The Last Post

Well, this will be the last post, for 2013.

I'll start with a recent report courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 29 December 2013

18 Gadwall and 44 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch, also a Jack Snipe in the marsh.

 

Moving on to today, we had an impressive 16 different bird species in our small garden, the highlight being 6 Fieldfare.

 

In the late afternoon I spent an hour at Bingham's Pond and recorded 19 different species - the highlight being, once again, a Ring-necked Parakeet. At this point I had an enjoyable chat with a couple from Orkney who were really impressed by the Pond

 

Other birds of note were 8 Goosander - when I first arrived there were only 2 present but by dusk this had risen to 8 birds.

 

I'll finish with a couple of 'atmospheric' shots of the Pond and wish you all a peaceful and happy New Year ...................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Christmas

Pre-Christmas Catch-up

Despite the weather I have managed a few hours birding over the last few days. Firstly, on Friday (20th) I spotted a Cormorant on Bingham's Pond - a Pond year tick. The downside, I was on a bus at the time! So, I decided to visit on Saturday morning but sadly it had gone. However, I did have a good count of Moorhen (26) and added another Pond year tick - Fieldfare.

Today (Sunday) I visited Dawsholm Park LNR for the first time in many months. It was good to see that the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs bird and bat boxes have survived the storms of the last few weeks ....................

Bat Boxes - Dawsholm Park LNR - 22 December 2013

 

It was also good to see that the 'Friends'' have also managed to get three new Litter & Dog Waste bins installed ..................

 

 

On the wildlife front there was a large flock of Starlings (c220) close to the waste transfer plant.....

 

However, the most impressive sight was the herd of Highland cattle, showing that you don't need to travel to Pollok Country Park to see these magnificent animals ..............

 

Highland Cattle - Dawsholm Park LNR - 22 December 2013

 

Finally, some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 21 December 2013

Two Woodcock at Cuningar Loop, Rutherglen

 

Thursday 19 December 2013

Three Waxwings in trees at Hillhead Primary School, Westbank Quadrant, Hillhead, Glasgow

 

Ringing news

A colour-ringed Herring Gull at Hogganfield Loch on 17 December had been ringed as a chick on Lady Isle 26/06/2013.

 

 

 

 

Millichen and Recent Sightings Update

I visited the Millichen area in Glasgow yesterday (17 December 2013) in the hope of there being a 'flood' and lots of wildfowl. well the good news is that there was quite a large area flooded...

Millichen Flood - 17 December 2013

 

...however, the bad news was that the only 'wetland' birds present were 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Black-headed Gull plus thankfully 72 Lapwing.

 

During the 2 hours spent, I did see 26 different species with the stubble fields and hedges north of Millichen Road holding good numbers of Fieldfare, Linnet and Reed Bunting, flushed by a Buzzard, plus 1 Tree Sparrow, 3 Yellowhammer and 5 Stock Dove. The gardens of the Steadings  and adjoining hedges also hosted a few Reed Buntings with the 'best' bird being a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a species seldom seen at Millichen.

 

However, being close to Christmas the highlight had to be 4 Robins, one of which decided to pose for photographs.....................................

 

Robin - Millichen - 17 December 2013

 

Other news courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Two female Scaup on Bishop Loch.

A Jay in Gartloch Woods, also a Raven flying east to west over there.

 

Monday 16 December 2013

A male Blackcap briefly on feeders in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

 

 

 

 

 

Bingham's Pond - the calm before the storm

Today was WeBS count day. For those that may not be aware, the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) is the monitoring scheme for non-breeding waterbirds in the UK, which aims to provide the principal data for the conservation of their populations and wetland habitats.

Once a month, on a set date, hundreds of volunteers go out in all weathers to monitor the UK's waterbirds. I'm lucky, I only have a small site to count! However, I do find it rewarding keeping tabs on my local patch.

With the weather forecast indicating heavy rain and strong winds around about lunchtime, I paid a morning visit to Bingham's Pond. It was looking quite attractive with lots of autumn colours and many birds on the water....................................

Bingham's Pond - 15 December 2013

 

...... in total, there were 2 Mute Swans, 41 Mallard, 27 Tufted Duck, 4 Goosander, 5 Coot, 19 Moorhen, 40 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Common Gull and 1 Herring Gull.

 

In the surrounding trees there was a small 'tit' flock featuring Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Goldcrest.

 

In one hour, I saw a total of 20 different species and more importantly managed to get home before the rain!

