Glasgow Birding

This is the first of two updates concentrating firstly on Glasgow.

At the start of the month, I popped down to my local patch - Bingham's Pond. There are still 4 cygnets present and at least 3 Moorhen and 3 Coot youngsters.

The main interest, however, was 'human'. Firstly, a local managed to shepherd the male swan, who seemed to be intent on crossing Shelley Road, back to the Pond. I then had a brief interesting chat with a Council operative who clearly cares about parks and open spaces in the City. He managed to undertake a bit of much needed strimming whilst his colleague emptied the bins. But once the bins were emptied he had to stop strimming and head off to the next park on their rota. It appears there are now only 300 people doing what was once done by 1300 park staff - hopefully, I've got the figures right!

Some of the area strimmed - 1 August 2016

Still needing strimming - 1 August 2016

The next day (2nd) I was off to Hogganfield Park LNR to check out the Great Crested Grebes that had laid eggs on one of the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs floating islands(BioHavens). Thankfully she was still sitting and tolerating various other birds that chose to rest and preen on 'her' island, provided they didn't get too close! This had to be the cutest shot as she sat with 11 Tufted duckling ...

Great Crested Grebe and 11 Tufted duckling - 2 August 2016

 

At least two other pairs have successfully bred at the loch and the following image shows a well grown youngster...

 

2 August 2016

 

Pochard and Gadwall numbers are starting to increase and there were two other Tufted duckling broods, albeit of only one bird each. Other evidence of successful breeding included sightings of cygnets and young Mallard, Moorhen and Coot.

 

I recorded 36 bird species which included an encounter with my first 'tit' flock of the 'autumn'! And Autumn for me means the east coast - see the next post which will follow shortly.

 

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

 

Monday 1 August 2016
Three Stonechats at Cathkin Marsh.