Dawsholm Park - LNR or dog toilet?

After 4 weeks of wildlife spotting 'down under', we eventually ventured out yesterday (26 December 2012) to see what winter in Glasgow could offer.

We visited Dawsholm Park, which is also one of the City's 8 Local Nature Reserves, and hoped for a pleasant morning's stroll.

Right away we encountered a small flock of birds - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and a beautiful male Bullfinch. This was quickly followed by a Red Fox, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and the ever present and numerous Magpie.

The views from the park over the City can be superb but today it was grey and misty....
 

 

However, the Highland Cattle posed well......................................................................

 

 

and another Red Fox successfully managed to catch and despatch a small mammal, with the local Magpies looking out for any scraps...................................

 

 

 

The Highland Cattle have been introduced as a management tool to help improve the grassland for wild flowers and insects. Elsewhere in the LNR it appears that contractors are still carrying out works in the woodlands with evidence of the cutting of rhododendron ponticum regrowth. (Note: Following on from the extensive 'rhody' removal over the past few years, the stumps should be sprayed to prevent any regrowth. Whilst, in the main, this appears to have been done, some small areas of regrowth appeared during the summer).

 

As we continued through the park the various bird and bat boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves appeared to be intact. However, some of the paths were still impassable as a result of wind blown trees from last winter! We eventually reached the upper walkway overlooking the River Kelvin, which was in full flow...........................

 

 

This walkway was extremely muddy and clearly many people had chosen to leave the path thus creating disturbance to the woodland floor which can't be good for any plants/understorey trying to come through after years of having been smothered by rhododendron.

 

Sadly, dog walkers were also continuing to hang bags of dog dirt on the boundary railing.

 

As the steps down to the River Kelvin are still blocked by fallen trees, we moved back towards the new pond created by 'Froglife'.............................................

 

 

Since our last visit, the Council has erected an interpretation board explaining the purpose of the pond and politely requesting dog walkers not to allow their dogs to enter the pond.....

 

 

However, just next to the sign were 2 bags of 'rubbish', which on closer inspection included yet more dog dirt!

 

 

 

The Council has erected signs asking people to report 'dog owners' that flout the regulations but still we see the evidence. The day finished with a dog running straight towards me with shouts by its owner that it wouldn't bite. Over the last 12 months I have been intimidated by dogs, primarilly packs of dogs being 'looked after' by dog walking companies, and been subject to verbal abuse by their owners/walkers.  I neither 'like' nor 'dislike' dogs. However, I feel that I should not be subjected to dogs, 'friendly or otherwise', running towards me, barking at me, baring their teeth at me or jumping up on me. The fact that this is happening in a Local Nature Reserve makes the situation even worse.

 

Local Nature Reserves are meant to be quiet, peaceful places that are good for wildlife and which can be enjoyed by people without creating disturbance or harm to the wildlife. They should  benefit from positive habitat management (for wildlife) and good access (for people). People should feel safe and should certainly not feel intimidated when visiting a LNR (or any other park).

 

Dawsholm is excellent for wildlife; a small number of dedicated Council staff are doing their best to manage and improve the habitats with the support of local groups such as 'Froglife' and the 'Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves'. The removal of rhododendron has opened up the LNR for the benefit of wildlife and people. However, I have been told by a few people they still don't feel safe in the park mainly because of the dogs.

 

Despite its many good points, I am afraid that Dawsholm is no longer a place I would recommend to visit.

 

Happy Christmas!

Back from 'Down Under' - what have we missed?

Regular readers (all two of you!) will have noticed a lack of postings over the past 4 weeks; well, we have been on a trip of a lifetime, visiting Singapore, Bali and 4 cities/towns in Australia - photos to follow!

In the meantime, I can report that there have been numerous sightings of Waxwings in the Glasgow area with other reports, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine, including:

19 December 2012

22 Brambling and two Tree Sparrows  with a flock of about 350 Linnets in stubble at East Millichen Farm. Nearby, 590 Pink-footed Geese at Summerston Farm.

 

18 December 2012

A 1st-winter Iceland Gull on the island at Balgray Reservoir at 1400 hrs.

