Archive - May 2023


Archive - May 2023

Week ending: 28th May: Doonfoot

The weather on Sunday was predicted to be sunny but with a rather cold north wind. We headed for Doonfoot on the south side of Ayr. We first visited Ayr Morrisons on Castlehill Road for our usual breakfasts (9/10: excellent, but a point off for slow service at the till).

Courtesy of Weather Pro and BBC Tides

As we were leaving the supermarket I heard and then spotted a Greenfinch singing on top a tree at the edge of the car park - a sign of good things to come? A short drive south took us to Doonfoot at the Castle Walk car park. We walked towards the mouth of the River Doon via the pond behind the car park. Stonechats and Reed Buntings were sitting on Reed Mace heads and Bumblebees were feeding on Common Comfrey flowers.

Greenfinch	Stonechat

Reed Bunting	Buff - tailed Bumblebee

As I photographed the bees, John commented on how many House Martins there were swooping over the pond. I noticed that some landed on the sandy edges of the pond and seemed to be gathering food, probably insects, or even nesting material. At the River Doon John alerted me to a Mute Swan that was flying downstream after being disturbed by water boarders. The tide was low and the seafront was about 200m out. I trekked out towards the shallows where birds were gathered. I saw no waders but there were Rooks and the usual Gulls, such as the Great Black-backed Gull shown below.

House Martin	Mute Swan

Rook	Great Black - backed Gull

Canada Geese with some Greylag Geese stood in a line where the waves were breaking.

And just offshore, a long line of over a dozen Mute Swans were paddling, dipping their heads under the water, probably feeding on sea vegetation. They also eat invertebrates and small fishes.

Eventually we crossed the footbridge to explore the north bank. We saw various bumblebees, such as the Early Bumblebee on Dog Rose and a White-tailed Bumblebee on the very plentiful Common Comfrey. Gorgeous Red Campion flowers were dotted between the Comfrey plants.

Early Bumblebee	White - tailed Bumblebee

Brown- lipped Snail	Red Campion

As we conversed with a passing walker, John suddenly pointed out a Kestrel that was hovering 80 m further along the bank. I immediately strode off in pursuit and eventually caught up with it. Unfortunately I got a view of its rear end because of the adverse wind direction. John also spotted a Song Thrush on the sea wall before it vanished into the undergrowth. We returned to the car but before we opened the door we heard the unmistakable song of a Whitethroat. I soon tracked it down and was rewarded with great views of the bird as it sang perched on a Dog Rose tree.

Kestrel	Song Thrush...

Whitethroat

Pleased with the first stage of our visit, we drove the half mile south to the Greenan Castle car park. As we alighted from the car we were immediately met with another Whitethroat belting out its song from the bushes. We set off on our usual route that would take us on a circular route around the castle. I was delighted to see an Orange Tip butterfly on Sea Radish. We walked along the south side of a long row of hedges where birds usually gather. We were watched by a vigilant cock Hedge Sparrow. I noticed a juvenile Stonechat and then a female, presumably its mother. John pointed out a Red-tailed Bumblebee picking its way through the yellow Bird’s-foot Trefoil flowers just poking through the grass.

Whitethroat	Orange Tip Butterfly

House Sparrrow	Juvenile Stonechat

Female Stonechat	Red - tailed Bumblebee

As we passed the base of the castle rock I snapped some shots of a patch of Greater Stitchwort. I also snapped a Thrift plant that was clinging to the base of the castle rock, it’s red flowers bobbing in the wind. On the shore right below the castle, there were two Rock Pipits, an adult and a chick, foraging in the rock pools.

Greater Stitchwort	Thrift

Rock Pipit	Juvenile Rock Pipit

We rested for a time on the nice small beach at the other side of the castle. Below is the beautiful view of the castle with the town of Ayr in the distance.

The faraway end of that beach was the farthest point of our circuit. We began our return path with a walk along the sunny side of the hedgerow that lines a wheat field. Immediately I recognised the song of singing Yellowhammer. Eventually, it made an appearance, allowing me to get some very nice shots. After that, a Dunnock, a Goldfinch and then a Chaffinch made brief appearances.

