Hogganfield Park LNR

Despite the poor weather forecast I made a quick visit to Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday( 28th).

In under two hours I managed 35 bird species and lots of evidence of breeding ...

Mute Swan plus 4 cygnets

Young Moorhen

Young Coot

Young Mallard

 

The BioHavens also proved popular with at least six different species using them to rest and/or preen ..........

 

Greylag Geese, Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Pochard

 



Sadly, the rain curtailed my visit but not my enthusiasm for such a wonderful reserve.

 

 

St Abbs NNR

We travelled down to St Abbs NNR, with Stephen, on Sunday - what a seabird spectacle!

Click on photos for enhanced viewing and to create a slide show

 

 

Guillemots

Razorbill

Kittiwake

We also called in at Musselburgh and got distant views of the Surf Scoter whilst 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Ringed Plover on the wader scrapes were a pleasant surprise.

Another great day!

Other sightings, closer to home, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 26 June 2016
A Reed Warbler still singing at Newshot Island, also a Greenshank present.

Saturday 25 June 2016
An Osprey catching a fish at Bishop Loch, Glasgow at 1130 hrs. then chased off by a Buzzard.

 

Thank You and Mini BioBlitz!

Thanks to everyone that attended my talks this week at the Parrot Society Scottish Area (Monday night) and the West End Festival (Tuesday night)

West End Festival 2016

 

With the big upsurge in Groups holding BioBlitzs in nature reserves and open spaces we decided to have a quick look to see what could be found in our garden other than the usual species and we managed to identify a few ................

 

Large Yellow Underwing (moth)

 

Brimstone (moth)

 

Helophilus pendulus (a Hoverfly)

 

Pond Skater

 

It is amazing what you can find if you look!

 

 

 

 

East Coast twitching!

We travelled east on Sunday, thanks to Stephen, and decided to target a few birds that had been seen along the Forth over the last few days.

Our first stop was Kinneil Lagoons and almost the first bird we saw was a Gull-billed Tern ..

 

 

 

We moved on to Musselburgh and the mouth of the River Esk where 100s of Eiders (and Goosanders) could be seen.................

 

 

............... and in amongst them was this female King Eider!

 

 

 

 

We also managed two Red-necked Grebes off Ferny Ness - awful record shot

 

 

 

Superb birds and we avoided the rain - all in all a great day!

 

Click on photos for enhanced view and slide show.

 

Videos Page Updated and Visit to the Ythan

Remember you can check out my short wildlife videos by clicking on the videos button (above) - page updated. Also you can create a slide show and get an enhanced image by clicking on the first image of each post.

Since my last post we have visited the Ythan Estuary, just east of Newburgh in Aberdeenshire. It was a wee bit chilly and overcast but we did get some excellent views of Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns.

 

 

We were also lucky enough to see two Little Terns. Poor record shot follows:

 

 

The adjoining golf course and areas of gorse also proved to be good for birds ......

 

 

 .......and we had great views of birds such as Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Linnet, Willow Warbler and Song Thrush

 

 

In total 37 bird species, a great day out and all courtesy of our bus travel card!

 

Glasgow's Wilds Warmer

Between Friday 3rd and Monday 6th, I visited Dawsholm Park LNR, Bingham's Pond and Hogganfield Park LNR to make a final check on all the nest boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs (https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves).
I am pleased to report that 22 of the 25 boxes were used this year - 13 by Blue Tits and 9 by Great Tits.

Great Tit - Dawsholm Park LNR

 

Other evidence of breeding included:

 

Robin - Dawsholm Park

 

Distant shot - Coot - Bingham's Pond

 

Coot - Hogganfield Park LNR

Mute Swan - Hogganfield Park LNR

 Mallard - Hogganfield Park LNR

 Juvenile Grey Heron - Hogganfield Park LNR

 Large Red Damselfly - Hogganfield Park LNR

 

An excellent three days wildlife watching in superb weather. Glasgow really was Wilds Warmer!

 

Meanwhile elsewhere in Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Monday 6 June 2016
A Little Ringed Plover at Bridgend Farm Pool from 1900-1920 hrs before flying off east.
A male Yellow Wagtail flushed from a barley field near the Cart/Clyde confluence at NS495694, before flying in the direction of the sewage treatment works; also two Common Terns fishing.
Two Common Terns fishing on the River Clyde at the SECC in Glasgow City Centre.

 

Sunday 5 June 2016
A singing Reed Warbler still at Newshot Island.
27 Common Terns at Bowling.

Saturday 4 June 2016
A Stock Dove visiting a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

Friday 3 June 2016
An Osprey over Craigallian Loch.
A Sandwich Tern downstream past SECC, Glasgow at 1430 hrs.

 

 

 

 

Highland Break

Last week we travelled up to Inverness for 4 days - some great scenery, lots of birds (50+ species) and a few other animals including Red Deer, Red Squirrel and stunning views of Bottle-nosed Dolphins

Cairngorm Centre

Looking towards Loch Morlich

RSPB Loch Garten Visitor Centre

 

Osprey on nest

 

Red Squirrel

Great Spotted Woodpecker

 

Findhorn Valley

Curlew

Red Grouse

Loch Ruthven

 

Beauly Firth from Merkinch LNR