Kay Park & Townholm, Kilmarnock > Fraser's Birding Website

Ayrshire, Scotland (NS 343383 & 433387)

LOCATION & ACCESS
These two adjacent sites are just five to ten minutes walk from Kilmarnock town centre. On foot, the Kay Park, OS grid reference (NS 434383), can be reached from the town centre by taking the road running down behind Henderson Church opposite the pub now know as The Saltire on London Road or from De Walden Terrace at Kilmarnock College. Parking is available by the pond off the B7082. Townholm (NS 433387) can be accessed on foot from; the Kay Park at Strawberry Bank, South Dean Road in New Farm Loch, at the ford on Dean Lane, and off Beansburn. By car, take the turning off the B7082 and park by the former five-a-side football complex.

HABITAT
Kay Park and Townholm, along with Dean Country Park, form a band of green space running between the town centre and the countryside to the north of the town. The 30 acre park, with its monument to Robert Burns, is largely manicured, recreational parkland with a small man-made lake. Most interest occurs along the Kilmarnock Water where its banks are untouched by grass-cutters and scrub-clearers. This area contrasts with Townholm which, with a more left to nature approach, is comprised of rough grassland, wasteland, scrub and a small area of mixed woodland. There is little evidence that a housing scheme once stood here. The habitat difference is reflected in the species lists for the two sites.

BIRDWATCHING, TIMING & POINTS OF INTEREST
The Kay Park supports breeding Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher among the typical parkland species. The best viewpoint of the river from the park is by the weir at the viaduct, however, much of the town side of the river provides the best visibility. Bullfinch can often be found in the bushes by the tennis courts (NS 432382) and Siskin in the alders by the viaduct. In recent years, the pond (NS 435383) has become more interesting (perhaps due to the lack of boating activity) with breeding Coot, Moorhen and Mute Swan. Grey Heron and Cormorant are often present, particularly in winter. Recent autumn and winter seasons have seen, surprisingly, up to a dozen Goosanders at times and are probably part of the daily movements of birds between the River Irvine and roost sites. Additionally, nesting Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls can be observed on the roofs of Kilmarnock College buildings.

Townholm is of greater interest and wildlife value with breeding Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler (occ), Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher and five species of finch. Kingfisher puts in an appearance during the autumn and winter and sitting patiently by the pipe (NS 433389) or the footbridge (NS 432389) can sometimes be rewarding. Bullfinch can be observed regularly in riverside scrub at NS 436389. Small flocks of Siskin occasionally occur in winter in the small stand of alders here. Most of the occasional or locally scarce species mentioned in the list below have occurred in Townholm.

SPECIES CALENDAR

All year
Many of the breeding residents, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull.

Spring
Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff.

Breeding (regular & occasional)
Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Coot, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Feral Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Tawny Owl, Swift, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Dipper, Dunnock, Robin, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Ring-necked Parakeet

Autumn & Winter
Goosander, Tufted Duck, Common Gull, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing, Fieldfare, Rook, Siskin.

Rare, occasional or locally scarce species
Little Grebe, Canada Goose, Long-tailed Duck, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Garganey, Buzzard, Peregrine, Kestrel, Woodcock, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Stock Dove, Cuckoo, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Grasshopper Warbler, Waxwing, Jay, Brambling, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting.

OTHER INFORMATION
Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Grey Heron can be observed on the Kilmarnock Water from several points within the town centre e.g. Palace Theatre/Grand Hall (NS 429379), Sandbed Street (NS 427378), St. Marnock Street (NS 427377) and in the Howard Park (NS 426374). Kingfisher is occasional.

