Angus Hogg has kindly written an article looking at how Stonechats are faring in Ayrshire in the period 2013 to 2017.  This follows on the survey work done in 2013 following the severe winters that almost wiped the species out in Ayrshire.

Those of you paying attention will remember the challenge I set Angus Hogg about proving the breeding of Green Woodpecker in Ayrshire after he sent in some pictures for the Photo Gallery of juveniles in the summer.  Well, he delivered and has submitted a thorough and enjoyable article on the Green Woodpecker in Ayrshire giving its history and status in the county.  Enjoy the article and get ready to search next Spring.

This website has now been going for over 17 years and a gaping hole in the photo coverage of the Ayrshire Species List has finally been filled. Yes, I’ve now got a picture of Feral Pigeon – my thanks to Dave Grant for sending that in. However, don’t worry, we’ve also got pictures of less exciting stuff. For example, we have a picture taken in 1985 (who says this site isn’t up-to-the-minute?!) of a Ross’s Gull seen in Ayr. This photo was taken by Roger Hissett and is believed to be the only one of this bird (and obviously makes it onto the Rare Ayrshire Species list). There are other great pictures of a variety of species, and my thanks go to Dave Grant, Roger Hissett, Angus Hogg, Bruce Kerr and Bob Ross for their contributions to the Photo Gallery.

Apparently a Spotted Crake has been seen recently! My guide-book says they are secretive and hard to see. Clearly the Doonfoot individual hasn’t read the book because it has put on a great show as the various photos show. These are also the first photos of an Ayrshire bird and so made it onto the Ayrshire Species List. I received pictures from a few people (all stunning) but Cathy Cochrane’s made it onto the list, primarily because she’s new to this site!

Another entry to the Ayrshire Species List is Angus Hogg’s picture of a juvenile Green Woodpecker – he now just has to prove its parents bred in Ayrshire!

While the Spotted Crake is very photogenic, my favourites this time round are a pair of photos, again by Angus, that summarise the hope and reality of an Ayrshire Summer: the Redstart singing his head off in hope; the fledgling Swallow enjoying the rain!

My thanks go to Cathy Cochrane, Dave Grant, Angus Hogg and Iain Leach for sending in photos for the Photo Gallery.

The printed copy of the 2014 Ayrshire Bird Report is now available. It consists of 102 pages including 18 full-colour inner pages with 36 photographs.

It can be obtained via the outlets listed here.

Tony Scott has sent in the latest issue of the The Stonechat, the SOC Ayrshire Branch‘s newsletter. It comes in two parts: Part A and Part B.  

The Summer 2017 issue of The Gannet, the club newsletter of the RSPB Central Ayrshire Local Group is now available. It comes in two parts: Part A and Part B  .

Now that Spring is over and we are enjoying the summer rain (hmm!), it’s time to update the Photo Gallery with the latest submissions. Again wetland birds were the stars (Dave Grant’s Shag on her nest on Lady Isle is particularly striking) but we also have the incoming migrants and even a late Waxwing. Angus’s lovely photos of the Great White Egret at Hunterston made it onto the Ayrshire Species List.

My thanks go to Dave Grant, Angus Hogg, David Lynn, Jamie McPike and Bob Ross for sending in photos for the Photo Gallery.

As the latest in our occasional series of longer articles Angus Hogg has written a tour de force piece on that under-appreciated group of species, the Pipits.  In particular, his article Let’s Hear it for Pipits!! covers in depth those tricky ones, the Rock and Water Pipit (and their variations).  You’ll never look at a Pipit in the same way again!