Monday 26th January

A count of the birds between Stevenston Dunes and Irvine Bar produced:

Sanderling - 29
Turnstone - 2
Redshank - 21
Dunlin - 15
Ringed Plover - 43
Eider - 25
Common Scoter - 52
Shag - 8
Cormorant - 1
Red-breasted Merganser - 16
Red-throated Diver - 11
Black-throated Diver - 1
Great Crested Grebe - 13
Twite - 9
Linnet - 15

(Photo: Eiders)

Saturday 17th January

A circuit round the Ardeer Quarry LNR site, sticking to the main paths rather than exploring and recording in the isolated corners of the reserve.

Woodhead Plantation:

Blue Tit - heard
Long-tailed Tits - heard
Robin - heard


Hawthorn hedgerow:

Great Tit - 1
Waxwing - 6 flew over


Large Field:

Coal Tit - heard
Blue Tit - heard
Blackbird - 1


Wood by Gavin's Wee Pond:

Magpie - 2
Chaffinch - heard


B752 Embankment:

Magpie - 5
Wren - heard
Blackbird - 1
Coak Tit - heard


Gavin's Wee Pond:

Mallard - 5
Moorhen - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Bullfinch - 2
Magpie - 2

Tuesday 13th January

159 Dunlin and 22 Sanderling were on Stevenston Beach; 3 Teal (1m 2ff) were on the Ardeer Rec Pond, with a Cormorant and a Redshank there in the afternoon. The Cormorant was having a lot of success fishing, whilst the Redshank was taking advantage of the mud exposed by the relatively low water levels.

Friday 9th January

Hoping all the ice would've melted by now, I paid my first visit to Eglinton Park for a while. Beside the car park there were 10 Siskins in the Alders and c.100 Redwings in a single species flock nearby. The Belvedere Pond was still frozen over. However, Eglinton Loch held 146 Wigeon, 83 Teal, 32 Mallard, and 3 Whooper Swans. 85+ Lapwings were in one of the cattle fields near the Tournament Bridge, as were 26 Fieldfares and about 6 Redwings.

Thursday 8th January

Two 1st winter Iceland Gulls on the high tide islands at Bogside was the most interesting find of the day. A few Gadwall were on the upper estuary and a single juv Whooper was at Ardeer Mains.

Wednesday 7th January

An adult winter Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the River Irvine at Bogside (unusual to get a wintering bird); 5 Gadwall were on the upper estuary; 4 Whooper Swans (inc 2 juvs) were at Ardeer Mains.

3 Teal (2m 1f) on the Ardeer Rec Pond was a high count for the pond.

Tuesday 6th January

A survey of the birds on the Ardeer Quarry LNR site produced:

Woodhead Plantation:

Mistle Thrush - 1
Blackbird - 3
Magpie - 1
Carrion Crow - 1
Woodpigeon - 1
Blue Tit - 14
Great Tit - 2
Dunnock - 2
Robin - 3
Wren - 1
House Sparrow - 2
Buzzard - 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Greenfinch - 4
Chaffinch - 3


Hawthorn/Alder/Conifer thicket:

Magpie - 2
Song Thrush - 1
Blackbird - 3
Blue Tit - 1
Coal Tit - 1


B752 Embankment:

Robin - 2


Wood by Gavin's Wee Pond:

Robin - 1
Dunnock - 1
Wren - 1
Blackbird - 2
Sonf Thrush - 1
Redwing - 1
Great Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 1
Treecreeper - 1


In the large field:

Grey Heron - 1


In the cycle path's Hawthorn hedge:

Blackbird - 6
Wren - 1
Great Tit - 1
Goldcrest - 1


The single species flock of 12 Blue Tits and the 2 Buzzards were the most interesting observations.

Also, 28 Mallard were on the Ardeer Rec Pond.

Friday 2nd January

Between Stevenston Point and Irvine Bar were 54 Common Scoter, 16 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Red-throated Diver, 2 Scaup, 9 Twite, and 10 Sanderling.