Guided Walk - Hogganfield Park LNR and beyond!

I led a guided walk on behalf of the RSPB Glasgow Local Group yesterday (11 December 2013) and I was pleasantly surprised when 20 people assembled at the car park at Hogganfield Park LNR......................................

 

Before commencing the walk, on a quick scan of the loch, I noticed a Lesser Black-backed Gull loafing on the floating platform opposite the car park. What was so special about this? Well it had pink legs .....

 

............... so just a reminder that there is more to gull ID than looking at the colour of a bird's legs! It appears to be 3rd winter but I am willing to be corrected!!!!!

 

Having left the car park, we walked around the loch path in an anti-clockwise direction .....

 

 

..... whilst building our list of birds seen and admired. When we first arrived there were only 2 Whooper Swans present but over the next 45 minutes or so another 20 flew in - a wonderful spectacle. A sizeable flock of Greylag Geese also flew in to join the 100s of other wildfowl on the loch e.g. Goosander, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Teal and Coot. We also found a solitary Wigeon which unfortunately flew off before everyone could see it!

 

With the weather being extremely kind most of the group agreed that we should visit Cardowan Moss LNR and Frankfield Loch. So we headed up the path that overlooks the wetland/marsh area adding Redwing, Fieldfare, Reed Bunting and Bullfinch to our list. We crossed at the 'Friends of Glasgow's LNRs' crossing and were disappointed that it still hasn't been repaired by the Council - the bollards and signs had been knocked over by vehicles a few weeks ago .....................................

 

 

In Cardowan Moss woodland we saw a few common species such at tits but the real aim of the walk was to show people how to reach Frankfield Loch from the extensive footpath network at Cardowan. This LNR is managed by the Forestry Commission (FCS) and many of the paths have been upgraded over the last couple of years. However, the footpath that links Cardowan with the new paths that have been recently completed around Frankfield was extremely muddy ...........................

 

 

.............. hopefully, FCS will upgrade this path in the near future.

 

Having climbed towards the viewpoint overlooking Frankfield Loch ............

 

Photo courtesy of Lynda Pritchard

 

............ and observing that with a high water level the loch appeared to only contain gulls and a sole Goosander ...........

 

Photo courtesy of Lynda Pritchard

 

we decided to head back to Hogganfield for a late lunch ............................

 

 

 

Following lunch we headed back to the car park but not before we spent some time observing a flock of 15+ redpoll. The majority were obviously Lesser Redpoll but two birds did look as if they could have been Mealy Redpoll, but unfortunately none of us felt confident enough to claim them!

 

Once back at the car park, we witnessed a feeding frenzy as staff from the park's 'hot food' van disposed of their remaining rolls into the loch much to the delight of the waiting swans .......

 

 

... and other species; this picture alone features seven species of waterbird.

 

I saw 38 species and with others in the group seeing another 6 species, we totalled at least 44 for the day.

 

Thanks to everyone that attended and I hope you all had a good time.

 

 

FOR SALE!

A few people have asked at the various talks that I give, if I have any 'photographs' for sale. I don't normally do this but I currently have available a very limited number of calendars for 2014.

These feature images from our recent rip to 'The Pantanal' in Brazil and a couple of 'months' follow:

Wall Calendars, as illustrated above, cost £6 plus p&p, whilst Desk Calendars, with the same images, will be £4 plus p&p. Other featured wildlife includes Jaguar, Yellow-chevroned Parakeets, Jabiru, Southern Crested Caracara and Yacare Caiman.

If interested, I can be contacted direct at j.coyle13@ntlworld.com 

Recent Sightings & Forthcoming Events

Some good sightings today in the Greater Glasgow area; thanks again to the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Friday 6 December 2013
A Green Sandpiper at the west side of Balgray Reservoir, also 12 Bullfinches.
Eight Waxwings in trees at Cumbernauld Road at Hogganfield Park.
A male Peregrine over Scottish Power, Spean Street, Cathcart, Glasgow.

Also, news of two forthcoming events at Hogganfield Park LNR:

Firstly, I shall be helping out at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding session on Sunday 8 December 2013 from 11.30am -2.30pm.
You can help feed the ducks and swans with free barley; enjoy a guided wildlife walk (1pm) around the loch, perhaps help with a litter pick or just pop along and say hello.
Meet at the viewing/feeding platform at Hogganfield Loch next to the car park.
See http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com for information.

