Glasgow Birding and More

Time for another update; despite the dark, dreary days there's lots been happening since my last update on the 16th ..........

On Sunday (18th) I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Loch. As ever it was good to see Whooper Swans up close and personal ...

 

This Mute Swan, with its crooked neck, caused us some concern and I contacted the Council .....

 

 

Their staff have looked for it but it seems to have moved on. Sadly, the swan that was rescued by the Ranger Service (see post on the 16th) had to be put down.

 

I paid a short late afternoon visit to my local Bingham's Pond on the 19th and was intrigued to see a female Goosander 'courting' a male Goosander - a bit early I thought ...

 

Video grab

 

He wasn't interested and she eventually 'gave up', but she did get a nice sun set!

 

Bingham's Pond - 19 December 2016

 

I travelled down to Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve on the 20th in search of the elusive Hooded Merganser that has been reported from the Barr Loch and the nearby Kilbirnie Loch for a few months now. Success at last and a Scottish tick! Apologies for the poor quality, it's the bird closest to the far bank, but I think its worth showing .....

 

 

A Cormorant was a lot closer .......

 

 

And eventually, the sun tried to break through ...................

 

Barr Loch (RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve) - 20 December 2016

 

I visited the RSPB Visitor Centre to give them the news that the merganser was present and the staff were most welcoming, the cup of tea was gratefully received!

 

The last few days have been taken up with Christmas (ho, ho, ho) and looking out for Waxwings which are being reported in good numbers throughout Glasgow. I've had a good few sightings but the weather has been poor stopping any decent photographs but here goes .....

 

24th - 66 Waxwings - Westerlands Estate (from our window)

 

25th -  56 Waxwings - Westerlands Estate (from our window)

 

25th - Some of the 63 Waxwings - Bingham's Pond

 

25th - One of 15 Waxwings - Dorchester Ave/Gt Western Rd

 

In all 3 locations a Mistle Thrush had taken 'ownership' of the berry bearing trees and were trying to see off the waxwings! Here is the 'Bingham's Pond' bird .........

 

 

As I type, c150 Waxwings are in our estate!

 

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

 

Sunday 25 December 2016
An unusual record of a Dipper feeding at a flood pool in a Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields garden.

Monday 19 December 2016
52 Jack Snipe (16 caught) at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

Saturday 17 December 2016
A female Mandarin Duck back on White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
A Woodcock in flight over Silverburn, Pollok, Glasgow at 1000 hrs.
A Tawny Owl roosting in a tree at Williamwood High School, Eaglesham Road, Clarkston.
Up to four Nuthatches in the area of the walled garden, Pollok Country Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Happy Christmas to everyone that reads my blog - 75,650 page views and rising!

More Glasgow Birding

Since the last post, we've had 'record' number of thrushes in our garden with 50 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings being the best count.

Redwing

Blackbirds, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush also continued to visit and I managed this record shot of the latter  .......

Mistle Thrush

Most of the rowan berries have now gone but we still had two Redwings this morning.

One unusual 'tick', on the 13th, was from the window of the Esquire House pub when we saw 14 Waxwings, albeit briefly.

Finally, we joined the RSPB Glasgow Group at Hogganfield Park LNR on Wednesday (14th) and despite the overcast conditions I managed to record 34 species, including 15 Whooper Swans and 14 Gadwall, before 'rain stopped play'!
 
Sadly, a Mute Swan was looking rather sickly  .............

 

However, as if by magic a Council Countryside Ranger arrived, rescued the bird and hopefully it is now recovering at the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre http://www.hessilhead.org.uk/

 

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

 

Thursday 15 December 2016
A Scaup at Balgray Reservoir.

Wednesday 14 December 2016
Two Chiffchaffs opposite Morrisons, Bridge Street, Cambuslang.

Tuesday 13 December 2016
100 Waxwings at Beith Street, Partick, Glasgow.
 65 Waxwings at Greentree Drive, Baillieston, Glasgow.

