New Year Ramble Irvine bay & Shewalton Woods

It was once again a cracking morning. After yesterday's grey dreich gloomy day optimism once more as blue skies dominate bringing a welcome brightness. 

Just beautiful

The local view across to the snow capped hills of Arran, quite magnificent. So disappointed that I cannot get across to walk them but hopefully sooner rather than later.

Frozen course

A local walk today, completed many times but still enjoyable. I took a circular route walking over Western Gailes golf course before joining the coastal path route behind the dunes. The course was frozen and not unsurprisingly no golfers around, maybe later in the day.

Definitely don't hit your ball in there, that's a gonner

Too many tourist walkers on the beach itself so happy to ramble along behind the scenes. A short hike up to the dragon then over to Irvine Harbour.

Irvine harbour and the Big Idea building in front of Arran

There is still talk of regeneration and reopening the bridge to the Big Idea building. Been a lot of talk over the years but little action, time will tell.

MV Garnock

It is difficult to conceive that on days way back this was the 3rd most important harbour in Scotland. The harbour tug MV Garnock has still not been moved out of the water. I believe there is a funding drive to get the cash to repair it.

Do you know what they all mean?

Into Irvine itself, always stop and smile at the Scots patter under the railway bridge. Surprised to find M&S was open, so bought some fruit to keep me going on my walk as well as my dinner tonight, no slaving over a hot stove.

Finally over the bypass to circle Shewalton pit before walking through Shewalton woods and home.

Iced Shewalton pit

The pit was iced over for about 2/3rds of its area. There was a single swan which looked stuck but probably wasn't. There was another pair trying to break the ice to get to the individual. It was bloody hard work. They could only break about a metre or so each time before resting. A long day(s) ahead!

One of the Shires

My route took me past the Shire horses and I was glad to see they were back to three. One had been ill earlier in the year and not been around so glad to see it has recovered.

Not quite the line to nowhere but it is a dead end

The local woodyard operations were shut down today so no trains on the track.

A fine walk in no hurry with plenty to admire.

Bigger stuff tomorrow.

Distance: 15.4km

Time: 3.45

Wildlife: Wren; Robin; Blackbird; Carrion Crow; Flock thrush; Jackdaw; Mute Swan; Eider; Goldeneye; most gulls. 

Butterflies & Moths 2020

Just passing the Covid time so decided to catalogue the butterflies that I see on my walks. Hopefully all will have pictures, not necessarily in good focus but good enough to show what they are. Initially these will be restricted to my local woods, river, beach and golf courses but expecting at least a dozen varieties. Hopefully later in the year I might get some of the Northern species. The blog will be updated when a new sighting comes around.

Peacock

My first sighting this year was in March and was the beautiful Peacock. Common in garden later in year but plenty around the woods and golf courses just now.

No more were spotted until April when the sun came out and the butterflies emerged. First was the Orange tip, definitely one of my favourites. One has taken our garden into its patch, first time I am aware of this. But this was taken in Shewalton Woods and plenty on Western Gailes as well.

Orange Tip Male

Then next up was another white variety, The Green Veined. Just beside the railway line going into Shewalton woods, as I write this is still the only one that I have spotted.

Green Veined butterfly

Next up was the Small Tortoiseshell. Abundant in the woods feasting on the dandelions but a few on the golf course as well. The vibrant blue edging at the bottom not showing as well in the photo.

Now the Small White. A morning walk along the golf course and was lucky enough to get this just as I was finishing.

Small White

I had read read that locally there were good views of the rare Holly Blue, a butterfly I have never spotted before. They like holly trees obviously and we have one in our garden. Sitting in my study I spotted something fluttering at said tree. Grabbed camera and ran outside, panicking the good lady and delighted to have added this stunner to my collection.

Holly Blue

Getting frustrated as not been able to my collection. However, in the woods today there was little butterfly movement with this exception. They are probably getting to the end of their first showing but a female Orange Tip. The male is pictured above.

Orange Tip Female

Now into May and after a barren spell suddenly it was all go again. I had spotted a Small Copper weeks ago but could not get a decent snap. It took quite a few walks before I spotted another and although quite numerous they are very small, a normal thumbnail and they like to sit with there wings closed. Still persevered and was rewarded with this.

