Irvine Bay Birds

Tuesday 24th February

2009-02-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

The Belvedere Pond at Eglinton held 107 Wigeon, 47 Teal, 2 pairs of Goldeneye, and a Pochard.

My garden in Stevenston has been attracting some unusual birds recently. For a couple of weeks I've been getting several visits a day from both a Treecreeper and female Goldcrest. These birds feed from the the wire mesh nut feeders, fat ball feeders, and the spillage from the fat ball fedders. Also, this afternoon I had a female Brambling feeding on fallen Nyjer seed.

(Photos: Wigeon, Goldeneye, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Brambling)

Saturday 21st February

2009-02-25T11:29:00.000-08:00

A WeBS count at the upper Garnock estuary produced:

Teal - 64
Wigeon - 71
Mallard - 5
Goldeneye - 14
Greenshank - 7
Curlew - 17
Oystercatcher - 2
Grey Heron - 1

Numbers are falling away sharply now that winter is coming to an end.

A further 4 Greenshanks at the River Irvine brought the estuary complex total to 11.

Friday 20th February

2009-02-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

An unimpressive WeBS count at Stevenston Beach produced:

Oystercatcher - 52
Ringed Plover - 9
Redshank - 10
Turnstone - 1
Eider - 15
Curlew - 1
Common Scoter - 16
Red-breasted Merganser - 4
Shag - 4
Cormorant - 1

Thursday 12th February

2009-02-25T11:23:00.000-08:00

46 Whoopers were feeding at Ardeer Mains today, 31+ were there on the 11th.

Tuesday 10th February

2009-02-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

A Green Sandpiper was on the upper Garnock Estuary's saltmarsh. Later it was calling from downstream at Bogside.

Monday 9th February

2009-02-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

The snow bumped up the numbers of several species of birds on the Garnock Estuary: 237 Lapwing and 11 Little Grebe were far higher counts than of late; the snow was most likely responsible for the flock of c.60 Skylarks feeding on the saltmarsh at Bogside. A duck count on the upper estuary produced 3 pairs of Gadwall, 314 Teal, 200 Wigeon, 115 Mallard, 10 Goldeneye, and a Tufted Duck. 2 Short-eared Owls were hunting over Bogside Racecourse mid-morning; a short time later, one was hunting over the field across the River Irvine from Bogside.

(Photo: Upper Garnock estuary's flooded saltmarsh)

Wednesday 4th February

2009-02-25T10:47:00.000-08:00

8 Twite were at Broom Farm in Stevenston; 182 Mallard, 5 Gadwall (inc 5 drakes), and a Tufted Duck were on the upper Garnock estuary; a Crossbill flew over from Garnock East to the Black Powder Wood at Ardeer; as well as a few Greenshanks on the Garnock estuary, 2 were on the River Irvine; 6+ Crossbills were in the conifers at Bogside Racecourse.

Sunday 1st February

2009-02-03T11:00:00.000-08:00

9 Whoopers were in a stubble field at Kerelaw; an immature Iceland Gull and a drake Pochard were on the Ardeer Rec Pond.

(Photos: Pochard, Grey Heron - all from Ardeer Quarry on the 2nd)

Saturday 31st January

2009-02-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

A delayed WeBS count on the upper Garnock Estuary produced:

Goldeneye - 10
Teal - 168
Mallard - 25
Wigeon - 68
Little Grebe - 2
Greenshank - 6
Redshank - 4
Curlew - 2
Oystercatcher - 3

Monday 26th January

2009-01-26T07:28:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-26T07:22:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-13T07:40:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-09T06:08:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-08T05:08:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-07T09:29:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

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.

