On this page

Ayrshire / Isle of Arran

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

Scotland

Scotland

For books that cover regions of Scotland see:

Argyll
Ayrshire
Borders
Central Valley
Dumfries & Galloway
Fair Isle
Fife
Grampian
Highland
Inner Hebrides
Orkney
Outer Hebrides
Shetland

Second year of ornithological surveys at House of Water, East Ayrshire: breeding season 2009 and winter season 2009-10

John Calladine & Andre Thiel

British Trust for Ornithology

2010

"Coal extraction at House of Water, west of New Cumnock in East Ayrshire, necessitated the diversion in 2000 and subsequent re-diversion to its former route of the River Nith, a river of major importance as a salmon and sea trout fishery, and of one of its tributaries, the Beoch Lane. Completed in 2004, at 3 km in length this is believed to be the largest river diversion project in Europe. This report describes and gives the results of surveys of breeding birds in 2009 and of birds present in winter 2009-10, the second successive seasons of ornithological surveys of the restored section of the river. The principal focus is on birds that utilise the re-diverted section of the river bu t we have also taken the opportunity to survey birds in the adjacent area, including restored ground and newly created wetlands, comprising an area of about 180 ha. This is larger than the 72 ha surveyed in the original 2008-09 seasons (Calladine & Thiel 2009) when only immediately adjacent areas to the river were surveyed. The original 72 ha survey area was included in 2009-10 in its entirety, however, and direct comparisons between the two years are made."

Birdwatching in Ayrshire and Arran

Ayrshire Branch, Scottish Ornithologists Club

"This booklet is packed with information and photos on the best places to watch birds in Ayrshire. The Guide gives details on access (including suitability for disabled bird watchers), a description of the habitat and the birds you can expect to see, available public transport and cycle routes, and other usual information. This has been compiled from the location reports submitted by local birders."

Birds of Arran

J. Rhead and P. Snow

1994

A guide to the birds of the island and to birdwatching sites.

Birds Of Ayrshire: A County Checklist

A. Hogg

1983

The Birds Of The Firth Of Clyde

J.M. McWilliam

1936

The Birds of Ayrshire

E. Richmond Paton and Oliver G. Pike

1929

The Birds of Ayrshire and Wigtownshire

Robert Gray and Thomas Anderson

1869

From the preface: "The counties of Ayr and Wigtown present many interesting features, which appear to be intimately associated with a profusion of bird life. A glance at the position and configuration of the districts of Kyle, Carrick, and Galloway, will show that the entire coast outline indicates a variety of locality sufficient to attract, and in many instances retain, species of a wandering habit elsewhere. Luce Bay, and the Bay of Wigtown, with their far-stretching sands, and Loch Ryan, with its sheltered nooks and shores, draw large numbers of waders and waterfowl. Burrow Head and the Mull of Galloway furnish haunts for cliff building birds, and for the peregrine and lively chough; while the many caves which intersect the precipitous rocks from Ballantrae to the entrance to Glen App, afford shelter to the rock-dove and cormorant. In inland quarters, on the other hand, the numerous lochs scattered over both counties draw flocks of fresh water species, and not a few rarities, as the black tern, garganey, osprey, and wild swan; the high rocky cliffs harbour the raven and eagle; the moors the merlin and hen harrier, dipper and ring ouzel; while the glens and valleys, from their extremely inviting aspect, give encouragement to a number of soft-billed birds, among which may be noticed the grasshopper warbler and lesser whitethroat."