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.

Castle Semple Visitor Centre - April 2014

 

Parkhill Woods - 14 January 2015

 

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...

 

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.

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.