Wednesday 31st December

2008-12-31T05:01:00.000-08:00

A count of the birds at the Ardeer Quarry LNR site produced:

Woodhead Plantation:
Greenfinch - 3
Carrion Crow - 2
Blue Tit - 9
Coal Tit - 2
Great Tit - 1
Magpie - 4
Blackbird - 9
Redwing - 2
Robin - 4
Chaffinch - 1
Starling - 1

Hawthorn/Alder/Conifer thicket:
Blue Tit - 3
Blackbird - 9
Magpie - 1
Song Thrush - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Bullfinch - 2

B752 embankment:
Blue Tit - 2
Robin - 2
Blackbird - 2

Wood by Gavin's Wee Pond:
Robin - 3
Wren - 1
Magpie - 2
Blackbird - 7
Blue Tit - 3
Coal Tit - 1
Great Tit - 1
Treecreeper - 3

In the large field (most birds in scrub around periphery of field):
Long-tailed Tit - 7
Blue Tit - 2
Robin - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Dunnock - 1

In the cycle path's Hawthorn hedge:
Blue Tit - 2
Song Thrush - 1
Robin - 1
Chaffinch - 3

Some recent fungi:

Stump Puffball (Ardeer Quarry today):

Blushing Bracket (Ardeer Quarry today):
Velvet Shank (Garnock East a couple of days ago):

Tuesday 30th December

2008-12-31T04:59:00.000-08:00

In very frosty conditions, the upper Garnock estuary held 21 Whoopers, 4 pairs of Gadwall, 4 Shovelers, 745 Teal, 254 Wigeon, 239 Mallard, and 10 Goldeneye.

Monday 29th December

2008-12-31T04:54:00.000-08:00

Scrambling through the extensive scrub at Garnock East, I flushed 3 Woodcock. A Water Rail was where the scrub meets the vast wetland. 7 Greenshanks were roosting together on the upper Garnock estuary. A ringtal Hen Harrier was at Bogside Racecourse before flying over to the Ardeer Peninsula.

Sunday 28th December

2008-12-28T10:03:00.000-08:00

4 Whoopers (inc 2 juvs) flew over Broom Farm heading for Kerelaw. 7 Greylags flew over the upper Garnock Estuary before circling round and heading off SE. 640 Teal, 187 Mallard, 171 Wigeon, and 3 pairs of Gadwall were on the upper estuary. A couple of Short-eared Owls were fightings above the field across the River Irvine and one was hunting over Bogside Racecourse.

Saturday 27th December

2008-12-28T10:02:00.000-08:00

6 Waxwings were in my garden in Stevenston.

Friday 26th December

2008-12-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

7 Twite were at Broom Farm in Stevenston; a ringtail Hen Harrier flew from Bogside to Garnock East; 3 Short-eared Owls were hunting over Bogside Racecourse; 17 Great Crested Grebes were in Irvine Bay.

Wednesday 24th November

2008-12-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

A 1st winter Iceland Gull was on Stevenston Beach, as were c.280 Dunlin. On the sea between Saltcoats and Irvine were 35 Common Scoter, 12 Goldeneye, 13 Red-throated Divers, and 10 or 11 Great Crested Grebes.

At least one Waxwing flew over Ardeer Quarry, but trees blocked my view and stopped me from getting a count.

Tuesday 23rd December

2008-12-23T12:41:00.000-08:00

3 Tree Sparrows, 5 Yellowhammers, 8 Reed Buntings, and c.40 Chaffinches were in hedgerows beside the stubble field at Auchenkist Farm above Stevenston. 8 Whoopers were in a stubble field beside Kerelaw. A Woodcock flushed from Dubbs quarry.

(Photo: Whoopers)

Monday 22nd December

2008-12-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

c.9 Crossbills flew from Irvine railway station in the direction of Bogside; a female Crossbill was on top of a pine tree beside Eglinton Loch; 40 Canada Geese flew over and almost landed on the loch, but changed their mind and headed towards the Belvedere Pond - however, checking the pond 40 minutes later revealed no geese...or ducks (a man in a bright yellow coat walking his dog round the pond about an hour earlier might partially explain this).

(Photo: Crossbill)

Sunday 21st December

2008-12-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

A rintail Hen Harrier struggled against the wind to fly through Garnock East to Bogside. A drake Gadwall was on the upper estuary.

Saturday 20th December

2008-12-20T06:17:00.000-08:00

A WeBS count at the Garnock/Irvine estuary produced:

Little Grebe - 2
Cormorant - 2
Grey Heron - 2
Mute Swan - 38
Teal - 208
Mallard - 120
Wigeon - 230
Goldeneye - 12
Eider - 3
Red Breasted Merganser - 10
Lapwing - 230
Curlew - 287
Oystercatcher - 296
Dunlin - 25
Redshank - 125
Greenshank - 9
Turnstone - 22
Common Snipe - 1

A Short-eared Owl was hunting over the field across the River Irvine from Bogside Racecourse. A Kingfisher was flying up the River Irvine. A Crossbill was calling at Bogside Golf Course. 10 Twite were feeding at Broom Farm in Stevenston.

A late morning survey of the birds at the Ardeer Quarry LNR site produced:

In the Woodhead Plantation:
Literally no birds in the eastern half of the plantation: birdlife was confined to the scrubby western half (however, I suspect the presence of most of these birds is attributable to the birdfood provided in the neighbouring gardens).
Blue Tit - 3
Great Tit - 2
Coal Tit - 1
Wren - 3
Collard Dove - 1
Blackbird - 7
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1
Robin - 1
Chaffinch - 1
Starling - 1
Roe Deer - 1

Along the B752's embankment scrub:
Godfinch - 1
Blue Tit - 2
Blackbird - 1

In the large open field:
Wren - 1
Common Snipe - 1
Song Thrush - 2
Sparrowhawk - 1
Kestrel - 1
Magpie - 1

In the plantation beside Gavin's Wee Pond:
Wren - 1
Great Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 2
Long-tailed Tit - 5
Blackbird - 1
Roe Deer - 2

On Gavin's Wee Pond:
Mallard - 5
Moorhen - 1
Grey Wagtail - 1 (at new drainage ditch)

In the Hawthorn/Alder/Conifer thicket:
Magpie - 1
Wren - 1

Along the cycle path's Hawthorn hedge:
Goldcrest - 1
Blue Tit - 3
Blackbird - 3
Robin - 1

Thursday 18th December

2008-12-20T05:37:00.000-08:00

c.900 Woodpigeons were in the fields at Auchenkist Farm above Stevenston (took a photo of about 70-80% of the flock in flight and counted just under 700 birds).

Tuesday 16th December

2008-12-20T05:35:00.000-08:00

A juvenile Iceland Gull flew along the Stevenston-Saltcoats promenade heading towards Saltcoats Harbour.

Monday 15th December

2008-12-20T05:33:00.000-08:00

A WeBS count at Stevenston Beach during windy conditions produced:
101 Ringed Plover
284 Dunlin
269 Oystercatchers
3 Redshanks
2 Turnstones
2 Cormorants
16 Eider

Sunday 14th December

2008-12-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

7 Whoopers and 18 Linnets were on a stubble field at Kerelaw. 9 Mallards were in the pool there. 7 Yellowhammers were in a hedgerow near the stubble field at Auchenkist Farm, as was a single Tree Sparrow - the first one I've ever seen in the area.

Saturday 13th December

2008-12-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

A Water Rail was at the Penny Burn as it flows past Ardeer Fen. There was sporadic Short-eared Owl activity at Bogside Racecourse and in the field across the River Irvine. 2 was the most up at any one time.

Thursday 11th December

2008-12-11T09:45:00.000-08:00

A Woodcock flushed from scrub beside Ardeer Fen; 6 Whoopers (inc 2 juvs) were on the upper Garnock Estuary; 7 Short-eared Owls were in the air simultaneously at Bogside Racecourse.

(Photo: Short-eared Owl)

Wednesday 10th December

2008-12-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

6 Whoopers were at Ardeer Mains; a Woodcock flushed from the scrub at Ardeer Fen; 522 Teal, 202 Mallard, and 3 pairs of Gadwall were on the upper Garnock estuary; 105 Dunlin were on the mudflats at Bogside; 2 Short-eared Owls were at Bogside Racecourse.