Small Copper

As i walked back chuffed at getting the Small Copper I noticed an equally small butterfly or moth flying. To the naked eye it looked different but it was not resting for long and when it did it was buried in the grassy stalks and wings closed. But it did show itself and another first this year a Small Heath. Luckily it has an eyespot at the tip to give it away.

Small Heath

And then, not finished yet. Just before I left the golf course this pink/red and black moth looked spectacular in the sunlight. What a busy moth it never stopped for more than a few seconds. As soon as I raised the camera it was gone but it did stop briefly enough to let me snap my first Cinnabar moth of the year.

Cinnabar Moth

When I was walking back from Kilwinning (see blog) I detoured via Eglinton Park and was delighted to get my first Red Admiral of the year. Sadly a combination of the bright sunshine, not so good camera and my photographic skills the colour is more orange than red. 
(Replaced original with garden visit today. I have included two shots, the upper one traditional pose but the lower one is with it's wings closed and you can see the fabulous camouflage particularly if against bark.

Red Admiral top side

Red Admiral wings closed

As I came back over the golf course this small moth appeared a few times asking for its picture to be take. There are over a thousand UK moths and this one has me guessing. After research I think it is the Common heath, the feathery antennae prominent clue.

Common Heath Moth

On a roll just now as on my bike ride today I spotted a few Large Whites flying about but not stopping on any vegetation, but there again I was on a workout so i was not wanting to hang about. By chance in the afternoon one appeared in the garden for a brief period before a Red Admiral chased it off. I am sure I will get a higher quality snap as the season moves on.

Large White (female I think)

A couple of new moths around. The first spotted on the golf course just as evening approached. So focused on snapping it nearly got clobbered by a golf ball, my fault, not used to having golfers on the course.

Silver ground carpet moth

Out on Fell of Fleet there was an abundance of these but they were very difficult to snap. They would only sit on the heather for seconds before flying off a good distance. Very frustrating considering how many there were. Plus my small walking camera has difficulty focusing on items in mixed ground. I am told it might be a Sandy carpet moth.

Sandy carpet moth?

Absolutely delighted today to get my first sighting of the year and to snap one of my favourite butterflies the Small Blue. The first thing you notice is the vibrant blue colour flying around but then it lands and its camouflage kicks in, its underside being totally different to the top. Nature at its best.

Small Blue as you would expect to see it.

Small Blue underwing

Whilst clambering about in deepest Dumfries & Galloway I got a couple of new varieties for the season. The first was this Meadow Brown who was determined to not let me get a decent snap of it. As soon as I focused off it went until I got this under wing but clear what species it is.

Meadow Brown under wing

And by chance today in Eglinton Park there were quite a few flying, mostly landing with folding wings but one did let us see its upper wings.

Meadow Brown upper

My other find of the day was this Fritillary. Now there are various very similar species but I am reliably informed that this is a rather rare Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary. Having studied my reference material and online searching I was still not sure but put it out for expert verification. A stunning orange and black with the white bordering. Apparently it is all about a 7:3:0 dot pattern on the wings, chuffed.

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

After the thunderstorms a wee wander around Western Gailes golf course brought another couple of firsts for the season. The first is the Ringlet which I had spotted the other day in a park but it refused to pose. This one did but only for its underwing.

Ringlet underwing

The second was a a small but striking moth whose colour contrasted well with the leaden grey skies around. This is the Yellow Shell moth.

Yellow Shell Moth

In the garden the other morning I noticed movement in some shrubs, going closer it jumped out and snuggled into the grass so sorry not the best quality but first time i have ever seen one of these, a Silver Y moth, presumably named after the two marks half way down, one on each side.

Silver Y moth

The golf course is providing rich pickings with another small moth, this time the Latticed Heath moth. Well camouflaged in the grass perched on the dying seed heads, only had my phone so picture not the greatest.

Latticed Heath moth

Spotted this little beauty high up on Benn an Lochain. Distinctive black wings and a conspicuous yellow body was wrapping itself around the grass as if creating a cocoon. Beyond my ID skills but thankfully the experts recognised it as a Red necked Footman moth. Quite rare so well pleased even though picture quality not high.

