Birding and CityLinking!

On Tuesday we travelled with Mike and Judith up to Oban, courtesy of CityLink and the Scottish Government! We hoped to see some white-winged gulls before boarding the ferry to Mull but sadly none were seen. However, on leaving the harbour we saw at least one white-winged gull, probably an Iceland Gull, but just too far to clinch the ID.

On arriving on Mull we took the local bus to Salen and walked towards Loch na Keal observing a good range of garden birds - most gardens had bird feeders! One garden had an impressive number of Chaffinches and I could but wonder about their bird food bill!

It was a lovely walk with Ravens, Hooded Crows, Buzzards and distant eagles for company, although almost missing the bus back to Craignure was not part of the plan!

View from the Salen to Loch na Keal road

 

To Salen

 

Back at the ferry terminal we added a Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot to our bird list before heading back to Oban ..

 

From the ferry to Oban

 

... and a stunning sunset.

 

Despite a great day there was the nagging question - what was that white-winged gull?

 

So the next day, with nothing else planned, Lynda and I decided to utilise our bus passes again and travel back to Oban! And thanks to Lynda, we saw a 1st winter Iceland Gull - possibly the only photo taken of an Iceland Gull on the roof of a newspaper building follows:

 

Iceland Gull - Oban Times Building

 

Glasgow Birding

With blue skies at last, I managed to spend some time birding in Glasgow.

On Monday (22nd) I visited the Millichen area of Glasgow for the first time this year ...

Millichen Flood - 22 February 2016

 

Surprisingly, there were no wildfowl to be seen although there were 4 species of gull and c100 Lapwing around the flood. I had a nice surprise spotting three Stonechat, one at East Millichen and the other two at the flood...

 

Stonechat - East Millichen - 22 February 2016

 

In the afternoon I moved on to Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow ....

 

Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

The local wildfowl were showing well ...

 

Goosander - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

Tufted Duck - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

... as were the Black-headed Gulls .....

 

Black-headed Gull - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

It was so nice to be able to wander around without having to worry about the weather, long may it continue!

 

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

 

Monday 22 February 2016
An adult Mediterranean Gull at Newshot Island at 1200 hrs, later flying across to Dalmuir sewage works; also Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank at Newshot.
A male Blackcap on feeders in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
A Jay in Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve, Glasgow.

Sunday 21 February 2016
Three Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock, Glasgow.
A pair of Pintail at Millichen Flood, Glasgow.
Two Stock Doves in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

 

 

 

 

Twitching with the RSPB

On Saturday (20th) we travelled with the RSPB Glasgow Group on a mini bus outing to Scone and Argaty.

In the grounds of Scone Palace we quickly found our target species, Hawfinch. As in previous years they favoured a particular 'crossroads' and we all got excellent views. Sadly, it chose to rain just as I spotted the first bird, so all my photos can only be considered as record shots. But it's not every day you see a Hawfinch and we must have seen upwards of 10 ..... 

Hawfinch - Scone Palace Grounds - 20 February 2016

 

We left Scone ahead of schedule and were told that we were now heading for Pitlochry in search of a Ring-necked Duck. I advised on how best to reach the Cuilc, a pond in Pitlochry, and we were soon looking at a gorgeous male bird ....

 

Ring-necked Duck - Pitlochry - 20 February 2016

 

Other birds found here included a drake Mandarin, Dipper and Siskin.

 

From here we just made it in time for the Red Kite feeding at Argaty and what a wonderful spectacle!

 

Red Kites - Argaty - 20 February 2016

 

The highlight, however, must surely have been the Buzzard that managed to 'steal' some of the food and protect it from the Kites! See my short video here https://youtu.be/AABUtO4lJ7s

 

We finished our day by heading over to Gartmorn Dam in search of a male Smew and again we were successful ....

 

Gartmorn Dam - 20 February 2016

 

 So a lot of travelling, but after today, my year list now stands at 111 for Scotland.

 

Short-eared Owl - Musselburgh Lagoons

 

A wee video taken on Monday's (15th) trip to Musselburgh Lagoons featuring Short-eared Owls

https://youtu.be/Umm9YKskTmY

For more videos click on the Videos tab above.