(Photo: Dunlin)

Sunday 6th December

2008-12-06T09:28:00.000-08:00

2 Short-eared Owls were fighting above Bogside Racecourse; 12 Whooper Swans flew low over the upper estuary; 684 Teal, 110 Mallard, 182 Wigeon, and 5 Gadwall were on the upper estuary - a fox was nearby; 2 Water Rails were feeding in ditches at Garnock East; a Kingfisher was flying up the Garnock at Garnock Floods.

(Photo: Water Rail)

Wednesday 3rd December

2008-12-03T06:09:00.000-08:00

18 Whoopers were at Ardeer Mains and both Common Snipe and Jack Snipe was flushed from the Ardeer Rec Pond's contributory ditch. A fox was hunting along the grassy verges of the Railtrack access road. A Water Rail was feeding in the Ardeer Rec Pond's contributory ditch at sunset.

A male Siskin in my garden beside Ardeer Quarry yesterday was the first I've had there this winter.

Monday 1st December

2008-12-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

25 Whoopers were at Ardeer Mains. 3-4 Teal were in the Master Gott at the bottom of the field. A Kingfisher and Water Rail were at Ardeer Quarry LNR's Master Gott. A pair of Blackcaps were in my garden beside Ardeer Quarry.

Sunday 30th November

2008-11-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-26T04:31:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T10:41:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-21T09:14:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-16T11:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-16T11:53:00.003-08:00

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

2008-11-16T11:53:00.001-08:00

A late Wheatear was on a stormy Stevenston Beach.

Wednesday 12th November

2008-11-16T11:49:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-05T11:01:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-03T09:09:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

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.

Friday 30th October

2008-10-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

A count at Stevenston Beach produced:
197 Oystercatcher
32 Redshank
21 Sanderling
1 Dunlin
44 Ringed Plover
4 Turnstone
1 Grey Plover
1 Whimbrel
7 Cormorant
5 Shag
1 Red-throated Diver
1 Goldeneye
36 Eider
15 Common Scoter

A Merlin was hunting over the adjacent Beach Park.

3 Shoveler (inc. 2 drakes) and a pair of Gadwall were at the Garnock Floods.

Went down to see the Ruddy Shelduck at Martnaham Loch. Also there, among the Greylags and Canada Geese, were 2 Pink-footed Geese and a Barnacle Goose.

Wednesday 29th October

2008-10-29T04:29:00.000-07:00

A count at the Belvedere pond in Eglinton Park produced:
1 Grey Heron
63 Wigeon
30-40 Teal (they flushed)
17 Curlew
1 Snipe
1 Redshank

A pair of Mallard were the only wildfowl on Eglinton Loch. A late Swallow was feeding over the ford.

Ardeer Rec Pond held 30 Tufted Duck (my highest ever count at the site) and 21 Mallard.

Monday 27th October

2008-10-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

A count on the upper Garnock Estuary produced:
2 Grey Heron
3 Little Grebe
44 Wigeon
80 Mallard
104 Teal
3 Gadwall (inc. 1 drake)
1 Goldeneye
1 Red-breasted Merganser
45 Lapwing
37 Curlew
12 Greenshank
5 Redshank
4 Snipe

Wednesday 22nd October

2008-10-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

6 Whoopers were roosting at Bogside - another 11 flew in to join them and a single bird was on the upper estuary. 338 Wigeon were scattered along the estuary. 108 Teal, 83 Mallard, and at least 2 Gadwall were on the upper estuary.

A count at the Belvedere Pond in Eglinton Park produced:
63 Teal
10 Mallard
9 Wigeon
33 Curlew
11 Snipe

c.100 Redwings were feeding on Hawthorns at the edge of the park.

A Grey Phalarope was reported south of Saltcoats Harbour. I went to have a look. It was feeding just off the promenade between Stevenston and Saltcoats.

