Staff at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire have been welcoming visitors of a different kind this week – for large numbers of rare birds have been stopping by to feed in the grounds.

Flocks of winter migrants such as fieldfares and redwings have been spotted around the castle in recent days, and the bad weather has encouraged woodcocks to emerge from the forest.

“Woodcocks are normally very shy and are most active at night, so we very rarely see them,” said Deirdre Mackinnon, senior ranger at Culzean. “The wintry weather appears to be making them bolder and we are seeing a fair number of them along grass verges in the park at the moment.”

And Dr Richard Luxmoore, senior nature conservation adviser with the Trust, believes the Culzean sightings may be part of a national trend.

“Woodcocks will almost certainly be easier to spot at the moment as they will be having trouble feeding in frozen ground.”

The Scottish Government has announced a temporary ban on shooting duck, geese and other wild birds – including woodcock - earlier this week as the cold snap hits their feeding and migration patterns.