Arran Bird Report 2024

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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 best place to start is the annual bird report.

With a great team effort, the Arran Natural History Society has again got the annual bird report in outlets throughout the island for the Easter holidays. With a stunning photograph of a Golden Eagle by Arthur Duncan on the front cover, it is yet another eye-catching annual report. The Arran Bird Report 2024 is a "must" for anyone interested in the birds of Arran. It includes information on all species seen on Arran, a month-by-month summary of what was around in 2024, information on ringed birds, reports on some of Arran's bird projects. It is in full colour and is beautifully illustrated with photographs from over twenty photographers. The uniqueness of Arran is reflected throughout the report, including the number of UK protected birds that share our island with us, as well as the differences between here and the adjacent mainland.

The annual report is jam packed with information. Around three hundred contributors, shared over 27,000 records on 152 species.

This publication showcases the fascinating birding year of 2024. Here is a flavour of some the highlights. Garganey was reported for only the third time. Several species were recorded after an absence of a number of years including Little Stint after twenty-two years, Shoveler after nine years, Great Crested Grebe after seven and Grey Plover after five years. There were further records of Kingfisher, Nuthatch, Little Egret and White-tailed Eagle, all of which may colonise the island in the future. On the downside Fulmar is almost lost as a breeding species and Yellowhammer, which had been lost as a breeding species, is almost lost as a winter visitor. The largest number seen in the winter was two

The prolonged cold wet spring and the wet summer affected the breeding success of some passerines. The weather may also have affected vole numbers which were low. As a result the breeding success of some predators, including owls, was also low.

The impact of human disturbance on ground nesting birds is a growing concern. Strenuous efforts continue to be made by a range of organisations on Arran to try to address this.