 

Thursday 28 November

A Jack Snipe in Hogganfield Marsh, with 19 Whooper Swans and seven Gadwall on the loch.

Mention of the Tree Sparrows at East Millichen gives me an opportunity to post my first photo from our trip - a Tree Sparrow in the heart of the city in Singapore!

 

  

Waxwing Invasion

Over the last few weeks there have been more and more reports of Waxwings being seen in the country. This indicates that there has been a 'berry failure' on the continent.  In Glasgow, birds have been reported from around the city e.g. Garscube Road, Partick, Hyndland, Whiteinch, Cardonald, Kings Park, Newlands and Hogganfield Park (all reports courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine).

Tom Rankin also reports c40 birds near the Botanic Gardens on Saturday 17 November 2012.
 
Sadly I have still to see one this winter despite walking for hours around their usual haunts in Anniesland. So I'll have to make do with a bird photographed at Binghams' Pond in 2008....

 

and one taken in our garden also in 2008.......................................

 

 

 

 

Mega rarity!

I led another RSPB Glasgow Local Group outing yesterday (11 November 2012). The planned location was the RSPB Loch Leven Reserve. However, by mutual consent we headed for Kilminning and were all lucky enough to get great views of the long staying Eastern Olivaceous Warbler. It was good to see it actively feeding and preening, despite some reports earlier in the week that it was looking tired and weak.

 

 

Record shots of Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Some of us also saw a Barred Warbler which was an added bonus.

At mid-day we headed for Loch Leven and were most impressed by the recent improvements to the habitats and visitor centre. On the loch we got distant views of Smew plus lots of other wildfowl. From the Carden Hide there was a nice group of Whooper Swans plus a Black-tailed Godwit in amongst the Teal and Lapwing. A late walk along the Loch Leven trail, east of the hides, turned up a Blackcap.

All in all a cracking day both from a birding and weather point of view!

Calendar For Sale

I have a few 2013 calendars for sale entitled 'Memories of Zambia and Botswana'. It features 5 animals, 6 birds and 2 landscapes (one on the cover).

Costs only £4.99 plus postage & packing.

Extracts are reproduced below:

 

These images will feature in my talk to the RSPB Glasgow Local Group on Thursday 7 March 2013.

 

See their web site for more information www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow

 

 

 

Bingham's Pond Survey

On Friday (2 November 2012) I paid one of my regular visits to the Pond to undertake a survey of the birds. There were 17 species plus the cayuga/domestic ducks. The usual 5 wildfowl species were present with numbers of Moorhen remaining impressive with at least 23 counted. 

On the gull front there were a minimum of 97 Black-headed Gulls and one solitary Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Black-headed Gull (winter plumage)

Other species of interest were 1 Mistle Thrush and 2 Goldfinches.

Nuthatches in Greater Glasgow

In the early 1990s you would have had to visit the Hirsel in the Borders to have a good chance of seeing Nuthatch in Scotland. Since then they have slowly but surely expanded their range and have been consistently recorded in the Clyde area since 2005. They started breeding at Dalzell Estate, next to Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve, in Motherwell and have also moved into Pollok Country Park in Glasgow. They are thought to have bred or at least attempted to breed in  the Park in 2008-09; although most sightings are from the feeders behind the Countryside Rangers' office.

Reports have been received from other parts of the Greater Glasgow area with the most recent being found in a Bearsden garden on 20th and 21st October 2012. The bird was recognised by Susan Irwine and photographed by Andrew Parmley and they have kindly given me permission to reproduce one of their photos below.......................................

 

So keep an eye out, they could be coming to a garden near you!

 

For more information about the status of Nuthatches in Scotland see 'Nuthatches in Scotland - an update; J Maxwell, Scottish Birds Volume 30 (3), September 2010; page 238' : published by the Scottish Ornithologists' Club.

Millichen

I was reliably informed at the weekend that Millichen Flood had actually flooded a few weeks ago and attracted good numbers of Wigeon and Teal. I therefore visited today in the feint hope that some water would still be present. Yet again, there was a puddle!

Millichen Flood - 29 October 2012

 

So, I concentrated on finding finches and tits rather than ducks and geese, although 12 Pink-footed Geese did fly over head.

