Bingham's, Dawsholm and More!

With the 'improved' weather over the past week, I managed to visit two of my local sites - Bingham's Pond, on the 15th, and Dawsholm Park LNR, on the 17th.

The pond was looking good......................................

Bingham's Pond - 15 May 2013

 

...........with the usual range of wildfowl and gulls, including the first Coot chick of the year!

2 Swallows were hawking for insects and it appears that, elsewhere in the Clyde area,   waterbodies are still attracting significant numbers of Swallows when normally, by this time, they would be on their breeding sites.

 

Wildflowers were also starting to bloom....................................................

 

Marsh Marigold - Bingham's Pond - 15 May 2013

 

..........and attracting a range of insects to add to the 17 bird species and Grey Squirrel, all seen in just under an hour.

 

Moving on to Dawsholm Park LNR, it to was looking good and some parts had obviously benefitted from a 'spring clean' by Council staff...................................

 

Dawsholm Park LNR - 17 May 2013

 

In 2 hours, I managed to see/hear 21 species of bird (and a Red Fox) with the highlights being Stock Dove, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.

 

On the negative side, it appears that none of the 16 nest boxes erected over the past 2 years by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs have been occupied this year, so far.

 

Nest Box - Dawsholm Park LNR - 17 May 2013

 

Hopefully, this will change over the next few weeks - 8 out of 11 were used last year - I'll keep you informed.

 

Finally, some interesting reports from the Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine, include:

 

17 May 2013

7 Swifts over Hyndland; a pair of Blackcap still coming to feeders for their 28th consecutive day in a garden in Mount Vernon; and a Stock Dove in a garden in Gartloch Village, Glasgow.

 

16 May 2013

A Redstart singing on the west side of Gartloch Woodlands, Glasgow at NS681668.