Western Scotland birding (1 Viewer)

[Caledonian]

Yesterday a search along southside of the river Clyde between Port Glasgow and Gourock provide me a total 43 Black guillimots. Most of the Black Guillimots where At the harbour of Greenock (close by) or on the Clyde, seen from Greenock.

You can see Black guillimot also more close by. Port glasgow/ Greenock area is a good area for them (35 minute drive from Drymen/Loch lomond). here a link where you have the best chance to see them:
http://observado.org/waarneming/view/63647065 or http://observado.org/waarneming/view/72509580
also a good place for Black guillimot is between Inverkip and Wemyss bay: http://observado.org/waarneming/view/63999613

The south side of Loch lomond/ Endrick Mouth is a good area for Greenland White fronted geese.

Golden eagle = no guarantee but is possible North/west of Crianlarich and sometimes around Ben Lomond. White tailed eagle is no chance except for Fife area or Western Islands like Mull or Skey.

 

[JTweedie]

You make that sound like a bad thing!!!

Access to the North Bay at Ardmore (where you'll be in Shelduck heaven) is especially muddy, and I'd recommend cutting through the field next to the path. It will still be muddy, but it shouldn't be over the top of your boots....

Do you never do the whole circuit right around? I was talking about a little stretch along the south-west section - I've never been able to walk along the path there without the mud going right over my boots! It is a great place so I do highly recommend it, just that it's not a place for trainers, so people should have decent footwear!

 

[smc4761]

Been to Hogganfield many times and as you say some great views and sounds of whooper swans. Plenty of birds in and around the viewing area but as you walk round there are fewer and fewer birds. Plenty are just too far out on the island that my bins just can quite make out

Will give Linn Park a try not been there for many years. The bridge is that the white penny bridge you are talking about?

If you visit the bridge over the River Cart at Linn Park in the southside of Glasgow you can see kingfisher and also dipper. It's surrounded by a really built-up urban area, but holds lots of good birds, including really close-up views of goosander. You just need to be lucky on the day to see the good birds.

Edit: get yourself along to Hogganfield Park, it's got probably the best views of whooper swans you'll get anywhere in Scotland - basically an arm's reach away!

 

[Green Sandpiper]

Do you never do the whole circuit right around? I was talking about a little stretch along the south-west section - I've never been able to walk along the path there without the mud going right over my boots! It is a great place so I do highly recommend it, just that it's not a place for trainers, so people should have decent footwear!

Whenever I go to Ardmore Point, I park just after the level crossing and walk round to the South Bay. I then double back and cut across the fields to the north bay. Never walked all the way around, although been told by other folk its v. muddy (not always a bad thing!) Last time I was there ground was partly frozen, so wasn't too bad. Field was partly submerged, though.

Sadly, any time I get there its usually a flying visit as the missus has me on a tight leash. Intend to take a sneaky day off work, get the train to cardross and walk around. Make a day of it free from the shackles of Mrs Green Sand.

Got my first Slav Grebe there on Boxing Day, and its good to know there's a place like that a half hour drive from home.

 

[JTweedie]

Will give Linn Park a try not been there for many years. The bridge is that the white penny bridge you are talking about?

Yes that's right, just upstream from the waterfall. You can see dippers just above the waterfall here and sometimes kingfishers. There's also reports now and then of otters, but I've never seen them myself.

 

[Whokens]

