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A Backward Spring The trees are afraid to put forth
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19th May Stevenson, Saltcoats and Troon Harbour Murky weather was predicted for most of Scotland on Sunday, but the exception was the southwest coast. It was a no-brainier then, Stevenson, Saltcoats and Troon seemed a good choice of destinations. After a delicious breakfast in Stevenston Morrisons (9.5/10) we headed for Stevenston Point. On arrival we were greeted by a flypast of summer plumage Sanderlings . They settled on the rocky Point (also see, “Pictures of the Week”, below). Also there we noticed that there were a few Dunlin and Turnstones, also in summer plumage. Just off the Point a pair of Cormorants were drying there feathers. John drew my attention to an incoming Gannet that passed without diving, sadly.
I spotted a nice example of Thrift, often called Sea Pink, a common sight on cliffs around the coasts of Britain. John commented on how pristine it looked given its exposed position to on the rocks. As I photographed it I noticed a couple of Plantain species, the Buckshorn and Ribwort Plantains. Watching me carefully was a third cycle Herring Gull.
The Point was becoming very active with human activities such as kite fliers, jet skiers, fisherman setting off in a boat, and (ahem!) birdwatchers. It was all too much for the Sanderling flock. They flew off in a panic towards Irvine.
On our drive off of the Point we stopped next to some Sea Radish , a foragers favourite. Beside these were nice seeding Groundsel. I also came across a 7-spot Ladybird nestling in the foliage. These were followed by some snaps of a busy and very nippy Carder Bumblebee as it worked it’s way around the flowers of Sea Radish.
We drove onto the pier of Saltcoats Harbour. From the end of that pier we viewed a single drake Eider as it made repeated dives, probably for Mussels. A Shag sped past and made a pretty sight with the Sun behind. On the pier’s edge a first year Herring Gull surprisingly turned its beak up at some breakfast leftovers, black pudding. We walked round to the other sides of the Harbour where we saw a female Eider, probably the mate of the male we’d just viewed, and some Ringed Plovers on the rocks 40m out. John spotted a female House Sparrow which I dutifully photographed before it flew away.
A bit disappointed with our haul at Saltcoats we moved on to our final stop of the day, Troon Harbour. The car park overlooks the rocky shore. As I stepped out of the car I saw a ringed Herring Gull with strange black cladding on its left leg. We went a walk along the sandy beach to the right of the car park. John spotted a Large White butterfly sitting on leaves of White Deadnettle. I also photographed some nice Silverweed (also see, “Pictures of the Week”, below) and some Sea Sandwort that was now starting to bloom.
We stepped onto the beach and immediately put up a fairly big flock of small waders that included Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Sanderling. Luckily they didn’t go far and soon migrated back to their original feeding area. We walked the beach as intended and I took photos of the plentiful Hoary Cress.
There were a few patches of Birdsfoot Trefoil . On the edge of the beach I came across a lovely large plant of Pencilled Cranesbill. Meanwhile the Ringed Plovers and Dunlin were creeping ever closer I continued to snapped away merrily until an aggressive Jackdaw swooped into the middle of the flock and spooked them. They upped and left speedily towards Ardrossan.
We left the beach and explored the area to the right of the car park. A trio of drake Eiders Lee south past us. They seemed to be pursuing a female (not in shot).
The ubiquitous Rock Pipits were there as well as the equally familiar Pied Wagtails. The latter were wandering between parked cars hoping for the crumbs left by the car occupants who were dining on fish suppers evident from the scent of vinegar that hung in the air. I discovered another large yellow flowers plant that turned out to be Rape . At this time of year many of the field in the area contain vast areas of this plant which is grown for its Rapeseed oil. We were also being tracked by another common bird, a female House Sparrow (see, “Pictures of the Week”, below), while a member of yet another “usual suspect”, a Starling was scouring the seaweed for food (see, “Pictures of the Week”, below). On the way back to the car I was attracted to what must be one of the tiniest bush of flowering Hawthorn that I think I’ve seen.
