Local and Lothian Birding

Despite the weather, another busy week.

On Saturday (23rd) we travelled through to Musselburgh and the RSPB Nature Fair. There were lots of stalls and some good illustrated talks ..

 

The bird ringing sessions proved to be really popular ...

 

 

and its fair to say this proved to be the only warm, sunny day of the week!

 

On Tuesday, I tried the Millichen area of Glasgow .....

 

 

Here I managed to see 28 bird species plus a number of Roe Deer, the highlight being this Grasshopper Warbler .....

 

 

Two days later I travelled back to Musselburgh and the wader scrapes proved to be productive ..

 

 

.... as in among the Oystercatchers, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwits were a single Knot, a Wood Sandpiper and a pair of Grey Partridge. A walk along the sea wall wasn't so productive although I did manage a photo of an Eider crèche seconds before a seriously heavy hailstorm ..

 

 

38 species and soaked to the skin!

 

And then, today I popped down to Bingham's Pond where I recorded House Sparrow for the first time since March 2001! I am also pleased to say that a female Mallard had a brood of 6 young; a pair of Coot were still looking after a growing youngster ..

 

 

..... and the new pair of Mute Swans have six cygnets - the first time since 2007 that a pair of swans have bred successfully at the Pond ....

 

 

Having added a few year ticks during the week, my year Scottish list now stands at 142.

 

Finally, other bird sightings from around the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 28 May 2015
A Woodcock roding over a Mugdock village garden at 2200 hrs.

Monday 25 May 2015
A Ring-necked Parakeet in the arboretum of Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

 

Nest Box Monitoring and Weekly Update

This week was a mixture of monitoring nest boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs and travelling further afield!

It started with nest box monitoring on Tuesday at Hogganfield Park LNR - none of the boxes appeared to be being used although one did attract interest from a pair of Blue Tits. Sadly one of the boxes has been destroyed, no easy feat! 

 

Other birds were clearly paired up ...

 

Woodpigeon

 

and/or on nests ..

 

Mute Swan (plus Coot)

 

It was good to see and hear a variety of summer migrants such as Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler but the highlight had to be Garden Warbler.

 

In total, I managed 43 different bird species within the LNR.

 

On Wednesday we travelled to Islay!!!! On the crossing from Kennacraig to Port Askaig, I added to my year list with excellent views of summer plumaged Great Northern Diver, Guillemot and Gannet ...

 

Port Askaig

 

Thursday was back to my local patch and an impromptu litter pick at Bingham's Pond (one bag easily filled) and checking the nest boxes - nothing to report. However, two pairs of Coot were actively feeding their one youngster and the pair of Mute Swans are still sitting....

 

 

Finally, today and checking the boxes at Dawsholm Park LNR - 11 'tit' boxes, 5 'starling' boxes and 2 'bat' boxes. 4 pairs of Blue Tits and 4 pairs of Great Tits were using the 'tit' boxes whilst another one had fallen to the ground - so will need to be re-erected. No birds were using the 'starling' boxes' and a pair of Blue Tits were using a 'bat' box!

 

Other species clearly breeding included Stock Dove ..............

 

Stock Dove

 

And on my way home, proof that the local Ravens had bred again - photo of juvenile ..

 

 

As ever, a look at recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Tuesday 19 May 2015
Five Shovelers (four drakes) at Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch.

 

Reserve Birding

On Wednesday I led an outing for the RSPB Glasgow Group to Dams to Darnley Local Nature Reserve in Glasgow. I was joined by 18 birders and am pleased to say we saw a good range of summer migrants: Swift, Swallow, Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. In total we saw (or heard) c45 bird species as well as spotting a few mammals and butterflies .................

Dams to Darnley LNR - 13 May 2015

 

I travelled down to Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve on Friday and managed to get everyone in the Centre onto 4 Whimbrel that were flying over the Aird Meadow. Other species included Black-tailed Godwit, 2 drake Garganey and, once again, Spotted Flycatcher - in total, I saw 43 species. A few shots of the Garganey, taken in poor light, follow ..

 

 

.. and also the Spotted Flycatcher ..

 

 

Thanks to both these trips, my year list in Scotland now stands at 131.

 

As ever, I finish with some interesting sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Friday 15 May 2015
A Osprey low over a Mugdock village garden, flying in the direction of Mugdock Reservoir at 1440 hrs.
An extremely mobile Nuthatch in song near the Burrell, Pollok Country Park NS553623.

Thursday 14 May 2015
A Spotted Flycatcher briefly in a Glasgow Road, Milngavie garden.

Eight Shoveler (six males) at Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch, also still five Pink-footed Geese.

