Point of Ayr

Went for the big high tide at Point of Ayr today and checked out the new three-sided shelter that at long last has been built on the site of the old hide. Nice firm structure although it'll be open to the elements in poor weather, but it's better than nothing at all and at least prevents you from disturbing the roosting birds on the saltmarsh. Bird of the morning was a cracking merlin that roosted in a bush close to the shelter. Big tide didn't flush anything unusual out but good numbers of mixed waders with mainly knot, dulin, redshank, barwits, and oycs. Pintail and wigeon on view and good numbers of shelduck. Eight birders present today so hopefully the new shelter will start to attract birders to an area that has always had great potential, especially if you bird the warren area as well.