Birding from West to East and points in between!

Since my last post I've had a cracking week's birding!

Starting on Wednesday (10th) with the RSPB Glasgow Group outing to Castle Semple Loch and Parkhill Woods. Twenty three people turned out for this trip, a testament to Judith & Mike's organisational skills .....

Some of the Group at Castle Semple - 10 February 2016

 

.......... and they weren't to be disappointed with at least 50 bird species seen by the Group. I personally saw 47 with this Black-headed Gull and its breeding plumage a reminder that spring is just around the corner ............

Black-headed Gull - Castle Semple Loch - 10 February 2016

 

After lunch, most of us moved onto the RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve .........

Aird Meadow, RSPB Lochwinnoch - 10 February 2016

 

... where we sheltered from an unexpected sleety shower and also added species such as Shoveler to our list.

 

On Friday, I met a ranger from the City Council and helped map the bird and bat boxes at Dawsholm Park LNR. With it being a bright sunny day, lots of birds were singing and they reminded me how good this LNR can be - unlike my previous visit!

 

On Saturday, we travelled down to Ayrshire, thanks to Stephen. Thankfully, the weather forecast was correct and we enjoyed a brilliant day's birding - 49 species seen including some species I failed to connect with last year. A few highlights ....

 

Purple Sandpiper - Ayr

 

Black Redstart - Ayr

 

Brent Geese (pale-bellied) - Maidens

 

Record shot - Smew - Barnshean Loch

 

Record shot - White-fronted Geese (Greenland) - Martnaham Loch

Yesterday, I travelled through to Musellburgh by public transport and again the weather forecast was spot on - bright sunshine! Forty species seen including these ...

Reed Bunting - 15 February 2016

Bar-tailed Godwit - 15 February 2016

Skylark - 15 February 2016

 

Short-eared Owl - 15 February 2016

 

During this 6 day period I saw 83 bird species and my year Scottish List now stands at 107.

 

Closer to home, what has been seen in and around Greater Glasgow? All sightings courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Monday 15 February 2016
A pair of Stonechats still at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.
A Chiffchaff by the River Clyde near Glasgow Green.

Sunday 14 February 2016
A 1st-winter Iceland Gull at the recycling depot Carbrain, Cumbernauld.
Two Yellow-legged Gulls and a female Scaup still on Balgray Reservoir. also 124 Canada Geese.
Blackcaps coming to feeders with a male at Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields and a female at Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

Saturday 13 February 2016
A 2nd-winter Glaucous Gull  on waste ground adjacent to Wickes, London Road, Mount Vernon in the afternoon.
Two Nuthatches coming to the feeders in Pollok Country Park.

Friday 12 February 2016
Two adult Yellow-legged Gulls at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also still the female Scaup.
A male Blackcap still at feeders in an Ailsa Drive, Giffnock garden.
A Peregrine over Paisley Grammar School in the morning.

Finally, remember you can create a slide show by clicking on the photos.

Owl be your baby tonight (apologies to Bob Dylan!)

Thank goodness I'm retired!

On Thursday night (4th) I attended the RSPB Glasgow Group Indoor Meeting and listened to an excellent speaker - James How from the RSPB. His talk, which covered Islay and Oronsay, helped restore some of my enthusiasm for the organisation which has waned in recent years for a variety of reasons.

Much of Friday was spent on Friends of Glasgow's LNRs business, especially now that we have obtained virtually all the funding required for the proposed BioHavens at Hogganfield Loch.

Saturday and a brilliant day's birding. We travelled through to the east coast, thanks to Stephen, and started at Aberlady Bay. Lots of birds and with the tide coming in we got excellent views of a whole host of waders, wildfowl and gulls. Sadly it was rather overcast so this was the best I could do  ....

 

Parts of the reserve were under water .....

 

 

.... but we still managed to find Stonechat, Skylark and Reed Bunting. The best birds, however, were the two Long-eared Owls.

 

From Aberlady we travelled west to Gosford Bay/Longniddry Bents but there was very little offshore. On the plus side the car park has been resurfaced but note that there is a charge.

