Birding and Walking

Firstly, remember you can click on the photos to create a slide show (and enhanced viewing).

I may not have walked 500 miles, as per the Proclaimers song, but I've walked a fair wee distance this week whilst out birding!

On Tuesday, we walked from Anniesland to Victoria Park and back. It's been a while since we visited and we had good views of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

We noticed a pair of Jackdaws with nesting material and watched them approaching a large hole when they were 'repulsed' by a Grey Squirrel! A good number of birds were either already nesting or collecting nesting material and we eventually recorded 26 species in the park including Ring-necked Parakeet.

Victoria Park

Grey Squirrel

Coot on nest

Ring-necked Parakeet

On Wednesday we travelled down to Culter Water, thanks to Judith and Mike. I was leading a RSPB Glasgow Local Group outing and I'm pleased that there were 16 of us in total. We walked from the parking area at Birthwood all the way to Culter Waterhead Reservoir and back and, in the process, saw at least 31 species. Sadly no Ring Ousel, but possibly the best day of the year, weather wise, so far!

Culter Water Glen

Culter Waterhead Reservoir

 

On Thursday, it was off to Hogganfield Loch to check on the BioHavens and obviously some birding - 35 bird species seen with Common Sandpiper being a nice surprise. The Havens seem to be doing fine and the plants are starting to grow.

 

Common Sandpiper

BioHaven - Hogganfield Loch

 

Finally, we travelled by train and then bus to the Carbeth Inn and walked back to Milngavie Railway Station. In doing so we walked part of the John Muir Way, West Highland Way and Clyde Coastal Path. Within Mugdock Country Park we saw our first Tree Pipits of the year and by the end of our walk we had recorded 34 species in total.

 

Craigallian Loch from West Highland Way

Record shot of distant Tree Pipit

 

I would like to say we feel a lot healthier from all this walking but ..............

 

Finally, another round-up of interesting sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 21 April 2016
200 Pink-footed Geese north over Linn Park in the morning.

 

Wednesday 20 April 2016
A White Wagtail at Ardoch Farm, Eaglesham and still five Fieldfares between Over Enoch and Carrot.
Three Grasshopper Warblers (two reeling) at Mosswater LNR, Cumbernauld.
Single reeling Grasshopper Warblers at Littleton and Waulkmill Glen Reservoirs.

 

Tuesday 19 April 2016

An adult Mediterranean Gull at Ferguslie Park Gardens, Paisley.
A Short-eared Owl flushed at Windalw Marsh, also a Sedge Warbler.

A Cuckoo heard on Stockie Muir.
Single Tree Pipit singing at Mugdock Country Park.

 

Monday 18 April 2016
19 Shoveler (13 drakes), seven Gadwall and 260 Pink-footed Geese at Bridgend Farm Pool. KIrkintilloch.
A Cuckoo heard on Kilpatrick Braes near Loch Humphrey.



 

More Migrants Arrive

Following on from trips to the Borders, South Lanarkshire and Shropshire, it was back to some local birding today. But first a few photos from the last week ...

Black Grouse - the Borders

Culter Waterhead Reservoir - South Lanarkshire

Statue of Charles Darwin - Shrewsbury, Shropshire

 

Today, I visited my local patch - Bingham's Pond - and recorded 21 species including Swallow, Sand Martin and my first House Martin of the year. The year list for Bingham's Pond now stands at 35 - not bad for a small open space in the west end of Glasgow. If only the Oystercatcher flying along Great Western Road near Anniesland railway station had deviated slightly!

 

News from the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves - their AGM is on Monday 18 April 2016 in the Hopkirk Building, Glasgow Botanic Gardens from 7.15pm. There will also be a short illustrated presentation on the Hogganfield BioHavens Project. All welcome.

 

Finally, some recent sightings form the Greater Glasgow area and we are grateful, once again, to the SOC Clyde Grapevine for allowing us to use this information:

 

Friday 15 April 2016
A Little Ringed Plover at Bridgend Farm Pool, near KIrkintilloch, also 20 Shoveler (12 drakes), eight Gadwall (six drakes), a pair of Shelduck and 342 Pink-footed Geese.
250 Pink-footed Geese in two flocks over Linn Park in the morning, also two territories of Nuthatch.

Wednesday 13 April
Eleven Shoveler (seven Drakes) and three Gadwall on Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch.
A singing Blackcap at Festival Park, Glasgow.

 

Hoggy, Hoggy, Hoggy!

As some of you may know, I am the chair of the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs and much of my time has been spent trying to fulfil the dream of installing BioHavens on Hogganfield Loch!

Well, the dream came true on Wednesday 6 April 2016.

I visited the loch on the Tuesday just to check out a few last minute details, managed a spot of birding and was rewarded with Sand Martin, Swallow and Chiffchaff.

On Wednesday the great day dawned, but sadly rain was not far away, yet the volunteers from the 'Friends' and Seven Lochs Project were not deterred.

With the crucial support of Simon and Andy from Frog Environmental, all five BioHavens were planted, launched and placed in position by 3pm.

The BioHavens come ready packed

 

Volunteers arrive for briefing

 

Volunteers prepare BioHaven

 

Planted BioHaven

 

BioHaven being launched

Welcome tea and coffee

Simon and Andy (Frog Environmental) place BioHaven in position

 

It was brilliant to be part of a team that managed to deliver the project on the day - a big well done to everyone that helped.

By Friday, I had dried out and couldn't resist making another visit just to see how the BioHavens were doing; and they looked good.

BioHavens in place

I also saw and heard my first Willow Warbler of the year and a quick tally of the birds seen over the 3 days at Hogganfield resulted in an excellent count of 43 species plus Roe Deer!

Hoggy, Hoggy, Hoggy - I just love the place!