Species recorded in the area of Minard Castle
Mute Swan - Pair seen occasionally off-shore.
Whooper Swan - Occasional flocks off-shore at migration times.
Greenland White-fronted Geese - Occasional flocks passing over in winter and spring.
Greylag Goose - Increasing numbers seen along the shore. Pairs breed locally.
Canada Goose - Increasing numbers seen along the shore. Pairs breed locally every year.
Shelduck - One or two seen occasionally along the shore.
Wigeon - Up to 20 birds regularly seen in winter near Brainport Point.
Mallard - Up to 12 birds regularly present near Brainport Point. Pairs have bred.
Eider - Over 100 birds often present off-shore. Breeding site on Eilean Aoghainn.
Goldeneye - Two or three birds regularly present off-shore in winter. Occasionally up to 10 present.
Red-breasted Merganser - One or two pairs seen regularly off-shore. Breeds in the area.
Goosander - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Common Pheasant - Occasional visitor.
Red-throated Diver - Regular visitor off-shore during summer.
Black-throated Diver - Occasional visitor offshore in Loch Fyne.
Manx Shearwater ­ occasional groups seen flying down Loch Fyne at migration times.
Gannet - Seen regularly in small groups fishing in Loch Fyne, mostly during the breeding season but occasionally in winter.
Cormorant - Regularly seen off-shore. Roosts on Eilean Aoghainn.
Shag - Regularly seen offshore. Breeding colony on Eilean Aoghainn and large roost (70+) there in winter.
Grey Heron - Regular visitor along the shore. Up to10 birds at a time seen around Brainport Bay.
Little Grebe - Regular visitor off-shore during winter.
White-tailed Eagle - Occasional visitor
Sparrowhawk - Resident. At least one pair breeding.
Common Buzzard - Resident. At least one pair breeding.
Osprey - Has been reported.
Kestrel - Occasional visitor.
Merlin - Occasional visitor.
Peregrine - Occasional visitor.
Common Crane - birds seen flying over on two occasions recently .
Oystercatcher - Up to 20 birds along the shore. At least one pair breeding in summer.
Ringed Plover - Passage migrant. May attempt to breed.
Lapwing - Occasional visitor.
Purple Sandpiper - Occasional visitor in winter.
Common Snipe - Occasional visitor along the shore.
Woodcock - Resident in the woodland. Probably in good numbers and breeding, although difficult to be certain with this elusive species.
Curlew - One or two regularly seen along the shore.
Common Redshank - One or two regularly seen along the shore in winter.
Greenshank - Occasional visitor on migration.
Common Sandpiper - Summer visitor. Two or three pairs breeding.
Turnstone - Regular winter visitor along the shore. Up to 20 birds.
Black-headed Gull - Occasional visitor.
Common Gull - Present throughout the year in small numbers. Probably breeds nearby.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Summer visitor. Breeding colony on Eilean Aoghainn.
Herring Gull - Present all year, sometimes in flocks of several hundred. Large breeding colony on Eilean Aoghainn.
Great Black-backed Gull - Present throughout year in small numbers. At least 3 or 4 pairs breed on Eilean Aoghainn.
Kittiwake - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Guillemot - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Razorbill - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Black Guillemot - Present throughout the year. Pairs breed on Eilean Aoghainn.
Wood Pigeon - Resident in small numbers. Flocks of 100+ occasionally in winter.
Collared Dove - Regular visitor.
Cuckoo - Regular visitor in summer.
Barn Owl - Occasional visitor.
Tawny Owl - Resident. At least one pair breeding.
Long-eared Owl - Has been reported.
Swift - Occasional visitor seen flying overhead.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Resident. At least two pairs breeding.
Jay - Regular visitor in small numbers from autumn to spring. May breed.
Carrion Crow - Occasional individuals.
Hooded Crow - Resident breeding species.
Raven - Resident in small numbers. At least one pair breeds.
Goldcrest - Common resident breeding species. Flocks of 50 or more in winter.
Coat Tit - Very common resident breeding species.
Blue Tit - Common resident breeding species.
Great Tit - Common resident breeding species.
Sand Martin - Occasional visitor in summer.
Swallow - Common breeding summer visitor, often seen feeding overhead.
House Martin - Seen feeding overhead in summer. Breeds in Minard village.
Long-tailed Tit - Resident. Probably breeds. Flocks of 10 or more birds in winter.
Sedge Warbler - Summer visitor ­ probably breeds in the locality.
Grasshopper Warbler - Summer visitor. One or two pairs breeding in most years.
Whitethroat - Summer visitor. Sometimes breeds along main road.
Garden Warbler - Summer visitor. At least one pair present.
Blackcap - Summer visitor. Three or four singing males heard regulalrly.
Wood Warbler - Summer visitor. At least 2 or 3 pairs breeding.
Chiffchaff - Summer visitor. One or two pairs breeding.
Willow Warbler - Common summer visitor. Many breeding pairs.
Waxwing - Irregular visitor in winter.
Tree Creeper - Resident breeding species.
Wren - Resident. Common breeder.
Common Starling - Occasional visitor. Breeds in the village.
Dipper - Occasional visitor along the shore.
Blackbird - Resident breeder in fair numbers. Not as common as Song Thrush.
Fieldfare - Regular winter visitor in flocks of up to 50.
Song Thrush - Resident breeder. Eight or more singing males counted in spring.
Redwing - Regular winter visitor in flocks of up to 50.
Mistle Thrush - Resident. One or two pairs breeding.
Spotted Flycatcher - Summer visitor. At least one pair probably breeds.
Robin - Resident. Common breeder. Even more numerous in winter.
Pied Flycatcher - Occasional visitor in spring.
Redstart - Summer visitor. At least two or three pairs breeding. The Community Woodland Trust has provided nesting boxes to encourage more pairsto breed.
Common Stonechat - Occasional visitor.
Wheatear - Occasional visitor on migration.
Dunnock - Resident in small numbers.
House Sparrow - Occasional visitor. Breeds in the village.
Grey Wagtail - Occasional visitor along the streams. May breed.
Pied Wagtail - Seen regularly along the shore in summer. Breeds nearby.
Tree Pipit - Summer visitor. Breeds in Minard Woods.
Meadow Pipit - Occasional visitor in winter.
Rock Pipit - Seen regularly along the shore. Probably breeds.
Chaffinch - Common resident breeding species.
Brambling - Occasional winter visitor in variable numbers.
Greenfinch - Resident breeding species.
Goldfinch - Occasional visitor.
Siskin - Resident breeding species. Sometimes large flocks (50+) in winter.
Twite - Very occasional visitor.
Lesser Redpoll - Regular visitor.
Common Crossbill - Irregular visitor. May sometimes breed.
Bullfinch - Resident in small numbers. At least one or two pairs breed.
Yellowhammer - Very occasional visitor.
Reed Bunting - Very occasional visitor.