More Summer Migrants

Spent the last 3 days birding! On Wednesday we joined the RSPB Glasgow Local Group on an outing to north Ayrshire with the highlights being Sandwich Tern (at Fairlie) and Manx Shearwater and Fulmar at Portencross. We also got some amazingly close views of Red-breasted Merganser - this was to be predicted as I had left my camera at home!

On Thursday, I paid a quick visit to Bingham's Pond and added yet another 'pond year tick' with 2 Swallows hawking for insects and swooping down to drink on the wing.

Finally, we headed off to Balloch Castle Country Park yesterday. We were really pleased to hear so many birds in the park with Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff all being in fine voice.

The bird of the day though was a White Wagtail on the shore of Loch Lomond.

It was a glorious day and Loch Lomond was looking superb ..................

 

We did struggle, however, with the ID of this beast, it was basically yellow with a loud call; any ideas?...

 

 

Finally, some more recent sightings courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

18 April 2014

A Stock Dove in a Blacader Drive, Gartloch Village garden, also a Comma sunning itself.

 

17 April 2014

A Common Sandpiper at Hogganfield Loch.

A Nuthatch at Dougalston Estate, Milngavie.
 

16 April 2014

A Common Sandpiper at Rouken Glen Pond.

Single Blackcaps still visiting garden feeders in Baillieston and Newton Mearns.