Site of the Month: South Ayrshire Coast (June 2023)

The wildlife of South Ayrshire is not as well recorded as other parts of SW Scotland, but there are some fantastic habitats to be explored, most notably along the coastline between Glen App to Ayr. Plunge-diving Gannets Morus bassanus are a frequent site, with their huge nesting colony on Ailsa Craig just offshore. At low tide, there are numerous opportunities for rockpooling, with species such as Velvet Swimming Crab Necora puber and Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus. On coastal slopes and grassland, there’s a good variety of butterflies including Grayling Hipparchia semele and Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes, whilst the area around Bennane Head is the only place in Scotland where Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio have been recorded. Access is provided via the Ayrshire Coastal Path, and there are several castles, lighthouses and archaeological sites along the coast. This summer would be an ideal time to visit.

Peter Norman

SWSEIC Project Officer