RSPB Reserve Birding

On Monday, I travelled down to Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve by train and bumped into a good few birding friends - all looking for the pair of Garganey that had been seen on the Sunday. I also met a couple of ex-work colleagues, Ian and Carol, and had a good catch-up with them.

Sadly there was no sign of the Garganey when I was there, albeit they put in an appearance later in the afternoon!

However, I still saw some good birds, including the first Willow Warblers of the year and typical 'wetland' birds such as ...

Whooper Swan

Reed Bunting (male)

 

.............. and this not so typical wetland bird ....

 

Rook

 

Today we joined up with the RSPB Glasgow Group mid-week outing to Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve, Dalzell Woodlands and Carbarns Pool which proved a great success with over 40 species seen including a good range of summer migrants - Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Sand Martin and Common Sandpiper - as well as birds entering or building nests - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch and Treecreeper ....

 

Nuthatch - Dalzell Woodlands

Treecreeper (collecting nest material) - Baron's Haugh

Treecreeper (entering 'nest')

 

Other birds were singing or enjoying a meal ...

 

Bullfinch (female) - Baron's Haugh

 

...........whilst some were struggling to keep their eyes open ...

 

Tawny Owl - Baron's Haugh

 

Thanks to Judith and Mike for organising and leading an excellent outing.

 

Now an update of latest sightings in the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Tuesday 14 April 2015

A female Scaup and still seven Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
Two House Martins at Newton Mearns Cross.

Monday 13 April 2015
An Osprey north over Peitches Moor, Mugdock Country Park at 1040 hrs.
A House Martin at Garscube Estate.


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