Saturday 20 August 2016

Seamill and West Kilbride :: 16-18 August 2016

I've not been out much lately so took the opportunity to take a few pre-breakfast was to catch up on Stonechatcoastal species while staying at the Waterside Inn and Hotel in Seamill.

Beautiful conditions and accommodation, just perfect for our needs. Two mornings along the coastal walk brought a surprising sedge warbler which I'd never noted here before; also common sandpiper which is new for me on this stretch. Also noted whimbrel which had been difficult to spot on previous occasions.

On the third morning I tried for sandwich tern in Ardrossan at the Black guillemotInverclyde Marina where I had seen them before. No luck, but did find shag and black guillemot. Later on the day I had the opportunity to have a relaxing walk along the beach at Portencross and picked up sandwich tern and while doing so also noted wheatear.

Species noted (46) included: herring gull, rook, starling, carrion crow, jackdaw, mallard, kittiwake, oystercatcher, curlew, lesser black-backed gull, great black-backed gull, common gull, eider, black-headed gull, redshank, woodpigeon, linnet, grey heron, meadow pipit, goldfinch, swallow, blackbird, magpie, song thrush, dipper, mute swan, goosander, cormorant, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, common sandpiper, gannet, sandmartin, house sparrow, whimbrel, black-tailed godwit, buzzard, ringed plover, stonechat, dunnock, sedge warbler, housemartin, black guillemot, sandwich tern, wheatear and shag.