So, with the printing done and the weather nice, we decided to venture out and visit some local patches. Starting in Saltcoats, at the promenade behind the cinema. We looked out to the incoming tide and started the list. Waders rummaged around the rocky outcrops - redshank, curlew, ringed plover, turnstone and oystercatcher. Lesser black-backed and herring gulls were settled on rocks and scattered between them were sandwich terns, all relaxing on this warm summery day. One outcrop further out held a flock of sunning shags, while every now and again a solo gannet would pass by even further out above the water.
Turning the corner to the 'stinking rocks' of Saltcoats Harbour we added starling, pied wagtail and rock pipit to the list. The usual gulls and waders were seen again here tossing the seaweed. Further round, house sparrows and black-headed gulls flocked the car park.
Next we moved on to the promenade that runs between Saltcoats and Stevenston, which held more waders and gulls. Although no new ones, especially once some kids descended onto the rocks and scared everything away! Further out in the water though a raft of eider, males in eclipse, bobbed along in the gentle waves.
Turning the corner to the 'stinking rocks' of Saltcoats Harbour we added starling, pied wagtail and rock pipit to the list. The usual gulls and waders were seen again here tossing the seaweed. Further round, house sparrows and black-headed gulls flocked the car park.
Next we moved on to the promenade that runs between Saltcoats and Stevenston, which held more waders and gulls. Although no new ones, especially once some kids descended onto the rocks and scared everything away! Further out in the water though a raft of eider, males in eclipse, bobbed along in the gentle waves.
After that short stop, we moved on heading towards Stevenston Point, although a quick stop at one of the Auchenharvie Ponds helped add another few to the list - mallard, mute swan, coot, common gull and jackdaw. Plus one mallard cross which was either half farmyard duck or half pintail, difficult to tell though (4th from the left in the photo below).
Off to Stevenston Point then, where from the car we watched a female kestrel make her way across the bay towards the old ICI grounds. The wind was brisk and time was getting on (my tummy was rumbling!), so after spotting a 'lesser-spotted Bob Lambie' we added sanderling to the list and watched a large flock of sandwich terns all sitting along the water's edge. A common tern was said to be among them but during our short stop we didn't manage to see it. And again more gulls and waders scattered the shoreline.
Time for lunch, all be it, a late one!
It was time for me to be heading back home now, for which I was generously offered a lift. That meant that we could stop off at another spot on the way - RSPB Lochwinnoch.
It was the wrong time of day to be visiting really, however we were able to add a selection of garden birds including robin, great, coal and blue tits, siskin, goldfinch, greenfinch and chaffinch to the list. The newly dug channels held only mallard though. The great-spotted woodpecker visited the feeders once and a single collared dove flew past the tower.
A quick wander around the closest trails didn't produce much, although the newly fledged swallows and range of butterflies - including red admiral and peacock - out soaking up the last rays of sunlight provided a nice end to the day. The upgrades to the centre itself are great, and with the reports about feathered visitors to the channels out front, it has given me a prompt to try and get myself down at some other time for a proper visit.
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