IS OUR NATURE IN TROUBLE?
Introducing our "Wildlife along the Ayrshire Coastal Path" project...
One of the joys of walking the Ayrshire Coastal Path is seeing wildlife or flowering plants along the way.
However, with climate change and other impacts on the coastal landscape we know there are many threats to these wonderful assets. We don't really have any firm handle on what's happening - which species are struggling and which are doing okay.
But some GOOD NEWS - YOU CAN HELP!
With modern technology it's become quite straightforward to make and submit a record of something you have seen. You don't need to have a high level of knowledge to do this, it's remarkably easy - and also good fun!
For general wildlife recording the iRecord platform and associated smartphone app are the most widely used. Having the backing of UK and Scottish conservation bodies and national recording schemes, it's also used by South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre.
With their help, we have set up a project to record wildlife and plants along the 106 miles of the Coastal Path - aiming to provide evidence of what is here and to start to provide answers to the questions above.
"SOUNDS LIKE WORK. ANY BENEFITS FOR ME?"
* It's actually very easy to take part, it’s free, and is completely under your control. You can submit sightings as often as you like, even an occasional record of something fairly common would contribute to conservation in Ayrshire.
* iRecord is a great way to keep a list of what you have seen. It's also quick to look back, for example if you wanted to jog your memory of what you had seen, where and/or when
* a chance to connect with nature, learning wee bits as you go We have always encouraged people walking the route to stop, look and observe nature. Now more than ever we would love to hear about what you see. We will be extremely grateful for any records submitted and look forward to sharing up to date summaries on the state of nature along the Ayrshire Coastal Path.
For further info e-mail our Path Warden Jim Galbraith at seumasgalbraith@gmail.com or have a read at
https://biologicalrecording.co.uk/irecord-intro/
January 2025 – Turnstone
Fewer sightings on the Coastal Path this month. The only mammal recorded was a Fox, although it was rumoured that some Reindeer may have been spotted over Ardrossan towards the end of December.
Therefore, for the second month in a row one of our avian winter visitors is the “Sighting of the Month”, this time the Turnstone.
This small, stocky member of the Sandpiper family will be familiar to many walkers, being fairly widespread along the Ayrshire coast. They have a short bill, with short orange legs. The upper parts are a lovely ,mottled, chestnut brown and black, with the underparts white.
A group of 18 were spotted at Greenan Shore, foraging amongst the seaweed on the water’s edge. Their other favoured place is on rocky shores, where typically they will be seen in small groups, constantly active, turning small rocks to catch insects or small crustaceans.
It is estimated that the UK wintering population is down by just over 20% over the last 25 years.
Their breeding grounds are in the Arctic tundra, with populations from Norway, Iceland, Greenland and Canada arriving on our shoresat overlapping intervals. Hence the species can actually be seen almost year - round, but with peak numbers from September through to March. In Spring, most will make the long return journey, the Canadians, as always, especially keen to be home in time for the end of season ice hockey playoffs
December 2024 - Whooper Swans
There were over 30 recorded sightings on the Coastal Paththis month. Thanks to all those who contributed.
For the first time the majority of records were of birds. Perhaps not surprising as whilst plants, butterflies etc. take a back seat at this time of year we are lucky to see an influx of avian visitors, especiallyon the coast.
Some of these are categorised as “passage migrants” – leaving northern latitudes to escape winter, but only stopping temporarilybefore heading further south to warmer climes.
A second group are true “winter visitors” staying with us locally or moving around yet remaining within the UK until spring.
This includes Whooper Swans which start to arrive from Iceland in October, often declaring themselves by their trumpeting calls in flight. Mark Turnbull skilfully photographed a group over Barassie beach on 2nd November and this is our “Sighting of the Month”.
Well done Mark!
Roughly the same size as the more familiar Mute Swan, Whoopers have a completely different profile, with a long straight neck (compared to the S shaped curve our resident swans). As truly wild swans they are shy and appear to be on constant look-out, usually holding their heads high and horizontal. With closer views the forehead continues straight onto the bill, which is yellow with a black tip.
More than 4000 Whoopers spend the winter in Scotland. Though most commonly seen in groups on lowland farmland or lochs/reservoirs, they can also be spotted on sheltered bays on the coast, occasionally along with MuteSwans.
Families make their migration together. Cygnets therefore learn from their parents – when to migrate, the best route and where feeding sites are along the way. They stay with their parents over the winter and start their journey back to their breeding grounds anytime from mid-March onwards. Other records this month included the small waders Dunlinand Turnstone, the elegant Greenshank and the reptilian Red-throated Diver.
Both Harbour and Grey Seals were well recorded from the Ayrshire Coastal Path in October 2024. Sometimes it can be difficult to be sure what species you are seeing and to save any fall out we have decided to make both species our first joint winners!
Harbour Seals, the smaller of the two, are often referred to as "Common Seals". They are widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, but their numbers have been in decline since the mid-1990's. In the UK this seemed to especially affect the East and North coasts, so it is good to see records from Ayrshire. Thanks to Alan Kelly at Ayr Harbour and Marko McGinty at Skelmorlie for their observations last month.
If you see a seal with a shorter, rounded face, with eyes more to the front (said to be more dog-like) you are probably looking at a Harbour Seal. If they are out of the water they will sometimes lie with both head and tail in the air at the same time - pretending to be a banana!
Their young are born in the summer and because they have shed their white coats in the womb can swim immediately. Life span on average is 20-30 years.
Grey Seals are larger, with some males up to 3m in length and 300kg in weight. They have a more restricted distribution and this means the population present around Scotland's coast is internationally important. They were recorded as far apart as Turnberry Bay and just south of Skelmorlie last month. They tend to spend most of their time well out at sea, travelling long distances to forage. At this time of year they can be closer to shore where their longer head, with its sloping Roman-nose profile and eyes more to the side of the head, will hopefully clearly distinguish from a Harbour Seal.
Pups are born October to December at traditional "haul-out" sites. They will remain on land for a few weeks until they have gained weight and moulted their white coats. During this time they are at risk from disturbance.
Average life-span is thought to be 30-40 years. Both species are vulnerable to many threats - pollution, climate change affecting food supply, disease etc. so it is interesting to both see and record these marine mammals if you get the chance to do so.