Recent Sightings

Date	Species	Count	Location	Details	Observer
2024
19/03/24	Chiffchaff	1	Kay Park		AF
19/03/24	Bullfinch	pr	Kay Park		AF
31/01/24	Siskin	16	Kay Park pond		AF


2023
29/09/23	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond	Juvenile	AF
17/08/23	Mute Swan	pr+b/6	Kay Park pond		FSS
17/08/23	Coot	31	Kay Park pond	Inc b/2	FSS
17/08/23	Moorhen	6	Kay Park pond		FSS
17/08/23	Mallard	51	Kay Park pond		FSS
06/04/23	Tufted Duck	15	Kay Park pond	10 mm/5 ff	AF
06/04/23	Lesser Black-backed Gull	39	Kay Park pond		AF
20/02/23	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
07/02/23	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
07/02/23	Lesser Black-backed Gull	1	Kay Park pond	First adult of the spring	AF
28/01/23	Nuthatch	1	Kay Park		AF
28/01/23	Ring-necked Parakeet	3	Kay Park		DE
16/01/23	Siskin	25	Kay Park		AF
11/01/23	Siskin	20	Kay Park		AF
08/01/23	Goosander	5	Kay Park pond		PW
08/01/23	Tufted Duck	6	Kay Park pond		PW


2022
28/12/22	Nuthatch	1	Kay Park		AF
28/12/22	Siskin	2	Kay Park		AF
20/12/22	Goosander	10	Kay Park pond	5 mm/5 redheads	AF
14/08/22	Little Grebe	pr+b/2	Kay Park pond		FSS
14/08/22	Coot	10	Kay Park pond		FSS
04/08/22	Little Grebe	pr+b/2	Kay Park pond	First breeding record	AF
09/03/22	Goosander	2	Kay Park pond		RL
09/03/22	Tufted Duck	8	Kay Park pond		RL
09/03/22	Lesser Black-backed Gull	10	Kay Park pond		RL
09/03/22	Coot	12	Kay Park pond		RL
09/03/22	Moorhen	9	Kay Park pond		RL
19/02/22	Goosander	6	Kay Park pond	4 mm/2 redheads	AF
19/02/22	Tufted Duck	8	Kay Park pond	10 mm/2 ff	AF
03/02/22	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
01/02/22	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	DC
29/01/22	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
25/01/22	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
25/01/22	Goosander	11	Kay Park pond		PW
24/01/22	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	DC
24/01/22	Ring-necked Parakeet	7	Kay Park pond	Adult	DC
19/01/22	Goosander	13	Kay Park pond	7 mm/6 redheads	AF
19/01/22	Tufted Duck	12	Kay Park pond	10 mm/2 ff	AF
13/01/22	Goosander	11	Kay Park pond	7 mm/4 redheads	AF
13/01/22	Tufted Duck	5	Kay Park pond	5 mm	AF
13/01/22	Lesser Black-backed Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
11/01/22	Mallard	38	Kay Park pond		BDK
10/01/22	Ring-necked Parakeet	10	Kay Park		SB


2021
17/12/21	Goosander	10	Kay Park pond	6 mm/4 redheads	AF
10/12/21	Goosander	12	Kay Park pond	6 mm/6 redheads	AF
10/12/21	Tufted Duck	4	Kay Park pond		AF
25/11/21	Ring-necked Parakeet	8	Kay Park		AF
17/11/21	Goosander	4	Kay Park pond		RL
17/11/21	Tufted Duck	6	Kay Park pond		RL
17/11/21	Coot	18	Kay Park pond		RL
17/11/21	Moorhen	12	Kay Park pond		RL
16/11/21	Goosander	7	Kay Park pond	3 mm/4 redheads	AF
03/11/21	Tufted Duck	6	Kay Park pond		AF
30/10/21	Little Grebe	2	Kay Park pond		AF
24/10/21	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
23/10/21	Goosander	3	Kay Park pond	1 m/2 redheads	AF
23/10/21	Mallard	65	Kay Park pond		AF
23/10/21	Coot	15	Kay Park pond		AF
23/10/21	Moorhen	12	Kay Park pond		AF
23/10/21	Ring-necked Parakeet	6	Kay Park		AF
24/09/21	Glaucous Gull	1	Kay Park pond	1st-s	AF/GB
29/08/21	Ring-necked Parakeet	5	Kay Park pond		PN
05/08/21	Little Grebe	2	Kay Park pond		AF
24/07/21	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
24/07/21	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
10/05/21	Mute Swan	8	Kay Park	pr + b/6; 2 juvs still on 23/10	AF
05/05/21	Swallow	5	Kay Park		AF
18/04/21	Ring-necked Parakeet	8	Kay Park		AF
11/04/21	White Wagtail	1	Kay Park		AF
06/04/21	Lesser Redpoll	1	Kay Park		AF
05/04/21	Chiffchaff	1	Kay Park		AF
12/03/21	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
28/02/21	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	9 mm/3 ff	AF
24/02/21	Pintail	1	Kay Park pond	Female still present	AF
22/02/21	Lesser Black-backed Gull	22	Kay Park pond		AF
11/02/21	Mallard	145	Kay Park pond		AF
05/02/21	Goosander	17	Kay Park pond	8 mm/9 redheads	AF
24/01/21	Mallard	140	Kay Park pond		AF
14/01/21	Goosander	13	Kay Park pond	6 mm/7 redheads	AF
08/01/21	Pintail	1	Kay Park pond	Female	AF
01/01/21	Moorhen	18	Kay Park pond		AF


