On Monday (26th), I spent around 3 hours at Hogganfield Park LNR and was rewarded with sightings of 42 species.
As ever the wildfowl proved to be photogenic with Whooper Swans, Goldeneye and Goosanders joining the more common species close to the feeding/viewing platform, which is located next to the car park.
Further out on the loch there were excellent numbers of Gadwall, augmented by Wigeon, feeding with a large flock of Coot. This Gadwall, however, ventured a lot closer - click here for a short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RGhLScf3Ts
The highlight, however, was 2 female Scaup located with the Tufted Duck and Pochard.
Overhead there was a single Buzzard and Kestrel whilst in the hedgerows and bushes I counted a flock of 7 Bullfinches, whilst 90 Fieldfare and a few Redwing put in a short appearance, followed by 14 Greenfinches, on the tops of nearby trees.
Despite some heavy showers, it was another excellent day's birding at this superb LNR.
The weather managed to curtail any other birding this week other than the obligatory filling of the feeders at Bingham's Pond. One sad event, however, was the discovery of a dead Greenfinch in our garden. It was ringed so I have filled in the necessary form and hopefully I shall receive details of where and when it was ringed.
Finally, other recent sightings in Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:
Wednesday
28 January 2015
Two female Scaup, 34 Gadwall and 27 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch, also
eight Stock Doves.
Three Blackcaps (two males) continue at the feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart
garden; nearby, over 100 Goldfinches going to roost at Burton Street.
Two Stock Doves still feeding in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Monday
26 January 2015
Three Pintail (two drakes) and four Shoveler (three drakes) on Bridgend Farm
Pool, Near KIrkintilloch, also a Raven on the ground.
A Raven at Robroyston Park LNR, Glasgow
Two Stock Doves coming to the feeders in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Sunday
25 January 2015
A Nuthatch in Linn Park, Glasgow.
Friday, 30 January 2015
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Some N(ice) Birding
Last Monday (19th) I filled the feeders and undertook the Wetland Birds (WEBs) Count at Bingham's Pond . The pond was frozen making the count a lot easier than normal
Thursday 22 January 2015
Two female Scaup, an excellent 37 Gadwall and 23 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
110 Canada Geese at Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.
Now two Stock Doves coming to the feeders in a HIllfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Wednesday 21 January 2015
A female Mandarin Duck still coming to bread on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
Three Blackcaps (one male) at feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, but only one House Sparrow.
Two Ravens over Hollows Avenue, Foxbar in the direction of Paisley.
Tuesday 20 January 2015
Two female Scaup on Hogganfield Loch, also 32 Whooper Swans and 21 Gadwall.
Unusually a Stock Dove in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
A male Blackcap at feeders in a Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow garden.
Saturday 17 January 2015
A pair of Pintail (present yesterday with eight Shoveler) on Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
17 Great Crested Grebes on Balgray Reservoir, but no sign of the Yellow-legged Gull.
A Tree Sparrow coming to a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Two female Blackcaps still coming to feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, but male has not been seen since Thursday.
35 Lesser Redpolls and 50 Goldfinches coming to a Hollows Avenue, Paisley garden.
Bingham's Pond - 19 January 2015
Despite the frozen conditions there were 6 Mute Swans, 58 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 5 Moorhen, 8 Coot, 193 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Herring Gulls (plus the pinioned domestic duck).
Later in the week we visited a few sites in Ayrshire (thanks to Judith and Mike) and saw 50 species. I managed a few photos at Troon ..
Shag - Troon - 22 January 2015
Redshank - Troon - 22 January 2015
Purple Sandpiper - Troon - 22 January 2015
I also managed some video of the Purple Sandpipers - see this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5qFwSDNzZU When viewing please click on the small wheel icon and adjust setting to 1080pHD.
Finally, an update of latest sightings in the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:
Friday
23 January 2015
Still two Stock Doves coming to the feeders in a HIllfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Still two Stock Doves coming to the feeders in a HIllfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Thursday 22 January 2015
Two female Scaup, an excellent 37 Gadwall and 23 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
110 Canada Geese at Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.
Now two Stock Doves coming to the feeders in a HIllfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Wednesday 21 January 2015
A female Mandarin Duck still coming to bread on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
Three Blackcaps (one male) at feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, but only one House Sparrow.
Two Ravens over Hollows Avenue, Foxbar in the direction of Paisley.
Tuesday 20 January 2015
Two female Scaup on Hogganfield Loch, also 32 Whooper Swans and 21 Gadwall.
Unusually a Stock Dove in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
A male Blackcap at feeders in a Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow garden.
Saturday 17 January 2015
A pair of Pintail (present yesterday with eight Shoveler) on Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
17 Great Crested Grebes on Balgray Reservoir, but no sign of the Yellow-legged Gull.
A Tree Sparrow coming to a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Two female Blackcaps still coming to feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, but male has not been seen since Thursday.
35 Lesser Redpolls and 50 Goldfinches coming to a Hollows Avenue, Paisley garden.
Friday, 16 January 2015
A Busy Week, despite the weather!
I attended a Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves Committee meeting on Monday evening and I can advise that their AGM will be held on Monday 27 April 2015 - check out their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves
On Wednesday it was the RSPB Glasgow Group's mid week outing to Castle Semple Loch and Parkhill Woods. Despite the general weather forecast being 'iffy' we trusted the site specific forecast and it was spot on with the wintry showers not arriving until 3pm. We had a really pleasant walk and the staff at the visitor centre at Castle Semple were very welcoming.