 

There were good numbers of Reed Bunting (25+) as well as Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Greenfinch to be seen, most being found in an un-harvested field between West Millichen and Millichen Steadings.

 

Reed Bunting at Millichen - 29 October 2012

 

On the tit front there were the usual Great and Blue Tits plus a flock of 9 Long-tailed Tits (a Millichen year tick!). Other 'Millichen Year' ticks were Raven and Mistle Thrush.

 

In total, I saw 31 bird species, making it 58 for the year at Millichen. The most spectacular record for the day, however, was a count of 135 Collared Doves and there may have been more!

 

See link for a map of the Millichen area https://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=55.917829,-4.283338&spn=0.014333,0.052314&t=h&z=15&vpsrc=6

 

 

Hogganfield Feeding & Dilger Delivers!

Yesterday (27 October 2012), I spent a pleasant few hours helping the RSPB Glasgow Local Group feed the wildfowl at Hogganfield Park LNR. This was part of a once monthly programme devised by the Local Group to help people identify and feed the numerous ducks, swans and geese that frequent the loch.

I am pleased to say that there were at least 14 Whooper Swans present - 11 adults and 3 youngsters. These birds have flown all the way from Iceland to spend the winter in Glasgow!

Other birds giving amazingly close views included Gadwall and Goosander.

Whooper Swan at Hogganfield Loch

 

In the evening, the Local Group's 40th Anniversary lecture featuring TV's Mike Dilger proved to be, as expected, very entertaining. It was also nice of Mike to buy a few of us a drink in the nearbye Griffin pub - much appreciated!

 

Mike Dilger and Jack Snipe on a previous visit to Glasgow!

Photo courtesy of Mike Dilger's management



Cairnhill Woods

Yesterday (22 October 2012) I visited Cairnhill Woods following an invitation from Emma of the Cairnhill Woods Group.

The woodlands are part of a 'green corridor' that stretches from Dawsholm Park LNR to Garscadden Wood LNR and Emma and her group are keen to see their woods also declared as a Local Nature Reserve.

The woods already have some good information boards.................................

 

and a network of informal paths........................................................................

 

 

Residents have undertaken clean ups and the woodlands are clearly an excellent local resource. The Group has already made contact with fungi and moth experts and I have agreed to help provide some bird information for the area.

It is great to see a local community get involved in protecting and enhancing their local greenspace and I wish them all the best for the future. Check out their web site at https://sites.google.com/site/westertonvillage/cairnhill-woods-group

Seven Lochs Area - sightings

The Seven Lochs Project area extends from Hogganfield Loch in Glasgow to Lochend, Woodend and Garnqueeen Lochs in North Lanarkshire - see previous posts for more information on the Project.

Courtesy of the SOC Clyde Area Grapevine, I can report the following recent sightings from the project area:

17 October 2012
Five female/immature Scaup and twelve Gadwall at Bishop Loch.

Bishop Loch (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) is underwatched, partly due to there being limited formal access. It can be viewed from the paths of Bishop Loch LNR (see http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com and click on Local Nature Reserves/Bishop Loch for a location plan) but views can be limited without a telescope.

Bishop Loch looking north east from LNR path

 

Bingham's Pond Webs Count

I undertook the monthly Webs count at Bingham's Pond yesterday (15th). There were no surprises, other than the glorious weather!

Looking south west

 

Looking north east

 

Wetland birds count: 2 Mute Swan, 11 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Coot, 17 Moorhen (including at least 6 juveniles), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 13 Black-headed Gulls and the 2 'farmyard' ducks. There was no sign of the 2 cayuga type mallard but they could have been hidden by the vegetation.

 

Another photo of a juvenile Moorhen!

 

 

More East Coast Magic

On Saturday (13th) and Sunday (14th) I led two separate birdwatching outings, on behalf of the RSPB Glasgow Local Group, to the east coast of Scotland.

On both days there were 14 other birders with seven brave souls going on both outings!

On the Saturday, we visited the scrub, trees and farmland around the Torness Power Station and Thorntonloch caravan park; moved briefly onto Skateraw; and eventually spent a good few hours in the Barns Ness area, including Whitesands Quarry.

