Ayrshire Birding Clubs
There are three main clubs in Ayrshire dedicated to birding, and the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) that is more general. Each has an active programme of meetings and trips. Details of the clubs are given below, along with their meeting and trip programmes. Visitors are always welcome to meetings and outings.
| Club | Details | Contact | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Ayrshire Branch of the SOC |
Meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings at
Monkton Community Church and Pioneer Cafe. This is on Main Street near the cross roads in the
village of Monkton by Prestwick. There is ample car parking in the adjacent public CP and the broad,
little used, well-lit street. If you go too far along Main Street you will end up in
British Aerospace - stop opposite the Wheatsheaf Inn! 7pm for a 7.30pm start.Click here for a map. Publishes the annual Ayrshire Bird Report and Stonechat — the Branch newsletter. |
Gordon Riddle 01655 750335 |
 |
RSPB North Ayrshire Local Group | Argyle Centre, Campbell Avenue, Saltcoats.
The Centre sits behind Caledonia Primary School and is across the road from St Cuthbert's Church and the 2 sets of 'high flats'.
Click
here for a map
of the Argyle Centre's location. All meetings will start at 7.30pm sharp. Web site: www.narspb.org.uk |
Duncan Watt 01294-832361 |
|
RSPB Central Ayrshire Local Group | Carnegie Library, Ayr on Mondays. Start time 1940 hours prompt. Please use Garden Street entrance. Visitors are always very welcome. Local membership costs £6 per season (joint £10). | Ronnie Coombes 01292 265891 |
 |
Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) | Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 7.30, in the Green Room of the Refectory at Scottish Agricultural College,
Auchincruive, by Ayr, KA6 5HW. The Refectory is sign-posted from the junction on the avenue inside the main college entrance. Web site: http://swtayr.googlepages.com |
Wendy Annan 01292-264170 |
Indoor Meetings
| Date | Club | Title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Sep-10 | Central RSPB | Registration then Gardening & Wildlife | Jim Thomson |
| 14-Sep-10 | SOC | Birds in a Marine Environment | Paul Walton |
| 12-Oct-10 | SOC | Hen Harriers | Dave Beaumont |
| 18-Oct-10 | Central RSPB | Birds of Eskrigg Wildlife Reserve | Jim Rae of Eskrigg, Dumfriesshire |
| 9-Nov-10 | SOC | Tiree Frigatebird & Other Tales | Bob McGowan |
| 15-Nov-10 | Central RSPB | From Birds to Insects on the Mull of Galloway | Paul Tarling, RSPB |
| 13-Dec-10 | Central RSPB | Birds & Landscapes of South India | Tony Scott |
| 14-Dec-10 | SOC | Field Craft | Ian English |
| 11-Jan-11 | SOC | Maybe Madagascar? | Liz Leyden |
| 17-Jan-11 | Central RSPB | Baron's Haugh Reserve | Pardeep Chand, RSPB |
| 8-Feb-11 | SOC | BTO Nest Record Scheme | Mandy Cook |
| 21-Feb-11 | Central RSPB | TBC | Richard Hesketh, SWT |
| 8-Mar-11 | SOC | Futurescape | Anne McCall |
| 21-Mar-11 | Central RSPB | Mersehead and the new Crook of Baldoon Reserve | Dave Fairlamb, RSPB |
| 12-Apr-11 | SOC | AGM, How Good is your Bird ID? | Russell Nisbet |
| 18-Apr-11 | Central RSPB | AGM then The British History of Red Kites | Callum Murray, RSPB |
| TBA | SWT | TBA | TBA |
| TBA | RSPB North | TBA | TBA |
Day trips
These day trips are open to all. They typically involve use of private transport in a car-share basis. For details contact Jim Thomson, or Marco McGinty (01475 674695), RSPB North Ayrshire Group for those marked with a †.
| When | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 25-Sep-10 | Loch Ryan | Meet at Ballantrae car park 10.30 hrs |
| 23-Oct-10 | Mersehead Reserve & Southernness Point | Meet at reserve 11.00 hrs |
| 27-Nov-10 | Largo Bay by coach | Dodds coach depot at 07.45. Return for 21.30. Cost £20.00 |
| 11-Dec-10 | Caerlaverock | Meet at reserve car park 11.00 hrs |
| 22-Jan-11 | Maidens & Culzean Park | Meet in car park at Maidens 10.30 hrs |
| 19-Feb-11 | Greenan shore & Doonfoot | Meet at Greenan Castle car park 10.00 hrs |
| 26-Mar-11 | Threave Wildfowl refuge & Ballymackhill Red Kite feeding station | Meet at Castle Douglas 10.30 hrs |
| 16/17-Apr-11 | Leighton Moss Weekend by coach | Cost c.£80 dependent on numbers |
| 23-Apr-11 | Early morning bird watch Glen Afton | Meet at Burns memorial 07.00 hrs |
| 21-May-11 | Wood of Cree | Meet at reserve car park 11.00 hrs |
| 18-Jun-11 | Mull of Galloway | Meet at Ardwell bay picnic area 11.00 hrs |
Extended Trips (Ayrshire Birders Abroad)
For details on the longer trips organised by Tony and Gerda Scott, please see the Ayrshire Birders Abroad page.
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