West End Festival 2016

As part of the West End Festival, I attended the opening of the 'Kelvin at the Kibble Exhibition' in Glasgow Botanic Gardens on Friday. Earlier in the day I helped erect the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs display, along with Scott.

 

The exhibition runs to 12 June 2016 with a Family Day on the 11th ........

 

 

 

Also as part of the West End Festival Illustrated Talks programme I'll be speaking about 'West End Wildlife' at Hillhead Library on Tuesday 21 June 2016 from 6.30pm - http://www.westendfestival.co.uk/events/talks-and-authors-friends-of-glasgow-west/west-end-wildlife-(talk)/

Birding in Glasgow

Spent time birding in Glasgow this week.

On Tuesday called in at Bingham's Pond hoping to see cygnets and I wasn't disappointed ...

 

with the resident pair proudly looking after their 6 'babies'!

 

I also added to my year 'pond' list with Swift and Starling being joined by Oystercatcher. I have seen and heard them locally so knew they were around; nevertheless this was a nice surprise ....

 

 

My day was made when I saw a Blue Tit pop its head out of one of the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs nest boxes ......

 

 

The next day I headed for the Millichen area to check out the farmland birds. There were 130+ Starling, including youngsters and a few House Sparrow, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting. However, the star bird has to be the Tree Sparrow with at least 4 pairs, three of which were using nest boxes that I had helped get erected when I was leader of the RSPB Glasgow Local Group ................

 

 

From Millichen I walked along the banks of the River Kelvin to Summerston encountering Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Garden Warbler ................

Garden Warbler - 25 May 2016

 

However, the biggest surprise was this Whooper Swan, which should, by now, be back in Iceland  .........

 

Whooper Swan - 25 May 2016

 

For more information and images of the birds and other wildlife of Bingham's Pond, the River Kelvin and the Millichen area, why not come along to my free illustrated talk in Hillhead Library on Tuesday 21 June at 6.30pm - part of Glasgow's West End Festival.

 

Nature's Fair

Four different nature experiences in a week!

Tuesday it was Hogganfield Park LNR; Wednesday Dalzell Woods & Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve; Friday Dawsholm Park LNR and Saturday the RSPB Nature's Fair at Musselburgh Lagoons.

Around 70 species seen and some excellent talks attended at the Fair. A few photos ...

Adult Grey Heron - Hogganfield Park LNR

 

Coot - Hogganfield Park LNR

 

Mute Swan turning eggs - Hogganfield Park LNR

 

Nuthatch - Dalzell Woodlands

 

Roe Deer - undisclosed site

 

More of my photos from the visits to Hogganfield and Dawsholm Park LNRs can be seen on the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs facebook site - click on the link on the right column.

 

Finally, a quick update of some recent sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 21 May 2016
A Jay and two Stock Doves in a Blacader Drive, Gartloch Village garden.

Thursday 19 May 2016
A Wood Warbler in song at Linn Park, Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

RSPB Reserves

At the weekend I visited two RSPB wetland reserves.

Firstly, on Saturday I travelled by train to Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve. The birds were few and far between but I did see a Garden Warbler ........

 

Robin

Swallow

 

On Sunday, it was a coach trip down to Leighton Moss in Lancashire with the RSPB Glasgow Group and a few more exotic species ...........

 

 

Redshank

Little Egret

Spoonbill

Marsh Harrier

 

Apologies for the quality of the photos - no more than record shots - but most of the bird species at Leighton Moss were only seen at some distance and in many cases required the use of a scope.

 

 

Mull's Wilds Hotter!

Please click on the photos to create a slide-show and enhanced viewing.

With a favourable weather forecast, four of us headed north to Oban, courtesy of our 'bus passes'. From there we caught the Oban to Craignure ferry and then the bus to Pennyghael (these bus passes are wonderful!)

We stayed at the Pennyghael Hotel for two nights and have to say it was very comfortable with good food and loads of bird feeders!

 

On the Monday afternoon we bird watched in and around Pennyghael. On Tuesday we travelled down to Fionnphort (bus pass!) and then over on the small ferry to Iona. Finally, on the Wednesday, we booked a birding trip with Bryan Rains (Wild About Mull - https://www.facebook.com/WildAboutMull)

Over the three days we encountered wall-to wall sunshine, temperatures of c25C and saw at least 71 bird species including White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Corncrake, Whimbrel, Whinchat and Twite. A few photos follow:

Meadow Pipit - Iona

 

Great Northern Diver - Mull

 

Tawny Owl - Mull

 

Whitethroat - Mull

 

Iona

 

A truly glorious three days and one we shall repeat, I am sure.

 

 

 

A Tale of Two Lochs and Three Parks

It's been a nice week with visits to two lochs and 3 parks but only 3 venues!

On Tuesday it was  a trip to Hogganfield Park LNR/Loch; followed by a trip with the RSPB Glasgow Group to Inchcailloch, Loch Lomond National Park on Wednesday and finally a walk to my local Dawsholm Park LNR on Saturday the 7th.

In total, 54 species were seen and lots of summer migrants and breeding activity noted.

A few photos follow ............

Hogganfield Park LNR - 3 May 2016

 

Grey Heron - Hogganfield Park LNR - 3 May 2016

Mute Swan - Hogganfield Park LNR - 3 May 2016

 

Tufted Duck - Hogganfield Park LNR - 3 May 2016

 

Record shot - Redstart - Inchcailloch - 4 May 2016

 

Nest box being used by Great Tit - Dawsholm Park LNR - 7 May 2016

 

 

 

Birding in Greater Glasgow

Despite the week's poor weather forecast, broadcast last Sunday, I managed out most days to do a bit of birding. Originally, Monday was meant to be the only dry day so we headed out with Judith and Mike to walk in an around the West Highland Way between Mugdock Country Park and the Carbeth Huts. As well as seeing some of the more common woodland birds, we were rewarded with sightings of Osprey, Crossbill and Cuckoo. The birds were quite distant but thankfully I had my scope with me so we got excellent views. My Powershot did its best, but only record shots were possible ............

I called in twice at Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow and was pleased to see two Swallows on both occasions.

Dawsholm Park LNR was my next port of call, to check out the nest boxes. Only 2 were being investigated, but the weather was poor so I'm sure I'll get better results next week. I also had the bonus of seeing a Kingfisher on the River Kelvin and great views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker

A visit to Dawsholm would not be complete without mentioning the dogs and I had a record count of 6 dog walking companies and 50+ dogs in c15 minutes!

The week was completed with Peter suggesting we head off to Loch Lomond. We encountered 700 runners along the West Highland Way, so decided to head off into Ross Wood and we had a superb walk and added Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler to our list of summer migrants

WHW runners

Pied Flycatcher

Wood Warbler

 

We also encountered some stunning scenery.....

 

What a nice way to end the week.

 

So what have other people been seeing? Recent records for Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 30 April 2016
A singing Whitethroat at Balgray Reservoir where there was a feeding flock of 200 Sand Martins with only two Swallows and a single House Martin. 

Friday 29 April 2016
Nuthatches continue to colonise with 12 territories identified at Dalzell/Baron's Haugh, at least five at Pollok Country Park and one at Rouken Glen.

Thursday 27 April 2016
Wood Warbler singing at Gartloch Pool, Glasgow.

Tuesday 26 April 2016
An Osprey at Loch Ardinning.
Single singing Whitethroats beside Allander Water at Dobbies, Milngavie and Craigend Hill. Erskine.