RSPB Loch Winnoch

Our first visit to an RSPB centre saw us on Thursday, 9th May 2013 head toward Loch Winnoch close to Castle Semple  

and where I entered the bird hide for a measely £2

Once in the hide I struck gold with :-

TBI

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Chaffinch

 Robin

Siskin

Siskin

Siskin

Reed Bunting

TBI

TBI

My prize possession of the day was in my opinion capturing on camera these Lesser Redpolls as seen below

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll

The photograph above is at this time being used on the front page of this blog.

 Lesser Redpoll

Scotpedition - River Clyde & Ayrshire

Well Friday, 3rd May 2013, saw us heading north across the border into Bonny Scotland and up onto the Ayrshire coast and further up to the small costal hamlet of Wemyss Bay, our base for a fortnight.

Saturday, 4th May saw us heading down the coast road a few miles to the small seaside town of Largs and the very small harbour which accommodates the Largs Caledonian Macbrayne ferry terminal and both the Loch Shira and Loch Riddon car/passengers ferries to the Isle of Cumbrae and the town of Millport

and where I managed to photograph my first Common Eiders as seen below.

Common Eider Duck

Common Eider Ducks

Dunure Castle

Sunday, 5th May again saw us heading south and this time just south of the seaside town of Ayr  and the stunning location of Dunure Castle which sits right on the costal rock.

I then managed to photograph my very first yellow Hammers

Yellow Hammer

Yellow Hammer

This was soon followed by

Pied Wagtail

My first Jackdaw

Jackdaw having a bath

Jackdaw having a bath

and my first Oystercatcher north of the border

Oystercatcher

and in my opinion a nice shot of a Sparrow in vegitation below

Glasgow

Monday, 6th May saw us heading on a train from Wemyss Bay to Glasgow Central and George Square 

where I took this rather interesting shot of a Seagull

Lunderson Bay

Tuesday, 7th May was a nice sunny day and we stayed local near the village of Inverkip where the costal picnic area of Lunderson Bay was worth a visit 

and where I photographed this Robin

Robin

Robin

and I could'nt resist this Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly as seen below

Cardwell Bay

With time still on our side we then headed for Cardwell Bay at Gourock my home town 

and photographed with the tide out such vibrant colours

Mallard

Mallard

and this lovely Mute Swan

Skelmorlie

We then drove to Skelmorlie and I managed to photograph my first Cormorant

Cormorant

Common Eiders

Oystercatcher

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

 Grey Heron

Clyde Murishel Park

Wednesday, 8th May was a wet day but we managed a trip to the Clyde Murishel Park and the famous Greenock Cut. 

Ducks ?

Chaffinch

Not Identified

Greylag Goose

Canada Geese

Castle Semple

Thursday, 9th May saw us drive inland to Castle Semple where Swans were the order of the day.

 

Swan

Swan

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Whooper Swan

Black Headed Gull