2020
30/12/20	Shoveler	1	Kay Park	1st-w m	AF
29/12/20	Shoveler	1	Kay Park	1st-w/f	AF
24/12/20	Ring-necked Parakeet	8	Kay Park		AF
10/12/20	Ring-necked Parakeet	5	Kay Park		AF
29/11/20	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w	AF
29/11/20	Shoveler	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w M	AF
24/11/20	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w	AF
24/11/20	Shoveler	2	Kay Park pond	M + F	AF
24/11/20	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
23/11/20	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w	AF
23/11/20	Shoveler	2	Kay Park pond	M + F	AF
23/11/20	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
23/11/20	Tufted Duck	12	Kay Park pond		PW
23/11/20	Coot	20	Kay Park pond		PW
22/11/20	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w	AF
22/11/20	Shoveler	2	Kay Park pond	M + F	AF
22/11/20	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
21/11/20	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w	AF
21/11/20	Shoveler	2	Kay Park pond	M + F	AF
21/11/20	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
20/11/20	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w	AF
20/11/20	Shoveler	2	Kay Park pond	M + F	AF
20/11/20	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
16/11/20	Shoveler	2	Kay Park pond	M + F (Ads)	AF
23/10/20	Ring-necked Parakeet	1	Kay Park		DE
24/09/20	Siskin	6	Kay Park pond		AF
12/09/20	Ring-necked Parakeet	6	Kay Park		AF
03/09/20	Mallard	11	Kay Park pond	f + b/10	PR
23/08/20	Nuthatch	2	Kay Park pond		AF
22/05/20	Mute Swan	10	Kay Park pond	pr + b/10	AF
20/04/20	Coot	5	Kay Park pond	pr + b/3	AF
09/04/20	Swallow	2	Kay Park pond		AF
04/02/20	Goosander	3	Kay Park pond		DB


2019
30/12/19	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	FSS
30/12/19	Goosander	8	Kay Park pond	2 mm/6 redheads	FSS
30/12/19	Tufted Duck	6	Kay Park pond		FSS
30/12/19	Mallard	47	Kay Park pond		FSS
30/12/19	Moorhen	6	Kay Park pond		FSS
30/12/19	Coot	4	Kay Park pond		FSS
xx/08/19	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond	Present for nine days	AF
Summer '19	Ring-necked Parakeet	5	Kay Park	Five present over summer	AF
16/01/19	Siskin	11	Kay Park		AF
15/01/19	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF


2018
27/07/18	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
05/07/18	Ring-necked Parakeet	3	Kay Park		AF
20/06/18	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
19/06/18	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
31/01/18	Nuthatch	pr	Kay Park pond		AF
06/01/18	Tufted Duck	4	Kay Park pond		FSS
06/01/18	Mallard	85	Kay Park pond		FSS


