Friday, August 08, 2008

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Here are a few images of the adult Buff-breasted Sandpiper, found by Archie Macintosh, at Doonfoot on the Ayrshire coast. All the way from North American and present for its third day, it is getting to be fairly approachable (though constantly on the move) - it now hides behind the small covey of birders when the dogs approach :-)
This is the fourth Ayrshire record following birds at Bogside (1980), Barassie (1989), and Lochlea (1995). Thanks to Jim Woods and others for the gen.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Heather Bleat

Been doing a few drawings for the Ayrshire Bird Report since unfortunately no one else (apart from Lisa) sent me any. If anyone would like their sketches featured in future ABRs then please send them in - see the (needs updating) Ayrshire List here. This Snipe is drawn from a photograph taken at The Wetland Centre in London some time ago - I know, not in Ayrshire but then there's not many places in the county where you'd get point-blank views like this one below the wader scrape hide. The Blackbird is from Culzean Castle