Tern added to the year list.
In the birding calendar September is definitely a transitional month.
We still have summer birds around like Swallows and the odd warbler such as Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat. However, as the month progresses, these birds are gradually are seen less and less. Most of our summer migratory breeding birds have set off on their long haul journey back to Africa.
On the other hand our winter birds start to make an appearance - particularly toward the middle and the end of the month.
I would say the most obvious examples are hearing and seeing skeins of ‘Pinkfeet’ flying in their V formations and the odd Redwing starting to appear.
The first Pink-footed Geese returned on the 12th at Chesterhall Farm, Wiston, Biggar, with 62 at South Medwin Pools on the 15th and larger arrivals mid- to late month, including 1,500 at Walston on the 19th and over 6,000 at Westraw Mains on the 30th. Smaller skeins were noted widely. At least 25 Barnacle Geese joined the Pink-feet on the 30th. Two Brent Geese were between Cardross Bay and Ardmore South on the 28th. The first Redwing records this autumn included 17 at Carluke mid-month.
We still have summer birds around like Swallows and the odd warbler such as Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat. However, as the month progresses, these birds are gradually are seen less and less. Most of our summer migratory breeding birds have set off on their long haul journey back to Africa.
On the other hand our winter birds start to make an appearance - particularly toward the middle and the end of the month.
I would say the most obvious examples are hearing and seeing skeins of ‘Pinkfeet’ flying in their V formations and the odd Redwing starting to appear.
The first Pink-footed Geese returned on the 12th at Chesterhall Farm, Wiston, Biggar, with 62 at South Medwin Pools on the 15th and larger arrivals mid- to late month, including 1,500 at Walston on the 19th and over 6,000 at Westraw Mains on the 30th. Smaller skeins were noted widely. At least 25 Barnacle Geese joined the Pink-feet on the 30th. Two Brent Geese were between Cardross Bay and Ardmore South on the 28th. The first Redwing records this autumn included 17 at Carluke mid-month.
Chiffchaff © John Agnew
|
Magpie and Sparrowhawk © John Agnew
|
September can also still be good for passage waders and we added Grey Plover, Sanderling and Curlew Sandpiper to our list this month. All three are scarce annual birds for Clyde with just a few records a year at most. All these species are high-Arctic breeders which come through the UK on their way to their African wintering grounds. The Clyde estuary and in particular Ardmore can be a great place to check out throughout September, as you just never know what you might find. In fact, as previously mentioned, any muddy water course, even inland, can produce one of the scarcer waders.
It was a juvenile Sanderling at Ardmore that was seen on the 8th and a Grey Plover, at Longhaugh, was recorded on the 14th
Curlew Sandpiper winter in the sub-Saharan desert whilst Grey Plover tend to favour western Africa. The odd one does over winter in the UK though. This year was superb for Curlew Sandpiper migrating through the UK, which suggests that, as with many ground-nesting birds, it has been a very good breeding season.
In Clyde, these waders, which are a little larger than a Dunlin, appeared at a couple of sites, with up to two at Ardmore (2nd to 5th and12th) and up to two at Longhaugh Point field pools (6th, 12th and 13th).
Ruff continued to be reported regularly throughout the month with 15 the maximum count at Carstairs Junction Bridge (15th) with seven still there on 17th. Longhaugh Point field pools also attracted up to six (8th) with smaller numbers seen through until the 14th. Four were noted at Waterlands Farm Pool, Law, on the 12th. At RSPB Baron’s Haugh up to two were seen through until the 13th. Ardmore North Bay also had one on the 2nd and one was also at Newshot Island (14th). A Wood Sandpiper was noted at South Medwin Pools on the 13th.
Green Sandpiper remained regular at Baron’s Haugh (up to five) and BAE Systems, Bishopton (up to two). Greenshank, which often winter at a few Clyde estuary sites, peaked this month with 11 at Finlaystone on the 11th. A few Knot were seen at Ardmore (up to 6) and at Longhaugh Point (up to 7). Larger counts this month included a great count of 110 Golden Plover at South Medwin on the 21st, a flock of 330 Lapwing at Frankfield Loch on the 9th, 57 Snipe was a good count from the RSPB Lochwinnoch scrape with 66 at Baron’s Haugh on the 30th. A Jack Snipe was ringed near Eaglesham mid-month with another flushed at Lilly Loch on the 29th.
It was a juvenile Sanderling at Ardmore that was seen on the 8th and a Grey Plover, at Longhaugh, was recorded on the 14th
Curlew Sandpiper winter in the sub-Saharan desert whilst Grey Plover tend to favour western Africa. The odd one does over winter in the UK though. This year was superb for Curlew Sandpiper migrating through the UK, which suggests that, as with many ground-nesting birds, it has been a very good breeding season.
In Clyde, these waders, which are a little larger than a Dunlin, appeared at a couple of sites, with up to two at Ardmore (2nd to 5th and12th) and up to two at Longhaugh Point field pools (6th, 12th and 13th).
Ruff continued to be reported regularly throughout the month with 15 the maximum count at Carstairs Junction Bridge (15th) with seven still there on 17th. Longhaugh Point field pools also attracted up to six (8th) with smaller numbers seen through until the 14th. Four were noted at Waterlands Farm Pool, Law, on the 12th. At RSPB Baron’s Haugh up to two were seen through until the 13th. Ardmore North Bay also had one on the 2nd and one was also at Newshot Island (14th). A Wood Sandpiper was noted at South Medwin Pools on the 13th.
