Weekly Update

Over the past week I have paid a number of short visits to Bingham's Pond and can report:

• there are now 3 pairs of Coot on nests;
• other wildfowl (Moorhen, Mallard and Tufted Duck) appear to be pairing up; and
• I have added Goldfinch and Sparrowhawk to my 'Year Bingham's Pond list' which now stands at 32 species!

On Saturday (30 March 2014) we travelled through to the east coast calling in at Fisherrow, Ferny Ness/Gosford Bay and Aberlady Bay. It was an extremely 'grey day' as the following photo shows ...

Aberlady Bay LNR - 29 March 2014

 

However, we did see 54 species with some of the highlights being Red-throated Divers, summer plumaged Slavonian Grebes, Long-tailed Ducks, Common & Velvet Scoter, Stonechat and a solitary Snow Bunting. Can you spot it in this photo?

 

 

You can 'clearly' see it to the right of the picture near the middle! Remember you can click on the photo to enlarge it - it becomes a lot clearer then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It also made a change to visit Aberlady at high tide as the next two photos illustrate ....

 

 

After our east coast adventure I spent much of yesterday afternoon (31 March 2014) at Hogganfield Park LNR and saw 37 different species including my first Sand Martins of the year (7), a pair of Gadwall and a flock of 8 Bullfinches. Grey Herons were still on their nests and a pair of Mute Swans were building their nest.

 

I also noted that the 'Commonwealth Games Orchard' had been planted ....

 

 

This, subject to all going well, will be maintained by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs - see http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com for more information about this Group.

 

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

 

31 March 2014

Four Bramblings in a Mugdock garden.

 

30 March 2014

At least 8 Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock.

A probable Osprey flying northeast over Mearns Cross at 0900 hrs.

 

29 March 2014

An Osprey flying high northeast over Barrhead at 0840 hrs.

A Nuthatch coming to peanuts in the walled garden in Pollok Country Park, also the park's first singing Chiffchaff of the year in the woodland garden.

 

26 March 2014

A Green Woodpecker heard in a Mugdock village garden, also still two Bramblings visiting the feeders.