Birds in November

Among the birds spotted on Arran over the last month, are Waxwing and Little Egret. Sightings of Waxwing have come with the arrival of an irruption in Scotland, as reported in the mainstream news.: A bumper number of waxwing sightings is being reported across Scotland this winter. Waxwings are annual visitors from Scandinavia but they …

Birds in October

Last month the Arran Ranger Service reported on the movements of Mar’verick, a White Tailed Eagle that was satellite-tagged as a chick at NTS Mar Lodge Estate Nature Reserve. In a post on Mar Lodge Facebook page the satellite data shows he has travelled all over mainland Scotland in the last year, including a visit …

September Birds and request for sightings

As reported by Arran Birding : Knot. On Saturday 9 September a single Knot was reported on the shore by Drumadoon Point. Last year there was only one Arran report of this regular passage migrant. This autumn there have already been three reports. See featured image. Yellowhammer. On Saturday 9 September two Yellowhammer were reported …

Moments with Birds

Notes from my summer travels By Katrina Wallace-Karenga At Holy Isle there is this little Carolina Wren with one short leg and a twisted foot. It is a friendly bird, and clever, gathering where the good folks at this beautiful Retreat Centre sit for breakfast, lunch, tea and evening soup. We never spoke, but s/he …

Bird Sightings in August

News of recent sightings from Arran Birding: There has been a recent report of Osprey and Sooty Shearwater on Arran. Osprey On Monday 14 August in the morning an Osprey was photographed flying above the hill at Rubha Airigh Bheirg on the west coast. The image was captured by photographing into direct bright sunshine. It …

A Surprise for Breakfast!

By Peter Finlay It’s not always you find the window in front of you as you have your breakfast so full of delight as happened quite a few times for me towards the end of May and in early June. Not the window itself of course but the sight there for me to see only …

Talk on Arran’s Bird Life

The next Tuesday Talk at the Arran Heritage Museum is on 4th July, at 1.30pm in the Garden Room.  Featured image shows artic tern photographed on Arran by Dennis Morrison. Accessed at www.arranbirding.co.uk  Speaker Jim Cassels writes: ‘I am the bird recorder for the Arran Natural History Society and I have done that job since …

Join the Dawn Chorus on 7th May

Discover how to immerse yourself in the great symphony that is the dawn chorus, whether you’re listening on your doorstep or in the wider countryside. A celebration of nature’s symphony Taking place on the first Sunday of May, International Dawn Chorus Day is the worldwide celebration of nature’s greatest symphony. All across the world people …

Arran Bird Report 2022

The latest edition of the much-loved and highly regarded Arran Bird Report is out now! Notes taken from the Arran Birding website  Where are most bird species seen on Arran? How many different types of owl are on Arran? When was the last Ptarmigan seen on Arran? For all your birdwatching questions on Arran, the …

A Tale of a Friendly Robin

By Peter Finlay. Featured image shows a robin in Wales, photo credit: Keith O’Brien. Photos in the text below feature the robin of the tale on the Isle of Arran, credit to the author. The Things that Really Matter ‘What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?’ …