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Scotland Ayrshire

Stonechat Saxicola rubecola ŠJim Woods http://birdsbydigiscope.piczo.com

Comprising North, South and East Ayrshire

The county of Ayrshire is on the west of Scotland, south of Glasgow. It has a long coastline on the Firth of Clyde, making it particularly good for wetland birds. The main population centres (Ayr, Irvine, Ardrossan, etc) are also on the coast, with the exception of Kilmarnock in the centre. In the south the land rises with moorland and forestry being the main habitats. Elsewhere the county is predominantly agricultural.

Ayrshire Branch of the SOC
We are an active group of birders with an interesting programme of indoor and outdoor meetings and trips (local and foreign). The group has close ties (such as joint trips and shared office-bearers!) with other birding and wildlife groups in the county including the North and Central Ayrshire RSPB groups and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The Branch maintains a web site (see below) giving details of meetings, news, contact information, a photo gallery, newsletters, etc that would be of interest to members and birders visiting the county. The site also gives details on an electronic grapevine for sightings news. The Branch also publishes the annual Ayrshire Bird Report (whose silver anniversary was in 2002).

Top Sites
The following sites are probably the best in the county. However, the web site of Ayrshire Branch of the SOC gives detailed location information for over 80 good birding sites in the county. Each entry gives details on access, the birds you can expect to find, notes on suitability for disabled access, and other comments (such as the nearest pub and public transport or cycle routes). Most have photos. This site complements the free 32-page booklet (published in Spring 2003) - Birdwatching in Ayrshire and Arran.

top sites

Ailsa Craig

(NX020998)This is a volcanic plug rising 338 m from the sea 19km W of Girvan at the above grid reference. View cliffs from sea or land and explore shingle/rocky beach by arrangement with boat from Girvan. It has a major Gannet colony. Also Lesser & Greater Black-backed & Herring Gull and Kittiwake. There are Fulmar, Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag and a few Puffins.

Bogside Flats & Harbourside

(NS307400)An area of mudflat & salt marsh of special scientific interest at the confluenceof R Irvine & R Garnock on W, seaward, edge of Irvine, best scanned from the harbour wall at NS 315 383 Best at high tide minus 1 hour. Good most of year, but especially for wintering/passage wildfowl & waders: Redshank, Grenshank, Turnstone, Lapwing, Curlew, Whimbrel, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit; occasional Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Large wintering flocks of Wigeon & Red-breasted Merganser. Raptors: Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, occasional Marsh Harrier. Harbour mouth seabirds:Eider, Shag, Gannet, Manx Shearwater, terns, gulls, divers. Rarities: American Wigeon, Barrow`s Goldeneye, Pomarine Skua, Avocet, Black-headed Bunting, Ross`s Goose, White Stork. Pond behind Leisure Centre: Scaup, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, gulls. Good beach & grassy hinterland habitat. Former racecourse on Flats for Short-eared Owl & Water Rail: scan from grid ref above.

Martnaham Loch

(NS405177)This is a large inland lake, southeast of Ayr. Scan from lay-bys at E end (see grid ref above) or on S hillside (NS 403 173). Good for wintering wildfowl & birds on passage. There are wintering flocks of Goldeneye, Wigeon, Pochard, Teal; possible Shoveler, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Gadwall; Greylag Goose & Whooper Swan. There are also many gulls, possibly Glaucous, Iceland, Mediterranean shelter from storms. Passage flocks of waders can include Whimbrel, Ruff, Green Sandpiper, and Black-tailed Godwit. Breeding Great Crested & Little Grebe. Notable for rarities: Smew, Ring-necked Duck, Black Tern, Lesser Scaup, Hobby, American sub species of Teal.

