Wildlife
Wildlife
Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protected Areas
Much of the River Ayr Way has SSSI designation (Site of Special Scientific Interest). SSSI ‘s are the best examples of our natural heritage of wildlife habitats, geological features and landforms. An SSSI is an area that has been notified as being of special interest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Ayr Gorge is one such example as it is one of the finest examples of native woodland in the West of Scotland. It is also home to kingfishers, spotted flycatchers, dippers, grey wagtails and great spotted woodpeckers. May and July provide the best opportunity to see otters, badgers, bats and roe deer.
Glenbuck Loch, the source of the River Ayr has also been awarded SSSI designation because of the fossilised fish in its water. Sightings of osprey have been reported here and it is hoped that the implementation of a wildlife viewing centre at the loch side will help to confirm this.
Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands is a SPA (Special Protection Area). It is of outstanding interest for its variety of upland habitats and breeding birds.There are large tracts of blanket bog, wet and dry heaths and upland grasslands. It is this diversity of habitats that supports a rich variety of moorland breeding birds. Muirkirk & North Lowther Uplands is internationally important, and has been made a SPA, for its breeding short eared owl, hen harrier, merlin, peregrine and golden plover and its wintering population of hen harriers.
Airds Moss is managed by RSPB Scotland as a nature reserve. It is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for its population of hen harriers, peregrines, short-eared owls, merlins and golden plovers. It is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest for its rare blanket bog habitats. Some of these designations are among the highest levels of protection for wildlife and habitats in Europe.
Local Nature Reserve
Catrine Voes is East Ayrshire’s first local nature reserve. The river provides the ideal habitat for Atlantic Salmon as well as being home to water voles, otters, kingfishers, heron and dippers. Atlantic Salmon begin life in freshwater, head downstream to the ocean and when fully grown, returns to the same river each year to give birth. Look out for the salmon run during late March, April and early May and again in the autumn as they begin their journey back to the ocean for the winter. Sea trout, brown trout and eels, water shrew, voles and lampreys are also present in and along the river.
Listed wildlife sites are found most of the way along the River Ayr Way and our changing seasons bring exciting changes to the wildlife in East Ayrshire.
In Spring, badger cubs are being born and migrating birds return. Hen harriers perform their famous sky dance and curlews are giving their wonderful bubbling call and slow gliding flight over their nesting grounds.
Long summer evenings are the perfect time for a walk along the River Ayr Way. Almost all wild creatures are busily feeding their growing young at this time and this means lots of activity for the onlooker to enjoy.
Autumn is the season in which the true beauty of Ayrshire’s countryside is fully realised. Stunning colours highlight the beauty of the woodlands. Autumn brings with it changes to wildlife. Almost all of the smaller summer breeding birds have now migrated to the warmer climes of Africa for the winter.
In Winter, black grouse and red grouse are also easier to hear and see than in summer. Otters also have their young in the autumn and early winter and ducks and swans can still be seen in abundance on the water
Look out for:
Heron, Buzzards, Kestrels, Jays, Oyster Catchers, Daubenton’s bats and Noctule bats, Kingfishers, Deer, Red Squirrel, Salmon, Otters and Badgers.
We would like to hear about the wildlife that you have seen on your walk. Contact us and let us know.
