Gazetteer

The Ayrshire Bird Report names the places where sightings took place. Often these are the hot-spots listed in the Where to Watch Birds in Ayrshire section. However, for many records the place might not be so well known. The table below lists the places mentioned in the 1999 Bird Report (a typical year, I hope) together with the OS grid reference to identify the location. The table is sorted alphabetically, but as there are over 160 entries, it might be more efficient to use your browser’s Find facility. The following OS Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps cover this area:

  1. 63: Firth of Clyde area
  2. 64: Glasgow and surrounding area
  3. 70: Ayr, Kilmarnock and surrounding area
  4. 71: Lanark and surrounding area
  5. 76: Girvan, Ballantrae and Barrhill
  6. 77: Dalmellington and New Galloway
Place Name Grid Reference OS Map
Ailsa Craig NX019998 76
Airds Moss NS600240 71
Alloway (Ayr) NS334185 70
Ardeer NS280410 70
Ardmillan NX168946 76
Ardneil Bay NS185484 63
Ardrossan NS225420 63, 70
Ashgrove Loch NS274443 70
Auchincruive NS385235 70
Auchinharvie (Stevenston) NS263415 70
Ayr Gorge NS463256 70
Ayr Harbour NS333227 70
Balcreuchan Port NX100878 76
Balkenna NS198043 76
Ballantrae NX083827 76
Baltersan NS284086 76
Bankhead NS486374 71
Barassie NS322314 70
Barcraigs Reservoir NS394574 63
Barcully NS316048 77
Bargany NS244003 77
Barnshean Loch NS380114 70
Barskimming NS483245 70
Beith NS350540 63
Bennane Head NX091867 76
Bennane Lea NX092860 76
Black Loch NS591162 71
Blackcraig Hill NS648065 77
Blacksidend NS583296 71
Blackwater Loch NX080783 76
Blairbowie NS326114 70
Blairquhan NS366054 70
Bogside (Irvine) NS307400 70
Bogton Loch NS470054 70
Brackness Hole NX051768 76
Braehead NS599218 71
Brest Rocks NS193050 70
Brickwork Loch NS591225 71
Burn Foot NX051763 76
Burnhouse NS384503 70
Cairnhill (near Dailly) NS235005 76
Capringstone Farm NS358389 70
Catrine NS530258 70
Corsehouse NS478503 64
Corsehouse Reservoir NS480500 64
Coylton NS407200 70
Craigdow Loch NS263065 70
Crosshill NS326066 70
Croy NS245127 70
Culzean NS231099 70,76
Cunninghamhead NS377419 70
Currarie Port NX055780 76
Daljarrock NX195882 76
Dalmellington NS480060 70
Dalquharran Moss NS273025 77
Dalry NS291495 70
Dalrympleston Marsh NS440211 70
Darnconner NS575240 71
Dean Castle County Park (Kilmarnock) NS440396 70
Deil�s Dyke NS306194 70
Dipple NS200026 76
Doonfoot NS324195 70
Doonholm NS339175 70
Downan Point NX068806 76
Dreghorn (Irvine) NS352379 70
Drumshang NS245140 70
Drybridge NS360366 70
Dunure NS253160 70
Dyke Foot NX046735 76
Eglinton Country Park (Irvine) NS320420 70
Fairlie NS217546 63
Fenwick NS465434 70
Fergus Loch NS393183 70
Finnarts Point NX046741 76
Gala Lane NX476915 76
Games Loup NX103881 76
Garnock Floods (Irvine) NS305417 70
Girdle Toll (Irvine) NS345405 70
Girvan NX183982 76
Glenbuck Loch NS755287 71
Greenan NS313191 70
Guelt Water NS660180 71
Heads of Ayr NS284188 70
Heart Loch NS311094 70
Hessilhead NS382532 63
Horse Island (Ardrossan) NS213427 70
Hunterston NS190520 63
Irvine Bay NS304379 70
Irvine Beach Park NS308375 70
Kennedy’s Pass NX150933 76
Kilantringan Loch NX090790 76
Kilbirnie Loch NS330545 63
Kileekie NS321063 70
Kilkerran NS310035 76
Kirkmichael House NS341084 76
Knockdolian NX118848 76
Knockshinnoch lagoons NS430143 71
Knockytoul NX275805 76
Largs NS201595 63
Lendalfoot NX131900 76
Loans NS346318 70
Loch Derclach NX445989 76
Loch Doon NX477000 76
Loch Dornal NX295764 76
Loch Finlas NX469979 76
Loch Maberry NX285758 76
Loch Macaterick NX440913 76
Loch Melemon NX120860 76
Loch Nahinie NX278771 76
Loch of the Lowes (New Cumnock) NS602146 71
Loch Riecawr NX435935 76
Lochhill NS468231 70
Lochingerroch NS623095 71
Lochlea NS455302 70
Loudonston Farm NS437213 70
Loudoun Castle NS506378 70
Lugar NS594214 71
Maidens NS215083 70
March Burn NX046750 76
Martnaham Loch NS390170 70
Maybole NS300100 70
Meikle Craigs NS325286 70
Merkland NS249071 70
Milton Burn NS201054 70
Minishant NS326140 70
Mochrum Loch NS270092 70
Monkwood NS340147 70
Munnoch Reservoir NS248475 63
Myremill NS320106 70
Nebbock Rocks (Saltcoats) NS241411 70
Nether Auchendrane NS335166 70
New Cumnock NS616133 71
Newton (Ayr) NS338234 70
North Craig Reservoir NS437414 70
Oldhall NS340364 70
Penwhapple Reservoir NX261975 76
Pinbain Quarry NX138914 76
Polquhirter Meadows NS635135 71
Port Vad NX093869 76
Portencross NS175486 63
Pow Burn NS345277 70
Prestwick NS345255 70
Priestland NS578374 71
Raith Reservoir NS395271 70
Raithhill NS409183 70
Rankinston NS451144 70
Rosemount NS375291 70
Rozelle (Ayr) NS340190 70
Saltcoats NS241411 70
Seamill NS200471 63
Shankston Loch NS349119 70
Shewalton (Irvine) NS320371 70
Skelmorlie NS193675 63
Southannan NS208540 63
Stair NS440234 70
Starling Knowe NX053721 76
Stevenston Point NS269401 70
Swindridge NS329498 63
Tairlaw NS403009 77
Tarbolton NS432273 70
Tarfessock NX363883 76
Tarryholm (Irvine) NS327382 70
Trabboch Loch NS436218 70
Troon NS310310 70
Turnberry Point NS196073 70,76
Warrix (Irvine) NS336373 70
Warwickdale (Irvine) NS368399 70
West Kilbride NS210480 63
Whitehill NS405169 70

Birding Map

The map below shows the extent of the county with some of the major towns (don’t use this map as a substitute for the Ordnance Survey:-). The County comprises the three districts of North, East and South Ayrshire (and no, I don’t know what happened to West Ayrshire:-) bounded by the Firth of Clyde. So if you see something in this area then it could appear in the county’s bird report! The range of habitat includes mountain, forest, urban, farmland and coastal. A large number of location reports have been compiled describing the best places to watch birds in the county. These locations are indicated by numbers on the map and are also used in our Birdwatching in Ayrshire and Arran booklet.