(Photos: Whoopers and Grey Phalarope)

Saturday 18th October

2008-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

30-40 Redwings were at Kerelaw in Stevenston, feeding in the extensive scrub. I got a quick glimpse of what was probably a flock of 15-20 Fieldfares.

Yesterday there were 26 Tufted Duck on the Ardeer Rec Pond - a good count.

Thursday 16th October

2008-10-16T05:05:00.000-07:00

104 Mallard and a pair of Gadwall were on the upper estuary. A Brent Goose was at Bogside. A Short-eared Owl was up for a brief time at Bogside Racecourse.

Sunday 12th October

2008-10-12T08:29:00.000-07:00

A count at the Belvedere Pond in Eglinton produced:
43 Wigeon
36 Teal
(no Mallard)
2 Moorhen
1 Little Grebe
3 Curlew
3 Lapwing
3 Snipe

The 5 Whoopers were on the water at Bogside and a Curlew Sandpiper was on the mudflats.

(Photos: Greenshanks at Doonfoot; Teal; Wigeon & Teal in flight; Whoopers; Curlew Sandpiper)

Saturday 11th October

2008-10-12T08:27:00.000-07:00

A Kingfisher was right at the top of the Garnock Estuary; 33 Canada Geese were on the upper estuary, before flying off SE; 5 adult Whooper Swans were roosting at Bogside; 13 Greenshanks were roosting along the Garnock estuary. A Common Lizard was at Bogside Racecourse.

Thursday 9th October

2008-10-09T08:55:00.001-07:00

2 Shovelers were on Eglinton Park's Belvedere pond. The tall scrub around the north and west of Eglinton Loch prevented clear views of the ducks roosting in the NE corner, but small numbers of Mallard and Teal were visible.

(Photo: Shoveler)

Wednesday 8th October

2008-10-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

A Kingfisher was at the Garnock East ponds; 2 Shovelers and 10 Snipe were on the upper estuary; a Black-tailed Godwit was at Bogside. Someone out on Bogside Racecourse saw a Short-eared Owl at lunchtime.

Sunday 5th October

2008-10-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

60 Golden Plover and a Pintail were on the upper Garnock estuary; 2 further Pintails were at Bogside. 9 Shovelers were at Capringstone.

Friday 3rd October

2008-10-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

Viewed from the Harbourside before high tide: there was a Whooper with the Mute swans on the mudflats - a Black-tailed Godwit was feeding nearby. A drake Gadwall was on the neighbouring Beach Park pond.

(Photos: Whooper Swan, Gadwall)

Thursday 2nd October

2008-10-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

A quick look out over Bogside Flats from the Harbourside at high tide revealed up a Ruff feeding on the saltmarsh and a drake Gadwall flying over to the Beach Park pond.

Wednesday 1st October

2008-10-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, and 3 Gadwall were on the upper estuary. A drake Scaup was on the Garnock East farm pool.

(Photo: Scaup)

Sunday 28th September

2008-10-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Before high tide there were 300 Golden Plover, 1 Grey Plover, and 1 Black-tailed Godwit at Bogside, and 2 Pintail, 3 Gadwall, 1 Ruff, and 14 Greenshank on the upper Garnock estuary. A Spotted Redshank was at Eglinton Park's Belvedere pond.

(Photos: Teal, Spotted Redshank, Lapwing, Curlew)

Thursday 25th September

2008-09-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

A Kingfisher flew through Kilwinning town centre. 10 Tufted Ducks were on Ardeer Rec Pond and 23 Mallard were on the shallow Auchenharvie Pond. A Migrant Hawker was busy feeding at the edge of Auchenharvie Wood.

Wednesday 24th September

2008-09-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

15 Golden Plover and 2 Knot were at Bogside. A Pintail was on the upper estuary. 21 Snipe were flying around Garnock East.