Doonfoot area

I had a very good day today walking along the shore from Ayr to beyond Greenan Castle, with plenty of birds to be seen.
The first birds i came across was a nice flock of Oystercatchers around 50 in number and i was to see a further 2 flocks of then so maybe all in around 120.
I then was lucky to see a Snow Bunting and was just lining up to take a picture and it got spooked by a dog, gutted been trying for ages to see one too.
Just before the mouth of the Doon where the piles of leaves and seaweed is i saw 5 Greenshank and a good number of Redshanks and also the Turnstones in a nice amount to watch.
Standing on the Millenium Bridge and looking around there was a large flock of Goldeneye of shore and to the left hand of the bridge more Oystercatchers and around 50 Curlews in 2 groups, this is easily the most i have seen.
Heading over the bridge and where the little bay is in front of the car park, there was plenty of Teal and more Redshanks on the far bank.
I walked further along and i saw a few which i think were Meadow Pipits and 1 Rock Pipit.
Turning around and walking back i stopped and took photos of a Gull that was slightly different from anything else and have included a photo to see if someone can tell me what it is,, my identification is very much a work in progress.
The final new bird for me i saw was a Shelduck, a very nice looking bird as well.
Heading up the Doon itself, i saw more Golden Eye and there was a lot of Blue and Great Tits in the trees and i also heard a song i never recognised and i never seen the bird,, all in all a very good days walk.

 

[kawwauser]

the gull might be a Mediterranean gull,nice find

 

[Caledonian]

Unfortunately a moulting Black headed gull

the gull might be a Mediterranean gull,nice find

 

[bongofury]

Unfortunately a moulting Black headed gull

Unfortunately I agree. That walk along from Ayr is very good for birds. Generally the birds are quite close too, although the dog walkers are a nuisance.

 

[kawwauser]

oops first missidentified gull of 2013 for me ,im sure there will be more

 

[Caledonian]

Tuesday at least 2 Adult moulting Med gulls from Lunderston bay/Inverkip and 1 1st winter male common Scoter present.

 

[Caledonian]

Today Thursday 14h of Feb again 2 Med gulls from Lunderston bay/Inverkip around 10.30am.
(This time 1 Adult and 1 2nd or Third winter bird) poor quality pictures will follow.

Edit: here some pictures from one of the Med Gulls; http://observado.org/waarneming/view/73768225

 

[Caledonian]

Saturday some birding in Glasgow area;

Hoggenfield loch had: 28 Whooper swans, 14 Pochard
Baron's haugh had: 5 Gadwall, 5 Whooper swans, Raven, 95 Teal, and 3 Nuthatch heard from Dalzell Estate.

1 second winter Iceland gull at Strathclyde Loch. Also present; 3th winter Med gull, a possible adult Yellow legged gull and at least 80 Goldeneyes.



Sunday an afternoon searching along North Ayshire;

From Fairlie bay: 6 Greenshanks, 14 Red br merganser, 4 Goldeneye, an adult Kittiwake offshore and 3 Razorbills.

Hunterston: a nice group of 48 Barr tailed Godwitt. 40 Golden Plover where present which are a bit unusual.
Also at least 3 Black tailed godwitt, 16 Ringed plover, 13 Dunlins, 120 Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 13 Lesser black backed gulls, 2 Goldeneye, 8 Red br merganser, 3 Black Gullimot, 12 Auks, 1 Red tr Diver, 9 Turnstones, 3 Bullfinch, 12 Fieldfares, 2 Hooded crows, 2 hoodie hybride etcetc.

Third parts holding had: 8 Stock dove, 1 Hooded crow, 20 Dunlin, 9 Ringed plover, 10 Lapwing, 90 Greyleg geese and 2 Pinkfeet geese.


Seamill:
Discovered a Grey Plover, Pictures here: http://observado.org/waarneming/view/73830688 . It has been a while since I saw my last Grey Plover at Ayrshire which was 28.11.2011 from Hunterson.
Other birds from Seamill where: 13 Purple sandpipers, 12 Turnstone, 1 Greenshank, a group of 24 Pied wagtail, 6 Rockpipit, 60 Teal, 50 Wigeon, 5 Red br merganser.
A walk around Seamill pond had; 8 or 9 flushed Jacksnipe!! and 3 common snipe.

 

[smc4761]

Sounds like a first class weekend birding. Where do you in Hunterston as I quite fancy a wee trip down that way

Saturday some birding in Glasgow area;

Hoggenfield loch had: 28 Whooper swans, 14 Pochard
Baron's haugh had: 5 Gadwall, 5 Whooper swans, Raven, 95 Teal, and 3 Nuthatch heard from Dalzell Estate.

