Bingham's Pond - The Soap!

I visited Bingham's Pond again yesterday (15 February 2014) for the WeBS count and managed 2 Mute Swan, 34 Mallard, 15 Tufted Duck, 18 Moorhen, 6 Coot and 92 Black-headed Gull. However, more surprisingly was the count for Goosander - 16 - a probable record for the site. I also saw 2 Grey Heron, a photo of one follows...

 

This proved to be a popular corner with Goosanders, Mallard, Moorhen and Coot also actively feeding. The following video - the latest edition of 'Bingham's Pond The Soap' - might explain why!

 

Click http://youtu.be/E-FEmeqpnDg  Please view at highest resolution possible by clicking on 'small wheel icon' on bottom right of YouTube screen.

 

Can anyone identify the amphibian?

 

Finally, the 'local' Ring-necked Parakeet put in another appearance, albeit briefly.

Other recent records, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

15 February 2014
A Jay over the entrance to Woodhead Farm, just north of the M74 Maryville Junction at 1400 hrs.
A male Stonechat at the Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.
Two Bramblings in a Muirlees Crescent, Milngavie garden.

14 February 2014
A male Blackcap in a Lusset Road, Old Kilpatrick garden yesterday and today.
20 Lesser Redpolls and 20 Goldfinches at feeders in a Hollows Avenue, Paisley garden.
Now at least four Bramblings (two males, two females) in a Muirlees Crescent, Milngavie garden.
40 Reed Buntings at Gartcosh Nature Reserve.

  

Latest Video - Copulating Goosanders!

As mentioned in a previous post, I witnessed a pair of Goosander copulating at Bingham's Pond; here is the proof!

Click here http://youtu.be/FUdyDmVyDIk

As ever with all my videos on YouTube, please set the 'setting' (small wheel icon on bottom right of youtube screen) to the maximum (in this case 1080pHD) for playback.

Over the next few days I hope to upload footage of a male Sparrowhawk.

Latest Update

With the weather being so poor, I haven't managed out birding for a good few days. However, yesterday I joined the RSPB Glasgow Group's latest mid-week outing, this time to RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve and Castle Semple Loch. It was cold but thankfully, the rain stayed off until around lunchtime. We saw c40 species and I added a few 'year' ticks such as Great Crested Grebe and Dipper. The staff and volunteers at the visitor centre were very helpful and, as I've said before, the improvements to the centre and the better views over the Aird Meadow makes it well worth a visit.

Closer to home and courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

13 February 2014

Two Common Cranes in a field next to the farmhouse at Newlands Farm, Uddingston in the morning. No sign later.

Two Jack Snipe and a Woodcock at Harelaw Reservoir, Barrhead.
Three Brambling (two males, one female) at feeders in a Mugdock garden.
Two Brambling (male and female) in a Muirlees Crescent, Milngavie garden.
An Otter watched this morning on the White Cart Water at Pollok House between 0730-0800 hrs.

12 February 2014

A male Blackcap in Shakespeare Avenue, Clydebank.

11 February 2014

Three Jack Snipe and a female Stonechat at Harelaw Reservoir, Barrhead.

Good News from Hogganfield!

A few weeks back I spotted a 'sickly' looking Whooper Swan near the swan gates at Hogganfield Loch. I reported this to the Council and am pleased to say that the swan was eventually 'captured' and taken to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre to be assessed and to recuperate.

John Parker, a Council Countryside Ranger, reports "I collected the Whooper swan this morning (5 Feb) with fellow Ranger Jackie Clark and released it back into Hogganfield where it instantly rejoined her family and sped off toward the Loch looking as right as rain.  Very feisty and fighting fit, a far cry from the swan I took down there less than a fortnight ago!"

The following photo, kindly supplied by Jackie, shows John and the Whooper .......

An excellent good news story and well done to the Council officers and Bernie Zonfrillo, who helped 'capture' the swan, and the staff at the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre for all their superb work.
  

More Recent Sightings

I'll start with some interesting records from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Wednesday 5 February 2014
Most unusually a Water Rail in the spillway beside Ryat Linn Reservoir just before the arches, also two Kingfishers between the waterfall and Littleton Reservoir.

 

Now three Bramblings in a Muirlees Crescent, Milngavie garden.

Tuesday 4 February 2014
A female/immature Long-tailed Duck on Ryat Linn Reservoir; nearby, on Balgray Reservoir, a female Red-breasted Merganser.

A pair of Pintail and a pair of Shoveler on Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.

I can also report that Cath Scott's illustrated talk last night on the 10 Local Nature Reserves in Glasgow was well received by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs. It proved to be an informative evening, illustrated with lots of Cath's excellent photographs - the pint in the pub afterwards also went down well!

 

Clean-up Success and Recent Sightings

I joined 16 other volunteers on Sunday (2 February 2014) at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs event in the woods at Hogganfield Park.

Despite some early morning rain we managed to erect a variety of nest boxes, courtesy of a CSV Action Earth grant .......

.......... and fill 25+ bags with rubbish as well as finding an office chair, carry cot and other 'interesting' items! Thanks to Community Safety Glasgow for supplying all the equipment....

 

We also saw a good variety of birds with a mixed tit flock (at the car park); large flock of winter thrushes (flying towards the golf course); a few Grey Herons, apparently sitting on their nests, and a pair of 'mewing' Buzzards being my highlights.

 

I scanned the gulls in the hope of spotting a 'white-winged' gull but had to settle for a Great Black-backed (a dodgy record shot follows) ..........

 

 

We finished the day back at the car park with, as ever, awesome views of Whooper Swans, Goosanders and Goldeneyes.

 

A few other recent sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

3 February 2014

Two Bramblings in a Muirlees Crescent, Milngavie garden.

2 February 2014

14 Jack Snipe at Cathkin Marsh Reserve.

 

1 February 2014

A Brambling in a Mugdock village garden.

 

Finally, another reminder of the illustrated talk being hosted by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs tomorrow evening in the RSPB offices 10 Park Quadrant Glasgow. It features the Council's Cath Scott speaking about Glasgow's 10 Local Nature Reserves with the doors open at 7pm for a 7.15pm start - more info at http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com