Angus Hogg, January 2025
Nothing ever remains static in the world of birding, and that holds true for the number of rare and very scarce birds recorded within the county. Inevitably, there will be species which remain as “one record only” birds, due to instances of serious population declines, or unexpected visits from a bird well outwith its normal range. However, for most species which occur in the “fewer than 20 records” list, the situation constantly changes and, for this reason, the list has been revised up to the end of 2024, with the caveat that not all (<5) of the most recent records have been accepted by the relevant authorities. Another reason for preparing this list is to allow quick access to records by showing the years in which they occurred. Please note that the taxonomic order is not the current BOU one, but that used in the previous revision of the list.
Spotted Crake and Little Ringed Plover now have more than 20 records (Angus Hogg)
Recent changes in status
Since the last list revision (2012) 5 species have departed. One species, American Bittern, has been removed from the list as a result of there being insufficient supporting evidence for the claim of one shot at Martnaham Loch during February 1848. The remaining 4 species have all passed the 20 records mark, 2 of them in a remarkably short time – Little Ringed Plover and Reed Warbler. Both these species now breed within Ayrshire, albeit in very small numbers. The other 2 species which have come off the list are Green-winged Teal (soon to lose species status), and Spotted Crake, the last of which still remains an erratic and unpredictable visitor.
As with all list revisions, there will doubtless be further changes and revisions as errors are discovered, and future decisions made by the relevant assessment bodies impact on the list. Unlike the previous list updates, some notes follow which may shed light on some of the records. The definition of what constitutes a “record” should be dealt with firstly. Normally, a record would be a sighting submitted by an observer, relating to a specific location. In the case of this revised list, an example might involve “2 Western Cattle Egrets at Largs on 20 October 2023.” If that group of 2 were to move to Fairlie on 25 October 2023, this observation would be regarded as involving the same birds and within the same record set. The date range for the record would be extended accordingly to “2 Western Cattle Egrets Largs-Fairlie 20-25 October.”
Not an exact science
The problem of escapes – Ross’s Goose and Black-crowned Night Heron (Angus Hogg)
There are always going to be grey areas in bird status reviews. On a few occasions, it is very difficult to be absolutely sure that records of birds at two different locations on different dates involve the same individuals. Supporting evidence may come from species with which they are travelling. A good, recent example of this is the 2021 Ross’s Goose, which was tracked through Ayrshire from the date of its arrival with a flock of Pink-footed Geese at Fail, to its eventual departure from North Ayrshire, still in the company of Pink-feet. Otherwise, some “educated guesswork” may be involved, often based on location changes within reasonable and predictable distances e.g. wildfowl moving from New Cumnock to Martnaham or Trabboch as a result of seasonal weather changes.
Some individual birds return to the same locations each year, and these are usually identifiable. Examples of this behaviour come from a wide range of species – King Eider, Ring-billed Gull, Water Pipit – and they always occupy the same general area as they did in the previous year. While you can never be totally sure of this, it is often the case with some of our wintering species.
One major area of uncertainty surrounds escapes and feral populations of some species. A surprisingly large range of birds fall into this category, with wildfowl amongst the main suspects. This raises questions about the provenance of some birds like the aforementioned 2021 Ross’s Goose. However, this was accepted by BBRC and BOU as a genuine trans-Atlantic vagrant, with some of the following factors having been taken into account:
- its behaviour, suggesting the typically more wary attitude of a wild bird
- its arrival, stay and departure period in the presence of a typical “carrier” species, Pink-footed Goose
- the increase in its American breeding population on the eastern side of the continent, along with an increase in genuine vagrancy to some western European countries.
Some wildfowl e.g. the closely related Snow Goose, fit more easily into the escape or feral category, with most spring and late summer records clearly ruling out wild birds. Moreover, where it is known that feral breeding populations occur within, or near to the U.K. the cloak of suspicion must always fall on some species (a small breeding population of Snow Geese exists in Argyll). Other wildfowl species which have had similar doubts cast over their origins include Red-crested Pochard. While the nearest breeding population of wild birds is in the Netherlands, there are self-sustaining populations of the bird in England e.g. at Cotswold Water Park. However, as a genuine migrant from southern Europe, the waters are muddied over its true status and, for the moment, the Ayrshire records enjoy the benefit of the doubt.
