Birding the Town Part 2: Places to Bird-watch in Stranraer

In the 'Birding the town part 1', we looked at how there may be more bird life in urban areas than you think. In this second article, I shall cover some of what I consider to be the best locations for bird-watching in Stranraer (my local town) and what birds you are likely to see at each site. Without further ado, let's dive right in.

Broadstones

A car park off Broadstones Road, this is the perfect place to start. Affording a nice view out over the loch, you can see all manner of the loch regulars, from divers and grebes to eiders and scoters. A flock of red-breasted mergansers can often be seen loafing around near the golf course and when the tide is out ringed plovers, dunlins and turnstones scuttle along the beach. Turning inland, the grassy stretches alongside see the expected woodpigeons and gulls, the latter often 'tapdancing' on the grass to tempt worms to the surface. However, you may also see more unusual species there - such as a flock of brent geese in the winter.

Brent geese off on a shopping trip into town!

Agnew Park

No town is complete without the traditional 'village pond' and for Stranraer, this is Agnew Park. To go to Agnew Park and not see any mallards is almost unthinkable. In amongst these, there may well be one or two 'farmyard duck' hybrids, often told by their extensive white markings. If the little island is empty of people then gulls often come down to rest there. Perhaps the most famous residents of Agnew Park are its pair of swans, who often raise large broods of cygnets. Yet you may be surprised what else may turn up to visit - with both goldeneye and tufted duck having been seen paddling about.

Do you think this swan knows that the inn was named after its species?

Stranraer Harbour and Port Rodie

At high tide, the harbour can provide nice close views of our sea-going species. Taking advantage of the calmer waters of the harbour, shags, cormorants, razorbills and guillemots come right in close to feed. At low tide, the revealed mud attracts waders. It is not uncommon to see redshank and curlew in the harbour but you may also see bar- and black-tailed godwits feeding there. In the winter larger numbers of pied wagtails often gather near the harbour at dusk. I felt sure that they must roost nearby but when I stayed to watch the entire flock suddenly lifted off and flew straight into the town! The rail along the harbour front also sees black-headed gulls perched on it and it is worth checking to see if any of these are wearing colour rings.

One of many black-headed gulls that love perching on these rails.

Port Rodie car park (opposite Tesco) also provides a view into the harbour. However, the best part about Port Rodie is the gull flock on the abandoned Stena land that can be viewed from there. At high tide, the gulls gather in larger numbers and it can be great fun scanning through the flock to see what is present. During the autumn, you stand a good chance of seeing a Mediterranean gull. You just never know what could be there, so keep your eyes peeled for Iceland gulls and continental herring gulls (L. a. argentatus).

An adult winter-plumage Mediterranean gull amongst black-headed gulls.

The Railway Station

I myself didn't discover the birding potential of the railway pier until a few years ago. Alongside the railway wall, large numbers of oystercatchers and redshank can be seen at high tide. The pier itself affords a view out over most of the loch, including down towards Bishop burn (which can't really be seen as well from Broadstones). Down this way, the winter often sees the scaup flock bobbing up and down in the waves. A black redstart was also once recorded there. However, it is the summer that is better for the railway pier. Oystercatchers and rock pipits breed around and on the buildings. You can also see the gull colony on the Stena pier from the railway. Gannets and terns may pass by and dive down right in front of you. The bird that I most associate with the railway pier is the black guillemot - or tystie. These breed in holes along the pier walls and show spectacular views throughout the summer.

A black guillemot perched near the railway station.

Bishop Burn

Right on the far edge of town, the Bishop burn is a small stream that runs into the loch. This area of shore attracts many different species to it. At low tide you may see many different species of wader, including knot, sanderlings, redshank, turnstones and the occasional flock of golden plovers. The exposed mud also sees flocks of wigeon and brent geese in the winter. Also in the winter, a high tide may see part of the wintering mute swan flock present of it may draw the scaup flock in closer to shore. The freshwater of the burn itself attracts different species to it. Grey wagtails are common and even a kingfisher and dippers have shown up before. Mallards splosh about in the stream and other ducks such as shoveler and pintail are more often see around this area than other parts of the loch.

The view from Bishop burn with swans flying by.

That briefly sums up some of my favourite places to go birding in Stranraer. It is perhaps not surprising that most of these sites are along the sea front, where you an look out over the loch. Better still, they are near enough in a straight line, so you can head from one end to the other in one trip. Do you have any different favourite places to go birding in Stranraer?

[All photographs are taken by and belong to Stephen Grover, please ask for permission if you wish to use them.]