Birding in Summer

Yes, summer has arrived and, if you believe the weather forecasts, will last at least another week!

Whilst it may still be chilly in the east and raining in parts of England, it is 20C and sunny in Glasgow and promises to stay that way for the next few days.

This good weather has allowed me to go out birding and I have been checking on the nest boxes and biohavens installed by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs.

Starting at Bingham's Pond, one of the 2 boxes was clearly occupied by Blue Tits. The other box was certainly being visited in early May, so possibly both boxes were used this year

Blue Tit, Bingham's Pond

Moving on to Dawsholm Park where eight of nineteen boxes are currently being used by Blue Tits (6) and Great Tits (2). 

Dawsholm Park

And finally, to Hogganfield Park LNR where four of five boxes are being used by Great Tits (3) and Blue Tits (1).

Hogganfield Park LNR - box occupied by Great Tits

I can also report that  a pair of Great Crested Grebes are still nesting on one of the Friends' biohavens whilst two other pairs have bred, one pair still on a nest and another having hatched 3 young

Grebes about to 'change over' 

Adult plus 3 young

Hogganfield Park LNR was as good as ever with wildflowers in bloom and bird song everywhere - 36 bird species for the day, including young Grey Herons sitting in the heronry and a brood of Canada Geese.....

Canada Goose and 5 goslings

Hogganfield Park LNR from an unusual angle

I finally made a visit to the Millichen area of the City where I recorded 24 species. It was particularly pleasing to see a few Tree Sparrows, some of which were using the nest boxes that had been erected when I was leader of the RSPB Glasgow Group 

Tree Sparrow with food for young

Moving on from Millichen, I walked back to Summerston via the River Kelvin walkway and noticed even more breeding success with a female Goosander and her brood of five youngsters

Goosander family, River Kelvin

So, in total 50 species seen and lots of evidence of breeding. Hopefully, with this warm spell, it will prove to be a good year. Get out and ENJOY!

Spring at Last!

Since my last post the weather has improved dramatically with a good warm dry spell!

As a result, I managed a couple of visits to Hogganfield Park LNR, where Grey Herons, Great Crested Grebes, Mute Swan and Coot can all be seen on nests and Mallard duckling provide the photo opportunities .....

Hogganfield Park LNR - 11/5/18

We then joined the RSPB Glasgow Group on Wednesday on an outing to Inchcailloch, thanks to Alan and Karen. Here we had some stunning views of Loch Lomond as well as adding Spotted Flycatcher and Redstart to our list of summer migrants.

Loch Lomond from Inchcailloch - 16/5/18

Inchcailloch - 16/5/18

Spotted Flycatcher - 16/5/18

We also enjoyed views of a whole range of species including Tawny Owl and this Bank Vole ....

Bank Vole - 16/5/18

Our day was made complete when, on our way home, we had a brilliant encounter with not one but two Ospreys, fishing along the Endrick Water ...

Osprey - 16/5/18

Finally, today I walked along to Bingham's Pond for the monthly Webs count and was pleased to see that the resident Mute Swans, Mallard and Coot all had young ...

Other birds that showed well included House Sparrow, Robin and Pied Wagtail ......

House Sparrow - 19/5/18

Robin - 19/5/18

Pied Wagtail - 19/5/18

There were certainly plenty of insects around, as the House Sparrow and Pied Wagtail photos show, so here's hoping for a good breeding season.

Spring has sprung, more or less

My wife and I have been away for a few days attending a music festival and were pleased to see some of 'our' migrants. Hopefully, they make it to the Greater Glasgow area ...........

Spotted Flycatcher, Ibiza

On our return, I visited Hogganfield Park LNR and was pleased to see both Great Crested Grebes and Coot nesting on the Biohavens that were launched over the last few years ......

Great Crested Grebe on nest - 3/5/18

I then had a walk along the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Carbeth adding birds such as Cuckoo, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit to my 'year list'. I also had a good chat with another birder, Andrew.

Wood Warbler - WHW at Mugdock Wood - 6/5/18

Craigallian Loch from WHW - 6/5/18

Garden Warbler - WHW 6/5/18

On Monday, we both travelled to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP area, thanks to Peter, calling into various woodlands and lochs ....

Cashel Woods - 7/5/18

... the highlights being a male Pied Flycatcher in Ross Wood and the carrot cake in the Pier Café!

And finally we both travelled by train and met up with Judith and Mike and had a nice walk in Balloch Castle CP, albeit it was rather cold for the time of year and rain eventually stopped play!

Over this period, 3-8 May 2018, I recorded c70 species and it was good to see a few more summer migrants and add them to my year list although I am still lacking Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler - Hogganfield Park LNR here I come!