Secondly, I shall be leading a guided walk around the whole of Hogganfield Park LNR on Wednesday 11 December 2013 on behalf of the RSPB Glasgow Local Group.  Also if the weather permits, I aim to include the adjoining Cardowan Moss LNR and Frankfield Loch proposed LNR in the walk.
Meet at the car park at 10.30am. The easy paced walk, muddy in places, will take c4 hours.
See www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow for information. 

Hopefully, the Waxwings seen at Hogganfield today will stick around!

Recent Sightings Update

Recent sightings for the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

1 December 2013
Two Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, near Carmunnock.
A good inland winter count of 14 Great Crested Grebes on Balgray Reservoir, also nine Whooper Swans.
An adult Otter with two cubs on the White Cart Water near Scottish Power, Spean Road, Cathcart, Glasgow at 1000 hrs.

30 November 2013
A Ring-necked Parakeet flew over Scotstoun Leisure Centre in the direction of Victoria Park, Glasgow at 1015 hrs.

28 November 2013
A report of a Mealy Redpoll with about 30 Lesser Redpolls at Dumbrock Muir NS555788.

 

  

Hogganfield Park LNR - just love it

Another trip to Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday (28 November 2013) and I managed to add to my 'Hoggy Year List' with a Pintail and Great Black-backed Gulls seen.

Very poor record shot of Pintail - 28 November 2013

It was also good to see the Whoopers back (18 of them) following their absence from my last visit. Thankfully, the light was just perfect, albeit just for a few minutes, resulting in a few 'good shots', one of which follows...............................................

Whooper Swan - 28 November 2013

I had been told that people can turn up with 'van loads' of bread for the birds but had never witnessed it until yesterday. The ensuing feeding frenzy was worthy of a few photos .....

Feeding frenzy - 28 November 2013

In a 2 hour spell, I managed to see 37 different species of bird with my year Hogganfield total standing at 55. Not bad for a site just a few miles from Glasgow City Centre.

Latest Sightings from Greater Glasgow and a Trip to Caerlaverock

Some excellent recent reports from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 24 November 2013

A 1st-winter male Pintail still on Hogganfield Loch.

15 Tree Sparrows with 22 Reed Buntings at East Millichen Farm, Glasgow.
An Otter, again, on the White Cart Water at Linn Park, Glasgow in the morning, later downstream at Scottish Power, Spean Road, Cathcart, Glasgow early afternoon.

Saturday 23 November 2013
A Green Sandpiper at Ryat Linn Reservoir (part of the Dams to Darnley Country Park)
A Otter showing well at the White Bridge, Linn Park, Glasgow, also a Nuthatch in the trees.

We had a good trip to Caerlaverock WWT Reserve on Saturday, thanks to Douglas and Liz.

The sheer number of birds at Caerlaverock can be breath-taking and today my personal highlights included a male Green-winged Teal, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and amazing views of a Water Rail at the feeding station on the Peter Scott trail ......

A record shot of the Green-winged Teal

Poor record shot of two of the Black-tailed Godwits

An unconventional shot of the Peter Scott Observatory building (taken from the Peter Scott trail)

 

It certainly is a Reserve worthy of a visit!

New Species for Bingham's Pond - but can I count it?

I popped down to Bingham's Pond just after lunch today anticipating that the pond would be frozen - and it was.............................................

.....only a small area, to the left of the gulls in the picture above, was open. This meant that the water birds were concentrated and easy to count (and feed!) There were 2 Mute Swan, 21 Mallard, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Goosander, 19 Moorhen, 7 Coot, 112 Black-headed Gulls and 1 Common Gull.

Goosander - Bingham's Pond 22 November 2013

Tufted Duck - Bingham's Pond 22 November 2013

 

Whilst feeding and counting, my attention was taken by a screeching sound that I last heard in Dorset and India! Sure enough above my head high in a tree was a Ring-necked Parakeet - probably the same bird that was recently reported on the SOC Clyde Grapevine.

 

I managed a few record shots but it did manage to stay quite hidden despite flying from one tree to another....................

 

Ring-necked Parakeet - Bingham's Pond 22 November 2013

 

The question is, should I count it as a 'wild bird'? If I did, it would be a Scottish, Glasgow and Bingham's Pond 'tick'. What would you do?

 

Other recent sightings, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine include:

 

Thursday 21 November

An 1st-winter male Pintail on Hogganfield Loch.

An Otter showing well at the White Bridge, Linn Park, Glasgow.