River Ayr Gorge, Failford

(NS460262)Scottish Wildlife Trust managed woodland on W bank of River Ayr, down stream from Failford (grid ref above). Located on B743 Ayr-Mauchline road, 10km inland. Reserve open at all times. It consists of a Sandstone river gorge flanked by rich, well-established deciduous & coniferous woodland with network of paths for circuitous walks of 1-3 hours duration. Breeding Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Redstart, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Dipper, Jay, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and many others. It is rich in bird song in spring. Buzzard, Sparrowhawk are all present.

Seamill Shore

(NS202471)A stretch of rocky coast north of Ardrossan from Waterside Inn at grid reference above to Seamill. This site is best in winter. Tidal zone: Rock Pipit, passage White Wagtail, wintering Greenshank. Offshore islets: Shag, Cormorant, Eider, and Purple Sandpiper. Seaward: Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Red-breasted Merganser, Black Guillemot, record of Little Auk. Fields/shoreline: Common & Jack Snipe, Curlew, Lapwing; Sedge Warbler, Stonechat, Black Redstart.

Troon and Barassie Shore

(NS323333)Stretch of coast including Troon headland & harbour and N & S Sands, from Stinking Rocks (grid ref above)off Barassie (N Sands) to Meikle Craigs (NS325285) (S Sands). Ferry signs lead from A76/77. N Sands: major Ayrshire wader & gull site. Huge gull roosts here & on Meikle Crags (S Sands); Iceland, Glaucous & Mediterranean regular in winter. Large autumn build up of waders: Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Ringed & Golden Plover (Stinking Rocks); some wintering Sanderling; records of Buff-breasted & White-rumped Sandpiper. Harbour: active fishing fleet attracts gulls, Black Guillemot, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser. Headland: good sea-watching: Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Storm & Leach`s Petrel, all 3 divers.

Turnberry Point

(NS196073)The lighthouse is 1 km along a track over Turnberry golf course from the A719 starting at NS 206 068 about 1km south of Maidens village. Park at golfers` car park on old runway & proceed on foot. Excellent sea-watching: shearwaters, petrels, scoters, divers, grebes, skuas on passage; Gannet, auks, gulls, terns in season. Foreshore good for wide variety of migrant waders: records of White-rumped & Pectoral Sandpiper and Grey Phalarope. Track side grass & scrub for small birds: Wheatear, Stonechat, Twite, warblers, pipits.

contributor

Kevin Waite
Ayrshire Bird Report Editor
(Irvine, Ayrshire)
kev@ayrshire-birding.org.uk

county recorder

Bernard Zonfrillo (Arran)
0141 557 0791

Angus Hogg
11 Kirkmichael Crosshill, Maybole, Ayrshire KA19 7RJ 01655 740317
recorder@ayrshire-birding.org.uk

numbers

Number of bird species:292
County Bird - Stonechat Saxicola torquata

useful reading

Ayrshire Bird Report

By post from Dick Vernon (?4 cheques made payable to Ayrshire Bird Report with an additional 50p to cover postage). Past issues are also available.

Ayrshire's Moorland Birds [Tape]

Angus Hogg and Ken Jackson Sounds Natural
ISBN: 66959
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Ayrshire's Upland Birds (includes Ayrshire's Moorland Birds and Ayrshire's Upland Forest Birds)

Angus Hogg, Robin Heaney and Ken Jackson Running time: Approx 124 minutes on 2 cassettes. Sounds Natural
ISBN: 140172
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Where to Watch Birds in Scotland

Mike Madders, Julia Welstead Paperback - 332 pages (1997) Christopher Helm
ISBN: 0713644877
Buy this book from NHBS.com

clubs

SOC Ayrshire Branch

http://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk
Secretary - Henry Martin, 9 Shawfield Avenue, Ayr KA7 4RE 01292 442086

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you cant find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page give them a try!

tour operators

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/Unitedkingdom.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

places to stay

Balbeg Holiday Lodges

http://www.balbeg.co.uk/
Balbeg Self Catering Holiday Lodges are situated in the beautiful countryside near Straiton, South Ayrshire on the edge of The Galloway Forest Park...

