Wet, Wet, Wet (part 2) and Updates

Despite the unsettled weather I managed a bit of birding over the past week; it is just a pity that I'm still reliant on my waterproof jacket!

On Tuesday (6 May 2014) I made my first visit of the year to Possil Marsh SWT Reserve in north Glasgow.

Possil Marsh - 6 May 2014

 

Possil Marsh - 6 May 2014

 

The birding was a bit disappointing with just 23 species albeit including my first Whitethroat of the year and Sedge Warbler. There were also a few butterflies around and I managed to record this Small Tortoiseshell .....

 

 

Moving on to Friday (9 May 2014) I spent just under 4 hours at Hogganfield Park LNR seeing 42 species of bird. Thanks to deteriorating overhead conditions, all 4 species of UK 'hirundines' moved in hawking for insects over the loch. It was good to see 10 Swifts in amongst the swallows and martins. Other 'summer' migrants included Garden Warbler (a personal Hogganfield first for me), Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and this Chiffchaff ...

 

Record shot of Chiffchaff - 9 May 2014

 

On the loch there were 40 Goosanders (!) and a couple of pairs of Great Crested Grebe ..

 

Record shot of pair of Great Crested Grebe - 9 May 2014

 

... as well as the usual Mute Swans, Tufted Duck, Mallard and Coot.

 

There were also good numbers of Orange Tip butterflies .....

 

Male Orange Tip - 9 May 2014

 

Despite the showery conditions, it was another excellent day at Hogganfield Park LNR.

 

Finally, I popped in on a couple of occasions to Bingham's Pond and managed to add another bird - Mistle Thrush - to my Bingham's year list which now stands at 41.

 And now, some recent sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

11 May 2014

Three Redstart territories at the SW edge of Strathaven.

 

10 May 2014

A Little Ringed Plover briefly at Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch as it flew off from the pool closest to the road, also a drake Shelduck on the main pool.

Two Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch.

 

9 May 2014

A drake Garganey on Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch.

40 Swifts at Balgray Reservoir

 

8 May 2014

A late Goldeneye on River Clyde at Bell's Bridge, Glasgow.

 

7 May 2014

Seven Shoveler (five males) and a male Gadwall on Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch, but no sign of the Garganey.

A Jay at Loch Ardinning.

A Swift at Hyndland, Glasgow.

 

6 May 2014

A pair of Garganey on Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch, also five Shoveler (four males) and three Gadwall (two males).

Five Swifts back at Netherlee.

 

5 May 2014

Two White Wagtails at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve, near East KIlbride, also two Water Rails.

Two Nuthatches again in Mugdock Wood. 

A Swift over Scottish Power, Cathcart at 1930 hrs.