2017
19/11/17	Whooper Swan	1	Kay Park pond		AF
18/11/17	Whooper Swan	1	Kay Park pond		AF
27/05/17	Mute Swan	pr+b/5	Kay Park pond	Down from brood of six	AF
24/05/17	Canada Goose	2	Kay Park pond		AF
25/02/17	Goldeneye	1	Kay Park pond	Male	AF
25/02/17	Goosander	15	Kay Park pond		AF


2016
09/12/16	Goosander	19	Kay Park pond		AF
31/10/16	Goosander	4	Kay Park pond	3 males + redhead	AS
31/10/16	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	Female	AS
31/10/16	Moorhen	8	Kay Park pond		AS
09/10/16	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond	Redhead	AS
12/08/16	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
05/08/16	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
18/06/16	Mute Swan	6	Kay Park pond	Pr + b/4 - all still present 31-Jul	AS
30/01/16	Goosander	13	Kay Park pond	All males	AS
26/01/16	Goosander	17	Kay Park pond	16 mm + redhead	AS
22/01/16	Goosander	13	Kay Park pond	10 mm + 3 redheads	AS
11/01/16	Goosander	9	Kay Park pond	7 mm + 2 redheads	AS
03/01/16	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF


2015
28/12/15	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
10/12/15	Goosander	12	Kay Park pond		AF
24/11/15	Goosander	12	Kay Park pond		AS
09/11/15	Goosander	8	Kay Park pond		AS
09/11/15	Tufted Duck	6	Kay Park pond	3 mm + 3 ff/imm	AS
01/11/15	Goosander	2	Kay Park pond	2 mm	AS
22/10/15	Goosander	2	Kay Park pond		AS
22/10/15	Tufted Duck	3	Kay Park pond		AS
17/10/15	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1 m	AS
23/09/15	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
23/09/15	Nuthatch	1	Kay Park	In garden	AF
20/09/15	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1 m	AS
26/07/15	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
15/07/15	Tufted Duck	2	Kay Park pond	2 mm	AS
05/07/15	Tufted Duck	5	Kay Park pond	4 mm + 2 ff	AS
23/06/15	Tufted Duck	8	Kay Park pond	Pr + b/6	AF
02/05/15	Little Grebe	1	Kay Park pond		AF
21/04/15	Coot	8	Kay Park pond	4 prs nesting	AS
12/04/15	Tufted Duck	8	Kay Park pond	5 mm + 3 ff	AS
29/03/15	Goosander	4	Kay Park pond	2 mm + 2 ff	AS
29/03/15	Tufted Duck	8	Kay Park pond	6 mm + 2 ff	AS
28/02/15	Iceland Gull	1	Kay Park pond		AF
09/11/15	Tufted Duck	4	Kay Park pond		AS
30/01/15	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
22/01/15	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	RW
10/01/15	Goosander	7	Kay Park pond	5 mm + 2 redheads	AS
06/01/15	Goosander	9	Kay Park pond		SI
01/01/15	Goosander	2	Kay Park pond	2 mm	AS


2014
17/12/14	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
15/12/14	Goosander	15	Kay Park pond		AF
08/12/14	Goosander	11	Kay Park pond		AF
07/12/14	Goosander	8	Kay Park pond		AF
27/11/14	Goosander	5	Kay Park pond		SI
22/11/14	Goosander	7	Kay Park pond		AF
07/05/14	Common Sandpiper	2	Kay Park pond		AS
30/03/14	Tufted Duck	10	Kay Park pond		AS
02/03/14	Tufted Duck	10	Kay Park pond	7 mm + 3 ff	AS
02/03/14	Goosander	5	Kay Park pond		AS
26/02/14	Goosander	7	Kay Park pond		AS