Tuesday 23rd September

2008-09-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Spotted Redshank was still at the Belvedere pond. 2 Shovelers were new in and feeding frantically, paying little attention to the roosting Teal they were disruptively ploughing through. 18 Golden Plover and 2 Kingfishers were on the Garnock Estuary. 2 Common Lizards and a fox were nearby.
(Photo: Shoveler)

Monday 22nd September

2008-09-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

A count at the Belvedere pond in Eglinton recorded:
66 Teal
20 Mallard
3 Wigeon
2 Tufted Duck
53 Lapwing
3 Snipe

A juv. Spotted Redshank flew in and showed down to 50m.
(Photo: Spotted Redshank)

Sunday 21st September

2008-09-24T07:26:00.001-07:00

121 Mallard, 99 Teal, and 3 Gadwall were on the upper estuary. A Curlew Sandpiper and Shoveler were visible from the Harbourside when the tide was half way in. 3 young Common Lizards were basking together on Bogside Racecourse. An adult scuttled off an informal path just north of the racecourse at Garnock East.
(Photo: Common Lizard)

Friday 19th September

2008-09-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

From Irvine Harbourside I watched the last two hours of the rising tide. Yesterday's 2 Pintail were present, as was a newly arrived Shoveler and pair of Scaup. 2 Curlew Sandpipers were still present. A Common Sandpiper was on the bund at the Harbour. A Kingfisher made a couple of appearances. The young female Peregrine was hunting, diving at a Redshank and a Lapwing.

Thursday 18th September

2008-09-19T01:25:00.002-07:00

2 Pintail and 3 Gadwall were on the upper estuary. One Gadwall drake is back in full breeding plumage and another is almost there. A couple of Curlew Sandpipers were with 20 or so Dunlin at Bogside. 276 Wigeon were counted.
(Photo: 2 Pintail)

Wednesday 17th September

2008-09-19T01:25:00.001-07:00

A Short-eared Owl was hunting over Bogside Racecourse. A coulpe of Wheatears were at Bogside: one on the saltmarsh and one along the shore debris. A Kingfisher was fishing at the Ardeer Quarry LNR pond. There are Kingfishers everywhere at the moment.

Mon 15th September

2008-09-19T01:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of Curelw Sandpipers were feeding on Bogside Flats before high tide. A ringtail Hen Harrier could be seen feeding over the racecouse. A couple of Brent Geese were at Barassie.

Sunday 14th September

2008-09-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

There were 4 Gadwall, 16 Greenshanks, and a Kingfisher on the upper estuary. A Hen Harrier flew in from the north to land on Bogside Racecourse. 6+ Curlew Sandpipers were together on Bogside flats before high tide. There were probably 9 or more birds, but a dense heat haze stopped me from making an accurate count from the racecourse. A single Black-tailed Godwit was also there. After high tide I watched from Irvine Harbourside: 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Golden Plover, and 3 Pintail were present.
(Photos: Kingfisher, Greenshank, Lapwing, and Teal)

Thursday 11th September

2008-09-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

370 Lapwing were roosting on the upper estuary's saltmarsh, along with 8 Greenshank. A Pintail was feeding with the dabbling ducks on the flooded saltmarsh. Kingfishers were at Garnock East ponds and Ardeer Fen. Over 180 Goldfinches were in a large charm feeding on the thistles in the cattle field at Garnock East. 80-90 Teal were in the Garnock East Farm Pool.

Wednesday 10th September

2008-09-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

Wigeon numbers have incresed to 144. 2 Gadwall and a sincle Knot were the two most interesting birds on the upper estuary. However, a Kittiwake on the water was very unusual for this part of the estuary.

