Coot is only the third recorded since 1989.
Photo Jim Cassels
August this year was warmer and drier than the corresponding time in 2015. This August was similar in terms of rainfall and temperature to July. Towards the end of the month, with lower temperatures some nights, there was more than a hint of the approach of autumn.
Having said that, summer visitors were still to the fore, including family groups of the following: sedge warbler in Corriecravie on 1st, whitethroat in Auchenhew on 2nd, willow warbler in High Whitefarland also on 2nd, sand martin in Monyquil on 4th, spotted flycatcher in North Sannox on 5th, tree pipit in Sliddery on 18th and common sandpiper in Slidderywaterfoot on 20th. In addition, there were 90 swallow at Corrie cravie on 1st and 60 at Kilpatrick Farm on 23rd. The largest group of house martin was 30 at Sliddery on 20th. A white leucistic house martin caused a bit of a stir in Whiting Bay/ Kingscross between the 1st and the 5th. The last record of swift was a single bird over Auchencairn on 5th. Swift do not breed on Arran. Please try to give me your last record for swallow and house martin this year. Last year there were October records for both species.