Birds kept in captive conditions within the UK include some that are a bit more unusual. The recent arrival on the Ayrshire scene of Ring-necked Parakeet originated from escaped birds, and it has adapted well to conditions in the U.K. Less likely to survive are species such as Budgerigar and Cockatiel. Occasionally, falconers lose their birds, accounting for records of Red-tailed Hawk and Harris’ Hawk. The rise of captive-breeding establishments, and free-flying populations within zoological parks has further contributed to the presence of escapees e.g. the Black-crowned Night Heron colony at Edinburgh Zoo (now extinct).
Re-introduction attempts can provide even more examples e.g. White Stork. Both birds seen in 2001 were escapes, a clue to their origins coming from the fact that they both occurred at an atypical time of year – winter.
Some attempted re-introductions within Scotland have resulted in a few records which pose problems. Ptarmigan, for example, has a few, very old references to its presence in the Galloway hills. Despite several proposals and attempts to re-introduce the species (some within the 20th century), the habitat in most of Galloway is not sufficient to sustain a breeding population. It cannot, with certainty, be regarded as a species which ever bred in Ayrshire (hence its removal from that category), and some doubt surrounds the claim of a sighting in the winter of 1980-81. Likewise, Capercaillie records within Ayrshire would suggest that it was never more than an accidental visitor, despite several attempts at introduction e.g. in Glen App 1841-42. The two, most recent records may have resulted from an introduction attempt, said to have taken place in Galloway during the 1970s.
Never to be repeated
Of course, you should never say never. However, with changing patterns of bird migration, often linked to massive habitat changes over much of the Earth’s surface, some species face the very real risk of extinction or, at the very least, greatly reduced populations. Three species which might be considered unlikely to re-occur within Ayrshire are Great Bustard, Great Snipe and Pallas’s Sandgrouse. The only verifiable record of Great Bustard in Ayrshire relates to a long-dead female found floating in the River Irvine in 1895. With very much reduced breeding populations throughout its world range, and its open grassland habitat increasingly under threat, it is unlikely that this species will occur again in Ayrshire.
Perhaps less of a threat faces Great Snipe, but its breeding range has shrunk due to wetland drainage and over-hunting during the early 20th century. A secretive species, often appearing in slightly drier habitats than Common Snipe or Jack Snipe, it could be overlooked on migration, but it is worth noting that the most recent sighting was in 1935 when most records were obtained by shooting. Pallas’s Sandgrouse is under even less pressure, but the number of westwards irruptions of the species has dropped sharply, since the late 19th century. It is, therefore, a species which may be regarded as extremely unlikely to re-occur in Ayrshire.
Change on the way
In another 100 years, the current “Fewer than 20 Records” list will probably be quite unrecognisable. As mentioned above, a changing climate has accelerated the arrival of many southern species whilst, at the same time, resulting in the decline and disappearance of many birds with which many of us are currently familiar. It is noticeable just how quickly many of us have grown to accept the presence of Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover and Mediterranean Gull. It looks like we’re about to see similar levels of acceptance with Great Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis and Reed Warbler. Predictions are always fraught with risk, since many incoming colonising species can just as quickly retreat, but it would seem plausible that the following species might occur more frequently in the near future:- Common Crane, European Bee-eater, Hoopoe and Cetti’s Warbler.
Two New Kids on the Block – Mediterranean Gull and Little Egret (Angus Hogg)
So, what species will enter a future “rarity” list? Here are two for starters – Northern Fulmar and Corn Bunting. No doubt, many of you, like me, will continue to speculate on candidates for a future “under 20” list, but change in our bird communities will always occur for a great variety of reasons. It’s comforting to know that predictions can always be thrown out of the window when you get a phone call from someone who has just seen a Pallas’s Warbler, or a Yellow-rumped Warbler!
References
- Forrester, R.W. and Andrews, I.J. 2017 The Birds of Scotland. SOC.
- Grant, D, Hogg, A, Simpson, F, Stevenson, A and Waite K. 1977-2022, Ayrshire Bird Reports. SOC.
- Gray, R. and Anderson, T. The Birds of Ayrshire and Wigtownshire. Thomas Murray, Glasgow.
- Hogg, A. 1983. Birds of Ayrshire. University of Glasgow.
- Knox, A.G. and Parkin, D.T. 2010. The Status of Birds in Britain & Ireland. Helm, London.
- Paton, E.R. and Pike, O.R. 1929. The Birds of Ayrshire. Witherby, London.
- Ratcliffe, D. 2007 Galloway and the Borders. Collins. London.
- Richards, G.A. 1965-66. A Checklist of the Birds of Ayrshire. Ayrshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Collections.
