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Scotland North Ayrshire

You will notice that there is no introduction to this section yet.

I would like to fill this gap with an introduction from a local birder [or someone who is a frequent visitor] for every one of the geographical pages. The many thousands of birders now regularly using these pages prefer to read something written by someone who can see the place from an insider's point of view. They know the best spots, not just the ones that first time overseas visitors usually visit or that are on the normal birding trip itineraries.

Each introduction carries the e-mail address of the contributor so that birders can get in touch with them if, for example, they are planning a trip [unless the contributor is unable to do this].

Please get in touch if you feel you can contribute an introduction to this page - you don't have to be an expert; I'm not!

top sites

Bogside Flats & Harbourside

(NS307400) An area of mudflat & salt marsh of special scientific interest at the confluenceof R Irvine & R Garnock on W, seaward, edge of Irvine, best scanned from the harbour wall at NS 315 383 Best at high tide minus 1 hour. Good most of year, but especially for wintering/passage wildfowl & waders: Redshank, Grenshank, Turnstone, Lapwing, Curlew, Whimbrel, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit; occasional Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Large wintering flocks of Wigeon & Red-breasted Merganser. Raptors: Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, occasional Marsh Harrier. Harbour mouth seabirds:Eider, Shag, Gannet, Manx Shearwater, terns, gulls, divers. Rarities: American Wigeon, Barrow`s Goldeneye, Pomarine Skua, Avocet, Black-headed Bunting, Ross`s Goose, White Stork. Pond behind Leisure Centre: Scaup, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, gulls. Good beach & grassy hinterland habitat. Former racecourse on Flats for Short-eared Owl & Water Rail: scan from grid ref above.

Seamill Shore

(NS202471) A stretch of rocky coast north of Ardrossan from Waterside Inn at grid reference above to Seamill. This site is best in winter. Tidal zone: Rock Pipit, passage White Wagtail, wintering Greenshank. Offshore islets: Shag, Cormorant, Eider, and Purple Sandpiper. Seaward: Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Red-breasted Merganser, Black Guillemot, record of Little Auk. Fields/shoreline: Common & Jack Snipe, Curlew, Lapwing; Sedge Warbler, Stonechat, Black Redstart.

county recorder

Dr Bernard Zonfrillo - Isle of Arran
28 Brodie Road, Glasgow G21 3SB
b.zonfrillo@bio.gla.ac.uk

Fraser Simpson
4 Inchmurrin Drive, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire KA3 2JD
recorder@ayrshire-birding.org.uk

useful reading

Ayrshire's Upland Birds (includes Ayrshire's Moorland Birds and Ayrshire's Upland Forest Birds)

Angus Hogg, Robin Heaney and Ken Jackson Running time: Approx 124 minutes on 2 cassettes. Sounds Natural - Contains samples of 51 species including Curlew, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Dublin Snipe, Redshank, Buzzard, Raven, Siskin, Stonechat, Whinchat, Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Red & Black Grouse, Dipper...to name a few.
ISBN: 140172
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Where to Watch Birds in Scotland

Mike Madders and Julia Welstead - 297 pages, b/w illus, maps - Christopher Helm
ISBN: 071365693X
Buy this book from NHBS.com

clubs

SOC Ayrshire Branch

http://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk
Secretary - Henry Martin, 9 Shawfield Avenue, Ayr KA7 4RE 01292 442086

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can�t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page� give them a try!

places to stay

Black Clauchrie House - Large Holiday Home

http://www.largeholidayhomes-blackclauchrie.com
...a warm welcome awaits you as you drive down the gravel driveway. You're looking upon something very beautiful, a distinctly Scottish, private country house for hire awaits your exclusive use, set in 14 acres...

Butt Lodge Country House Hotel - Isle of Arran

http://www.stilwell.co.uk/show_town.asp?Q=bb|L4200498|P127578
The setting, alongside a golf course and at the foot of the northern hills, is both peaceful and full of wildlife, including deer, golden eagles and seals. small, family run four-star hotel with residential licence, Butt Lodge is just yards from the sea and enjoys the benefits of being on the sunny side of the valley.

Carlton Guest House - Largs

http://www.bedandbreakfast-directory.co.uk/uploads/estate/hotels/hotels2495.htm
The Carlton was built in 1891 and forms part of which was originally Carlton Terrace, and as a listed building is a superb example of a town house of the period. As this was the time of Victorian and Edwardian weekly holidays by the sea, there is some evidence to indicate that the Carlton has been a hotel or guest house for most of it's history. Today every effort has been made to preserve and restore the original character of the house, including the elegant dining room offering full Scottish breakfast to prepare guests for a day's touring in the area, and the intimate resident's lounge which, from it's elevated position, enjoys uninterrupted views over the river. The lounge has satellite television...

mailing lists

Ayrshire-Birding

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ayrshirebirding/
List contact:ayrshirebirding-owner@yahoogroups.com
A forum for news on bird sightings (rare, unusual or just interesting) and birding events in Ayrshire, UK. To subscribe send a blank email...

Arran Birding

http://arranbirding.co.uk/
Arran is a special place with special birds. Birding on Arran is interesting at any time of the year. Arran lies in the Firth of Clyde, 28km west of the Ayrshire coast, 5km east of the Kintyre peninsula�

Ayrshire Recording Areas

http://www.the-soc.org.uk/docs/atlas-ayrshire-autumn-2008.pdf
South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire (excluding Arran and the Cumbraes)

Birding in Ayrshire

http://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk/
This website exists to provide information of value to all with an interest in the wild birds of Ayrshire and in birding in this area, whether resident or visitor. The site is sponsored by SOC Ayrshire (the Ayrshire residents of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club)...

Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust

http://hessilhead.org.uk/
Andy and Gay Christie began helping injured wild animals many years ago. Their isolated home was an ideal base for the quiet rehabilitation of injured creatures. Today the project has completely taken over their home... and their lives...

Pickwick Hotel

http://www.information-britain.co.uk/showPlace.cfm?Place_ID=3549
This 18th century villa hotel is set in its own landscaped garden, just a short walk from Ayr town centre and seafront.