The key species at the Pond is Tufted Duck with there being 43 present. The 3 pairs of Coot are on nests with one pair already with at least one young. The highlight for me, however, was an immature Mute Swan flying in ...................
Mute Swan - Bingham's Pond - 20 April 2014
This is the first swan I have seen at the Pond since mid February when the resident pair disappeared so hopefully it will be joined by another and we get back to a few years ago when cygnets used to be a regular occurrence.
Apart from the wetland birds, I not only heard but saw a Chiffchaff - my attempt at a photograph sadly failed; plus 2 more Swallows appeared.
On Monday (21st), I travelled to Hogganfield Park LNR where I saw 34 species in around 3.5 hours.
There are at least 3 pairs of Mute Swans on nests (plus another 100 or so) whilst a proud Mallard was showing off her young close to the car park; it was a bit choppy!
Some people stick to the path around the loch but if you wander off along one of the other paths ..
Hogganfield Park - 21 April 2014
... you can be rewarded with sightings of butterflies..........
Green-veined White - Hogganfield Park - 21 April 2014
.. and wild flowers ........
Primroses - Hogganfield Park - 21 April 2014
These wooded areas are also good for smaller birds. For example, there were at least 2 Chiffchaff, 2 male Blackcap and 7 Willow Warblers present. This Treecreeper was actively feeding but I managed a record shot ......
Treecreeper - Hogganfield Park - 21 April 2014
I'll finish with an unconventional photo of the LNR just to show there is a lot more to Hogganfield Park LNR than just the loch ......
Hogganfield Park - 21 April 2014
Finally, some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:
19 April 2014
A singing Redstart and
three singing Tree Pipits in Mugdock Country Park.
A Jay at Boylestone Quarry,
Barrhead.
Hi Jim, super blog - Had a walk along the fields south of West Millichen around 4pm - plenty to see and hear with x2 Yellowhammers - x1 male carrying a cranefly to probable nest amongst thistles - Tree Sparrow also carrying food - X2 reeling Grasshopper Warblers - At least 6 singing Sedge Warblers - Pair Common Redpolls and a Whitethroat. Cheers Alan [Dimmick]
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments about the Blog and your excellent sightings from Millichen. It is one of the few places left in Glasgow where you can see Tree Sparrows.
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