Yellowhammer	Dunnock

Goldfinch	Chaffinch

John and I looked out for insect life as we moved along the line of hedges. I noticed a 7-spot Ladybird on some Common Comfrey leaves. John then found the Greenbottle fly, Lucilia caesar, on a Comfrey leaf. The Bramble bushes were filling with white flowers and as I photographed a pair of them, John shouted me over to see a bee he had discovered on a fern leaf. It was a Mining Bee, most likely, Andrena Scotica. John, who obviously had his eye in, found the attractive, but common hoverfly, Leucozona lucorum.

7 Spot Ladybird	Fly - Lucilia caesar

Bramble	White - tailed Bumblebee

Chocolate Mining Bee	Hoverfly - Leucozona lucorum

Next we scaled the steep path onto the top of the castle rock. I got a shot of a shabby-looking Small Tortoiseshell butterfly at the edge of another wheat field. We moved down off the field onto the old road that joins Greenan Road. We took a path just past a white cottage that took us back to the car park. A pair of Woodpigeons were walking in the back green of cottage. We met yet another Stonechat, a female, sitting atop dead vegetation stalks, hunting flies.

Large White Butterfly	Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Wood Pigeon	Stonechat

The final shot of the visit, taken near the car, was of a pair of House Sparrows sitting on a bramble bush:a female feeding its fledgling.

We didn’t managed to find many sea birds but the passerines bailed us out. My favourites were the Whitethroats and the Yellowhammer. The weather was ideal so hopefully it’ll last until next Sunday.

Week ending: 21st May 2023: Galloway Forest Park, RSPB Wood of Cree

This Sunday I was taking a weekend break around Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway. The weather started dull and improved as the day progressed. I had a busy day planned, starting with a brief visit to the Galloway Forest Park. After that, I would drive east to Threave Gardens and Nature Reserve and I’d finish the day at the Red Kite Centre near Laurieston.

Courtesy of Weather Pro

A full Scottish breakfast in my B&B set me up for the day ahead and I set off early for a drive up the A712, the road they call the Queen’s Way, to Galloway Forest Park. I was aiming to see British Primitive Goats grazing on a roadside in Goat Park, and I soon did just that. A mile north of there I visited the Red Deer Range where I photographed some untidy-looking Red Deer, as well as a Barn Swallow and a possible Redpoll.

British Primitive Goat...	...Juvenile

Red Deer...

Barn Swallow	Redpoll ( TBC )

Further up the road there is a Forestry and Land Scotland Visitor Centre by Clatteringshaws Loch. There I supped tea beside bird feeders. I photographed Chaffinches, a Goldfinch, Siskins and a Robin. I was pleased to see Common Lousewort flowering in the short grassy borders of the car park.

Female Chaffinch	Goldfinch

Siskin	Juvenile Siskin

Robin	Common Lousewort

On a short stroll to Bruce’s Stone I saw a Willow Warbler, a Meadow Pipit and Whitethroat. I also came across some Marsh Marigolds growing an a ditch. Eventually I returned to the car and visited a picturesque waterfall, the Grey Mare’s Tail, just south of the Goat Park. I spotted a pretty Water Avens plant as I clambered along rocks in order to get the best view of the falls.

Willow Warbler	Meadow Pipit

Grey Mare's Tail	Marsh Marigold

Herb Robert	Water Avens

Pleased with the post-breakfast photography session I hightailed it east to Castle Douglas. Just west of there, I parked at Threave Gardens which has a Red Squirrel and bird hide. It was my first visit there and, to be honest, due to past disappointments at similar gardens claiming to provide nature on a plate, my expectations were low. However, this time they were telling the truth, as evidenced by the pictures below. Squirrels made frequent visits to nut-filled feeders and tables.

Red Squirrel...

In between Squirrel visits, small birds darted in to collect their share of the nuts. A Blue Tit had a wee bath, but the Coal Tit and Great Tit made no such delays. Their tactics were more “land and grab”. A Nuthatch turned up once or twice and found a few of the nuts tough going. Delighted with my photos I decided to visit the Threave Castle Nature Reserve which adjoins the Gardens. As I made my way through woods, on my way to the car, I noticed quite a few patches of Pink Purslane.

Blue Tit...

Coal Tit	Nuthatch...

	Pink Purslane

It was a 5 minute drive to the castle car park and once there I set off on the circular route around the Nature Reserve.

A Red Kite passed overhead, whetting my appetite for the next item on my itinerary. As I neared the castle a singing Sedge Warbler caught my attention but….

Red Kite	Sedge Warbler

….I totally missed the Peregrine Falcon that was sitting on the castle ruin.

