On 14 September a Greenshank was reported on Clauchlands shore. Since that date there have been regular reports of a single bird in this area including today, 1 January.   more »

Reports of Waxwings on Arran this winter.   more »

On Saturday 13 December between 10.00 and 11.00 a Red-necked Grebe was seen towards the south end of Whiting Bay.   more »

On Wednesday 3 December a male Mandarin Duck was first reported in the river by Rosaburn Lodge. There continued to be sightings up and including the weekend. From the records this seems to be becoming a regular visit.   more »

First report of a Yellowhammer at garden feeders this winter   more »

Both Goldeneye and Shelduck were reported on Arran on 16 November.   more »

Female Brambling in a garden in Whiting Bay,   more »

A Chiffchaff was reported on Cleats Shore on Saturday 1 November   more »

Late Wheatear at Clauchlands on Sunday 2 November   more »

Snow Bunting on Arran shores   more »

Great Skua on the shore by Shiskine Golf Course   more »

A group of fifteen Whooper Swans was first reported flying over Kilpatrick towards Shiskine on 14 October.   more »

Reports of Redwings and Fieldfares have been received   more »

There was a group of fifteen Greylags flying over South Feorline on the 14 October   more »

Two Brent Geese reported on Margnaheglish shore on 15 October.   more »

A single Bar-tailed Godwit was reported near Drumadoon Point   more »

Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, and Great Northern Diver were all reported off the west coast in early September   more »

There is some debate as to whether or not Kingfishers breed on Arran. We have few summer records. When the young birds disperse for the winter, we certainly get sightings.   more »

Little Grebe over winter in Arran and summer sightings are rare.   more »

While Magpie is common and widespread on the adjacent mainland, it is a vagrant on Arran with only seven sightings in the last twenty five years.   more »

On Saturday 12 July a Great Skua (Bonxie) was seen by members of the North Ayrshire RSPB from the ferry Caledonian Isles. The sighting was closer to Brodick than Ardrossan so was in Arran waters. At this time of year these skuas are migrating south from their breeding grounds in the north.

Knot resplendent in their breeding plumage seen on Blackwaterfoot beach   more »

Young Arctic Terns in Kildonan   more »

On Friday 1 August a Green Sandpiper was reported in Thunderguy close to the track to Coirein Lochain. The observers were within twenty metres of the bird and got good views of the contrasting white rump when the bird took off.
This is the first report of Green Sandpiper on Arran since 1 August 2003.

On Tuesday 29 July a Greenshank was reported on Cleats Shore.

On Tuesday 29 July a group of four Great Crested Grebes, all in breeding plumage, was seen on the sea in Machrie Bay opposite Machriewaterfoot.

This is is first report in 2008 for this species. There were only two reports in 2007.

On Tuesday 29 July Whimbrel was reported on Cleats Shore.

On Saturday 26 July a male Comon Scoter was seen on the sea in Machrie Bay from the pull in area on the shore side of the road north of the Machrie Tearoom.

This is is first report in 2008 of this sea duck.

The bird was also seen in the same area on Tuesday 29 July.

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On Friday 11 July a pale phased Arctic Skua was seen from the ferry Caledonian Isles. The sighting was closer to Brodick than Ardrossan so was in Arran waters.

On Sunday 13 July, as well as the more usual sightings of groups of Common Guillemot and Razorbill, a solitary Puffin was also seen from the Brodick to Ardrossan ferry. With the removal of rats from Ailas Craig in recent years the breeding colony there has increased and hopefully this will result in increased sightings in Arran waters.
The sighting on 13 July was closer to Brodick than Ardrossan so was in Arran waters.

On Friday 4 July there was a report of a Red Kite in Brodick Country Park.Attached is a scan of a section of the NTS trails map from the person who reported it with a red circle marking the spot where it was seen.   more »

This stunning looking bird has been reported from various areas round the island.   more »

This table gives the position re first Arran summer migrant records as of Tuesday 20 May   more »

On Tuesday 13 May between 19:45 and 20:00, a juvenile White-tailed Eagle was reported fishing in Lochranza Bay. It was seen to take a fish from the water while being mobbed by jackdaws and gulls.

Corncrake calling at Port-na-Lochan   more »