Red necked footman moth

Shewalton Woods revisited mission unsuccessful.

The wind had changed to a northerly bringing with it a coldness not normally found at this time of the year, even in Scotland. I used up my daily exercise to revisit Shewalton woods. It was probably too cold for butterflies so my mission was to see if the Canada geese had a family yet.
If your favourite colour is green then you are in luck today as this was the predominant colour by far. The trees have leafed so the wood is almost in its full leaf canopy.

All green now

There was noticeably less bird song, maybe they have all found their partners and now no need to advertise. Some movement caught my eye and this reed bunting hiding in chopped down branches.

Reed Bunting

One of the blots on the landscape is Hillhouse Quarry which you only get a brief glimpse of from here. If you are much further back at the Irvine Bay dunes you get a fuller picture of the tiered quarry, not a pretty sight.

An altogether nicer sight are the patches of daisies. I love the rose/purple tips that show before they fully open.

Daisy

Make a wish, guess what?

Again very quiet, only a couple of dog walkers. Funny how you get Covid glares from other people on walks these days, all right for them to be out walking but not for you!

Name the insect?

Another bright colour plenty of dandelions, some emerging and others getting ready to sow their seeds.

The male at the nest last week

I reached the pond but no geese to be seen. I presume that they will not have hatched and be away yet so did they fail or have they been disturbed? The female was certainly sitting hidden on the floating structure for a few weeks. I would go with the latter. So my mission failed today.

Red breast showing strong

More movement caught my attention and this lovely Robin still with a strong red breast showing.
More singing up in the canopy and got this male Whitethroat.

Whitethroat (m)

And then more singing in denser trees had me hunting about before I spotted this one which I believe is a Willow Warbler/Chiffchaff but not 100% sure.

Willow Warbler?

The damp ground is fertile for the rushes and although in their poor persons coat they are still impressive. The heads will explode to send the seeds far and wide. It's root is edible to certain animals. This is commonly known as the False Bulrush or Greater Reedmace.

False Bulrush

Overall I did get one butterfly, a female orange tip which I have added to the butterfly blog. But the main purpose of seeing the goose family today sadly was a let down, I was hoping to see a number of wee ones on the water swimming after mum, not to be.

Shewalton Woods

Sadly the Covid19 restrictions have meant that cycling gets me much further than my preferred walking so I have prioritised it, 400 miles this month, not bad. So for walking, the question goes how far can you reasonably walk from home to get at nature? I realistically have 4 options.

1. Head north towards Irvine via the beach or Western Gailes golf course.
2. Head south towards Prestwick via the beach and Royal Troon golf course.
3. Head slightly SE to the Smugglers path to Dundonald.
4. Head slightly NE to Shewalton woods, can be extended via River Irvine walkway.

Tourist noticeboards

Today was the Shewalton woods trail. I know this wood well but do not come as often as I should. This is my walking snobbery. I have been spoilt with so many fantastic locations across Scotland when walking. To me this wood always seemed unclean and dirty, not naturally wild. Probably because it is hemmed in by industry. 

Side path dry today but can be extremely muddy

If you think of it as a triangle on one side this is due to the large paper-mill with at times huge plumes of steam/smoke belching out of its chimneys, so much you think it must be about to explode. A railway line with rusting wagons and a timber yard operation. 

It's been a long time since they changed a trains line

On the next flank the water treatment works and the GKN chemical factory with its invasive wind turbines.

A blue sky invader

Finally the last flank is the huge Hillhouse quarry whose mining operations covers the woods in dust and whatever.

Birches starting to green up

But I am so wrong, the woods are wild and natural, a wildlife oasis and long may it remain. Spring is here and the trees are full of blossom as they move away from the dark winter garb. 

Male Orange Tip

Early butterflies are out seeking their partners, flying fast, criss-crossing their patch, very territorial, brilliant to watch.

Chaffinch

Resident birds are being taken over by the incoming migrants. All singing for partners in their spring finery, scruffs don't win out in this world.

Life emerging

It is looking likely that we will be isolated for some time so i will be returning here regularly.

A fluffed up  House Sparrow

So for now I will leave the history of the woods for another blog and leave this one simply with some pictures of my walk and some of the natural world that inhabits it.