Green Sandpiper remained regular at Baron’s Haugh (up to five) and BAE Systems, Bishopton (up to two). Greenshank, which often winter at a few Clyde estuary sites, peaked this month with 11 at Finlaystone on the 11th. A few Knot were seen at Ardmore (up to 6) and at Longhaugh Point (up to 7). Larger counts this month included a great count of 110 Golden Plover at South Medwin on the 21st, a flock of 330 Lapwing at Frankfield Loch on the 9th, 57 Snipe was a good count from the RSPB Lochwinnoch scrape with 66 at Baron’s Haugh on the 30th. A Jack Snipe was ringed near Eaglesham mid-month with another flushed at Lilly Loch on the 29th.
Redshank © John Chapman
|
Black-tailed Godwit © Frank Gibbons
|
Another stand out bird for us was a Black Tern found at Strathclyde Park. This is non-UK breeding bird but it has an extensive range across Europe including southern Scandinavia, Spain and central Russia. Strathclyde Park has been a good site for this dainty wee tern and it is always a joy to see. I would encourage you to go and see one if you have not seen one before!
It was a juvenile Black Tern that turned up at Strathclyde Loch (4th to the 6th) and was seen nearby in Hamilton on the 7th. A juvenile Arctic Tern was also at Strathclyde Park with the Black Tern, and there were two other Arctic Tern seen at Parklea (7th). There was also a good count of 60 Sandwich Tern off Greenock on the 12th.
Two Little Gull were at Strathclyde Park (4th) with another recorded at Ardmore (13th). A Polish-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull continues to be seen at Greenock, joined at times by another unringed bird. The Belgian-ringed adult reappeared at Strathclyde Loch on the 11th.
It was a juvenile Black Tern that turned up at Strathclyde Loch (4th to the 6th) and was seen nearby in Hamilton on the 7th. A juvenile Arctic Tern was also at Strathclyde Park with the Black Tern, and there were two other Arctic Tern seen at Parklea (7th). There was also a good count of 60 Sandwich Tern off Greenock on the 12th.
Two Little Gull were at Strathclyde Park (4th) with another recorded at Ardmore (13th). A Polish-ringed adult Mediterranean Gull continues to be seen at Greenock, joined at times by another unringed bird. The Belgian-ringed adult reappeared at Strathclyde Loch on the 11th.
Great White Egret © Frank Gibbons
The drake Ring-necked Duck remained at Bingham’s Pond early in the month, and reported mid-month at Speirs Wharf. Pintail were recorded at several sites including Ardmore North Bay, Hillend Reservoir, Frankfield Loch and Lochwinnoch. Wigeon numbers began to build late in the month with counts of 17 at Lochwinnoch and 18 at Baron’s Haugh. Gadwall were noted with 16 at Gartloch Pool.
A species that was seen throughout the winter was the Great White Egret and it is wonderful that two, perhaps three have returned, with birds reported regularly at RSPB Lochwinnoch and RSPB Baron’s Haugh, with one at Roughrigg Reservoir on 30th. Little Egret numbers continued to increase, with up to 13 at Ardmore North Bay and others at Hillend Reservoir, Lunderston Bay, Gourock, Longhaugh Point and South Medwin Pools.
Raptors this month included Osprey records from sites including Hillend Reservoir, and Clyde estuary sites like Parklea and Longhaugh Point until around the 15th with one further record on the 20th from RSPB Lochwinnoch. Several Marsh Harrier were seen this month too with sightings at Lochwinnoch on multiple dates and at Longhaugh Point (6th) and nearby at Newshot Island (8th). There were Hen Harrier records from sites including Carbeth, Loch Lomond and South Medwin while Goshawk sightings came from the South Medwin Pools area (13th and 28th) and from Merryton on the 20th.
Other notable sightings included a brief, late, Swift at Carluke on the 20th and another at Linn Park on the 3rd. There was a single Spotted Flycatcher at Erskine (8th). A large moulting flock of Goosander was seen at Gourock on 17th, a large roost flock of 88 Greenfinch was recorded in a Lochwinnoch garden, and 100 Linnet were at Cathkin Marsh.
A species that was seen throughout the winter was the Great White Egret and it is wonderful that two, perhaps three have returned, with birds reported regularly at RSPB Lochwinnoch and RSPB Baron’s Haugh, with one at Roughrigg Reservoir on 30th. Little Egret numbers continued to increase, with up to 13 at Ardmore North Bay and others at Hillend Reservoir, Lunderston Bay, Gourock, Longhaugh Point and South Medwin Pools.
Raptors this month included Osprey records from sites including Hillend Reservoir, and Clyde estuary sites like Parklea and Longhaugh Point until around the 15th with one further record on the 20th from RSPB Lochwinnoch. Several Marsh Harrier were seen this month too with sightings at Lochwinnoch on multiple dates and at Longhaugh Point (6th) and nearby at Newshot Island (8th). There were Hen Harrier records from sites including Carbeth, Loch Lomond and South Medwin while Goshawk sightings came from the South Medwin Pools area (13th and 28th) and from Merryton on the 20th.
Other notable sightings included a brief, late, Swift at Carluke on the 20th and another at Linn Park on the 3rd. There was a single Spotted Flycatcher at Erskine (8th). A large moulting flock of Goosander was seen at Gourock on 17th, a large roost flock of 88 Greenfinch was recorded in a Lochwinnoch garden, and 100 Linnet were at Cathkin Marsh.
So that gives us the following 4 new species since August.
| Black Tern | Curlew Sanpiper | Grey Plover | Sanderling |
This brings the list to 208* and there are still three months to go! So what will the next new species be for the year?
(206 confirmed - *Lesser Scaup subject to assessment by BBRC. Honey-buzzard subject to assessment by CBRP).
Note: Yellow-legged Gull (Newshot Island, November '24 - Feb '25) has been accepted by SBRC.
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