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.

The latest issue of Ayrshire Bird Report, covering 2015 and 2016 is now available. The price is £8.00 and is available from:

• SOC Ayrshire meetings
• RSPB Central Ayrshire meetings
• SWT Ayrshire meetings
• Mrs Anne Dick, Rowanmyle House,
  Tarbolton,
  Mauchline,
  KA5 5LU
  Cheques should be made payable to “Ayrshire Bird Report” and include £1.50 for p&p.

The Arran Bird Report 2018 has now been published and is available from:

A rainy afternoon at the end of Winter gives me an opportunity to deal with the large backlog of (non-Chough) photos kindly sent in for the Photo Gallery. In this short selection we start with Owls and Alan Brown’s superb photo of a Long-eared Owl at Hunterston that made his day, and a sequence of photos by Angus Hogg of Bogside’s aerobatic Short-eared Owls. Bruce Kerr did a great job of ensuring the crowds assembled at Stevenston for the release of an Ivory Gull didn’t spoil his photos. Dave Grant’s photo of a male Bullfinch gives a lovely wintry feel. Finally, Jamie McPike’s Kestrel is enjoying some late winter sunshine. Please go to the Photo Gallery to see all the other great pictures sent in.

My thanks go to Dave Grant, Angus Hogg, Bruce Kerr and Jamie McPike for their contributions.

The appearance of a Chough at Turnberry Point at the end of January coincided with some nice weather and so I’m grateful for the lovely photos sent in for the Photo Gallery. Given it has been almost 90 years since the last reliable record of the bird in the county, Angus Hogg has produced an informative article on the status of the species in the county. My thanks to Dave Grant, Angus Hogg and Bruce Kerr for their photos.

In this time of grey skies it is nice to see a bit of colour and the photos in this batch certainly do that: Dave Grant’s Kingfisher and Angus Hogg’s Med Gull against a blue sky (remember them?). Then we have Bruce Kerr’s intimate picture of a Woodpigeon feeding its young. And finally, for all you Pipit fans out there, we have a trio: Meadow, Rock and Water. I’ve grouped them together in the Wetland Birds section so you can look at the differences more easily. (Slightly interestingly: the Meadow Pipit picture is the first of this species since 2006.)

My thanks go to Dave Grant, Angus Hogg, and Bruce Kerr for their contributions to the Photo Gallery.