South Africa's also Wilds Better!

Well we are back from a really nice holiday in South Africa. This blog is mainly about the wildlife of Greater Glasgow but I can't resist posting a couple of photos of birds seen in South Africa that will soon be making a welcome return to the Greater Glasgow area ...............

Spotted Flycatcher

Common Redstart

 

Other 'local' birds seen in South Africa included Common Sandpiper, Common Swift, Willow Warbler, Barn Swallow and Osprey. It really is amazing how they manage to migrate such long distances.

 

A few migrants have already been recorded in Scotland and we had our first Chiffchaff at Loch Leven NNR yesterday, so spring is on its way!

 

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

 

Monday 28 March 2016
A Wheatear at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

Sunday 27 March 2016
A Chiffchaff singing in Cumbernauld Glen.

 

Friday 25 March 2016
An adult Little Gull on River Clyde at Dalmuir sewage treatment works outfall.
A female Blackcap continues to visit a Hillview Drive, Clarkston garden.

 

Finally, thanks to everyone that views this Blog - I never thought I'd reach 50,000+ views!

Part-time Birding!

Since my last post things have been a bit hectic trying to fit in birding with other commitments!

I am pleased to say that the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs proposed BioHavens project at Hogganfield Loch has taken another significant step with all parties agreeing to a launch date of Wednesday 6 April 2016 - see this link for more information
https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves

Also note that their AGM is on Monday 18 April 2016 in the Hopkirk Building, Botanic Gardens, Glasgow from 7.15pm.

Away from 'Friends' work I managed to visit Banton Loch near Kilsyth on Wednesday 2 March 2016 - the X86 from Glasgow Buchanan Street stops at the Colzium/Lennox Estate and its 5 minutes from there.

Banton Loch - 2 March 2016

 

I managed good views of a Green-winged Teal and took a few record shots ..

 

Drake Green-winged Teal

 

This Robin also posed for me ....

 

Robin

 

..  just as I was leaving the loch. Thereafter, I spent a short time exploring the Colzium-Lennox Estate before heading home for a late lunch.

 

The following day we both travelled up to Arrochar (on the Oban bus). The distant hills were lightly covered in snow, set against a blue sky; a beautiful sight ...

 

 

But on closer inspection the shore line at the end of Loch Long was covered in litter ..

 

 

We soon found our target bird, Glaucous Gull ...

 

Glaucous Gull

 

...so we then went for a walk along some of the paths near Kenmore Woods where we picked up a Jay as well as some common woodland birds. As we were both attending the RSPB Glasgow Group evening meeting, we decided to leave early and were back home for lunch!

 

Technical problem: normally, I can increase the display size of the photos easily but for some reason I am not being allowed to do so. Hopefully, I can sort this out before my next post. In the meantime, please remember you can click on the photos and create a slide show which should enhance the viewing of the photos.

 

Finally, some recent sightings courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 5 March 2016
An adult Iceland Gull again at Wickes, London Road, Mount Vernon.
A single Barnacle Goose with 4,000 Pink-footed Geese between Barbeth and Badenheath Farms, Cumbernauld.
A pair of Stonechats at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.
A female Blackcap again at feeders in a Hillview Drive, Clarkston garden.
A male Blackcap, now in sub-song, in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

Wednesday 2 March 2016
The drake Green-winged Teal still on Townhead Reservoir (Banton Loch).
No sign of the Mediterranean Gull on the Clyde at Dalmuir, but an adult Little Gull there this afternoon, viewed from Park Quay, Erskine.
Ten Mandarin Ducks (eight males) on the River Leven at Balloch.
Six Shoveler (five drakes) at Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
A male Blackcap and a Stock Dove in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

 

 

Hogganfield Park LNR - Volunteering and Birding

I helped out at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event on Sunday (28th).

It was a beautiful day, lots of people were in the park and the birds very appreciative of the 'duck and swan floating food'.

The wildfowl were showing really well and included 21 Whooper Swans .............

Family of Whooper Swans and Tufted Ducks

 Other wildfowl included Pochard, Goldeneye, Gadwall and Goosander.

Pochard

 

Gadwall

 

Goldeneye

 

Goosander

 

A pair of Buzzard displaying added to the spectacle. Once again, I have to ask if you have never visited this wonderful Reserve, why not?

 

Finally, a review of some of the recent sightings in the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Monday 29 February 2016
A male Blackcap again on feeders in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

Sunday 28 February 2016
The drake Green-winged Teal still at Townhead Reservoir (Banton Loch).
An adult Mediterranean Gull at the Dalmuir sewage works outflow.
11 Jack Snipe at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve, and nearby 6 Jack Snipe and 4 Water Rails at Windlaw Marsh, Cathkin Braes Country Park, Glasgow.
A male Blackcap and a male Brambling still in Ailsa Drive, Giffnock.
A male Blackcap still in Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden.

Saturday 27 February 2016
An adult Iceland Gull at London Road, Mount Vernon, and a 1st-winter Iceland Gull in the roost at Five Pintail, three Shelduck, nine Shoveler and a Merlin at Bridgend Farm Pool.
A pair of Nuthatches, male in song, in vicinity of the Woodland Garden, Pollok Country Park.
A male Blackcap and a male Brambling in an Ailsa Drive, Giffnock garden.
A male Blackcap and two Stock Doves in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
A female Blackcap in a Hillview Drive, Clarkston garden.
A drake Red-breasted Merganser on Townhead Reservoir (Banton Loch).
Three Stonechats at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve, and a Woodcock in adjacent woods.