The Trossachs - Glasgow's Lake District

Was lucky enough to visit the Trossachs yesterday in reasonably sunny weather, albeit chilly. The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is less than a hours drive from Glasgow and as you can imagine the landscape is stunning.

Loch Arklet

Loch Lomond

Lake of Menteith

There were a few more migrant birds but still not as many as you would normally expect at this time of year. Most of my photos were record shots as opposed to decent photographs! But its important to remember when going out into the field that you are not going to see wildlife the way it is depicted on the excellent BBC wildlife documentaries. So the photos that follow represent the types of views you will normally get even with binoculars.

.

Tree Pipit

Redstart

Black Grouse

Crossbills

Cuckoo

The one photo I am reasonably happy with is of this Grasshopper Warbler, a real skulker of a bird, normally heard rather than seen.

So why not pay this area a visit, you may even see the local Ospreys - we saw 4 in all!

 

Glasgow's Jewel in the Crown

Today, I visited one of the best nature reserves in central Scotland - Hogganfield Park LNR in Glasgow. As the photos show, the weather was in my favour for most of the time although a short hailstorm reminded me that I was in Glasgow!

Hogganfield Park was declared a LNR by Glasgow City Council (the owners) in 1998 primarily due to its Loch being an excellent place to see water birds.

Hogganfield Loch (from the north)
 

Over the years the Council, with the support of numerous other agencies and volunteers, has created a range of habitats to complement the loch - marshy pools, woodland, hedgerows, ponds and wildflower meadows.

A view of the marshy pools, woodland and scrub in the east of the LNR

Another view of the pools

Marsh Marigold in one of the many ponds

More recently, a bank for Solitary Bees has been built and I hope it is as successful as all the other works that have been undertaken.

Solitary Bee bank

All these habitat creation and improvement works have had a positive impact. Today, for example, I saw and/or heard 36 bird species.

These included Willow Warbler and Blackcap - both summer migrants. Despite extensive searching there was no sign of any other migrants - a trend repeated throughout much of the country probably due to adverse weather conditions in Europe and the UK.

Willow Warbler

Male Blackcap

The loch itself has not been forgotten and some of the edges have been naturalised to stop erosion, improve water quality and provide nesting opportunities for birds.

One of 3 pairs of Mute Swan on nests

The male bird cutting flag iris to help his mate ensure their nest doesn't get flooded out

The second of 3 Mute Swan nests

Improvements have also been made for people with signage having been installed over the past 12 months, albeit some are pointing in the wrong direction following the storms of a few weeks ago!

The car park area is unrecognisable with the old rusty railings and rotten jetties having been replaced with an attractive viewing/feeding platform and naturalised edges. In addition, a bird interpretation board (courtesy of RSPB Glasgow Local Group) has been erected and cars have been kept back from the loch edge to allow easy access for all.

Viewing and Feeding Platform + Interpretation Board

Recognised as a great place to visit in winter, Hogganfield Park LNR actually offers the wildlife enthusiast a host of diverse sightings throughout the year and I hope to report on these over the coming months.

Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve

This can be an excellent location for woodland (and other) birds - see my web site for more info about the LNR http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.coyle13/Dawsholm%20Park2

Today, I saw or heard 29 species of bird including: Goosander (on the River Kelvin); Buzzard; Stock Dove; Blackcap; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler; Goldcrest; Starling; and Bullfinch.

See below photos of birds previously taken at Dawsholm Park (today was a bit dull!)

Blackbird

Mistle Thrush

Goldcrest

Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves

I attended the 'Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves' guided walk, AGM and buffet in the Botanic Gardens last night and am pleased to say I was re-elected as Group Chair.
It was a very enjoyable evening with the guided walk being led by Ewen Donaldson (Gardens Manager)  and the buffet being supplied by Scott Gunn.

The highlight of the evening was an Anniversary cake in the form of a frog!

To find out more about the Friends see http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com

Glasgow's Wilds Better?

Hi
Welcome to my new Blog!

With 7 Local Nature Reserves, numerous parks, wetlands, river corridors and acres of countryside, Glasgow, the 'dear green place', is a great place to see and hear birds. It also plays host to a  great variety of other animals and plants.

With this blog I hope to keep you up to date with what can be seen and where. Over the past few days I've seen birds that have spent the winter in Glasgow and will be moving north to breed in northern Europe and even Iceland; for example, Whooper Swan, Iceland Gull and Fieldfare. Birds are starting to arrive from Africa to spend the summer here in Scotland. I have already seen or heard Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff (both at Hogganfield Park LNR) and Swallow and Wheatear (both in the Millichen area). Meanwhile, some of our resident birds are already on their nests. Marsh marigold is in flower whilst butterflies are on the wing. Glasgow's Wilds Better - of course it is!

 Iceland Gull (2nd winter) at Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow on 13 April 2012

 Mute Swan on nest at Hogganfield Loch on 13 April 2012

Coot on nest at Bingham's Pond, Glasgow on 13 April 2012

 Peacock butterfly at Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve, Glasgow on 13 April 2012.