In recent years the flock of Brent Geese at Maidens has become a regular and growing feature. As the series of photos in the Photo Gallery shows, this flock has been closely monitored over the years by Angus Hogg. Now Angus has brought all the information on these geese at Maidens into a new article: the Maidens Brent Geese 
.
Back in 2018 Angus Hogg and Dave Grant saw and photographed an unusual looking Black Redstart near Maidens. It had the characteristics of an Eastern sub-species and so they submitted a detail report. Dave has produced the attached poster showing what they submitted and the outcome.
With the second weekend in a row spoiled by a named storm, I’ve no excuse to not deal with the backlog of photos for the Photo Gallery. We’ve had a few lovely birds to brighten up the winter: I’ve included a few here – please see the Gallery for the others.
In addition, a Siberian Chiffchaff appeared in Auchenharvie to get those sad souls who like sub-species excited (or insurance for when it gets split?).
My thanks go to Dave Grant, Angus Hogg, and Bruce Kerr for their contributions.
If like me you aren’t as up-to-date on your Siberian Chiffchaff identification as you’d like, then you’ll find the attached poster produced by Dave Grant essential reading. Using his photos of the bird that recently popped up in Auchenharvie and explanatory notes, you’ll be ready for when the next one pops up. Click on the icon to download the poster. Makes an ideal spousal Christmas present.
Again, we have a nice mix of the rare and common with stunning photos. The really impressive bit was getting the photo in good light and blue skies: not easy this autumn! The above are just a sample: please go to the Photo Gallery to see all the other great pictures.
I’m always on the hunt for photos to illustrate our Ayrshire Species List. David Lynn sent in, as he himself says, a record shot of the Lesser Yellowlegs that popped up at Capringstone in Irvine. Doesn’t matter: as it is the first photo we have, it gets the glory, and being only the third record for the county (TBC by the Great+Good), also gets a place in the Ayrshire Rare Species List
My thanks go to Dave Grant, Angus Hogg, and David Lynn for their contributions.
The Autumn 2019 issue of The Gannet, the club newsletter of the RSPB Central Ayrshire Local Group is now available: click here to download it .
The Autumn 2019 issue of The Stonechat, the club newsletter of the Ayrshire Branch of the SOC is also now available: click here to download it .
The more observant may have noticed previously that browsers such as Chrome would say this site was “insecure” and give you concern. Given that it’s a birding website and I don’t hold sensitive information (e.g. credit card info, nuclear launch codes, etc) there isn’t a problem. However, to avoid even the slightest worry I’ve switched to using an SSL to secure the site. This means that no-one can eavesdrop on you browsing all the site’s goodies. The site’s URL is now officially https://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk but if you use the old http one you’ll be redirected automatically to the nice safe, secure one.
Who are you looking at?
My thanks go to Dave Grant, Bruce Kerr, Jamie McPike and Bob Ross for their contributions to the Photo Gallery.
Attached is the July 2019 Newsletter for BTO members and volunteers in the Ayrshire region.
A thundery afternoon gives me an opportunity to deal with the large backlog (as usual) of photos kindly sent in for the Photo Gallery. We have the usual mix of the commoner (but still worthy) species, rarities and distinct odd-balls. For example, Cathy Cochrane’s picture of a Whitethroat demonstrates something I’ve learnt is what serious photographers call Bokeh (every day is a school day here at Ayrshire Birding). Bruce Kerr managed to get a flight picture of the Great Egret that popped up in Loch Doon. Dave Grant got a nice picture of the Pied Flycatcher that set up home in Glen Afton.
I’m always on the hunt for photos to illustrate our Ayrshire Species List. Dave was very close with a picture of a female Blackbird but sadly we already have one (just one!) from a decade ago. It just shows that beautiful commoner species are often overlooked. Angus was sneaky and submitted a picture of Egyptian Geese that isn’t even on the official list (I had to make an Editorial decision and add it so he could get the glory: I put it down as an Escape – I’m sure the Great&Good will put me right).
The above is just an amuse–bouche of the goodies that were sent in: please go to the Photo Gallery to see all the other great pictures.
My thanks go to Cathy Cochrane, Dave Grant, Angus Hogg, and Bruce Kerr for their contributions.