Only when I visited the Osprey Hide was I informed of the whereabouts of the Peregrine. I therefore retraced my steps back to where the trail comes nearest to the castle. I then had no bother locating and photographing the Peregrine. I returned to the Osprey Hide just in time for an Osprey to come into view on top of its huge eyrie, which was over 200m away. With time pressing, I returned to the car, snapping Greylags and a Reed Bunting on the way.

Perigrine Falcon	Osprey

Greylag Goose	Reed Bunting

My final destination for the day was the Red Kite Centre at Laurieston , where visitors can witness the feeding of specially-bred Red Kites). The birds are fed at the same time (2pm) each day, and, as I found, tens of Red Kites turn up for each session. A large tree at the other side of the field seemed to be one of their favourite waiting places. How many Kites can you see?

It was an exciting experience watching the Red Kites as they soared, swooped and competed for the chunks of meat that had been scattered around the field and on a large table by one of the centre’s staff.

Red Kite...

The birds took about 20 minutes to clear the field of all of the meat chunks. There were House Sparrows perched on the fence in front of the viewing area.

House Sparrow...

It had been a bit of a whistle stop tour of the 3 sites I visited, which is ok since I was familiarising myself with the area, with a view to making further visits. I think that is very likely

Week ending: 14th May 2023: Musselburgh

With a huge band of rain, looming in the west, it was a no-brainer; we headed east, to one of our favourite haunts - Musselburgh. The rain wasn’t predicted to reach the Lothian coast until well into the afternoon. However there was a fair bit of cloud ahead of it, so by the time we had reached Dalkeith Morrisons, it was already rather dull. The breakfasts we had though were anything but dull (9/10: very good, -1 for slow service and small plates).

Courtesy of Weather Pro and BBC Tides

We drove to the Esk mouth at Musselburgh where the tide was in and there seemed to be few birds about. However, we were delighted to see a female Goosander with her nine chicks diving just off the pebble shore. As I photographed them we could hear Skylarks singing overhead. It wasn’t long before John spotted a pair of them standing on the grassy bank behind us. A few Eiders landed on the Esk, but flew off west after a very brief series of fruitless dives.

Juvenile Goosander...

Skylark	Eider

Wildflowers were starting to bloom by the sea wall. It didn’t take me long to photograph Hedge Mustard, Ribwort Plantain, Sow Thistle and Common Vetch, before my attention was drawn to the antics of a pair of Carrion Crows that were dropping shellfish onto boulders. I also snapped a shot of Mallards landing on the river.

Hedge Mustard	Ribwort Plantain

Perennial Sow Thistle	Common Vetch

Carrion Crow	Mallard

We quickly decided that we might be better visiting the Scrapes since that’s where the birds hang out at high tide. On our way back to the car I got pictures of White Campion and Common Scurvygrass and also Goldfinches John had spotted feeding on the short grass by the children’s play area. Just as we reached the car I spotted a Woodpigeon sitting on a fence.

White Campion	Common Scurvygrass

Goldfinch	Wood Pigeon

The shot of the morning was back near the car, when John discovered the Goosanders we’d seen earlier now resting on the pebble shore.

We made the short drive to the Levenhall Links car park. I found more flowering wildflowers near where I’d parked - Wood Spurge, Charlock, Common Fumitory and White Deadnettle. Just before we set off towards the Scrapes John spotted a Buzzard and a Kestrel. I also saw a Roe buck disappearing into the undergrowth. Sadly I missed these with the camera.

Wood Spurge	Charlock

Common Fumitory	White Deadnettle

On the short walk to the sea wall north of the Scrapes we found Dove’s-foot Cranesbill and Red Deadnettle. In the same patch, a Cranefly, probably Tipula oleracea, flew in and landed on some stalks of grass. John drew my attention to a busy Jackdaw that was weaving its way through grassy tufts, hunting flies. At the sea wall we found a gathering of Eiders busily engaged in courtship activities. We were pestered by large numbers of St Marks Flies hanging in the air. Although they’re harmless, it is unpleasant when they land on one’s face and clothing.

Dove's - foot Cranesbill	Red Deadnettle

Cranefly - Tipula oleracea	Jackdaw

Eider	St Mark's Fly

Below is the view looking west from the sea wall. The light level at the wall was quite dull but, as the picture shows, Leith was getting a bit of sunshine. Also note the very many specks on the picture - these are the St Marks Flies (not, as I first thought, dirt in my camera).

