Wild Goose, Wildfowl and Warbler chase!

Well we have had a surprise visitor to our garden over the past week - a Chiffchaff! We first saw it on the 1st and it was back again this morning (5th). There was a suggestion that it might have been a Siberian Chiffchaff but this was soon dashed by 'play back'. This photo was taken on the 2nd .......

Chiffchaff - 2 December 2014

 
Also on the 1st, I went in search of the Green-winged Teal at Banton Loch, Kilsyth. The bus journeys went to plan and I was soon overlooking a new birding site, from my perspective. Almost immediately I spotted  a Wood Duck that had been reported over the past week or so. It is more than likely an 'escaped' bird but it was still mightily impressive. Sadly I only had a small camera with me so these record shots of the loch (and the duck) will have to do.

 

Having watched the Wood Duck I headed along the path on the southern edge of the loch and made my way to the east end, bumped into Tommy Daniels and after a wee while was admiring a drake Green-winged Teal.

 

Tuesday was the best day of the week, weather wise, and typically I had agreed to attend a meeting with the Council and other conservation groups - why do these meetings never take place on rainy days?

 

On Wednesday, courtesy of Judith and Mike, we headed off to Loch Lomond NNR or Drymen-Gartocharn-Ross Priory to be more precise. Just north of Drymen we encountered good numbers of Pink-footed and Greylag Geese as well as 4 Barnacle Geese. The hedgerows and trees were full of Chaffinches and Goldfinches with other notable species including Siskin, Redwing, Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush. The nearby Gallowhill Wood was also impressive and we added Great Spotted Woodpecker there.

 

At Gartocharn we managed to get our fourth goose of the day when we counted 155 Greenland White-fronted Geese. Again, I only had a small camera with me but rest assured the small dots in the middle of the photo are geese!!!!!

 

 

A more acceptable shot of a Greenland White-fronted Goose (taken on Islay) follows ........

Greenland White-fronted Goose

 

We finished our birding in the grounds of Ross Priory with the highlight being a Peregrine perched on the top of a conifer!

 

Last night I attended an enjoyable talk from Gordon Jamieson at the RSPB Glasgow Group whilst today I popped down to Bingham's Pond to refill the 'Friends' bird feeder. I also noted that the numbers of Mute Swan have risen to 7 and added to my 'sunsets of the world' folder ............

 

Mute Swan - Bingham's Pond - 5 December 2014

 

Bingham's Pond - 5 December 2014

 

Finally, a few records from Greater Glasgow courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

4 December 2014

A Stock Dove in a Blacader Drive, Gartloch Village, Glasgow garden.

1 December 2014

A male Blackcap in a Blacader Drive, Gartloch Village, Glasgow garden.
A Woodcock sadly flying into glass doors at SECC, Glasgow in the morning.

30 November 2014
14 Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, near Carmunnock.