Welcome to this Blog. Birding on Arran is interesting at any time of the year. Recent sightings and interesting items will be added on a regular basis.
View Article  Merlin
The smallest of the falcons is a truly magic addition to any day’s birding and on Arran this is a good time of year to look out for Merlin.   more »
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View Article  Kingfisher
This is a good time of year to look out for Kingfisher.   more »
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View Article  Fulmars
Gliding very low over the open sea or along cliff tops on straight wings, the Fulmar is a familiar species around the coast of Arran. Superficially gull like, it has a “tube nose” more closely related to albatrosses. On many of the cliffs around the coast of Arran there are small breeding colonies.   more »
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View Article  Mute Swans - an insight
The image of the pair of Mute Swans with their family of young cygnets is surely an idyllic scene, but there have been happenings around the island that may put this image in a different light.   more »
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View Article  Wheatear
The wheatear is one of our earliest summer visitors. This year the first one was reported on Arran on 17 March at Clauchlands.   more »
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View Article  Siskins
Siskins are small attractive acrobatic finches that, since the 1960s, have regularly visited gardens in the UK.   more »
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View Article  Black Grouse on Arran – Update
Black grouse are set to make a comeback on Arran thanks to a team effort, involving the Arran Black Grouse Group, the National Trust for Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Arran Natural History Society.   more »
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View Article  Magpie on Arran
Through the regular articles in the “Banner”, encouragement has been given to people to share their bird sightings with me. One bird, above all else, has generated strong feelings. Indeed horror has been expressed at the presence of this bird on Arran, a long staying Magpie.   more »
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View Article  Robin
Robins in the UK are associated with Christmas, and appear on lots of Christmas cards.   more »
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View Article  Winter Wren
Cold winters can decimate the numbers of Wrens but they have a survival technique. While during the day Wrens are not particularly sociable, they regularly pack into roosts soon after sunset during the winter.   more »
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View Article  Stock Dove
This species is largely under-recorded in Scotland, and there are significant gaps in our knowledge, such as the population size and trend.   more »
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View Article  Puffins
The number of Puffin sightings in Arran waters has been increasing in recent years   more »
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View Article  Goldfinch
These beautifully marked and colourful finches have been increasingly reported in gardens in Arran this year. Some people have stated that they have had them in the garden for the first time ever.   more »
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View Article  Nightjar

Nightjars are birds of legend including the widely held belief that Nightjars sucked the milk of grazing animals.  Thus ...   more »

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View Article  Oriole in Sliddery
Oriole reported in Sliddery on Tuesday 20 May is liable to be an escapee   more »
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View Article  Ptarmigan Survey
A Ptarmigan survey is taking place in the early summe on Arran. In addition anyone on the hills this summer is encouraged to look out for Ptarmigan and to report all sightings to the Rangers Centre: 01770 302462 or ksampson@nts.org.uk   more »
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View Article  Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owls are a feature of Arran moorlands.

Unlike other owls, the Short-eared owl habitually hunts by day.  Most ...   more »

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View Article  Cuckoo
The unmistakable sound of the Cuckoo is a sure sign that spring has arrived. The first Cuckoos are usually heard in mid-April.    more »
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View Article  Swift
There is one other aerial master which can be confused with Swallows and Martins. That is the Swift.   more »
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View Article  Gannet
Gannets with their wingspan of 180cm, are familiar birds around the coast of Arran,   more »
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View Article  Black Guillemot
Black Guillemots are stunning looking birds. In summer, the sooty black plumage contrasts with the striking white patch on the wing, conspicuous both at rest and in flight.   more »
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View Article  Shelduck
From November until July, Shelducks are familiar ducks around the coast of Arran   more »
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View Article  Firecrest
The smallest European birds are the Goldcrest and the closely related Firecrest.    more »
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