The view from the middle hide was not as we were expecting. There were no big flocks of Oystercatchers, Curlews or Godwits. All we saw at first was a Shelduck and a Greylag. After a bit of scanning with his bins John spotted a Whimbrel in the east-most scrape. After that a pair of Curlew appeared in the middle of the central scrape. The light was deteriorating but I managed reasonable images.

Shelduck	Greylag Goose

Whimbrel	Curlew

I heard bird activity in the bushes around the hide. On inspection I got great close views of a pair of Reed Buntings. When the female flew off, the male got even closer as he searched for her. John then reported, “incoming ducks”, which turned out to be Gadwalls descending onto the north-most scrape.

Reed Bunting...

	Gadwall

We relocated to the north-most hide. On the way there I photographed a nice example of the tall umbilifer, Alexanders and at the entrance to the hide, an, at time of writing, unidentified fungus. I noticed a tiny Small Black Ant doing a random walk on the ledge of the hide. I managed a record shot good enough to allow a good stab at identification.

Alexanders	Fungus ( T.B.C. )

Black Ant ( T.B.C.)...

Once inside the hide I identified a lone wader that was foraging on the scrape as being a Ruff. John then issued another alert, “incoming Curlews” which allowed me to get a pleasing flight shot. A couple of birds appeared on the grass in front of the hide, a Magpie and a Woodpigeon. At that, we decided to head back to the car. On the way I found a flowering Bird's - foot Trefoil plant, and at the car we were welcomed by an Orange Tip butterfly that fluttered about for a a bit before settling on a leaf of a White Deadnettle.

Ruff	Curlew

Magpie	Wood Pigeon

Bird's - foot Trefoil	Orange Tip Butterfly

Although the weather wasn’t ideal, the predicted rain never really came to anything. We were satisfied with our sightings, especially the Goosander chicks, Skylark, Reed Buntings and Orange Tip. It was also great to see the blooming wildflowers. We celebrated with tea and strawberry tarts before returning home. Hopefully next week the weather will remember what season it is supposed to be

Week ending: 7th May 2023: Stevenston, Saltcoats, Irvine Harbour

We headed for Stevenston on Sunday. The weather prediction for Central Scotland was best in the west, as they say, and our last trip there was almost exactly 3 months ago, so it was due a visit. Stevenston Morrisons’ cafe is one of our favourites and I’m glad to report that it didn’t let us down on Sunday (10/10: excellent service, food and on big plates). It was disappointingly cloudy at the supermarket but we started to see bits of blue sky appearing by the end of our breakfasts.

Courtesy of Weather Pro and BBC Tides

On arrival at a Stevenston Point the Sun had broken through the clouds and that’s the way it stayed during most of the rest of the trip. We were immediately approached by an excited birder who was keen to tell us about an Otter he’d spotted off the west side of the promontory. We’re grateful and glad he did. We watched it as it made its way to the tip of the point.

As I tracked the Otter I became aware of a sizeable mixed flock of Dunlins and Ringed Plovers that were gathered on the rocky waters’ edge on the west side of the promontory.

In order to maximise the photo-opportunity, I sidled to a spot nearer to the flock, taking great care not to disturb the birds. I noticed that there was a handsome summer-plumage Turnstone in the midst of the gathering. I also kept an eye, ably assisted by John, on the bird activities in the wider area. Alerted by John, I snapped a passing Shag.

Ringed Plover...

Dunlin...

Turnstone	Juvenile Shag

Also spotted by John were Whimbrels (although initially we thought they were Curlews) gathered on rocks at the very end of the Point.

Near the Whimbrels, a handful of Oystercatchers were scrambling across the rocks. Once again John managed to spot a very distant line of Common Scoters as they moved towards Saltcoats. After getting a record shot of these, I turned my attention to the much nearer grassy areas of the Point, looking for wildflowers. That search turned up a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee when it settled very briefly on some blades of grass. I also discovered a clump of Common Comfrey at the edge of the grassy area near where I watched the Dunlin. As we exited the Point, I stopped the car to allow John to photograph some pretty Bluebells, as well as a Jackdaw that was foraging in the grass.