 

Eventually we arrived at Musselburgh Lagoons at high tide and got close up views of Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck off the sea wall - I forecast that this would happen as with the light being poor I left my camera in the car! Later, we got unbelievable views of 3 Short-eared Owls hunting over the same piece of grassland. As we returned along the sea wall to the River Esk mouth we saw a fourth bird and by now the tide was going out, so again lots of waders, wildfowl and gulls.

 

On the 8th, I made a quick visit to Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow and added to my 'year list' for the pond with a sighting of a Grey Wagtail. It allowed me to approach to within a few feet and yet again, no camera, so I tried my phone. These photos show the extent of the flooding at the Pond with much of the footpath under water; if you look closely you can also see the bird!

 

 

Today was a first with a garden tick - Collared Dove! Although present in the nearby Kelvindale, this is the first time that I'm seen one (there were two) in our garden. A photo taken through a dirty window before a Magpie chased them off.

 

 

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

Monday 8 February2016
At least one Yellow-legged Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost at 1645 hrs, also a female Scaup.
Three Jack Snipe at Harelaw Reservoir, Barrhead, also a Woodcock.
A Black-tailed Godwit at Newshot Island, also unusually three Shoveler.

Sunday 7 February 2016
A female Scaup still on Balgray Reservoir.
A female Blackcap (for its second day) in a Hillview Drive, Clarkston garden.

Saturday 6 February 2016
At the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, and adult Mediterranean Gull, an adult Kittiwake and a female Scaup.
A Nuthatch at the feeders in Pollok Country Park.

Hoggy, Dawsholm and further afield!

A lot to report, so ............

On Sunday (31st) I helped with the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR. The birds seemed to be really hungry and some of the Mute Swans were exhibiting what some people are calling 'pink wing syndrome' ...........

Hogganfield Loch - 31 January 2016

 

For more background on this 'syndrome' see http://www.communicatescience.eu/2011/11/irish-scientists-unravel-mystery-of.html

 

It was good to see 17 Whooper Swans present and take time to examine the difference in bill structure, which superficially all look the same. Photos of two different birds ..........

 

 

Sadly, a couple of litter bins were lying on their side and the car park area and loch edge was litter strewn. However, a keen 'Friend' volunteered to help out, filled a large bag with rubbish and soon had the place spotless!

 

Hogganfield Park - 31 January 2016

 

On Tuesday (2nd) I tried Dawsholm Park LNR for the first time this year. A piece of advice if you intend to visit, take your wellies!

 

I only saw 9 species of bird, in just over an hour, and was a bit disillusioned by the flooding at the entry points, litter along Dalsholm Road and dog muck. However, credit where credit's due with one professional dog walker actually seeming to have all his dogs under control and, on approaching his vehicle, he even managed to get all 9 on their leads! 

 

Yesterday (3rd) the sun actually shone and thanks to Mike & Judith we headed off down to Ayrshire. We started at Trabboch Loch ...........

 

Trabboch Loch - 3 February 2016

 

.... and quickly spotted the Ring-necked Duck that has been present for a few days along with a Scaup ..

 

Ring-necked Duck

Scaup and Tufted Duck

 

In and around both lochs we saw at least 28 species including Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch, Fieldfare and Redwing.

 

After a quick coffee we headed over to Doonfoot and added to our year lists with all the common waders and gulls being present.

 

Doonfoot - 3 February 2016

 

We then walked a short distance along the River Doon walkway and caught this Grey Heron enjoying a  waterfall 'shower'!

 

Grey Heron - 3 February 2016

 

We finished with around 45 species for the day and it was so good to get out in the sun after weeks of poor weather.

 

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

 

Sunday 31 January 2016
An adult Yellow-legged Gull again at Balgray Reservoir gull roost.
Two Woodcock at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

 

Saturday 30 January 2016
An adult Iceland Gull at Wickes, Mount Vernon.
Two Nuthatches at the feeding station in Pollok Country Park.

Thursday 28 January 2016
Ten Stock Doves visiting a Mugdock village garden, also a Nuthatch and a Pine Marten.
Four Otters playing with a tennis ball on White Cart Water in Linn Park.