I may have mentioned before that I don't really like the seaside. Its all wet and sandy and the birds all look the same and are really far out. But I've also decided to try new things and new places, and have ventured onward to Ayrshire a few times this year.
Anyway, bank holiday Monday, and fresh from successfully dragging the three mini- sands to the Falls of Clyde for the peregrine, I was given some alone time, with the vague idea of 'you can just go out' Never one to pass up such an offer, I decided to head to the coast. Having learned my lesson before, I checked the tide times (factoring in BST as well- how smart am I??) The answer is, not very, as I forgot to check the weather. Made it to Troon, and got hit immediately with a strong sou' westerly wind and hurling rain.
South Beach was loaded with gulls and oystercatchers (I'm having an Oys. year this year- they're everywhere) and through the driving rain I got onto a small flock of dunlin. My pleasure at the year tick was ruined somewhat by the Alsatian which appeared out of nowhere and chased them off. I was having that kind of day.
Funny, I'd normally make some sort of rude gesture to a dog owner who set his dog on a flock of birds. The fact it was an alsatian, though, made me think twice.
Anyway, made it off the beach just long enough to get the back of my trousers as wet as the front, its important to be completely uncomfortable. Anyway, walkign toward the harbour, and peering over the sea wall I got a half dozen or so eider, complete with 14 ducklings. The cute factor was tempered somewhat by them being tossed about mercilessly in the swell. My first tme seeing eider ducklings.
Nothing much in the harbour, by now I had moved on from my optimistic "I'm here now, lets make the most of it" to sobbing gently as I walked along. Stopped off for a bite to eat, and decided that rather than admit defeat I'd headto Irvine. I had packed my handy print out of Ayrshire birding sites from Ayrhsre- Birding website. Sadly, the monsoon had left it slightly sodden and ineligible. Got to Irvine, the tide was in, naturally, but did get a few shelduck over on the bogside flats. Decided to be adventurous, and try the new town circular walk, at least partly.
Anyway, asked a friendly local how to actually get onto this pathway- which didn't bode well. once there, the path is clear, and takes you through moor/ meadow. Replete with whitethroat, willow warblers and a multitude of Sedgies. No chiffchaffs- am I goign mad or has this been a quiet year?. Plenty of swallows as well, and a few house martins at the start of the path. Skylark called from a couple of areas of gorse, by now the sun was out and it was becoming a pleasant day. Of course, I had 4 layers of clothing on...
Followed the path onward, not really sure of where it was going, and by accident found myself at Garnock Floods SWT reserve. Coot, Heron, Mute swans, and a fox skulking through the undergrowth. Got a swallow sitting on a stone in a burn, with grass in its beak. Of course, no camera with me....
On my way back, a flock of noisy brown jobbies flitted about at the recycling centre, but didn't allow me to get on them, until one landed on the ground, showing its white, stripey rear, then turned round to show me a deep red crown. Redpoll ticked for the year.
Decided that two year ticks qualifies as a success and made my way slowly back- my legs were by now howling in protest. Back on the train for a welcome kip, and back home to finally take off my boots and stink out the living room with my incredibly fragrant feet.
Anyway, bank holiday Monday, and fresh from successfully dragging the three mini- sands to the Falls of Clyde for the peregrine, I was given some alone time, with the vague idea of 'you can just go out' Never one to pass up such an offer, I decided to head to the coast. Having learned my lesson before, I checked the tide times (factoring in BST as well- how smart am I??) The answer is, not very, as I forgot to check the weather. Made it to Troon, and got hit immediately with a strong sou' westerly wind and hurling rain.
South Beach was loaded with gulls and oystercatchers (I'm having an Oys. year this year- they're everywhere) and through the driving rain I got onto a small flock of dunlin. My pleasure at the year tick was ruined somewhat by the Alsatian which appeared out of nowhere and chased them off. I was having that kind of day.
Funny, I'd normally make some sort of rude gesture to a dog owner who set his dog on a flock of birds. The fact it was an alsatian, though, made me think twice.
Anyway, made it off the beach just long enough to get the back of my trousers as wet as the front, its important to be completely uncomfortable. Anyway, walkign toward the harbour, and peering over the sea wall I got a half dozen or so eider, complete with 14 ducklings. The cute factor was tempered somewhat by them being tossed about mercilessly in the swell. My first tme seeing eider ducklings.
Nothing much in the harbour, by now I had moved on from my optimistic "I'm here now, lets make the most of it" to sobbing gently as I walked along. Stopped off for a bite to eat, and decided that rather than admit defeat I'd headto Irvine. I had packed my handy print out of Ayrshire birding sites from Ayrhsre- Birding website. Sadly, the monsoon had left it slightly sodden and ineligible. Got to Irvine, the tide was in, naturally, but did get a few shelduck over on the bogside flats. Decided to be adventurous, and try the new town circular walk, at least partly.
Anyway, asked a friendly local how to actually get onto this pathway- which didn't bode well. once there, the path is clear, and takes you through moor/ meadow. Replete with whitethroat, willow warblers and a multitude of Sedgies. No chiffchaffs- am I goign mad or has this been a quiet year?. Plenty of swallows as well, and a few house martins at the start of the path. Skylark called from a couple of areas of gorse, by now the sun was out and it was becoming a pleasant day. Of course, I had 4 layers of clothing on...
Followed the path onward, not really sure of where it was going, and by accident found myself at Garnock Floods SWT reserve. Coot, Heron, Mute swans, and a fox skulking through the undergrowth. Got a swallow sitting on a stone in a burn, with grass in its beak. Of course, no camera with me....
On my way back, a flock of noisy brown jobbies flitted about at the recycling centre, but didn't allow me to get on them, until one landed on the ground, showing its white, stripey rear, then turned round to show me a deep red crown. Redpoll ticked for the year.
Decided that two year ticks qualifies as a success and made my way slowly back- my legs were by now howling in protest. Back on the train for a welcome kip, and back home to finally take off my boots and stink out the living room with my incredibly fragrant feet.
