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 »

This is a good time of year to look out for Kingfisher.   more »

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 »

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 »

The wheatear is one of our earliest summer visitors. This year the first one was reported on Arran on 17 March at Clauchlands.   more »

Siskins are small attractive acrobatic finches that, since the 1960s, have regularly visited gardens in the UK.   more »

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 »

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 »

Robins in the UK are associated with Christmas, and appear on lots of Christmas cards.   more »

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 »

This species is largely under-recorded in Scotland, and there are significant gaps in our knowledge, such as the population size and trend.   more »

The number of Puffin sightings in Arran waters has been increasing in recent years   more »

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 »

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

Oriole reported in Sliddery on Tuesday 20 May is liable to be an escapee   more »

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 »

Short-eared Owls are a feature of Arran moorlands.

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

The unmistakable sound of the Cuckoo is a sure sign that spring has arrived. The first Cuckoos are usually heard in mid-April.    more »

There is one other aerial master which can be confused with Swallows and Martins. That is the Swift.   more »

Gannets with their wingspan of 180cm, are familiar birds around the coast of Arran,   more »

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 »

From November until July, Shelducks are familiar ducks around the coast of Arran   more »

The smallest European birds are the Goldcrest and the closely related Firecrest.    more »