West End Walkabout

Today (23 March 2014) we went for a pleasant walk around our local greenspaces. Just as we were leaving the small wood on the edge of our estate we heard a Chiffchaff - a good start. A few minutes later and we were on the Forth & Clyde Canal towpath listening to and watching one of the local Ravens. This was quickly followed by great views of displaying (and copulating) Buzzards! Who would have thought 15 years ago that Ravens and Buzzards would be breeding almost side by side in Glasgow?

From the Forth & Clyde Canal we walked down to the River Kelvin walkway and continued on towards Dawsholm Park LNR ................................

River Kelvin Walkway - 23 March 2014

 

Shortly after taking this photo we saw a Sparrowhawk flying away and watched a pair of Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits mob a Magpie. A few yards further along we encountered 3 Goosander on the river and a pair of Grey Wagtail, the male resplendent with its black bib.

 

Just as we approached the bridge at Dawsholm Park we heard then saw a pair of Dipper - it is good to know that the river isn't just a magnet for plastic bags!

 

View from bridge at entry to Dawsholm Park - 23 March 2014

 

Heading into the Park/LNR we soon saw another Chiffchaff and added Mistle Thrush to our day list. We also encountered a 'new art form'?

 

 

Not so much 'tie a yellow ribbon to the old oak tree' but 'tie lots of shirts and other assorted clothes to a harmless tree'.

 

We scanned the river hoping for Kingfisher but sadly were unsuccessful. However, the rhododendron clearance from a few years ago has certainly had a beneficial impact allowing great views of the river, albeit some seem to be growing back ..............

 

 

 

We left the river and headed towards the 'Highland Cattle' fields noting that the paths are still incredibly muddy and that even more trees have blown down since our last visit.  

 

As we reached the 'fields' we soon became aware of large numbers of Carrion Crows, Magpies and Jackdaws many of which were calling even more loudly than normal. We soon found out why .....

 

Red Fox - 23 March 2014

 

Sadly at this point my batteries ran out so I only managed one record shot before the fox decided to head back into the bushes.

 

As we walked home our day was made complete by a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the small wood on the edge of our estate.

 

Glasgow really is wilds better!

 

Its just such a shame that some people seem to think that tying bags of dog dirt to railings and trees is the 'done thing'.