It was rather overcast most of the day with some light drizzle so no opportunities for any decent photographs - a photo of Barns Ness taken in May this year will have to suffice!

Barns Ness - May 2012

Despite the conditions, the Group saw at least 72 different species, albeit no one saw them all!  We saw 16 species of wildfowl including Barnacle Goose, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter and Whooper Swan; and 8 species of wader including Golden Plover. Other highlights included Peregrine, Brambling, Tree Sparrow, Stonechat and Blackcap.

Moving on to the Sunday we spent most of our day in the east neuk of Fife, east of Crail. There had clearly been a 'fall' of birds with the main problem knowing whether we should all stick together or spread out!

We saw lots and lots of Goldcrests, some feeding just a few feet away; although they were constantly moving so it was difficult to get any sharp photos. The following photo was taken through the netting of a 'heligoland' trap - I was inside the trap!

The highlights, however, were 2 Red-breasted Flycatcher, at least 1 Ring Ousel, 3/4 Black Redstart, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, Brambling, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and 2 late Swallows.

Off shore, from Fife Ness, we saw many Gannets, 1 Great Skua, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 late Sandwich Tern, 3 Velvet Scoter, 3 Long-tailed Duck and a good few Red-throated Divers.

Views from Fife Ness - 14 October 2012

In total, the Group saw at least 58 species, but again not everyone saw every bird.

For the two days at least 88 species were recorded, of which I saw 81.

All in all, a tiring but rewarding two days of birding!

Garden Birds and a trip to Musselburgh

With the recent cold spell, our garden has attracted Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Chiffchaff over the last few days, as well as the 'usual' species.

Poor record shots, taken through a glass window in bad light (!) follow:

Lesser Redpoll - 10 October 2012

 

Chiffchaff - 9 October 2012

 

Yesterday, 10 October 2012, I led a guided walk to Musselburgh Lagoons for the RSPB Glasgow Local Group. We had glorious weather and a big thank you to the 21 people who attended. Hopefully, you all had an enjoyable day with over 40 birds seen; the highlight for me being an adult winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull at the River Esk.

 

The Group enjoy lunch overlooking the Firth of Forth

 

 

Millichen 5 October 2012

I visited the Millichen area yesterday and whilst the ground is clearly saturated there is still 'no flood'! Unfortunately, 'juncus' is also spreading which could have a detrimental impact on birds. I have already asked a few questions and hopefully will have some answers over the next few weeks.

So needless to say no waders or wildfowl although there were 8 Grey Herons present.

The most pleasing sight was a family of 6 Swallows (2 adults and 4 juveniles) still flying around East Millichen Farm. Here, there were also 45+ Collared Doves, a female Pheasant and a small flock of Goldfinches. Small numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were frequenting the stubble fields along with hundreds of corvids and Wood Pigeons.

Juvenile Swallow - East Millichen 2008

Overhead there were 3 Buzzards and 1 Kestrel; a male Stonechat in the 'flood' area was another highlight.

In just over 2 hours, I saw 29 species of bird and 2 Roe Deer - not bad considering there were no waders or wildfowl.

Needless to say I shall keep on trying!

The Birds (and other animals) of Glasgow

I shall be presenting an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Birds (and other animals) of Glasgow’ to a local group of the Scottish Wildlife Trust on Thursday 11 October 2012. The venue is the Lesser Town Hall, Milngavie (directly opposite Milngavie railway station). The talk will commence at 7.30pm.

The talk will examine two key areas of the City – Bishop’s Estate (in north east Glasgow) and the Kelvin-Canal Triangle. It will touch on the importance of habitat management and illustrate examples of habitat creation.

Habitat creation at Hogganfield Park LNR (part of Bishop's Estate)

 

Dawsholm Park (part of the Kelvin-Canal triangle)

 

Whilst concentrating on birds, the talk will also cover butterflies, damselflies and a few mammals.

 

Small Tortoiseshell

 

 Just another reminder that the talk will start at 7.30pm and all are welcome to attend.