Birds with fewer than 20 records
| Species | pre-1966 | 1966-1982 | 1983-2012 | 2013-24 | Records | Individuals | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross’s Goose | – | – | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1997-2003**, 2021, 2024* |
| Snow Goose | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 19 | 1906. 1977-78**, 1978 (1-2)**, 1979 (1-3)**, 1980**, 1982 (1-4)**, 1986**, 1987**, 1989 (1-2)**, 1997**, 2008-2009*, 2019-20* |
| Tundra Bean Goose | – | – | 1 | 13+ | 14+ | c50 | 2003, 2011-12 (12-45) 2013 (1-2). 2011-12 records from 4 different locations |
| American Wigeon | – | – | 7 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 1989. 1999, 2002, 2006 (2), 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2017-18, 2024 |
| Red-crested Pochard | – | – | 9 | – | 9 | 11 | 1983-84 (3*), 1995*, 1996 (3*), 1996-97 (2-5*), 2000*. Total of 5 birds in 1996 |
| Ring-necked Duck | – | 1 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 1978-79, 1985, 1990-91, 1991,1995, 2000, 2008, 2008-09, 2012, 2013-14, 2016, 2020-21, 2024 |
| Ferruginous Duck | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1987 |
| Lesser Scaup | – | – | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1997, 1999, 2005-06, 2014-15, 2021-22 |
| King Eider | – | 2 | 4 | – | 6 | 3+ | 1973-78, 1979, 1984-85, 1995, 2003-06, 2008 |
| Harlequin Duck | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 1996 |
| Surf Scoter | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | 1999, 2001 |
| Barrow’s Goldeneye | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1979 |
| Hooded Merganser | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2016 |
| Ptarmigan | ? | 1 | – | – | 1? | 1? | 1923-1924 (1980-81 winter claim open to question) |
| Capercaillie | 2 | 2 | – | – | 4 | 4 | 1905. 1959, 1977, 1982 |
| White-billed Diver | – | – | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1986 (1-2), 2015, 2019, 2024 |
| Cory’s Shearwater | – | 5 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 1978, 1979, 1980 (1-2), 1981 (2), 1983, 1984 (4), 1985, 1987, 2020 |
| Great Shearwater | 1 | 8 | – | – | 9 | 12 | 1904, 1973 (1-2), 1974, 1977, 1978 (3-4), 1980, 1981 (1-2) |
| Little Bittern | 2 | 1 | – | – | 3 | 3 | 1947, 1965, 1973 |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | 2 | – | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | pre-1871, 1888, 1992 (2)*, 1995* |
| Snowy Egret | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 2001-02 |
| Great Egret | – | – | 1 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 2007, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 (1-2), 2024 (2 – 3) |
| Western Cattle Egret | – | – | – | 3 | 3 | 15 | 2022-23 (3-15) |
| Purple Heron | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 2002 |
| White Stork | – | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1978, 1979, 1981, 2001 (2**), 2004**, 2015**, 2017** |
| Glossy Ibis | 3 | – | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | pre-1852, 1889 (1-2), 1907, 2012, 2015, 2022 |
| Eurasian Spoonbill | – | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 1978-79, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2018 |
| European Honey Buzzard | 2 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 1863, 1864, 1977, 1991 (2), 1992, 1993, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2022 |
| Black Kite | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | 1994, 2005 |
| White-tailed Eagle | FB | – | 6 | 4 | 10+ | 10+ | FB, 1881, 1983, 1990, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2022-24 |
| Pallid Harrier | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2011 |
| Montagu’s Harrier | 1 | – | 1 | – | 2 | 2 | 1836, 1989 |
| Rough-legged Buzzard | 1 | 3 | 1 | – | 5 | 7 | 1898, 1973 (1-3), 1974, 1982-83, 1995 |
| Red-footed Falcon | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1973 |
| Gyrfalcon | 1 | 3 | – | – | 4 | 4 | 1913, 1974, 1978 (2) |
| Little Crake | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1909 |
| Common Crane | – | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 1977, 1987, 1989, 2006, 2017, 2021 (3), 2022 |
| Great Bustard | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1895 |
| Black-necked Grebe | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 21 | 1906, 1910, 1929 (1-3), 1970 (2-3), 1976, 1984, 1995, 1996 (2-5), 2002, 2003 (1-2), 2018, 2021-22 |
| Avocet | – | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 1979. 1988, 1995 (1-2), 1999, 2014 (1-5), 2020 (1-2) |
| Killdeer | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1984 |
| American Golden Plover | – | – | 5 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1989, 1990, 1994. 1995, 2001, 2014 |
| Temminck’s Stint | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 13 | 1934, 1977 (3), 1980, 1981 (2), 1982, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1992, 2021 |
| White-rumped Sandpiper | – | – | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1983, 1989, 1994 (2 ), 2019 (1-2) |
