Sunday 30th November

I woke up this morning to hear 2 Whoopers fly east over Ardeer Quarry. A couple of minutes later 7 flew west. There were 448 Teal on the upper Garnock Estuary, as well as 7 Gadwall (inc 3 drakes) and a Kingfisher. I could hear a Crossbill, but couldn't see it. A fox was walking along the upper estuary's salt marsh. 58 Teal and a drake Shoveler were on the River Irvine, and some Twite were calling nearby. 3 Short-eared Owls were up in the air at the same time: one was hunting over Bogside Racecourse and two were fighting above the field across the River Irvine. A single Crossbill flew over Bogside Racecourse. 4 Waxwings were in my garden in Stevenston.

Wednesday 26th November

150 Chaffinches were near Auchenkist Farm above Stevenston, as were one or two Yellowhammers; 20 Collared Doves were at Lochwood Farm; 9 Whoopers were in a stubble field beside Kerelaw; and 40 Reed Buntings were in the neighbouring hedgerows.

Tuesday 25th November

1 or 2 Short-eared Owls were up at Bogside Racecourse; 5 Whoopers (inc 3 juvs), 6 Gadwall (inc 2 drakes), and 319 Teal were on the upper estuary; another drake Gadwall was on the Garnock Floods with 104 Teal.

Monday 24th November

A WeBS count at Stevenston Beach produced:

Razorbill - 2
Shag - 32
Oystercatcher - 281
Ringed Plover - 28
Sanderling - 24
Dunlin - 16
Redshank - 26
Knot - 12
Turnstone - 11
Purple Sandpiper - 4
Curlew - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 4
Common Scoter - 23
Eider - 45
Goldeneye - 3

Also, there were 15+ Twite on the beach and a single Snow Bunting flew in and landed on the seaweed-covered rocks just north of the Point.

(Photo: Knot)

Sunday 23rd November

A WeBS count along the Garnock/Irvine Estuary produced:

Little Grebe - 4
Grey Heron - 1
Cormorant - 2
Mute Swan - 34
Mallrd - 47
Gadwall - 1
Teal - 50
Wigeon - 354
Goldeneye - 3
Eider - 20
Red-breasted Merganser - 26
Oystercatcher - 320
Curlew - 71
Lapwing - 245
Golden Plover - 220
Dunlin - 90
Knot - 2
Turnstone - 24
Redshank - 201
Greenshank - 3
Common snipe -2

Also, an immature Iceland Gull was on the River Irvine.

(Photos: Kestrels; Iceland Gull)

Friday 21st November

37 Tufted Ducks were on the Ardeer Rec Pond with the Long-tailed Duck. A partially leucistic Robin was at Ardeer Quarry where the cycle path passes the corner of the playing fields. There was a similar (or same) bird there for a few months a year or two ago.

(Photo: digibinned Robin)

Thursday 20th November

80 Fieldfares were at Glen Banks and 5 Whooper Swans were nearby in a stubble field beside Kerelaw in Stevenston. Today was the last day that a Garden Warbler was present in my garden. It had arrived the previous Friday and spent most of its time feeding in my apple tree. A very unusual record for this time of year.

(Photos: Garden Warbler)

Tuesday 18th November

50-60 Waxwings were in the trees along the cycle path beside the Woodmill housing scheme at Irvine Road in Kilwinning. 104 Golden Plover and 30 Dunlin were on the Garnock Estuary at Bogside. 184 Teal were on the upper estuary.

Sunday 16th November

A Kingfisher was at the River Garnock just downstram from the viaduct by the Garnock Floods; 3 Gadwall and 16 Whooper Swans (inc. 3 juvs) were on the upper estuary; a Short-eared Owl was hunting over Bogside Racecourse; 3 Crossbills flew over from the Black Powder Wood at Ardeer to the Garnock East plantation; 4 Crossbills were feeding in the conifers on Bogside Golf Course.

c.150 Waxwings were feeding along the High Road in Saltcoats late afternoon.

(Photos: Whoopers; Common Crossbills; Waxwings)

Tuesday 11th November

A Kingfisher was in the Willow scrub along the Master Gott at the Ardeer Quarry LNR site, and 38 Tufted Duck were with the Long-tailed Duck on the Ardeer Rec Pond.

Monday 10th November

A late Wheatear was on a stormy Stevenston Beach.

Wednesday 12th November

7 Shovelers were at Garnock Floods; a ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting over Garnock East Ponds; a drake Gadwall was on the upper estuary; a Short-eared Owl was having success hunting over Bogside Racecourse; another Short-eared Owl (or perhaps the same one?) was hunting over the overgrown field across the River Irvine from Bogside Racecourse.

Sunday 9th November

The Long-tailed Duck was still on the Ardeer Rec Pond. 36 Tufted Duck were also there - the highest count yet for the pond.

Friday 7th November

2 Grey Plovers were on the Garnock Estuary at Bogside; 12 Crossbills were flying around Bogside Golf Course; a ringtail Hen Harrier was high over Garnock East; and at least two Short-eared Owls were at Bogside.

(Photoes: Short-eared Owl; Grey Plover)

Wednesday 5th November

A walk form Auchenkist farm past Lochwood Farm, past Diddup Farm, past Glen Banks, and down to Kerelaw produced small numbers of farmland birds (concentrated around the few stubble fields in the area):
3 Yellowhammers were in the roadside hedge near the walled field at Auchenkist - 2 Redpolls were feeding on the roadside vegetation. A flock of 43 Chaffinches were feeding in a field. 70 Linnets and 30 Skylarks were in the large stubble field between Glen Banks and Kerelaw. 8 Mallard were in the neighbouring semi-permanent pool.

Monday 3rd November

A pair of Gadwall were on one of the Garnock East ponds, along with 5 Tufted Duck. c.8 Brambling were moving between the various areas of woodland. Another 4 Gadwall were on the upper Garnock Estuary (appeared to be another 2 pairs). 10 Goldeneye, 124 Teal, and a Kingfisher were also on the upper estuary. 3 Grey Plover and 32 Dunlin were downstream at Bogside. A ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting over Bogside Racecourse and a Short-eared Owl was up briefly.

An immature Long-tailed Duck was on Ardeer Rec Pond. A Redshank was at the pond too.

(Photo: Long-tailed Duck)

Sunday 2nd November

In the countryside north of Stevenston there were good numbers of passerines feeding in the stubble fields NW of Kerelaw. I didn't count the Linnet, Skylark, and Chaffinch, but there were c.20 Reed Bunting present. A bit further up the farm track towards Glen Banks I flushed a Woodcock from the roadside hedge. Nothing much was on Ashgrove Loch, but further round towards High Smithstone 4 Yellowhammers flew over.