Balgray Update

Courtesy of the SOC Clyde Area Grapevine, I can report the following recent sightings at Balgray Reservoir:

26 September 2012
Two Scaup, a male and a female and a Guillemot on Balgray Reservoir, also a Greenshank, a Redshank, six Ringed Plover and five Dunlin. At 1120 hrs a juvenile Gannet SW over there.

24 September 2012
A juvenile Gannet flying around Balgray Reservoir at midday, also a drake Scaup, a Greenshank and Green Sandpiper still present with two Dunlin and four Ringed Plovers.

23 September 2012
Two Green Sandpipers and three Ringed Plovers at Balgray Reservoir, also 22 Goosanders.

22 September 2012
One Green Sandpiper, at least one Greenshank and two Common Sandpipers at Balgray Reservoir.

It looks as if the RSPB Glasgow Group's outing on the 12th was just a wee bit too early! Who would be an 'outings organiser'?

Bingham's Pond - Glasgow Doors Open Day

As part of Glasgow Doors Open day, I led a short guided walk around Bingham's Pond outlining the flora and fauna to be found following the naturalisation project that was completed in 2003.

Bingham's Pond 2003 - the 2 islands begin to take shape

 

Bingham's Pond 2012

Although there was an adverse weather forecast, I am pleased to say that 10 people turned up (15 had booked). Despite the rain, I hope they found the walk informative and perhaps they will become regular visitors to the Pond - I certainly hope so.

  
Once the walk was over, I undertook my monthly 'Webs count' of wetland birds - birds present were 2 Mute Swan; 20 Mallard; 12 Tufted Duck; 19 Moorhen; 5 Coot; 13 Black-headed Gull; 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull and the 4 domesticated/cayuga ducks.

Balgray Reservoir - Wader Success?

I led a RSPB Glasgow Local Group outing to Balgray Reservoir today and I am pleased to say that 15 others decided to join me.

 

 

I hoped that we would see some passage migrants, particularly waders, as well as species that breed both here and at the other nearby reservoirs.

 

In order to attract waders the water level needs to be low thereby exposing both an island and mud along the south western and southern edge of the reservoir. The water levels were dropping and the island had appeared...............but only gulls, corvids, a couple of Pied Wagtails and a solitary Cormorant could be seen.

 

The island at Balgray Reservoir is just visible

 

However, when we reached the south west corner we had some success with 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Common Snipe feeding on the exposed mud. Also seen was a small flock of Lapwing resting on the northern edge of the reservoir. So 4 species of wader! Other passage migrants included Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin. We also had good views of another summer visitor - the Common Whitethroat.

 

Record shot of Common Whitethroat at Balgray Reservoir

 

Other species of note included Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Buzzard and Great Crested Grebe - it was good to see a young bird at Balgray and at least another 4 at the nearby Waulkmill Glen Reservoir indicating some breeding success.

 

The weather was excellent and a big thank you to those that joined me on another enjoyable outing.

 



 

 

 

 

Busy Few Days

On Thursday (6th) I presented an illustrated talk to the RSPB Glasgow Local Group on 'The Birds and other animals of Poole Harbour and Purbeck'. This gave me a chance to sing-the-praises of an area that is brilliant for wildlife and project a few(!) of the images I have taken in my many visits to the area..............

Little Egret, Brownsea Island

 

Sandwich Tern and chick, Brownsea Island

Yesterday (9th) I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves event at Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve in Glasgow. Five Starling nest boxes and 3 bat boxes were erected whilst 20+ bags of rubbish were removed, albeit some litter was so 'ingrained' it couldn't be removed with just litter pickers! 

I led a guided walk and there were three pond dipping sessions. Thankfully the rain stayed away and hopefully everyone had a good time. For more information about the event see http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com

This Wednesday I am leading a bird watching outing to Balgray Reservoir between Barrhead and Newton Mearns. More info from www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow

Balgray Reservoir

Finally, on Sunday 16th, I am leading a guided walk around Bingham's Pond in Glasgow as part of 'Glasgow's Doors Open Day'. I am pleased to say that this is fully booked but check for cancellations on www.glasgowdoorsopenday.com and click on booking.

Bingham's Pond