| Pectoral Sandpiper | – | 5 | 11 | – | 16 | 16 | 1975, 1976 (2), 1977 (2), 1991, 1992 (2), 1994, 1995, 1996, 2006, 2010 (2), 2011, 2011-12, |
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | – | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | 4 | 1980, 1989, 1995, 2008 |
| Great Snipe | 5+ | – | – | – | 5+ | 6+ | 1868, end of C19, prior to 1907 (2), 1921, 1935, + 2 or 3 additional undated. |
| Long-billed Dowitcher | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | 1988, 2011 |
| Spotted Sandpiper | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2020-21 |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 1974, 1989, 2019, 2020 |
| Marsh Sandpiper | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1979 |
| Wilson’s Phalarope | – | 2 | – | – | 2 | 2 | 1976. 1978 |
| Red-necked Phalarope | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 1952, 1966, 1968, 2011, 2016, 2017 |
| Ivory Gull | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2006-07, 2019 (Latter record refers to a rehabilitated bird fron D&G released Stevenston Pt.) |
| Ross’s Gull | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1985 |
| Laughing Gull | – | – | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1983, 1986, 2024 |
| Franklin’s Gull | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1980, 2009 |
| Ring-billed Gull | – | – | 16 | 1 | 17 | 16 | 1984, 1985 (2), 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1989, 1992. 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999 (2), 2001 (2), 2006, 2010,2012,2013 (Returning birds) |
| Yellow-legged Gull | – | – | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2005, 2006, 2009, 2016 |
| Caspian Tern | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1990 |
| Sooty Tern | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Pallass’s Sandgrouse | Unspec | – | – | – | Unspec | Unspec | 1872-1888 (Recorded (no numbers) in both years) |
| Snowy Owl | 2 | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 1863 |
| Little Owl | – | – | 6 | – | 6 | 6 | 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 |
| Alpine Swift | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | 4 | 4 | 1892, 1900, 1979, 1994 |
| European Bee-eater | 1 | – | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1968, 2016 |
| Roller | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 3 | 3 | c1833, 1976, 2001 |
| Hoopoe | 4 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 3 records pre-1916, 1965, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1993-94, 1997, 1998,1999, 2002, 2006 (2), 2007, 2013, 2014 |
| Wryneck | – | 2 | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | 1977, 1981, 1983, 1999, 2000 |
| Golden Oriole | – | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1978, 2012 |
| Red-backed Shrike | – | 4 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 1971, 1976, 1978, 1981, 1990, 1992,2002, 2005, 2017 |
| Lesser Grey Shrike | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1961 |
| Woodchat Shrike | – | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | 1986, 2002 |
| Red-billed Chough | FB | – | – | 1 | 1+ | 1+ | 2019 |
| Firecrest | – | 1 | 2 | – | 3 | 3 | 1981, 1983, 2003 |
| Marsh Tit | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2007 |
| Shore Lark | – | 1 | 2 | – | 3 | 3 | 1979, 1997, 2010 |
| Cetti’s Warbler | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2021-22 |
| Yellow-browed Warbler | – | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 1950, 1981, 1994, 2009, 2016 (5). 2024 |
| Pallas’s Warbler | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rose-coloured Starling | – | – | 8 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 1994, 1995, 2002 (4-5), 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2022 |
| Bluethroat | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1949, 1983 2014 |
| Siberian Stonechat | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1999 |
| Richard’s Pipit | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 2010 |
| Common Rosefinch | – | – | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1993, 1994, 2013 |
| Hawfinch | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 1934 (1-3), 1957, 1974 (1-2), 1980, 1993-94, 2016 |
| Lapland Bunting | – | 2 | 15 | 1 | 10 | 29 | 1966, 1967, 1984 (1-2), 1989, 1993, 2000 (1-4), 2004 (2 – 5), 2010 (8-12), 2011, 2014 |
| Cirl Bunting | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1928 |
| Little Bunting | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1984, |
| Black-headed Bunting | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1988 |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
NB Some records between 2022 and 2024 are subject to acceptance.
Key to Symbols
| Key | Meaning | – |
|---|---|---|
| (4) | Means 4 records | |
| (4-6) | Means 4 records involving 6 birds | |
| * | Possibility of escape cannot be ruled out | |
| ** | Almost certainly of escaped origin |