...........but with a cold biting wind - so was it still winter or is it spring? It must be spring as I could hear at least 5 Willow Warblers in full voice; it is amazing that these small birds fly all the way from Africa to Glasgow every spring! There was also evidence of breeding with Grey Herons on their nests.........................................
Distant record shot of Grey Heron on nest
Whilst one pair of Mute Swans had also built a substantial nest...........
.................note the 'pan loaf' bread wrapper incorporated into the nest, just to prove it was in Glasgow.
However, while the evidence strongly pointed to it being spring, why were 2 Whooper Swans still present? They breed in Iceland and clearly felt that the time wasn't right for them to make the long journey to their breeding grounds (albeit they were clearly in the minority, as 20+ other birds had presumably already left).
Whooper Swan - Hogganfield Park LNR - 19 April 2013
Another species that was still present although in greatly reduced numbers were Goldeneye and they too should be moving on in the next week or so..............................
Male Goldeneye - Hogganfield Park LNR - 19 April 2013
Winter or spring, does it really matter? It was three hours well spent, birding in a Glasgow Park/Local Nature Reserve.
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