 

Monday 18 November 2013

A female Peregrine flying west over Priesthill and Darnley Station, Glasgow at 1545 hrs.

 

 

 

 

Glorious Hogganfield!

I visited Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday (18 November 2013) and was not disappointed. I spent almost 3.5 hours there and managed to see 41 different bird species ranging from the tiny Goldcrest to the powerful Mute Swan. The only disappointing aspect was the lack of any Whooper Swans. A few images of wildfowl, taken on the day, follow:

Male Gadwall

Male Goosander

Female Goosander

Greylag Geese

Mute Swan

 

The Park was looking wonderful with all the autumn colours...............

 

 

...............and I also explored the marsh area where the Council has undertaken some habitat works creating some more open water in amongst the extensive stands of reedmace ..............

 

 

....this should help complement the existing open areas of water ...............

 

 

All in all a great day..................

 

 

 

Weekly Update

I have spent much of the past week submitting grant applications on behalf of the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs but did manage out to Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve and Carbarns Pool with the RSPB Glasgow Local Group on Wednesday. Thanks to Mike and Judith for the lift. Nineteen people turned up - testament to all of Mike & Judith's hard work and organisational skills.

I personally saw around 45 bird species with my highlights being a Green Sandpiper and a good few Whooper Swans at Baron's Haugh and a Black-tailed Godwit at Carbarns Pool.

Green Sandpiper (Spain)

Other notable sightings over the past week, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine include:

16 November 2013
A pair of Stonechats at Cathkin Marsh.

10 November 2013

A Jack Snipe at Hogganfield Marsh, also nine Gadwall on the loch.

A male Blackcap in a Barrachnie Avenue, Baillieston, Glasgow garden

 

Interesting Sighting

An interesting report from my neck of the woods, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine

6 November 2013
A Ring-necked Parakeet at Ashburton Road, Kelvindale in the morning.

Is this the start of a movement north from their strongholds in southern England or just a local escapee?

Ring-necked Parakeet - Dorset

Knightswood Park + ringing

Yesterday  (4 November 2013) I walked to Knightswood Park for the first time in many a year. I had hoped to get a photographic record of the Mute Swans prior to the planned pond naturalisation works. However, the pond was already drained and works were underway...

 

This caused some confusion for the Black-headed Gulls as they joined the Feral Pigeons on the grassy verge of the pond..............................................

 

 

The park was awash with autumn colours....................................

 

 

......but there was little sign of any bird life with only a few corvids, a Blue Tit, a Goldfinch, a couple of Blackbirds and 4 Redwing being the sum of my efforts. As can happen at this time of year there are more birds in our small garden than in some parks and, for example, we have had up to five Redwing over the last few days.............................

 

Redwing - Anniesland Garden - 5 November 2013

 

Last night I attended the local SOC featuring and illustrated talk by Martin Scott on 'Banding at Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory in Canada.'

 

This brought back fond memories of a trip to Long Point Bird Observatory in Canada four years ago where we were lucky enough to see a few birds in the hand after ringing (or banding as it is called in North America)........................

 

Black-billed Cuckoo - Long Point Bird Observatory 2009

 

Finally, don't forget this Thursday's meeting of the RSPB Glasgow Local Group featuring John Calladine of the BTO with a talk on 'Shrub Woodlands and Upland Conservation' - see www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow for more information.

 

Hogganfield - Feeding in the Sun!!!!!

Yesterday (3 November 2013) I helped at the third feeding event held by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs at Hogganfield Park LNR. For once the sun shone, albeit it was cold and a short shower did try to spoil things. Thanks to the good weather lots of people turned out and helped feed the wildfowl................................................

 

As we were handing out free barley and giving bird ID tips, ten Whooper Swans flew in - four adults and a family group of six - to join those already present.

 

10 Whooper Swans fly in

3 of the 4 adults and the family group of 6

 

Formation swimming by the gang of four!

 

Once we had finished feeding, I led an informal guided walk attended by eleven people and we also filled two bags with litter found on our walk; thanks to Daphne and Lynda.

 

Yet again there were good numbers of Gadwall, Coot and Goosander; we also saw Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Pochard, Goldeneye, a few Teal, a solitary Wigeon, Moorhen, Cormorant, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Redwing and Fieldfare. A nice end to a good day!

The next feeding event is on Sunday 8 December 2013.

 

Other news courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 3 November 2013

A Slavonian Grebe near the southwest corner of Balgray Reservoir.