2013
11/12/13	Brambling	1	Townholm	In scrub near Harriet Bridge	FSS
11/12/13	Siskin	10	Townholm	In Alders near Dean Ford	FSS
11/12/13	Mallard	78	Kay Park pond		FSS
11/12/13	Coot	16	Kay Park pond		FSS
11/12/13	Moorhen	5	Kay Park pond		FSS
11/12/13	Siskin	6	Kay Park pond		FSS
05/11/13	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond		AS
30/06/13	Mute Swan	3	Kay Park pond	Pr + b/1	DG
27/05/13	Coot	12	Kay Park pond	4 prs inc 2 x b/2	AS
26/05/13	Garganey	1	Kay Park pond	Male still present	AS
25/05/13	Garganey	1	Kay Park pond	Male	GMcC
24/05/13	Garganey	1	Kay Park pond	Male	AF
17/01/13	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond		AS


2012
05/11/12	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond		AS
04/11/12	Goosander	3	Kay Park pond		AS
01/10/12	Tufted Duck	2	Kay Park pond		AS
06/06/12	Canada Goose	12	Kay Park pond		MH
25/05/12	Oystercatcher	1	Kay Park pond		AS
25/05/12	Coot	8	Kay Park pond	Pr + b/6	AS
06/05/12	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-summer male still present	AM
01/05/12	Long-tailed Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-summer male	AS
25/04/12	Tufted Duck	7	Kay Park pond		AS
24/03/12	Mallard	26	Kay Park pond		MH
24/03/12	Tufted Duck	10	Kay Park pond		MH
14/02/12	Iceland Gull	1	Kay Park pond		AF


2011
19/06/11	Mute Swan	4	Kay Park pond	Pr + b/2	AS
27/04/11	Tufted Duck	9	Kay Park pond		AS
13/04/11	Barn Swallow	30	Kay Park pond		AS
12/01/11	Mute Swan	19	Kay Park pond		AS
xx/01/11	Blackcap	1	Kay Park	Female over-wintering	AF


2010
xx/12/10	Waxwing	20	Kay Park	Present for three days in Dec	AF
06/12/10	Brambling	20	Kay Park		AF
22/11/10	Goosander	4	Kay Park pond		AS
01/12/10	Lesser Redpoll	7	Kay Park		AF
13/06/10	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond		AS
18/05/10	Mallard	14	Kay Park pond	2 ff + b/10, b/2	AS
11/04/10	Tufted Duck	13	Kay Park pond		AS
09/04/10	Tufted Duck	9	Kay Park pond		AS
10/01/10	Tufted Duck	6	Kay Park pond		AS
01/01/10	Tufted Duck	2	Kay Park pond		AS


2009
17/02/09	Mallard	35	Kay Park pond		AS
13/02/09	Mallard	77	Kay Park pond		AS
13/02/09	Shoveler	1	Kay Park pond	Male still present	AS
13/02/09	Mute Swan	22	Kay Park pond		AS
12/02/09	Mediterranean Gull	1	Kay Park pond	Adult	AF
06/02/09	Shoveler	1	Kay Park pond	Male	FSS
06/02/09	Mallard	131	Kay Park pond		FSS
24/01/09	Waxwing	7	Kay Park		AF
04/01/09	Mallard	94	Kay Park pond		FSS
04/01/09	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	Adult male	FSS
04/01/09	Brewer's Duck	1	Kay Park pond	Male Gadwall x Mallard hybrid	FSS


2008
23/12/08	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	Adult male	FSS
17/02/08	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	Adult male	AS
11/02/08	Shoveler	1	Kay Park pond	Male	AF
13/01/08	Goosander	2	Kay Park pond		AS
08/01/08	Goldeneye	1	Kay Park pond	Female - still present from 2007	AF


2007
03/12/07	Goldeneye	1	Kay Park pond	Female	AS
01/12/07	Goldeneye	1	Kay Park pond	Female	AS
02/12/07	Goosander	3	Kay Park pond		AS
01/12/07	Goosander	2	Kay Park pond		AS
19/11/07	Goosander	12	Kay Park pond		AS
18/12/07	Goosander	5	Kay Park pond		AS
10/03/07	Oystercatcher	3	Kay Park pond		AS