Tuesday 9th September

2008-09-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

12 Snipe and a Common Sandpiper were at the River Irvine. 3 Knot and a Great Crested Grebe were the most interesting birds at Bogside. The upper estuary was the most interesting section of the site with 16 Snipe, 27 Dunlin, 110 Wigeon, and a Pintail.
(Photo: Grey Heron)

Monday 8th September

2008-09-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

A Wheatear was on the debris along the Garnock Estuary at Bogside. The upper estuary held good numbers of ducks, including 110 Wigeon, 29 Teal, and a Pintail. 12 Snipe were also on the upper estuary. A ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting at Ardeer Fen. I watched it hunting from the old stone bridge for a couple of minutes before it caught something. Because it landed amid sparse vegetation, I got good views of it finishing off its meal within 3 minutes. It spent the next 20 minutes surveying its surroundings fom the ground and preening before it took flight and resumed hunting. I got great views for a couple of minutes before, after one serious pounce, it dropped to the ground half-heartedly and stayed there.
(Photo: Common Snipe)

Sunday 7th September

2008-09-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

A Spotted Flycatcher and a couple of Chiffchaffs were in the Garnock East plantation. The Flycatcher again appeared to be associating with a tit flock. A Pintail was on the upper estuary. A ringtail Hen Harrier was being mobbed by Swallows over Bogside Racecourse. A quick stop-off at Capringstone Flash revealed a different Pintail along with a huge number of Mallard. In among Capringstone's ducks was a pure white Mallard that had been on the Garnock Estuary a couple of days earlier.

Saturday 6th September

2008-09-06T07:27:00.000-07:00

20 Dunlin and a Black-tailed Godwit were at Bogside; 2 Pintail and 2 Gadwall were on the upper estuary; 99 Wigeon were counted across the Irvine and Garnock Estuaries.
(Photo: Pintail)

Friday 5th September

2008-09-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

The 2 Black-tailed Godwits and Bar-tailed Godwit were at Bogside again; 125 Mallard were on the upper estuary, along with 9 Little Grebe; a Spotted Flycatcher was with a mixed tit/Treecreeper flock in the Garnock East wood; a Kingfisher was at the Garnock East ponds.

Thursday 4th September

2008-09-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

A flock of 9 Snipe were flying down the River Irvine; 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit were on the Garnock Estuary at Bogside; 4 Pintail and 10 Snipe were on the upper estuary.
(Photo: 140+ Sandwich Terns at Irvine Bar)

Wednesday 3rd September

2008-09-03T13:14:00.000-07:00

A wet day with the tide almost in. A Kingfisher was fishing in the River Irvine against a backdrop of 7 Snipe. A Couple of Common Sandpipers and a Greenshank were nearby. 56 Wigeon and a Bar-tailed Godwit were on the Garnock Estuary at Bogside. A Wheatear was on the old racetrack. A further 6 Snipe were on the upper estuary. Well over 100 Goldfinches were feeding in the northwest corner of the Garnock Floods.
(Photos: Sparrowhawk over Ardeer Quarry a couple of days ago; Swallow at Garnock Floods; Wheatear at Bogside.)

Saturday 30th August

2008-08-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

The rising tide pushed up a Black-tailed Godwit and a Knot towards the saltmarsh at Bogsdie. 25 Wigeon were at Bogside with some more on the upper estuary, but they might have been the Bogside birds moving location at high tide. 37 Teal flew onto the upper estuary – they were probably flushed from the Garnock East Farm Pool. 350 Lapwing and 21 Greenshanks were roosting on the upper estuary's saltmarsh. 11 Goosanders were on the upper estuary, with a further 12 at Bogside. One or two flocks of 15-18 Siskin were about: one flew east over the golf course, the other flew south east across the estuary from the Black Powder wood.

Thursday 28th August

2008-08-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

Spent about 45 minutes at the south west corner of Bogside racecourse watching the birds congregate as the tide went out. 136 Mallard, 14 Wigeon, and 1 Teal were feeding at high tide. An immature Great Crested Grebe was feeding on this stretch of estuary too. 5 Shelduck and 11 Goosander were on one of the high-tide islands. 81 Dunlin was a reasonable count. An unexpected Green Sandpiper feeding on the mudflats was interesting. A Greenshank, which was probably roosting at Bogside, flew overhead to the River Irvine. Almost all of the Bogside ducks moved to the upper estuary, joining 3 Gadwall. A Bar-tailed Godwit was in the southernmost bay of the upper estuary. A Flock of 33 Goldfinches near the ponds at Garnock East and a flock of 15 Chaffinches in the cattle field scrub were worth recording.

