BIRD RACE 2005

Team: Bill McKechnie, Jim McGrady and Mike Howes

Mike Howes

We ambled across the car park at the crack of 9.06 and spent the first minutes searching the wrong barn for an owl. Eventually locating only pellets we did manage Mistle Thrush (1), Chaffinch (2), Wood Pigeon (3), Herring Gull (4) and Jackdaw(5) before switching on the engine.

First stop was to be Greenan but within a matter of minutes we saw a car (Henry I think?) stopped at the roadside north of Culroy with Greylag Geese (6) passing over, even better just over the hedge was a Pheasant feeder with Pheasants (7) (obviously) but also 2 Red legged Partridges (8),  at least 3 Reed Buntings (9) and a Robin (10) in the hedge.

Onward we passed a field full of Black headed Gulls (11) and a few Common Gulls (12). Blue Tit (13) and Blackbird (14) were in the bag before we reached the Greenan Farm dung heap.

 Leaping out (it was the start of the day remember), we immediately spotted the long staying Black Redstart (15) as expected but more exciting, for this day at least, was a single Grey Partridge (16) between the heap and the hedge. We checked the lane and the farm buildings where we found a Song Thrush (17), Dunnock (18), Wren (19), Feral Pigeons (which we hoped might count) a passing Grey Wagtail (20) and a Kestrel (21) over the nearby pines.

As the first of many heavy squalls hit it was becoming apparent that some normally common birds were lying low (who could blame them!). In the fields at Greenan  were many Lapwing (22),Oystercatcher (23), Curlew (24), Meadow Pipits (25), a single Skylark (26) and at the high tide line were Ringed Plover (27), Redshank (28), Turnstone (29), Dunlin (30) and 2 Shelduck (31).

 At Doonfoot we managed Pied Wagtai l(32), Goldeneye (33), Mute Swan (34), Moorhen (35) and Mallard (36) on the river and Eider (37) and Cormoran t(38) on the sea. As we were forced back to the car by the hail we stumbled upon a flock of Greenfinches (39) and 2 Linnets (40).

Conscious of the time we pushed on to Dunure picking up Rook (41) and Carrion Crow (42) en route but seeing little at the harbour we carried on towards Culzean. Two Lesser Black backed Gulls (43) sat on a knoll in a field and as the weather closed in again a Stock Dove (44) flew close just before we reached the Country Park entrance.

Surreptitious inspection of the garden behind the cottage at the main road entrance revealed a nut feeder on which hung an obliging Great Spotted Woodpecker (45) . A combination of bladder problems and a broken zip was annoying but during the confusion Goldcrests (46) passed overhead.

 At the Swan Pond we ticked Tufted Duck (47), Little Grebe (48) and Coot (49), Treecreeper (50), Coal Tit (51), Great Tit (52) and Grey Heron (53) (no not the large wooden one). Our only substantial walk of the day was  a fruitless search for Water Rail but we did come across a large flock of Siskins (54) and Goldfinches (55) on the Alders and the first of five(!) Sparrowhawks (56) for the day.

Up at the ramparts by the gift shop scoping was very difficult but we nailed a Shag (57) and Great Black backed Gull (58) before deciding Turnberry would be a better bet.

We headed first to Maidens where we spotted a pair of Ravens (59) battling along the hillside before the village, our first Starlings (60) and a single wind blown Collared Dove (61) as we reached the sea front. Not surprisingly the usual 4 Brent Geese (62) were on the grass but we had to leave the comfort of the car to spot anything else. Despite wild conditions we managed to reach the tide line. Amongst the waders we spied one Knot (63), 2 Purple Sandpipers (64)  and flushed first a Common Snipe (65) then a Jack Snipe (66) from the small burn. Finally 2 Rock Pipits (67) revealed themselves amongst the mounds of weed. After spending some time chasing a mystery wader we gave up and headed to Turnberry.

There were no Golden Plover on the fields only Skylarks, and the pool opposite the Golf Course gave us just Eurasian Teal (68).

Fortunately we could drive to the lighthouse. Sheltering against the tempest we managed to scope first a Red throated (69) then a Black throated Diver (70). Despite the conditions the light and visibility were good and birds were pushed into the bay behind the castle ruins. A small group of Guillemots (71) , a Fulmar (72) and Kittiwake (73) passed by, then 2 Razorbills (74) followed by 2 Black Guillemots (75) diving through the rollers. Next a Red breasted Merganser (76) blew south. Best bird however, courtesy of Bill, was a Great Northern Diver (77) close in. With the time near to 1pm and nothing new likely we headed off again snatching a bite on the way and picking up Stonechat (78) on the golf course.

It was clear the weather was about to do something awful and it struck just as we ventured over the hill towards Hallowshean. There would have been an outside chance of some upland birds normally but the snow and wind put pay to that. Despite the conditions  we tracked down Fieldfare (79) and Redwing (80) which up until now had eluded us. Cutting our losses we headed for Kilkerran. After a bit of effort at some feeders at Poundland we managed the only House Sparrow (81) of the day! This area would be our last real chance for Jay (82) so we moved round to Chapelton Wood and as luck would have it one flew across in front of us.

There were still some notable absences from our list e.g. Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Magpie! And of course Long tailed Tit. Heading up the Water of Girvan towards Crosshill the flooded fields had Whooper Swans (83) and Wigeon (84). There were plenty of duck at Blairbowie but nothing new so onward to Martnaham.

 Two Buzzards (85) were circling over Dalrymple Wood. As expected Great Crested Grebe (86) and Canada Goose (87) were a banker at Martnaham and Goosander (88) were also present. At last a Yellowhammer  (89) briefly showed itself.

 Needing Pochard we took a minor road from Coylton towards Trabboch still hoping for a Bullfinch. Instead we got 2 Magpies (90) the only ones we saw all day!.

 Trabboch produced Pochard (91) but a brief search for Water Rail was once again fruitless.

By 3pm we had the Tree Sparrows (92) at Fail but now a choice Troon or Bogside. We decided Bogside. This diversion produced 2 Redpolls (93) at Dundonald camp and Gadwall (94) at Irvine Harbour.

Despite a report of a Glaucous Gull at Stevenston and Scaup at Auchenharvie time was against us. A brief look at Troon/Barassie did however produce at last a flock of Golden Plover (95).

A regulation speed drive back to Minishant saw us arrive at 4.25 just time to look again for Barn Owl but no joy.

Looking back now we should have had the Hen Harrier at Bogside and apparently there was an Iceland Gull at the River Irvine mouth. If we hadn’t been sociable at Culzean , Maidens and Turnberry , had ignored the old lady who harangued us at Tarbolton, worn different trousers and had not overdone it the night before (no names mentioned) then we would have had just enough time and energy for the Scaup at Auchenharvie and the Glaucous Gull at Stevenston. Add those up plus the dodgy goose at Maidens and it could have been  100! But that of course would be greedy.