Machrihanish Seabird Observatory

March Report 2015

Compiled by Eddie Maguire (warden)

Unless indicated photographs are by the warden

MSBO Photo of the Month

Twite: this bird was colour-ringed at MSBO during autumn 2014 and reappeared 15th – 31st March 2015

Quiz...

Q: What’s up when it’s down - but down when it’s up?

A clue to solving this avian puzzle can be found in one of the photographs in this report

Prize for the first correct answer = MSBO 20th Anniversary DVD

Answer / Reply to – msbowarden@yahoo.com

Vagrant Rock Pipit sub-species now accepted as the Second Argyll Record...

Exceptional news this month: a pipit showing many plumage characteristics of the sub-species Scandinavian Rock Pipit was photographed at MSBO on 18th May 2014. This has now been accepted by Scottish Birds Records Committee as the second Argyll record (Jim Dickson / Argyll Bird Recorder pers. comm. / 25th March 2015).

It is interesting to note that the first Argyll record of this sub-species occurred on the island of Mull on the curious date of 13th May 2011.

The Scandinavian Rock Pipit by MSBO 18th May 2014

Long-tailed Skua record MSBO 2014.

A description of a juvenile >S off MSBO on 25th October 2014 has been accepted by Argyll Bird Club (Jim Dickson / Argyll Bird Recorder 31st March 2015).

List of Selected Species

Shelduck

A loose flock of 23 was present on 16th.

Pintail

A drake was photographed on 10th. This is likely the same individual that was on the nearby Strath Farm floodwater a few days earlier (see Records from around Kintyre below).

Common Scoter

A drake >S on 7th.

Eider

A welcome – if slight - increase in local numbers was apparent with a peak of 78 birds on 16th.

This species has declined locally. Since the MSBO was established (1993 – with data from 1989) the spring pre-breeding club has held 200+ birds annually: however, during spring 2014 < 50 birds were present (a decrease of around 75%).

Red-throated Diver

Regular in small numbers all month but mainly immature. Max count 7 on 11th.

Breeding plumaged adults >S on 19th and 30th.

Black-throated Diver

Single (s) on 10th and 17th.

Great Northern Diver

The commonest diver off Machrihanish at this time of year. Numbers relatively low this month but often a dramatic increase occurs as spring progresses. Max count was 14 on 16th.

The first sign that breeding plumage was appearing on some birds was noted on 11th (white spots appearing on mantle) and a bird with a partial ‘necklace’ was seen on 27th.

Lapwing

Five were resting at the Point on 10th.

Quite scarce / usually a passage visitor in small numbers off / by MSBO.

Lapwing by MSBO 10th March

Purple Sandpiper

The max number seen on the point was 9 on 10th.

Sanderling

Flock 8 >N on 22nd.

Whimbrel

The first bird of spring >N (calling) on 19th.

Greenshank

The first bird of the spring >N (calling) on 17th.

Rudy Turnstone

The maximum number noted was 12 on 14th.

Black-legged Kittiwake

31st – W gale event: a total of 440 >S / 6hrs. All were aged revealing that 280 / 440 (64%) were first-winter.

Iceland Gull

Two birds: a first-winter >S on 8th and a second-winter was photographed on 9th.

First MSBO records this year.

Iceland Gull (second-winter) by MSBO 9th March

Auks

28th - WNW near gale event: a total of 665 >S / 5hrs. Photographic samples (n= 271) of many small ‘trains’ revealed that the majority (87%) were Razorbill and 233 / 236 of these were in breeding plumage. All 35 Guillemots found in the samples were in breeding plumage and 2 of these (6%) were bridled variants.

31st – W gale event f6 with regular vicious squalls increasing wind speeds to f9-10. A total of 347 >S / 6hrs. Photographic samples revealed (again) that the vast majority (97%) were Razorbill and all were in full breeding plumage. Only 12 Guillemot were noted and 10 / 12 were in full breeding plumage.

Wheatear

The first bird seen at MSBO this year was a male on 25th. Two were seen later the same day (John Nadin pers. comm.).

Twite

The first spring birds (2) appeared at MSBO feeding station on 13th.

Birds colour-ringed at MSBO during autumn 2010 (2), spring 2011 (1), autumn 2013 (2) and autumn 2014 (1) were regular at MSBO feeding station 15th - 29th.

More MSBO Twite in Northern Ireland.

A bird colour-ringed at MSBO during autumn 2014 was seen at St John’s Point, County Down on 15th March (George Gordon / Tim Murphy pers. comm.).

Another, ringed during autumn 2013 was at Island Magee, just north of the entrance to Belfast Loch, County Antrim on 22nd (George Gordon / Cameron Moore pers. comm.).

Records from around Kintyre

Whooper Swan

Three adults were by Strath Farm, The Laggan 1st -17th.

Late report: these birds were seen near this location during February (Marj Fraser pers comm.).

Wigeon

Flock 108 on floodwater by Strath Farm / The Laggan on 5th and 53 there on 8th.

Pintail

A fine adult drake was sleeping on floodwater by Strath Farm / The Laggan on 5th, seen there again on 6th and photographed in reasonable light on 8th.

Sparrowhawk

A rather large female was circling over Burnside Square in the centre of Campbeltown on 24th with c. 40 Jackdaws in hot pursuit and c. 60+ feral pigeons were swirling overhead.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

The first-winter at Campbeltown Harbour was still present on 3rd / 12th / 18th / 24th / 25th / 27th (see January / February Report).

Two adults were on floodwater at Strath Farm / The Laggan on 5th with 5 adults there next day. 11 adults were by West Parkfergus by Machrihanish on 10th.

Increasing numbers apparent (33) at 4 sites at The Laggan on 15th.

Iceland Gull

Campbeltown: 3 first-winters were seen often - 8th / 15th / 24th / 25th and 27th (Eddie Maguire / John Nadin / Chris Bradshaw) (two were typical first-winter (biscuit) plumaged and one was much faded).

However, 4 first-winters appeared later on 25th and included 2 faded plumaged birds and 2 typical (biscuit) plumaged types (John Nadin et al pers. comm.).

A rather faded first-winter was photographed at Ballochroy, S of Clachan on 23rd (Chris Bradshaw pers. comm.).

Iceland Gull (first-winter / faded plumage) Campbeltown 3rd March

Iceland Gull (first-winter) Ballochroy 23rd March / Photo Chris Bradshaw

Black Guillemot

At Campbeltown harbour on 25th a local fisherman was amazed at the remarkably swift demise of a Tystie: the bird surfaced with a tiny crab and was seized instantly by a Great Black-backed Gull and...Swallowed whole (Raymond Morrison pers. comm.).

Wheatear

The first one seen in Kintyre this year was on the golf course at Carradale on 20th (Alasdair Paterson / Argyll Bird Club website) then one was at Peninver on 22nd (Colin Bradshaw pers. comm.).

Magpie

Campbeltown: resident pair regular all month (Bobby Millar et al pers. comm.).

One at Carradale on 20th has apparently been there for at least a year (Alasdair Paterson / Argyll Bird Club website).

Raven

Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC: ex RAF / Defence Estates): nesting (again) on old American military watchtower with bird incubating on 6th.

Also, nesting again at Anderson Park, by Campbeltown.

Access to MACC by permit only.

Note: Campbeltown Airport (no access) borders MACC.

Raven nest: bird incubating on old American military watchtower at MACC 6th March

Yellowhammer

Southend – five birds (inc. 2 males) were still regular in a garden at Millpark all month (Roy / Susie Bennett pers. comm.).

Drumlemble – a pair visited a garden on 25th (Donald Brown pers. comm.).

Brown Hares by Drumlemble School - The Laggan 1st March 2015

Put ‘em up!

Male on right / male holds ears upright in all photos and appeared to do all the leaping

Courtship involves boxing: this well-known ‘mad March hare’ behaviour

apparently involves an unreceptive female fending off a passionate male!

Iceland Gull (first-winter / typical plumage) Campbeltown 5th March