Wednesday 13 May 2015
A Spotted Flycatcher at Linn Park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Loch Lomond Visit and Forthcoming Guided Walk

A relatively quiet week with a nice trip to Inchcailloch on Friday (8th) - thanks to Mike and Judith.

 

The views were stunning and we saw a nice range of summer migrants, with Redstart being new for the year. I managed this photo of a Pied Flycatcher .....

 

 

... and a record shot of an Osprey ...

 

This week I am looking forward to leading a guided walk on Wednesday 13 May 2015 for the RSPB Glasgow Group around Dams to Darnley LNR in Glasgow - more details can be found at http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow/events/

 

Finally more recent sightings from around Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 9  May 2015
Eight Swifts flying over the courtyard at Pollok Country Park.

Thursday 7 May 2015
A male Yellow Wagtail at Gartloch Pool before flying off in the direction of Craigend at 0930 hrs.
A Nuthatch plastering a hole in a tree in Linn Park, also still a pair at last year's nest site.
A Tawny Owl chick in a Mugdock village garden.

Tuesday 5  May 2015
A Swift back in Battlefield, Glasgow.

Monday 4 May 2015
A ringed Osprey at Craigallian Loch.
A Spotted Flycatcher at Mugdock Wood.

From Glasgow via 'Glasgow's Lake District' to Glen Clova!

I had a fantastic week's birding last week with over 70 species seen! I started locally in Dawsholm Park LNR in Glasgow on the Wednesday; walked the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Carbeth Huts and back on the Thursday; explored Glasgow's Lake District - Loch Lomond National Park - on the Friday (thanks to Mike and Judith); and finally headed up north to the Loch of Kinnordy RSPB Reserve and then Glen Clova on Saturday (thanks Peter).

There were loads of highlights! Raptors including Golden Eagle, Marsh Harrier and Osprey! Summer migrants including Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Pied Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Wheatear and House Martin. Resident species such as Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting and Siskin. 'Game' birds such as Black Grouse, Red-legged Partridge and Pheasant. And 'wetland' birds such as Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwing. Finally mammals included Roe Deer, Otter and Weasel!

A few images follow:

 

View from West Highland Way

 

Loch Arklet

 

Loch Katrine

 

 RSPB Inversnaid Reserve (formerly known as Garrison Farm)

 

Loch Lomond (from RSPB Inversnaid Reserve)

 

RSPB Loch of Kinnordy Reserve

 

Roe Deer

 

Wood Warbler

 

Pied Flycatcher

 

Weasel (video grab)

 

Wigeon

 

Osprey (video grab)

 

So despite the cold weather, a wonderful range of species seen and landscapes enjoyed, with a special mention to the excellent tea room at Stronachlachar!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Sightings Update

It has been a busy week - more details will follow in another post. In the meantime an update of recent sightings in the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 3 May 2015
As a result of the unseasonable weather, 10 Swifts, 400 Swallows, 100 House Martins and  50 Sand Martins feeding over Balgray Reservoir.

Saturday 2 May 2015
A Wood Sandpiper at Gartloch Pool on muddy edge adjacent to layby at 0715 hrs, but not found early afternoon, probably due to the presence of fishermen, also in the area two White Wagtails and a Whinchat.

Thursday 30 April 2015
Five White Wagtails at Balgray Reservoir, also three singing Sedge Warblers and a singing Whitethroat.
A White Wagtail at BAE Systems, Bishopton.
A pair of Pintail, a drake Gadwall and nine (eight drakes) Shovelers at Bridgend Farm Pool. near Kirkintilloch, also 16 Pink-footed Geese.
A Wood Warbler at Mugdock Country Park.

Wood Warbler - Mugdock CP - 30 April 2015

Tuesday 28 April 2015
A White Wagtail at Linn Park Golf Course.
A Short-eared Owl at Gartloch Pool.
A Stock Dove back in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

Monday 27 April 2015
Two Jays and four Stock Doves in a Mugdock village garden.
A Whinchat and three reeling Grasshopper Warblers at Cathkin Marsh, near East Kilbride.

Sunday 26 April 2015
A single White Wagtail at Cathkin Marsh, near East Kilbride, also two singing Grasshopper Warblers.
Three singing Sedge Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler at Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.

Saturday 25 April 2015
A Wood Warbler in song in Linn Park.

Thursday 23 April 2015
Unusually a drake Eider on Forth and Clyde Canal at Cadder, also two reeling Grasshopper Warblers near Possil Loch.
An Osprey successfully fishing at Craigallian Loch; also three Jays nearby.
Two Whitethroats at Dams to Darnley LNR, Glasgow.

Wednesday 22 April 2015
A Nuthatch singing in Garscube Esate, before flying off in the direction of Dawsholm Park.