More Local Birding

Following on from the 'man flu' (still not 100%!), it has been a busy few days. On Tuesday evening I was the guest speaker at the SOC Ayrshire Group and was made to feel really welcome - thanks to everyone that attended.

On Wednesday I joined the RSPB Glasgow Group on their outing to Mugdock Country Park where we had a pleasant walk and a nice bowl of soup ............

Mugdock CP - 13 January 2016

 

We managed to see virtually all of the common woodland species plus a Jay which was a nice surprise. We also encountered a strange 'fungus' ..............

 

Mugdock CP - 13 January 2016

 

...... which, thanks to Liz, we think was 'Hair Ice'. See the following link

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_ice

On Thursday, I visited Bingham's Pond and met a few people who were interested in the wildfowl and history of the pond. It's good to know other people care about this wonderful oasis in the west end of Glasgow!

Yet again I was pleased with the range of species to be found in such a small area and the ice made the wetland bird count easier than normal!

Bingham's Pond - 14 January 2016

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

Thursday 14 January 2016
A drake Ruddy Duck still on Garnqueen Loch; nearby, 51 Gadwall on Woodend Loch.

Sunday 10 January 2016
A drake Green-winged Teal still on Banton Loch, Kilsyth, also a drake Red-breasted Merganser.

Saturday 9 January 2016
An adult Yellow-legged Gull still coming to roost on Balgray Reservoir at 1515 hrs, with a 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull and an excellent winter count of 650 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, also 250 Pink-footed Geese north over.
A drake Green-winged Teal still on Banton Loch, Kilsyth.
A Woodcock and a pair of Stonechats at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

Thursday 7 January 2016
A drake Ruddy Duck still on Garnqueen Loch.
Two drake Red-breasted Mergansers on River Clyde at Riverside Museum.
A Nuthatch on the feeders at the walled gardens in Pollok Country Park.