Birdwatching in Strathclyde
Ordnance Survey Landranger maps for this area:
Nos. 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 60, 61, 62, 63, 68, 69, 70.
Do you know any of these sites? If you are familiar with the birds
of these locations, please write to paul(at)wildlifeweb(dot)co(dot)uk and let
us have some details.
Information on this page was kindly provided by Kevin Waite.
Coll RSPB Reserve,
Tiree,
Mull,
The Clyde Estuary,
Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve,
Bogside Flats,
This is a SSSI at the confluence of the rivers Garnock and Irvine.
The site is best viewed from Irvine harbour (follow signs for
Harbourside upon reaching Irvine). There are a good selection of pubs
and cafes to refresh after a cold wind. The area consist of a lot of
mudflats and saltmarsh with scrub in the distance.
The best time of year is winter when the area has lots of wintering
ducks and waders, in particular: wideon, golden plover, lapwing, teal,
curlew, eider, good numbers of gull. There are also red-breasted
merganser, oystercatcher, shelduck, goldeneye and occasional smew.
Short-eared owl, peregrine and sparrowhawk are all relatively frequent
and cause a riot with the plovers. A pond behind the Magnum sports
centre is also worth checking as there can be occasional stopovers of
scaup (with tufted duck), brent and barnacle geese.
Doonfoot,
Ballantrae Shingle Beach SWT Reserve,
Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve,