Glasgow Birding and More

Time for another update; despite the dark, dreary days there's lots been happening since my last update on the 16th ..........

On Sunday (18th) I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Loch. As ever it was good to see Whooper Swans up close and personal ...

 

This Mute Swan, with its crooked neck, caused us some concern and I contacted the Council .....

 

 

Their staff have looked for it but it seems to have moved on. Sadly, the swan that was rescued by the Ranger Service (see post on the 16th) had to be put down.

 

I paid a short late afternoon visit to my local Bingham's Pond on the 19th and was intrigued to see a female Goosander 'courting' a male Goosander - a bit early I thought ...

 

Video grab

 

He wasn't interested and she eventually 'gave up', but she did get a nice sun set!

 

Bingham's Pond - 19 December 2016

 

I travelled down to Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve on the 20th in search of the elusive Hooded Merganser that has been reported from the Barr Loch and the nearby Kilbirnie Loch for a few months now. Success at last and a Scottish tick! Apologies for the poor quality, it's the bird closest to the far bank, but I think its worth showing .....

 

 

A Cormorant was a lot closer .......

 

 

And eventually, the sun tried to break through ...................

 

Barr Loch (RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve) - 20 December 2016

 

I visited the RSPB Visitor Centre to give them the news that the merganser was present and the staff were most welcoming, the cup of tea was gratefully received!

 

The last few days have been taken up with Christmas (ho, ho, ho) and looking out for Waxwings which are being reported in good numbers throughout Glasgow. I've had a good few sightings but the weather has been poor stopping any decent photographs but here goes .....

 

24th - 66 Waxwings - Westerlands Estate (from our window)

 

25th -  56 Waxwings - Westerlands Estate (from our window)

 

25th - Some of the 63 Waxwings - Bingham's Pond

 

25th - One of 15 Waxwings - Dorchester Ave/Gt Western Rd

 

In all 3 locations a Mistle Thrush had taken 'ownership' of the berry bearing trees and were trying to see off the waxwings! Here is the 'Bingham's Pond' bird .........

 

 

As I type, c150 Waxwings are in our estate!

 

Other sightings from Greater Glasgow, excluding Waxwings, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 25 December 2016
An unusual record of a Dipper feeding at a flood pool in a Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields garden.

Monday 19 December 2016
52 Jack Snipe (16 caught) at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

Saturday 17 December 2016
A female Mandarin Duck back on White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
A Woodcock in flight over Silverburn, Pollok, Glasgow at 1000 hrs.
A Tawny Owl roosting in a tree at Williamwood High School, Eaglesham Road, Clarkston.
Up to four Nuthatches in the area of the walled garden, Pollok Country Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Happy Christmas to everyone that reads my blog - 75,650 page views and rising!

More Glasgow Birding

Since the last post, we've had 'record' number of thrushes in our garden with 50 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings being the best count.

Redwing

Blackbirds, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush also continued to visit and I managed this record shot of the latter  .......

Mistle Thrush

Most of the rowan berries have now gone but we still had two Redwings this morning.

One unusual 'tick', on the 13th, was from the window of the Esquire House pub when we saw 14 Waxwings, albeit briefly.

Finally, we joined the RSPB Glasgow Group at Hogganfield Park LNR on Wednesday (14th) and despite the overcast conditions I managed to record 34 species, including 15 Whooper Swans and 14 Gadwall, before 'rain stopped play'!
 
Sadly, a Mute Swan was looking rather sickly  .............

 

However, as if by magic a Council Countryside Ranger arrived, rescued the bird and hopefully it is now recovering at the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre http://www.hessilhead.org.uk/

 

Other recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 15 December 2016
A Scaup at Balgray Reservoir.

Wednesday 14 December 2016
Two Chiffchaffs opposite Morrisons, Bridge Street, Cambuslang.

Tuesday 13 December 2016
100 Waxwings at Beith Street, Partick, Glasgow.
 65 Waxwings at Greentree Drive, Baillieston, Glasgow.

Monday 12 December 2016
At least 50 Waxwings at the junction of St Georges Road/Garscube Road, Glasgow.

Sunday 11 December 2016
A drake Gadwall still on Alexandra Park Pond, Glasgow. 

Thursday 8 December 2016
150 Waxwings on McIntyre Street, Anderston, Glasgow at 1000 hrs.
60 Waxwings at The Forge, Parkhead, Glasgow at 1430 hrs.
At least five Waxwings at Govan Road/Burndyke Court junction, Glasgow.
Two Nuthatches still coming to the feeders in Pollok Country Park.
A Ring-necked Parakeet at Hogganfield Loch before flying off south.

 

 

Garden Birds in Glasgow

Since my last post I've spent a lot of time watching the birds in our garden - 18 species in total!

Here's a few images ..................

Redwing

Blackbird

Fieldfare

Song Thrush

 

We're just hoping that the berries last for a few more days and who knows we may attract some Waxwings!

 

I've also spent a bit of time preparing my presentation for next week (13th) when I am guest speaker at the Glasgow Natural History Society. Perhaps I'll see some of you there?

 

I did manage out for a few hours on Sunday and added these two Ravens to my Bingham's Pond year list  ....

 

 

 

Finally, more recent sightings courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 4 December 2016
Eight Jack Snipe (three caught) and three Water Rails at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock.
20 Waxwings at the junction of Nether Auldhouse Road and Kilmarnock Road, Newlands.

 

Saturday 3 December 2016
Now four Ring-necked Parakeets in Hillview Place, Clarkston.
A Nuthatch at Glasgow Botanic Gardens (NS566676).

Friday 2 December 2016
34 Waxwings near the Botanic Gardens, on Garrioch Road at Hotspur Street, Glasgow. 

 

 

From Asian to Bohemian (Hornbills to Waxwings)

We have been on our holidays but it was nice to arrive home just in time to see some Waxwings in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow!

Needless to say 1000s of photos were taken on our trip and I'm still sorting through them but here are a few typical 'Asian' bird species .........

Oriental Pied Hornbill - Singapore

 

Crimson Sunbird - Vietnam

 

Oriental Magpie Robin - Hong Kong

 

Collared Kingfishers - Philippines

 

Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Borneo

 

Yes, the humble Tree Sparrow proved to be one of the most common species in all of the countries we visited!

 

Whilst it wasn't a bird watching holiday, we saw some excellent birds and added to our 'world list' whilst enjoying temperatures in the 30s (Celsius!)

 

Although feeling a bit tired and coming down with the dreaded 'Glasgow Cough' we couldn't resist visiting the Botanic Gardens to try and see the reported Waxwing flock and thankfully we saw c30 birds in three small groups. A record shot, taken in poor light, follows....

 

 

They disappeared soon after taking this picture, so we were really pleased to have made the effort to see them. There are plenty of berries in Glasgow's West End so no doubt they will be relocated. Anyway thanks to the SOC Clyde Grapevine for the heads up. Other recent SOC sightings include:

 

Monday 28 November 2016
The adult Yellow Legged Gull again at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 650 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
At least 80 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

Sunday 27 November 2018
A female Scaup on Gadloch, Lenzie.
At least 115 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, before flying in the direction of Addison Road at 1510 hrs.
15 Waxwings on Kelvin walkway.
Eleven Whooper Swans and 15 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch.

Saturday 26 November 2016
At least one adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 70 Goosanders and a female Scaup.
Now 100 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeets again In Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

Wednesday 22 November 2016
An immature Scaup at Balgray Reservoir, also a Stonechat.
60 Waxwings (20 yesterday) at Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
A total of 38 Waxwings in the Mosspark area with 14 at Lugar Drive and 24 at Clunie Road.
12 Waxwings at Baillieston Distribution Centre, Barrachnie Road.
40 Gadwall and three Shoveler on Woodend Loch.
97 Teal and 107 Lapwing on Gartloch Pool.

 

Snow Forecast and some Great Birding

A bus trip through to Musselburgh on the 2nd brought 100s of waders........

 

... lots of wildfowl including this Teal ...........

 

 

.. and a superb Snow Bunting .....

 

 

In total, I saw 43 different bird species on what was a cold but sunny day.

 

On Friday (4th), we travelled down to Caerlaverock with Stephen and had another superb day's birding. As ever we got close-up views of a whole range of wildfowl, including Scaup, from the Peter Scott Observatory ..........

 

 

... excellent views of Barnacle Geese ....

 

 

...distant views of Little Egrets .....

 

 

...and what we were told was a hybrid Snow/Barnacle Goose with a distant flock of Barnacles (centre of picture) ..

 

 

Sadly, the initial good weather was followed by heavy rain showers restricting photographic opportunities but we did see some excellent birds, c50 species, with Great White Egret and Green-winged Teal being the stars.

 

On the 6th, it was back to Glasgow where I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR. There were 10 Whooper Swans present (9 adults and one juvenile) and lots of other birds close in to the feeding/viewing platform including this Goldeneye ....

 

 

If you have never been to Hogganfield Park LNR, I strongly recommend it!

 

Finally, some recent sightings courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 6 November 2016
A female/immature Long-tailed Duck (for its second day) on Kilmardinny Loch, Bearsden.
A 1st-winter female Scaup on Heritage Loch, East Kilbride; nearby, three Brambling and ten Tree Sparrows with a large flock of finches at Wellsquarry Road, Kittochside, East Kilbride.
A Jack Snipe and a pair of Stonechats at Harelaw Reservoir, Barrhead.
A female Mandarin Duck on White Cart Water just upstream of White Bridge, Linn Park, Glasgow..
A Woodcock near the Bothlin Burn at NS698673; nearby, a Jay in the Bishop Loch (Hospital) Woods.

Thursday 3 November 2016
A Peregrine (with prey, probably pigeon) flying low over Kingston Bridge, Glasgow.
At least 300 Pied Wagtails roosting in trees, near Tesco's at the Silverburn Centre, Pollok, Glasgow.

Wednesday 2 November 2016
Two Nuthatches frequently at feeders in the Demonstration Garden, Pollok Country Park.

 

 

 

Birding in the Bishop Loch area of Glasgow

Last week, I paid a visit to the Bishop Loch/Gartloch Pools area in north east Glasgow - FirstBus no.41 to Lochend Road.

This was like going back in time as this was the location that 'started' my 'environmental career' with Glasgow City Council - up until then my tasks had been mainly in the industrial and employment sector. But enough of this reminiscing!

What follows is a photographic record of this walk with a wee bit of history thrown in ..........

Having left the bus in Lochend Road, I entered Bishop Loch LNR via one of the clearly marked footpaths. Despite its name, the Loch does not form part of the actual LNR which consists, in the main, of woodland, with some grassland and a small part of the extensive reedbed and marsh. There is a good path network through the LNR which links to informal paths to Gartloch Village and the wider countryside. You can also get great views of Bishop Loch itself, which is also a SSSI.

The woodland appeared to be devoid of birds apart from a 'tit' flock, a Buzzard and a few 'corvids'. I would imagine it would be full of warblers in spring ........

Woodland path

 

Path alongside reedbed

 

View across reedbed, west of Bishop Loch

 

View from LNR across Bishop Loch

 

Informal path west of Bishop Loch and Gartloch Village

View of Gartloch Village and woodlands from informal path

Having explored some of these informal paths - Stonechat and Buzzard were the key species, I returned to the path which leads to Gartloch Village and woodland via a sturdy metal bridge over the Burn that flows from Gartloch Pools to Bishop Loch. The path brings you to an old fence line which remarkably delineates the boundary of the SSSI! To the south (right hand side) is SSSI and to the north it is a woodland and housing estate.

Fence delineating SSSI boundary

 

The Village was created when developers obtained planning permission to convert the old Hospital buildings to housing. The costs were such that it was claimed that permission would also be required for some new housing to be built to offset the potential losses from the conversions. This resulted in the Council agreeing that a number of trees could be chopped down ..............

As you can see from below, the main Hospital Building is still lying empty.....

I left the Village ...

....  and bravely ventured out onto Gartloch Road. This is a typical narrow country road that was not designed for the amount of car traffic that now uses it, but thankfully most drivers slowed down as I made my way towards the Gartloch Pools.

On the south side of the road, somebody had attempted to build a 'fishing platform' ...

Gartloch Pools (south)

There were only a few birds present including Teal, Grey Heron and Snipe. However, on the north side there was a good range of wildfowl with Shoveler, Gadwall and Wigeon being the most notable and also 2 Stonechats.

Thankfully, I was offered a lift by another birder that I knew (Alan) and so didn't have to risk walking along the road again!

As usual, I finish with some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Monday 31 October 2016
Two Ring-necked Parakeets in Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

Sunday 30 October 2016
Six Whooper Swans, 9 Gadwall and 20 Goosanders on Hogganfield Loch.
9 Bullfinches at Harelaw Reservoir, Barrhead.

Saturday 29 October 2016
A Jay at Cathkin Braes, Glasgow, and a male Stonechat at Windlaw Marsh.

Friday 28 October 2016
Nine Shoveler at Gartloch Pool, but no sign of the Bittern (which was last reported flying towards Bishop Loch on Tuesday).
A Jay at the March Field, Lynn Drive, Milngavie. 
A Raven calling from a chimney top at Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow.
A Ring-necked Parakeet in Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

Wednesday 26 October 2016
A male and a female Peregrine hunting over George Square, Glasgow at 1230 hrs.
16 Gadwall and 6 Shoveler on Gartloch Pool.

Tuesday 25 October 2016
A Bittern again showing at Gartloch Pools on the south side of the B806, Glasgow.

More East Coast and Local Birding

Since my last post I've continued to make use of my travel cards for long walks and excellent birding. I also enjoyed an excellent trip by car, thanks to Stephen!

On the 18th it was a bus from Edinburgh to Thorntonloch. Things were a lot quieter than on the 15th but there were still a few birds around if you were patient and looked hard enough!

The berry bearing bushes at Thorntonloch proved popular with a number of species including this Chiffchaff ....

and this Song Thrush .............

Off the sea wall at Torness, I was surprised to see this Red-throated Diver, still with much of its red throat!

 

From here I walked along the John Muir Link passed Skateraw towards Barns Ness. I stopped at the small burn/clump of rosebay willowherb and with other birders tried to get views of a reported Dusky Warbler.

 

 

I managed a 10 second glimpse of what was probably the bird but not enough to confirm its identity! A flyover of 18 Barnacle Geese offered some compensation .....

 

 

Realising that time was tight and as the original intention was to enjoy a long walk, I headed off towards my bus connection in Dunbar.

 

It was strange to see White Sands Bay at high tide as on nearly every other walk the white sand has glistened in the sun!

 

 

Whilst the sand might have been lacking, the usual Stonechats (3 in this instance) were not. And although the sun was low in the sky, I managed a record shot of this bird ...

 

 

Thankfully, I made the bus connection with c5 minutes to spare!

 

On Friday we both travelled up to Aberdeen and explored the Girdle Ness area .... 

 

 

 

The trip can be summed up as being a very pleasant walk but a failed twitch - Daurian Shrike!

 

Yesterday, I travelled through to the East Coast, courtesy of Stephen and we stumbled across 4 cracking Shorelarks at John Muir Country Park .....

 

 

I also found a distant Dark-bellied Brent Goose

 

 

From John Muir Country Park we headed to White Sands Quarry just in time to see some geese fly off. We were told they were Bean Geese but again as I can't be sure of their ID they became another possible sighting rather than confirmed!

 

 

There were lots of other birds in the quarry and we agreed this would be a good place to visit on a regular basis...

 

 

Having explored the east coast we stopped at Garnqueen Loch in Glenboig on the way home and were impressed by the range of wildfowl to be found in such a relatively small loch - yet another place worthy of further visits ...........

 

 

Finally, some recent sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 23 October 2016
Two drake Ruddy Ducks on Garnqueen Loch.
70 Fieldfares flew north over Pollok Country Park, and two Nuthatches at the feeders.

Friday 21 October 2016
A Chiffchaff with a tit flock at Garnkirk Moss Wood, Glasgow.
A Kingfisher over the causeway at Milngavie Reservoirs at 0930 hrs.

Wednesday 19 October 2016
90 Fieldfare and 18 Redwing at Gartloch Pool.

Mammal Record
Evidence of a Pine Marten (footprint, droppings) at Garnkirk Moss Wood (NS675675), possibly the first recent record for Glasgow.