Butt Lodge Country House Hotel - Isle of Arran

http://www.stilwell.co.uk/show_town.asp?Q=bb|L4200498|P127578
The setting, alongside a golf course and at the foot of the northern hills, is both peaceful and full of wildlife, including deer, golden eagles and seals. small, family run four-star hotel with residential licence, Butt Lodge is just yards from the sea and enjoys the benefits of being on the sunny side of the valley.

Carlton Guest House - Largs

http://www.bedandbreakfast-directory.co.uk/uploads/estate/hotels/hotels2495.htm
The Carlton was built in 1891 and forms part of which was originally Carlton Terrace, and as a listed building is a superb example of a town house of the period. As this was the time of Victorian and Edwardian weekly holidays by the sea, there is some evidence to indicate that the Carlton has been a hotel or guest house for most of it`s history. Today every effort has been made to preserve and restore the original character of the house, including the elegant dining room offering full Scottish breakfast to prepare guests for a day`s touring in the area, and the intimate resident`s lounge which, from it`s elevated position, enjoys uninterrupted views over the river. The lounge has satellite television...

Pickwick Hotel

http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=3549
This 18th century villa hotel is set in its own landscaped garden, just a short walk from Ayr town centre and seafront.

mailing lists

Ayrshire-Birding

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ayrshirebirding/
To post to list:ayrshirebirding@yahoogroups.com
List contact:ayrshirebirding-owner@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to list:ayrshirebirding-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
A forum for news on bird sightings (rare, unusual or just interesting) and birding events in Ayrshire, UK. To subscribe send a blank email...

Alice Enjoying Birding from Troon Scotland

http://www.birds.by.alice.scotland.fotopic.net
I have only just started in birding, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. As I have been into photography for a while I felt this would be another challange to photograph these lovely animals. Hope you enjoy these photos...

Arran Birding

http://arranbirding.co.uk/
Arran is a special place with special birds. Birding on Arran is interesting at any time of the year. Arran lies in the Firth of Clyde, 28km west of the Ayrshire coast, 5km east of the Kintyre peninsula

Ayrshire Recording Areas

http://www.the-soc.zenwebhosting.com/ayrshire-recorder.htm
South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire (excluding Arran and the Cumbraes)

Birding in Ayrshire

http://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk/
This website exists to provide information of value to all with an interest in the wild birds of Ayrshire and in birding in this area, whether resident or visitor. The site is sponsored by SOC Ayrshire (the Ayrshire residents of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club)...

Birdwatching around South Ayrshire

http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/environment/bird_dg.htm
The main habitats of the area are the mudflats, rocks and mussel beds exposed at low tide, which are backed by dune grassland. There is also a section of low cliff and scrub around Greenan Castle. Woodland is scarce but there is a small wooded island near the mouth of the River Doon. North of the River lies Cunning Park, an area of marsh and fields, almost surrounded by houses...

Fraser`s Birding Website

http://www.fssbirding.org.uk/
Personal site with trip reports, info on local patches, recent sightings, photographs and butterflies/dragonflies in Ayrshire...

Girlbirder

http://www.girlbirder.co.uk
I am a young birder from Ayrshire in south-west Scotland. My interest in birds is relatively recent and in the beginning... which I guess was around the time that the first Snowy Egret (from the US) arrived on the shores of the British Isles... I almost gave it up! Yes, freezing for three hours on a Scottish winter's day while my boyfriend marvelled at this little white vagrant, I thought I was mad but since then my interest has developed.... and so the creation of girlbirder.co.uk

Wildlife Strategy

http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/LocalPlan/wildlifestrat.htm
The Council has produced a detailed Wildlife Strategy which advocates a comprehensive approach to biodiversity conservation. At one level it seeks to ensure that the Council, in the fulfillment of its normal duties and responsibilities has regard to biodiversity. However the Strategy is only one of a number of measures being developed to provide the Council with a policy framework for benefiting biodiversity and ultimately people in South Ayrshire...

artists