Wildlife in Stevenston

Show the photographs you've taken in this album.
Forum rules
Here you can show the photographs you've taken. Use a storage agent such as https://www.imgur.com - our forum attachment system has limited storage and therefore reserved for photos in our Threetowners' Photo Album.
User avatar
John Donnelly
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 2955
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by John Donnelly »

Iain,hi.

Thanks for this. I had no idea the reserve existed there. I always thought that it was part of the old quarry site when reading about it on here.

I'll make a point of checking it out when I'm over in the summer. I'll be staying at my brother's who lives in the Mount Pleasant, only about half a mile away.

JD.

PS; Might be nice if you could give me a guided tour when I come. I'll buy the first round in the Shell afterwards. :D :D

PPS; Maybe an idea for the reunion organisers to put that on the list of activities.
iain
leading Poster
leading Poster
Posts: 607
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:03 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by iain »

Hi,

I’d be very happy to give you - or a bunch of folk - a guided tour of the reserve. Do feel free to get in touch closer to the time.

Iain
User avatar
Meg
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6139
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 10:18 am
Location: Formerly Ardrossan, now Ayr

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by Meg »

A tour would be a super idea. Iain, I will PM you separately once I talk to the other organisers.

Meg
iain
leading Poster
leading Poster
Posts: 607
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:03 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by iain »

A pair of Common Frogs making their way to Gavin’s Wee Pond about three or four years ago. Unless the weather is cold, March is frequently the month when Gavin’s Wee Pond is at its busiest, with hundreds of frogs and toads present in and arond the pond.
Attachments
Common Frogs at Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve
Common Frogs at Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve
5eulbdog7
Heid Poster
Heid Poster
Posts: 965
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:46 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by 5eulbdog7 »

Looks like frog porn to me.
iain
leading Poster
leading Poster
Posts: 607
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:03 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by iain »

Hi 5eulbdog7,

I actually thought there was a 10% chance that someone would say something like that - and a 99% chance that someone would be you!

Frogs don’t get up to any hanky panky until they’re actually in the water (it would be biologically impossible, because the eggs are fertilised after they’re in the water). However, some sneaky males pounce on females en-route to the breeding ponds in order to guarantee at least one breeding opportunity when they arrive (and a free ride to the pond doesn’t hurt either!).

Attached is a photo of a sea of Viper’s Bugloss growing on the Ardeer Peninsula a couple of years ago. On summer days, these wildflowers are synonymous with the pleasant humming (or ominous droning, depending on your outlook!) of hundreds of Honey Bees and bumblebees. One of the pictures shows a ‘fasciated’ plant (details of the phenomenon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciation).
Attachments
Viper's Bugloss on the Ardeer Peninsula
Viper's Bugloss on the Ardeer Peninsula
Fasciated Viper's Bugloss
Fasciated Viper's Bugloss
5eulbdog7
Heid Poster
Heid Poster
Posts: 965
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:46 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by 5eulbdog7 »

Froggie went a-courtin and he did ride,mm-hmm. Froggie went a-courtin and he did ride in Gavin's pond by the road side mm-hmm.
ebbe_skovdahl
Frequent Poster
Frequent Poster
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:30 pm
Location: Stevenston

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by ebbe_skovdahl »

I walked through Kerelaw Glen today and spotted two dippers together. Both sitting on the rocks where the overhanging tree with the swing is.

Also a grey wagtail a bit further along.
iain
leading Poster
leading Poster
Posts: 607
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:03 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by iain »

Hi,

That sounds promising. I guess that upstream and downstream of the riverside path there's quite a bit of habitat that's relatively undisturbed and might act as a bit of a refuge when nesting gets underway. However, birds being birds, it wouldn't surprise me if they did something daft and nested within a few metres of the tree swing!

Iain
5eulbdog7
Heid Poster
Heid Poster
Posts: 965
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:46 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by 5eulbdog7 »

In the sixties dippers were often seen in the burn. They regularly nested in the stretch below the High Kirk. The water quality of the burn declined and Kerelaw glen could easily have been called airgun alley.They are very conspicuous and hence were easy targets. Glad to say that to-day the water quality is much improved and the attitude of the police to all guns has made the place safer for all of our fellow creatures.
iain
leading Poster
leading Poster
Posts: 607
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:03 pm

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by iain »

A suburban Roe Deer in a Stevenston garden about three years ago. Stevenstonian Roe Deer are famous for being particularly brazen!
Attachments
Roe Deer in Stevenston garden
Roe Deer in Stevenston garden
Vivc113
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 3446
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:21 am
Location: The Super Moon

Re: Wildlife in Stevenston

Post by Vivc113 »

ebbe_skovdahl wrote:I walked through Kerelaw Glen today and spotted two dippers together. Both sitting on the rocks where the overhanging tree with the swing is.

Also a grey wagtail a bit further along.
I was there on Saturday too!! My first spot was a grey squirrel. :lol:

Who is responsible for removing trees from rivers by the way?? The ones in the Kerelaw Glen have been there a wee while now.
"Words are very.... unnecessary... they can only do harm".
Post Reply