The weather had been a bit disappointing with only a few minutes of sunshine in each of the locations we visited. However it was a nice set of pictures we talked about as we had our tea and, wait for it ..... large creamed fruit scones with jam. Any negativity ebbed away until I found out that a Bluethroat was posing for birders over at Barns Ness (last weeks destination). Oh well, that’s the way it goes Pictures of the Week:
12th May: Skateraw, Whitesands and Barns Ness Sunday was one of those days when we had the perfect weather prediction for the whole of Central Scotland - bright, sunny and mild. I plumped for the Lothian coast east of Dunbar since that area had featured in recent Twitter reports of some nifty birds such as the Spotted Sandpiper and Yellow and Channel Wagtails at Skateraw. So after a nice breakfast in Dalkeith Morrisons (9/10: -1 for order mix up) we found ourselves scouring the rocks around the Lime Kilns at Skateraw. However the search was in vain. The tide was very low so the birds had a vast area of exposed bay in which to feed. On the rocks that were normally teaming with Pipits I did manage to see a single Rock Pipit, but little else other than a pair of distant Shelduck. On the bushes by the car park we found Tree Sparrows and, pleasingly, some Whitethroats (see “Pictures of the Week”, below). On our way out of Skateraw we stopped by a small field of manure piles (as you do) where we photographed a Skylark and a Yellow Wagtail from the car. We did see a pair of feuding Channel Wagtails that were, frustratingly, behind the car and so out of view of the camera.
On the single track approach road into Barns Ness, John spotted a Buzzard circling overhead. He also noticed a BarnSwallow that appeared to have a nest on the White Sands toilet block. It posed for me on the roadside fence wire. John snapped a Carrion Crow that was looking down imperiously from the high ridge. After parking in the Barns Ness car park I found a Jackdaw foraging in the nearby “wire dump”.
Starting in the site of a former caravan park, we set off on a circular route that would take us past some woods, through grassy areas overlooking fields and along the sandy shore past the lighthouse then back to the car. However, we spent quite a long time at the derelict caravan park as we found so much there of interest. White Deadnettle was in full bloom with several butterflies flitting from flower to flower. We saw and photographed Wall, Green-veined and Orange Tip butterflies.
A Carder Bumblebee was on the Greater Periwinkle flowers, and also a Common Wasp . I managed a decent shot of a Whitethroat through the branches of a bush. Eventually it heard the camera and flew off. I came across a Dance Fly, Empis Opaca, prowling on some Spanish Bluebells.
A Red-tailed Bumblebee showed up and started probing the Periwinkle nectaries. A bright red 7-spotted Ladybird was sunning itself on a Holly leaf while on the stony path I noticed some Ground Ivy was in bloom, it’s violet flowers catching the eye, complementing the much larger flowers of the Greater Periwinkle.
After a 30 minute stop we pressed on along a stand of conifers to a stone wall boundary wall that overlooked the quarry that supplies the Concrete plant that lies just south of Barns Ness. During the week the ground often shakes as rock is blasted from the now huge hole in the ground.
A pair of Goldfinches flew onto the conifers and appeared to be gathering nesting material (also see “Pictures of the Week”, below). As we continued around our circuit we could see four Roe Deer some 200m away by the edge of the quarry. We climbed over a style and crossed a long, wide field and through a gap in the grassy sand dunes, onto a long sandy beach. We passed very close to a solitary, very handsome drake Shelduck. He was very reluctant to leave his rocky stance as we passed. Usually they are quite flighty so maybe he had found some rich pickings. John told me to “freeze!”, as he spotted a Skylark on the pile of Seaweed, only a couple of metres away. I got a few shots in some lovely light (see also “Pictures of the Week”, below for more pictures of the Shelduck and Skylark).
Looking east from the beach I could see the Moon with an aeroplane contrail passing above it. We left the beach, watched by one of the many Carrion Crows, and rounded the Lighthouse. The attached building is now a holiday home . We sat below the lighthouse, looking north for Gannets, but they were too far out for acceptable shots. On the grass around us though I photographed Greater Stitchwort and Spring Vetch.
I also found two wildflowers whose leaves group in threes. These were Bird’s Foot Trefoil with relatively big yellow pea-like flowers, and Hop Trefoil whose flowers are also yellow but are spherical. Also prominent on the grassy foreshore were Creeping Buttercups. Resting on some of the Buttercups were the jet black-coloured St Mark’s Fly .
We moved across the seashore towards the car park. I snapped a Ribwort Plantain flowerhead and a Silverweed , a wildflower often confused with a buttercup. We disturbed a Dunlin which re-settled only 30m further on, so I managed a record shot. On reaching the car, we decided to move on to Belhaven Bay to finish the day, but as we passed White Sands John spotted and photographed a roadside Rabbit from the passenger seat.
We sipped tea and demolished a pair of chocolate eclairs ( each! JP.) as we gazed across the gorgeous panorama before us. It had been a trip rich in sightings, all, for once, observed in dry, bright sunny weather. Same again next week please.