2006
06/12/06	Goosander	2	Kay Park pond		AS
04/12/06	Goosander	8	Kay Park pond		AS
03/12/06	Goosander	9	Kay Park pond		AS
26/11/06	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond		AS
25/11/06	Goosander	5	Kay Park pond		AS
23/11/06	Goosander	7	Kay Park pond		AS
21/11/06	Goosander	6	Kay Park pond		AS
17/11/06	Goosander	13	Kay Park pond	3 males + 10 redheads	FSS
17/11/06	Mallard	60	Kay Park pond		FSS
17/11/06	Lesser Black-backed Gull	3	Kay Park pond		FSS
22/10/06	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	Adult male	AS
05/06/06	Hoopoe	6	Kilmarnock Cemetery	Across Grassyards Rd from park	MH
27/05/06	Mute Swan	6	Kay Park pond	Pr + b/4	AS
27/05/06	Moorhen	4	Kay Park pond	Pr + b/2	AS
27/05/06	Mallard	2	Kay Park pond	f + b/1	AS
24/05/06	Grey Wagtail	1	Kay Park pond	Juv at weir on Kilmarnock Water	AS
21/04/06	Common Sandpiper	1	Kay Park pond	First record	AS
21/04/06	Tufted Duck	3	Kay Park pond	2 mm + 1 f	AS
21/04/06	Coot	1	Kay Park pond	First brood of the year	AS
19/03/06	Oystercatcher	2	Kay Park pond	Circling and calling	FSS
10/03/06	Mallard	20	Kay Park pond		AS
28/02/06	Mallard	23	Kay Park pond		AS
22/02/06	Mallard	42	Kay Park pond		AS
15/02/06	Mallard	62	Kay Park pond		AS
30/01/06	Mallard	65	Kay Park pond		AS
24/01/06	Mallard	58	Kay Park pond		AS
24/01/06	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w male	AS
24/01/06	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond	Male	AS
22/01/06	Mallard	48	Kay Park pond		AS
15/01/06	Mallard	51	Kay Park pond		AS
01/01/06	Mallard	82	Kay Park pond		FSS
01/01/06	Mute Swan	15	Kay Park pond		FSS
01/01/06	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond	1st-w male	FSS


2005
25/12/05	Buzzard	1	Townholm	Wintering individual	FSS
27/11/05	Mallard	56	Kay Park pond		FSS
May-Jun	Mute Swan	2 prs	Kay Park pond	2 prs attempting to nest	AS
25/01/05	Dipper	1	Townholm	At Dean Ford	AS
24/01/05	Kingfisher	1	Kay Park	Flew upstream at viaduct	AS


2004
07/05/04	Mallard	9	Kay Park pond	f + b/8	AS
07/03/04	Tufted Duck	1	Kay Park pond		AS
06/01/04	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond	Male	AS

2003
13/02/03	Goosander	3	Kay Park pond	1 m + 2 redheads	AS
04/02/03	Goosander	1	Kay Park pond	Redhead	AS
05/01/03	Grey Wagtail	1	Kay Park pond	At frozen pond edge	AS

AS = Alistair Simpson AF = Alasdair Fyffe FSS = Fraser Simpson

Goosander (Mergus merganser)

17 November 2006

Goosander (Mergus merganser)

The past few winters have seen a few Goosanders turn up in the unlikely location of Kay Park pond - an unasuming municipal feature, seemingly devoid of wildlife value, near the town centre of Kilmarnock. These large sawbills probably originate from the River Irvine. This morning produced a surprising 13 birds! Three adult drakes and 10 redheads. I haven't checked out the possibility that the ducks use Kay Park pond as a roost site but this may be true since two important roost sites (Craufurdland and Northcraig Reservoir) have been lost to 'modernisation'/development. Weather was overcast and rainy so just a record shot posted here.

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