Seven Lochs Safari

Another visit yesterday (20 June 2014) to part of the Seven Lochs Project area in north east Glasgow ................

I started at Frankfield Loch ...

... which is a proposed Local Nature Reserve, and noticed that the housebuilders have created a new path and a small 'viewing area' ..............

 

There were numerous pairs of Great Crested Grebe some still on nests and at least one pair with 2 young. One bird came quite close to the loch edge allowing this shot  ...............

 

 

There were also numerous pairs of Coot with young and a nice family of Mute Swans .....

 

 

There was some mud exposed and initially at least 40 Lapwing and an Oystercatcher so hopefully there will be a good wader passage later this year.

 

Leaving the lochside I walked along the path that runs west along the southern side of the loch and here .......

 

 

within a few feet of each other I managed to photograph: Six-spot Burnet moth ..

 

 

... Common Blue butterfly ..

 

 

... Meadow Brown butterfly ..

 

 

... Ringlet butterfly ......

 

 

..... Blue-tailed damselflies ...

 

Male

Female

 

.. and Emerald damselfly ..

 

 

So, having seen 28 bird species and numerous insects I left Frankfield and headed for Cardowan Moss LNR and I'm pleased to say that the Forestry Commission has created a new surfaced footpath link between both sites ...

 

 

Heading towards Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve I was pleased to see plenty of Ringlet and Meadow Brown plus Small Heath butterflies. Reaching Hogganfield Park I was pleasantly surprised to see a new entrance feature that had just been recently completed ...

 

 

At Hogganfield Loch there was evidence of successful breeding with a brood of 6 Mute Swans, a brood of 7 Tufted duckling, a brood of 2 Great Crested Grebe, at least 3 broods of Mallard, one brood of Moorhen and 3 broods of Coot with some birds still on nests, like this Coot ...

 

 

There was also good numbers of insects including this day flying moth .... a Silver-ground Carpet?

 

 

... all attracted by a magnificent array of wild flowers including these orchids .......

 

 

So yet again Hogganfield does the business with 33 bird species and a host of other interesting wildlife sightings ...

 

All in all, another great day wildlife watching on my doorstep, 43 bird species without trying and great views of a host of insects and wildflowers...... OK I'll repeat myself .....

 

Glasgow's Wilds Better!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Un-Bridled Joy!

On Saturday (21 June 2014) I joined the RSPB Local Group on a trip to the Farnes. We sailed from Seahouses and soon were amazed at the number of sea birds to be seen. The numbers increased even more as we reached the islands ................

We were overwhelmed by the sight and smell of so many birds .....

and also had close-up views of seals ..

After c2 hours we landed on Inner Farne where we spent 1 hour and enjoyed an amazing wildlife spectacle.

We had stunning close-up views of Shags and their young ...............

 

.... as well as Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins plus the ever present Black-headed Gulls waiting to try and steal a Puffin's meal .....

 

 

The stars, however, were the terns. The Arctic Terns nested close to the footpaths .....

 

... and defended their territory against all comers (take a hat if you visit!)

 

 

We also saw Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and one Roseate Tern. However, the real bonus was a BRIDLED TERN which I managed to pick up just as we were about to leave. I was too busy, shouting directions to fellow birders, to get a photograph. So here is one I took earlier, in the Seychelles (a scanned copy of a slide, those were the days! )

 

 

We returned back to Seahouses and celebrated with an ice cream! But our day had not finished. Some of us headed off to Tyninghame in Lothian and thanks to Fiona, who had some insider information, we were standing in a small clearing observing Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatches and eventually a GREENISH WARBLER!

 

What an end to a superb day's birding.

 

 

Sunny Glasgow and Illustrated Talk

Following on from the report of a Hobby in Glasgow, we were lucky enough to see one a few days later; albeit in Dorset!

A poor distant record shot follows!

Hobby - Brownsea Island, Dorset - 9 June 2014

 

Back in Glasgow and a quick visit to Bingham's Pond this morning (16 June 2014) and a surprising record of a drake Shoveler, starting to moult. Another record shot follows:

 

Shoveler - Bingham's Pond - 16 June 2014

 

A more conventional photo of a drake Shoveler (ironically taken in Dorset) follows:

 

 

 

It was good to see a brood of Tufted Duck (c10) - the first for the year at Bingham's; 2 young Moorhen and a new brood of 3 Coot. The first young Coot of the year is also doing well  .....

 

Coot - Bingham's Pond - 16 June 2014

 

It was  also really nice to see a family of Long-tailed Tits, with at least 7 youngsters ......

 

Long-tailed Tits - Bingham's Pond - 16 June 2014

 

Bingham's Pond really is a small oasis in the West End of Glasgow; AND it will feature in my West End Festival illustrated talk - West End Wildlife. The FREE talk is being held in Hillhead Library from 6.30pm on Thursday 19 June 2014 and will cover the birds and other wildlife to be found in Glasgow's west end.

 

Finally a round-up of recent bird sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

15 June 2014

A juvenile Stonechat at Millichen Flood.

 

13 June 2014

A fledged family of Nuthatches in the Top Wood, Linn Park.

 

11 June 2014

An exceptional nine Great Crested Grebe nests at Frankfield Loch, not only a site record, but a record for any individual site in the Clyde Recording area.
 

7 June 2014

A Woodcock roding over a Mugdock village garden at 2230 hrs.

 

 

Rarity Reported in Glasgow!

Courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

7 June 2014
A Hobby flying NE over Celtic Street, Maryhill, Glasgow at 0930 hrs, later seen over Dawsholm Park.


Sadly, not seen by myself; but for those not familiar with the species I'll post a photo I took in the New Forest a few years ago!

Hoggy Highlights

I have been away for a few days hence the lack of updates. However, on Friday (6 June 2014) I managed a visit to Hogganfield Park LNR.

It was good to see that one pair of Mute Swans had been successful ...............

 

The wildflowers were starting to flourish .............................

 

 

  .... and there were lots of 'white' butterflies, some 'blue' damselflies, two Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies and a few Large Red Damselflies (pictured) ....

 

 

In and around the marsh and scrub woodland ................

 

 

... I saw Treecreeper, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Sedge Warbler (species number 58 for the year at Hogganfield - not bad considering there are no waders on the list).

 

In total, in just over 3 hours I recorded 37 different bird species - oh yes and it was SUNNY!