1 second winter Iceland gull at Strathclyde Loch. Also present; 3th winter Med gull, a possible adult Yellow legged gull and at least 80 Goldeneyes.



Sunday an afternoon searching along North Ayshire;

From Fairlie bay: 6 Greenshanks, 14 Red br merganser, 4 Goldeneye, an adult Kittiwake offshore and 3 Razorbills.

Hunterston: a nice group of 48 Barr tailed Godwitt. 40 Golden Plover where present which are a bit unusual.
Also at least 3 Black tailed godwitt, 16 Ringed plover, 13 Dunlins, 120 Shelduck, 80 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 13 Lesser black backed gulls, 2 Goldeneye, 8 Red br merganser, 3 Black Gullimot, 12 Auks, 1 Red tr Diver, 9 Turnstones, 3 Bullfinch, 12 Fieldfares, 2 Hooded crows, 2 hoodie hybride etcetc.

Third parts holding had: 8 Stock dove, 1 Hooded crow, 20 Dunlin, 9 Ringed plover, 10 Lapwing, 90 Greyleg geese and 2 Pinkfeet geese.


Seamill:
Discovered a Grey Plover, Pictures here: http://observado.org/waarneming/view/73830688 . It has been a while since I saw my last Grey Plover at Ayrshire which was 28.11.2011 from Hunterson.
Other birds from Seamill where: 13 Purple sandpipers, 12 Turnstone, 1 Greenshank, a group of 24 Pied wagtail, 6 Rockpipit, 60 Teal, 50 Wigeon, 5 Red br merganser.
A walk around Seamill pond had; 8 or 9 flushed Jacksnipe!! and 3 common snipe.

 

[Caledonian]

Most of the times I walk along the shore up to the gate/fence where the new powerstation was planned.
From there you can see quite a lot of birds.
Most of the times a Telescoop is necessary.
For example most of the Barr tailed Godwitts are roosting here:
http://observado.org/waarneming/view/73835386

The best time for a visit to Hunterston is around 3 hours before High tide.

Sounds like a first class weekend birding. Where do you in Hunterston as I quite fancy a wee trip down that way

 

[Caledonian]

Today 3 adult Med gulls moulting to summerplumage from Noddsdale around 5pm.
http://observado.org/waarneming/view/73882891
Also here the best time to see Med gulls is a few our before high tide. (beste time between 4 and 2 hours before high tide)

 

[alunited1961]

Seamill Stonechat Spotter (official)

SOC Breeding Stonechat Survey 2013



http://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk/images/stonechat/Stonechat-Feb-2013.pdf

This year sees the Ayrshire coastline being scoured by SOC and RSPB observers, in search of breeding stonechats. The successive winters of 2010 and 2011 witnessed a dramatic decline in Ayrshire’s stonechat numbers due to prolonged periods of severe weather. It’s not entirely clear what proportion of the breeding population actually migrates out of the country in winter, but the collapse in the breeding population following these two winters was very marked.

During 2013 the Ayrshire branch of the SOC has organised a survey of breeding stonechats along the entire coastline, in an attempt to discover just how many territories have been re-occupied. The coast has been “sectioned” into easily walked areas, and I have seamill to ardrossan.

I would be grateful if anyone spots a stonechat on this section, or any part of the Ayrshire coast a post on here detailing date seen number and location I would be grateful. or you could volunteer to take on a section yourself, it isn't to onerous a few pleasant walks over the spring and summer

cheers

 

[smc4761]

Thought I would try an earlier start than normal to see if I could catch a few birds at Barons Haugh. There was very light snow when I got there around 9.30. Still fairly quiet birdwise but did see another new bird for me. On the hedge around the Phoenix hide there were 2 Goldcrest, so another to add to my list. Apart from that fairly quiet on the haugh itself

 

[JTweedie]

Male smew at Lochwinnoch today, and at least 60 goldeneyes, many of them displaying. A couple of pochards, lots of mallards and tufted ducks. There was a very light coloured hybrid mallard as well.

 

[bongofury]

Male smew at Lochwinnoch today

I'm glad its finally back this winter. I was starting to worry about it!