East Coast Magic

I've spent my spare time preparing a talk which I'll be giving to the RSPB Glasgow Group in October, the theme of which is visit the east coast in autumn!

So I took my own advice and went through to Musselburgh twice last week!

I was rewarded with some superb views of waders, many still in their breeding plumage, seabirds and wildfowl. A few photos follow ..........................

Wood Sandpiper

 

Poor distant record shot of Little Stint

 

Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank

 

Ruff, Snipe and Redshank

 

Closer to home there have been some good sightings in the Greater Glasgow area, all courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 22 August 2015
An Osprey catching a fish at Frankfield Loch, Glasgow, then flying off north with it at 1245 hrs.

Two juvenile Ruff at Bridgend Farm Pool, KIrkintilloch at 1400 hrs.
Still five Swifts at Battlefield, Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You and Recent Sightings

Firstly, thanks to everyone that has read my Blog - we've now passed 40,000 'views'!

I undertook the monthly wildfowl count at Bingham's Pond yesterday and was pleased that the 3 remaining cygnets have reached a good size ........................

 

There were also 7 juvenile Moorhens (plus one youngster) present ...

 

 

Finally, some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow over the past few days, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine ...

 

Monday 17 August 2015
A Jay on the grass verge of M77 off-ramp at Silverburn, Glasgow.

Sunday 16 August 2015
Unusually a Pine Marten in a Mugdock village garden.

Friday 14 August 2015
A female Mandarin Duck on Maxwell Park Pond, Glasgow.

 

 

Loch Katrine and more

Since the last post I've been busy preparing a number of talks I'll be giving over the next few months - thought I'd take advantage of the poor weather!

I've also been working away trying to put together an exciting project at Hogganfield Loch on behalf of the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves - more on this later, if it comes off.

But I have managed some birding in the east coast, at Musselburgh Lagoons and, closer to home, at Loch Katrine.

On my two visits to Musselburgh I managed 50+ birds on both occasions with a Little Gull being a favourite ..............

Little Gull - Musselburgh - 6 August 2015

 

... not to mention a nice range of waders ...........

 

5 species of wader - Musselburgh - 6 August 2015

 

Yesterday, in the sunshine (!) we travelled to Loch Katrine (thanks to Judith and Mike)

 

 

and had an excellent day with Garden Warblers, Blackcap and Spotted Flycatchers proving it still is summer.  I also managed to photograph for the first time, some cracking insects ....

 

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

Scotch Argus

 

Apart from the flying/biting ants at one location, it was a perfect day, finished with a curry!