Monday 12 December 2016
At least 50 Waxwings at the junction of St Georges Road/Garscube Road, Glasgow.

Sunday 11 December 2016
A drake Gadwall still on Alexandra Park Pond, Glasgow. 

Thursday 8 December 2016
150 Waxwings on McIntyre Street, Anderston, Glasgow at 1000 hrs.
60 Waxwings at The Forge, Parkhead, Glasgow at 1430 hrs.
At least five Waxwings at Govan Road/Burndyke Court junction, Glasgow.
Two Nuthatches still coming to the feeders in Pollok Country Park.
A Ring-necked Parakeet at Hogganfield Loch before flying off south.

 

 

Garden Birds in Glasgow

Since my last post I've spent a lot of time watching the birds in our garden - 18 species in total!

Here's a few images ..................

Redwing

Blackbird

Fieldfare

Song Thrush

 

We're just hoping that the berries last for a few more days and who knows we may attract some Waxwings!

 

I've also spent a bit of time preparing my presentation for next week (13th) when I am guest speaker at the Glasgow Natural History Society. Perhaps I'll see some of you there?

 

I did manage out for a few hours on Sunday and added these two Ravens to my Bingham's Pond year list  ....

 

 

 

Finally, more recent sightings courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 4 December 2016
Eight Jack Snipe (three caught) and three Water Rails at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock.
20 Waxwings at the junction of Nether Auldhouse Road and Kilmarnock Road, Newlands.

 

Saturday 3 December 2016
Now four Ring-necked Parakeets in Hillview Place, Clarkston.
A Nuthatch at Glasgow Botanic Gardens (NS566676).

Friday 2 December 2016
34 Waxwings near the Botanic Gardens, on Garrioch Road at Hotspur Street, Glasgow. 

 

 

From Asian to Bohemian (Hornbills to Waxwings)

We have been on our holidays but it was nice to arrive home just in time to see some Waxwings in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow!

Needless to say 1000s of photos were taken on our trip and I'm still sorting through them but here are a few typical 'Asian' bird species .........

Oriental Pied Hornbill - Singapore

 

Crimson Sunbird - Vietnam

 

Oriental Magpie Robin - Hong Kong

 

Collared Kingfishers - Philippines

 

Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Borneo

 

Yes, the humble Tree Sparrow proved to be one of the most common species in all of the countries we visited!

 

Whilst it wasn't a bird watching holiday, we saw some excellent birds and added to our 'world list' whilst enjoying temperatures in the 30s (Celsius!)

 

Although feeling a bit tired and coming down with the dreaded 'Glasgow Cough' we couldn't resist visiting the Botanic Gardens to try and see the reported Waxwing flock and thankfully we saw c30 birds in three small groups. A record shot, taken in poor light, follows....

 

 

They disappeared soon after taking this picture, so we were really pleased to have made the effort to see them. There are plenty of berries in Glasgow's West End so no doubt they will be relocated. Anyway thanks to the SOC Clyde Grapevine for the heads up. Other recent SOC sightings include:

 

Monday 28 November 2016
The adult Yellow Legged Gull again at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 650 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
At least 80 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

Sunday 27 November 2018
A female Scaup on Gadloch, Lenzie.
At least 115 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, before flying in the direction of Addison Road at 1510 hrs.
15 Waxwings on Kelvin walkway.
Eleven Whooper Swans and 15 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch.

Saturday 26 November 2016
At least one adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 70 Goosanders and a female Scaup.
Now 100 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeets again In Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

Wednesday 22 November 2016
An immature Scaup at Balgray Reservoir, also a Stonechat.
60 Waxwings (20 yesterday) at Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
A total of 38 Waxwings in the Mosspark area with 14 at Lugar Drive and 24 at Clunie Road.
12 Waxwings at Baillieston Distribution Centre, Barrachnie Road.
40 Gadwall and three Shoveler on Woodend Loch.
97 Teal and 107 Lapwing on Gartloch Pool.