birding...

Ailsa Craig

Satellite View
This is a volcanic plug rising 338 m from the sea 19km W of Girvan at the above grid reference. View cliffs from sea or land and explore shingle/rocky beach by arrangement with boat from Girvan. It has a major Gannet colony. Also Lesser & Greater Black-backed & Herring Gull and Kittiwake. There are Fulmar, Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag and a few Puffins.

River Ayr Gorge, Failford

Satellite View
Scottish Wildlife Trust managed woodland on W bank of River Ayr, down stream from Failford (grid ref above). Located on B743 Ayr-Mauchline road, 10km inland. Reserve open at all times. It consists of a Sandstone river gorge flanked by rich, well-established deciduous & coniferous woodland with network of paths for circuitous walks of 1-3 hours duration. Breeding Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Redstart, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Dipper, Jay, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and many others. It is rich in bird song in spring. Buzzard, Sparrowhawk are all present.

Troon and Barassie Shore

Satellite View
Stretch of coast including Troon headland & harbour and N & S Sands, from Stinking Rocks (grid ref above)off Barassie (N Sands) to Meikle Craigs (NS325285) (S Sands). Ferry signs lead from A76/77. N Sands: major Ayrshire wader & gull site. Huge gull roosts here & on Meikle Crags (S Sands); Iceland, Glaucous & Mediterranean regular in winter. Large autumn build up of waders: Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Ringed & Golden Plover (Stinking Rocks); some wintering Sanderling; records of Buff-breasted & White-rumped Sandpiper. Harbour: active fishing fleet attracts gulls, Black Guillemot, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser. Headland: good sea-watching: Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Storm & Leach's Petrel, all 3 divers.

Turnberry Point

Satellite View
The lighthouse is 1 km along a track over Turnberry golf course from the A719 starting at NS 206 068 about 1km south of Maidens village. Park at golfers' car park on old runway & proceed on foot. Excellent sea-watching: shearwaters, petrels, scoters, divers, grebes, skuas on passage; Gannet, auks, gulls, terns in season. Foreshore good for wide variety of migrant waders: records of White-rumped & Pectoral Sandpiper and Grey Phalarope. Track side grass & scrub for small birds: Wheatear, Stonechat, Twite, warblers, pipits.

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

Balbeg Holiday Lodges

Accommodation

Balbeg Self Catering Holiday Lodges are situated in the beautiful countryside near Straiton, South Ayrshire on the edge of The Galloway Forest Park...

The Hollies

Accommodation

...stay at The Hollies and enjoy the true meaning of Scottish hospitality whether you are here to visit friends and family or immerse yourself in beauty of the Ayrshire coastline...

Ayrshire-Birding

Mailing List
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...

Ayrshire Recording Areas

Website S

South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire (excluding Arran and the Cumbraes)

Birding in Ayrshire

Website

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)...

Nature Conservation and Biodiversity

Website

Biodiversity is the term which describes all varieties of life on the Earth, including any genetic variation within species and the ecosystems in which they occur. This provides the support that humans require to survive. Whether it is the essentials of life or the pleasures that can be gained from nature's beauty, biodiversity is of significant value...

Wildlife Strategy

Website

The Council has produced a detailed Wildlife Strategy which advocates a comprehensive approach to biodiversity conservation. At one level it seeks to ensure that the Council, in the fulfillment of its normal duties and responsibilities has regard to biodiversity. However the Strategy is only one of a number of measures being developed to provide the Council with a policy framework for benefiting biodiversity and ultimately people in South Ayrshire...

Photographer - Jim Woods - Birds by Digiscope

Gallery

Some excellent pictures...