We also had time to pop in to the RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve and by the end of the day we had seen at least 41 species.
On Thursday it was up 'early' and off to a meeting at Hogganfield Park LNR. When I arrived it was still dry and I managed a photo of a few Whooper and Mute Swans with my phone...
13 January 2015
Two Barnacle Geese with 910 Pink-footed Geese at Millichen Flood, Glasgow.
12 January 2015
Three Blackcaps (one male) coming to feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden.
On Wednesday it was the RSPB Glasgow Group's mid week outing to Castle Semple Loch and Parkhill Woods. Despite the general weather forecast being 'iffy' we trusted the site specific forecast and it was spot on with the wintry showers not arriving until 3pm. We had a really pleasant walk and the staff at the visitor centre at Castle Semple were very welcoming.
Castle Semple Visitor Centre - April 2014
Parkhill Woods - 14 January 2015
On Thursday it was up 'early' and off to a meeting at Hogganfield Park LNR. When I arrived it was still dry and I managed a photo of a few Whooper and Mute Swans with my phone...
Three hours later, at the end of the meeting, I encountered driving sleet and the planned walk around the loch was abandoned!
I should have been talking at the Forth Valley RSPB Group last night but thankfully it was postponed, although the talk will go ahead, weather permitting, in 2015-16.
However, despite the weather other brave souls have been out and about and recent sightings, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine, include:
15 January 2015
A female Scaup and 14
Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch.
14 January 2015
A Yellow-legged Gull,
now positively identified as a 4th-winter, coming to the Balgray Reservoir gull
roost at 1600 hrs,
also 370 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 112 Canada Geese.
A drake Pintail on Bridgend Farm Pool, near KIrkintilloch.
Two female Scaup, 20 Gadwall and 15 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
A Woodcock flushed on Fereneze Hills, Barrhead.
A drake Pintail on Bridgend Farm Pool, near KIrkintilloch.
Two female Scaup, 20 Gadwall and 15 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
A Woodcock flushed on Fereneze Hills, Barrhead.
13 January 2015
Two Barnacle Geese with 910 Pink-footed Geese at Millichen Flood, Glasgow.
12 January 2015
Three Blackcaps (one male) coming to feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden.
Sunday, 11 January 2015
Rain Stops Play (and Birding)
Well it has been a dreich few days here in Glasgow; even today's Friends event at Hogganfield Park LNR has been cancelled due to the weather.
I did manage a quick visit to Bingham's Pond on Thursday (8th), filled the feeders and spotted 18 bird species, adding to my 'Pond year list' which now stands at 26!
Thursday 8 January
A Jack Snipe with 60 Snipe in the marsh at Littleton Reservoir.
A female Mandarin coming to bread on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
Six Crossbills at Mugdock Loch.
I did manage a quick visit to Bingham's Pond on Thursday (8th), filled the feeders and spotted 18 bird species, adding to my 'Pond year list' which now stands at 26!
Six of the 18 species - Bingham's Pond - 8 January 2015
Elsewhere in Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:
Saturday
10 January
An adult/near adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost.
A male Blackcap coming to a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
An adult/near adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost.
A male Blackcap coming to a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Thursday 8 January
A Jack Snipe with 60 Snipe in the marsh at Littleton Reservoir.
A female Mandarin coming to bread on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
Six Crossbills at Mugdock Loch.
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Ring-billed Gull
Today we visited Strathclyde Loch with Judith & Mike. It was a mixed day weather wise, however, we saw at least 33 species with Peregrine being one of the highlights. The best bird was of course the Ring-billed Gull that has been present for a wee while now. Despite the ever changing light I managed a few photos with my Canon Powershot, notice the pale eye ...
Other recent sightings of interest in Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:
4 January 2015
Five Jack Snipe and three Water Rails at Windlaw Marsh, near Carmunnock.
A Stonechat at Cathkin Marsh, near East Kilbride.
3 January 2015
Two female Scaup and 14 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow.
1 January 2015
15 Gadwall and 21 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow.
Seven Gadwall and seven Whooper Swans on Gartloch Pool, Glasgow.
Other recent sightings of interest in Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:
4 January 2015
Five Jack Snipe and three Water Rails at Windlaw Marsh, near Carmunnock.
A Stonechat at Cathkin Marsh, near East Kilbride.
3 January 2015
Two female Scaup and 14 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow.
1 January 2015
15 Gadwall and 21 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow.
Seven Gadwall and seven Whooper Swans on Gartloch Pool, Glasgow.
Saturday, 3 January 2015
Happy New Year
Yesterday (2nd) I popped into Bingham's Pond in the morning, managed to refill the feeders, see 25 bird species and avoid the worse of the hail stones!
In the afternoon I walked to Cairnhill Woods in Westerton. I bumped into loads of people including Emma who is chair of the Cairnhill Woods Group and had a pleasant afternoon birding in the sunshine. A few photos follow:
In the afternoon I walked to Cairnhill Woods in Westerton. I bumped into loads of people including Emma who is chair of the Cairnhill Woods Group and had a pleasant afternoon birding in the sunshine. A few photos follow:
Entrance Sign
One of the paths
Mistle Thrush
If you go down to the woods today
Owl be your baby tonight
Other bird species of note were c20 Redwing and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
The woods were clearly well used and the local group had undertaken and/or commissioned a number of improvements just showing what a local community can do. I'll certainly be visiting again!
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