Oystercatcher	Common Scoter

Queen Buff - tailed Bumblebee	Common Comfrey

Common Bluebell	Jackdaw

On our way to Saltcoats we stopped off at a pond at the west end of Moorpark Road, where we were pleased to see a couple of Grey Herons lurking in the reeds. As I photographed these, a Duclair Duck and a Mallard left the safety of the water and moved towards us, fully expecting that we would throw them bread. They were sadly mistaken, as we generally don’t feed wild birds. After I got shots of a Black-headed Gull and a Coot, we pressed on towards Saltcoats Harbour.

Grey Heron...

Duclair Duck	Mallard Duck

2nd Cycle Black - headed Gull	Coot

At Saltcoats Harbour we could see a single Black Guillemot right in the middle of the harbour. A Feral Pigeon was perched at the edge of the pier along with several other birds including a Rock Pipit. We ascended the steps onto the viewing area of the stone tower that overlooks the harbour entrance. I noticed a juvenile Cormorant drying its wings on rocks at the opposite side of the entrance.

Black Guillemot	Feral Pigeon

Rock Pipit	Juvenile Cormorant

From the elevated position on the tower we expected to see birds flying past, hopefully near enough for decent pictures. It wasn’t long before the Black Guillemot we had seen earlier flew past us on its way out of the harbour. Soon after that a large Gannet flew within 40m of the tower. And, to complete a trio of very pleasing flight shots, a drake Eider flew at water level past the tower, giving us a nice aerial view. A Rock Pipit, beak stuffed with flies, watched us as we descend the stairs on our way back to the car.

Black Guillemot	Gannet

Eider	Rock Pipit

Next, we walked around the harbour towards a second lookout tower at the old outdoor paddling pool, snapping a busy Starling on the way. We also came across a juvenile Starling that was calling nervously as it waited for its parent to return to it with food. At the tower we got close views of another summer-plumage Turnstone and a drake Eider.

Starling	Juvenile Starling

Turnstone	Eider

Below is the view from the tower looking across to Kirkgate Parish Church in Ardrossan.

I noticed a strange, and as yet, unidentified object floating near the Eiders. It seemed to be organic and could be some form of seaweed detached from the seabed. We watched the drake Eider diving for Crabs. Each time he brought a Crab to the surface there were one or two Herring Gulls there ready to steal his catch. Obviously used to this harassment, the Eider, on catching a Crab, quickly struggled to remove its legs before diving with the leg-less crab, which was swallowed beneath a surface. Afterwards the Eider gave a seemingly defiant wing flap as it dried its wings.

	Eider...

1st Cycle Herring Gull

We returned to the car and drove 10 miles south to Irvine Harbour. We were greeted by familiar sounds of Sandwich Terns as they darted along the Irvine Estuary. We didn’t see any of them actually diving for fish but maybe that had something to do with the increased movements of boats, jet skis and paddleboarders. We usually see Grey Seals at the Irvine-Garnock confluence, but on Sunday we only briefly spotted one seal well down the River Garnock.

Sandwich Tern	Grey Seal

We walked towards the mouth of the estuary where we saw birds, including Terns, Turnstones and Whimbrels, perched along a line of rocks at the far side of the estuary.

A pair of very noisy jet skiers disturbed the birds, causing them to take flight. I got a reasonably good flight shot of a Shag fleeing up the Estuary. On our way back to the car I photographed a Carrion Crow perched on the end of the sand dunes.

Shag	Carrion Crow

We returned to the car for our usual teas and strawberry tarts. We were delighted with our collection of sightings. My favourites were the Otter and Black Guillemot and I always enjoy watching Eiders. It was good to have John back again after a few weeks. Hopefully we will get some nice weather once again for next week’s triip.

Highlights - May 2023

We present this month’s gallery of my favourite pictures I’ve taken during May 2023. They are not listed in the order they have been taken, but according to a series of themes. I’ve kept commentary to a minimum, preferring to let each picture talk for itself.

WINGS

Great - spotted Woodpecker	Grey Heron

Osprey	Robin

Juvenile Siskin	Female Whitethroat

FUNGI

Dryads Saddle	Hare's - foot Inkcap

INSECTS

Click Beetle - Athous haemorrhoidalis	Flea Beetle - Altica lythri

Dragonfly - 4 Spotted Chaser	Beetle - Chrysolina polita

Common Heath Moth	Cranefly- Dictenida bimaculata

St Mark's Fly	Speckled Wood Butterfly