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.