Pictures of the Week:
5th May : Garnock Estuary and Irvine Harbour With the brighter weather predicted in the west, we headed for the Irvine area. I decided to explore the area of land at the confluence of the Rivers Irvine and Garnock, guided by the excellent new SOC app . We had never been in that area before so we were keen to find out what it could offer us. We began the journey with an excellent breakfast in Stewartfield Morrisons, East Kilbride (9/10: -1 for slowish service). At Irvine we parked near the very well-used Recycle Centre near Bogside and began a trek that took us under a railway line and towards the Garnock Estuary. As we got out the car John pointed out a busy Pied Wagtail bobbing its way along the pavement. Around the Centre we came across patches of small pink flowers. These turned out to be Hedgerow Cranesbill , Cut-leaved Cranesbill and Common Storksbill
Our floral discoveries continued with some White Deadnettle and blue and white Bluebells (. They continued with a huge patch of what at first looked like very large Rhubarb but what we found out were actually the toxic Giant Hogweed . As we continued to make our way towards the Estuary we passed what looked like the remains of a small orchard of blossoming Apple trees (also see, “Pictures of the Week”, below).
Our journey to that point had not been devoid of birds. We heard Willow Warblers, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps but as the woods were fairly dense and dull we only managed fleeting views of the birds. When we emerged from the woods into a more open area between some ponds we were able to actually see the birds. I photographed an obliging and nosey Robin which sat boldly in front of us (see, “Pictures of the Week”, below). As I waited for a chance to snap an elusive Willow Warbler I noticed a colourfully marked Brown-lipped Snail on a tree trunk. Eventually I managed a fairly decent couple of shots of the Willow Warbler as it flitted between the branches (also see, “Pictures of the Week”, below). We next passed into a tall conifer plantation that ran along the north edge of the Garnock Estuary. I surveyed the waters with a great deal of disappointment as it was dull, grey and birdless. We decided that we would be better sticking to were we’d just been, so we made our way back via a tarred path that took us past between the pond we had skirted earlier. On the way we heard, saw and photographed a Chiffchaff and a Goldfinch.
Close to the Goldfinch I spotted a Chaffinch calling atop a bare branch. When we arrived at the ponds there were a couple of Mute Swans with their cygnets. We also saw a pair of distant and dimly-lit Tufted Ducks. In the reeds close to where we were sitting a Sedge Warbler had been calling before I managed to spook it. I’d have waited until it returned but for the rain that was starting to fall. Just before moving on, I noticed a wee Thyme-leaved Speedwell flower next to my stool.
Just as we re-entered the wooded area we had passed earlier I snapped a wee Reed Bunting. In the fields near my car there were many Cuckoo Flowers still in bloom. We had intended moving on to Stevenson Point, however, the slip road from the A78, that we’d used on the way in, was one-way so we had to go through Irvine. We decided then to go instead to Irvine Harbour. As we drove there we passed a field where there were three grazing Clydesdale Horses .
The Estuary at the Harbour was initially very quiet. We walked beyond the Coastwatch building to the viewpoint where we spent an entertaining half hour watching some Gannets diving as near as 50m offshore. I managed a nice series of pictures of one such dive (also see, “Pictures of the Week”, below). Gannets
Having sated our appetite for Gannets, we made our way back to the car. We came across several types of gull on the way. A juvenile Great Black-backed Gull had acquired the remains of someone’s corn on the cob and seemed happy it had (probably) managed to shake off a mob of other gulls. Across the river, on a post, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull surveyed the scene, while on our side a 2nd cycle Herring Gull flew over our heads. At the car we positioned our stools ready to take tea. An adult Herring Gull also took up position seemingly aware that food was about to be on show.
However, the Herring Gull had competition. An untidy Rook wandered in, as did a bonny Feral Pigeon. Sad for them, since, as a rule, we don’t feed the birds in car parks. As we sipped tea and munched into some lovely custard and almond Danish pastries I heard the familiar, creaking tones of a Sandwich Tern. Although it didn’t come close I noticed it eventually settled a couple of hundred metres away on a large object in the River Garnock. The record shot below shows at least 5 adult Terns and 1 juvenile. As I captured the Tern picture a Cormorant appeared below the Bridge along with 4 Mute Swans flying past. I snapped the Swans (potentially more exciting pictures) but the Cormorant flew off before I could train my camera on it.
After a slow start we eventually ended up with a pleasing set of pictures. The weather didn’t help us though and I later found out we’d missed a couple of Little Egrets on the Garnock. We’ll probably return there on a better day for a more thorough exploration. Pictures of the Week:
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