Wednesday 27th August

2008-08-27T05:02:00.000-07:00

A thorough bird count on the upper estuary at high tide this morning:

Greenshank - 21
Dunlin - 18
Curlew - 39
Redshank - 10
Lapwing - 60
Common Sandpiper - 3
Goosander - 3
Mallard - 5
Eider - 1
Little Grebe - 5
Grey Heron - 2
Kingfisher - 1

There were 165 Lapwing in the cattle field beside the Garnock Floods SWT reserve.

(Not three different birds, but the same one captured in three different frames and then stitched together. Almost captures the foraging behaviour of these birds, but not quite: a few more frames needed I think.)

Monday 25th August

2008-08-26T00:55:00.001-07:00

After a morning of heavy rain, on the Garnock Estuary at Bogside 13 Knot were feeding, along with 63 Dunlin, and a Sanderling (as well as the usual Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Redshank etc.). The first 12 Golden Plover I’ve seen on the estuary this autumn were roosting nearby. A Black-tailed Godwit was on the far shore. A Wheatear was on the debris on the beach before I flushed it up onto one of the old concrete fence posts. Duck numbers have significantly increased on the upper estuary over the weekend, with 93 Mallard, 13 Wigeon, and 5 Teal present. A Common Sandpiper, a Ruff, and a Kingfisher were also on the upper estuary. c.250 Lapwing were in the cattle field at Garnock East; a further 100 flew over the railway towards the Garnock Floods.

Friday 22nd August

2008-08-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

At high tide on the upper estuary this dinner time 26 Greenshanks were roosting on the saltmarsh. A Ruff was feeding among them. 10-20 Dunlin were also roosting on the saltmarsh. A fox spooked a few of the roosting birds. The estuary's birds seem rather uninterested in foxes. 2 Common Sandpipers were on the eastern shore. A Kingfisher was also present on the upper estuary. I encountered 2 more Kingfishers further upstream.

Thursday 21st August

2008-08-21T13:16:00.000-07:00

A more thorough investigation of the Garnock estuary at Bogside today resulted in a count of 56 Dunlin and 5 Knot, along with about 60 Ringed Plover. The upper estuary held a few interesting birds: 3 Common Sandpiper were in a small group; 4 Gadwall were roosting on the mud; 2 Common Snipe were visible on the saltmarsh; 22 Dunlin and 1 Knot were feeding on the mud flats; 2 Wigeon were roosting with some Mallard; and 2 Kingfishers were flying about the northernmost bridge. I got very good views of one of the birds successfully fishing from the debris revealed at low tide. The female Shoveler was still on the Garnock East Farm Pool. 3 noisy Ravens flew over the pool heading north.

Wednesday 20th August

2008-08-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

My first birding trip in the county for a couple of months. Light rain and soaking wet grass, but a lot of interesting birds to compensate. A couple of Wheatears were by the Bogside racecourse ‘car park’. Looking downstream from the McGowan (ICI) bridge, there was a Black-tailed Godwit with a handful of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, along with the usual waders. The upper estuary held 8 Goosanders and a couple of Common Sandpipers. At least 15 Greenshanks were scattered along the top half of the estuary – there were probably about 18 in total. A ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting over Garnock East, just east of the ponds. North across the Garnock and there were several Mallard and Teal in the Garnock East Farm Pool, along with a very shy female Shoveler. The Garnock Floods SWT reserve was very quiet: Mute Swan, Moorhen, and Little Grebe was about as interesting as it got. A Kingfisher flew under the road bridge beside the reserve. In Eglinton Park I flushed a Greenshank from a very temporary puddle at the edge of one of the fields. The Belvedere pond (i.e. the smaller of the two Eglinton Park ponds) held nothing of interest though: a few dozen Mallard, about 8 Teal, and a couple of Pied Wagtails.