Birding the Clyde area and beyond

Generally, another week of dull and dreary weather, but we managed out a couple of days - Lochwinnoch and Troon Harbour with Stephen on Sunday and Loch Lomond NNR and Craigendoran with Judith and Mike on Thursday. I also popped round to Cairnhill Woods on Monday.

Sunday was really good with Stephen getting two life ticks and I added to my year list with Purple Sandpiper and Golden Plover being the star birds. (Lynda doesn't do lists - she just enjoys the birds!)

Visiting Cairnhill Woods was a last minute, late afternoon visit but I was pleased with both the variety of common birds and the 30 Redwings appearing almost at dusk.

Sadly, the weather on both these days was not conducive to any photography!

However, we awoke to a clear blue sky on Thursday and our birding trip, to Loch Lomond NNR and beyond, provided excellent birds and scenery. We started by exploring some of the minor roads around Croftamie and picked up 4 species of geese, including 13 Barnacles.

After a much needed cuppa and hot roll, we headed over to the RSPB Loch Lomond Reserve and were pleased to discover that a new woodland trail has been opened. Lots of common woodland birds were seen with Siskins being the most notable .. 

RSPB Loch Lomond 'Hub'

RSPB Loch Lomond woodland trail

 

Our next stop was at Craigendoran in search of a reported Black Redstart. After a walk south along the shoreline, we found the Black Redstart - a record shot follows ...........

Black Redstart

 

...  as well as 2 unexpected Little Egrets....

 

Little Egret

 

The sunset provided a glorious end to an excellent day ..

 

 

I finish once again with some recent sightings, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Thursday 26 January 2017
The 1st-winter Glaucous Gull still at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost.

Tuesday 24 January 2017
A Jay at Pollok Country Park.

Bird Listing - 100 barrier broken!

Well it has been a mild week, with temperatures up to 10C, but still mainly dull and dreary. However, the birding has been anything but dreary!

It started with a visit to my local pond - Bingham's Pond - on Saturday to undertake the monthly 'wetland birds survey (Webs)'. Nothing unusual to report although the sun shone long enough to get this photo of a Tufted Duck ......

 

and this of a Black-headed Gull .........

 

 

On Sunday we headed west, with Stephen, to Lothian and had a terrific day with Black-necked Grebe and Long-tailed Duck at Whitesands Quarry; Stonechat at Barns Ness; Great Northern Diver, Kingfisher and Mandarin Duck at Seafield Pond; and Shorelark and Twite at John Muir Country Park!

Great Northern Diver (aka Common Loon) - Seafield Pond

For those that haven't been through to Lothian for a while, note that you have to pay for the car parks, although you can use your day ticket at all coastal sites ....

On the 16th, I paid another short visit to Bingham's Pond and added to my 'Pond Year List'.

Tuesday was meant to be a quick visit to Hogganfield Park LNR. However, I spent c3.5 hours there and recorded 50 different bird species and two mammals; quite remarkable for a Glasgow 'park'. Sadly, it was a really dull day with drizzle but I did manage a few record shots ...

Buzzard

Roe Deer

Whooper Swan family

The birding week finished on Wednesday with us joining the RSPB Glasgow Group, thanks to Judith and Mike, on their outing to Fairlie and Portencross. Again it was a dullish day, so no photographs, with the highlights for me being Peregrine and at least 12 different Greenshank.

So, since my last post I have managed to bird most days and have added to my 'year list' which now stands at 102 - this time last year it was 51!

As ever, I finish with some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Thursday 19 January 2017
The immature drake Scaup still on Heritage Loch, East Kilbride.
At least five Jack Snipe and 100 Snipe in the marsh at Littleton Reservoir, Dams to Darnley Country Park.

Wednesday 18 January 2017
The 1st-winter Glaucous Gull still at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost.

Tuesday 17 January 2017
103 Goldfinches at Elder Park, Glasgow.
An immature drake Long-tailed Duck on Bardowie Loch.
17 Whooper Swans and 18 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch.
Two Ravens at Commonhead Moss LNR, Glasgow.

Monday 16 January 2017
A 1st-winter Glaucous Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost.

Sunday 15 January 2017
Three Jack Snipe (two caught) at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock, also three Water Rails and three Ravens.
The immature drake Scaup still on Heritage Loch, East Kilbride.
Eight Waxwings at the Partick junction of the Clydeside Expressway. 

Saturday 14 January 2017
A flock of 55 Siskins on alders in the area of Darnley Mill Pond, Dams to Darnley Country Park.

Daily Glasgow Birding

Despite winter arriving, I've managed out virtually every day since the last post - Knightswood Park and Bingham's Pond on Saturday (7th); the Forth & Clyde Canal/River Kelvin walkways and Dawsholm Park (8th); the River Kelvin Walkway from Kelvingrove Park to the Botanic Gardens (9th); Victoria Park (10th) and the Millichen area, courtesy of Judith & Mike, on the 11th! I certainly feel a lot fitter and my bird list has increased to 80+ for the year; one of the highlights being three Waxwings at the junction of Ilay Road/Bearsden Road.

Only a few photos as the weather was so poor ...

Knightswood Park pond - 7 January 2017

Knightswood Park pond - 7 January 2017

River Kelvin - 9 January 2017

Kelvin Walkway at Arboretum, Botanic Gardens - 9 January 2017

Also, at short notice, I delivered a 45 minute presentation at the RSPB Glasgow Group on Wednesday evening - the 'Birds and Other Wildlife of Poole Harbour' seemed to go down well.

Finally, a quick round-up of recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Wednesday 11 January 2017
20 Waxwings in gardens between Royal Crescent and Fitzroy Place, Glasgow.
20 Waxwings over Drumyone Post Office, Shieldhall Road, Glasgow.
A male Blackcap in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, also 20 Bullfinches.

Tuesday 10 January 2017
A male Blackcap again in a Boylestone Road, Barrhead garden.
30 Siskins at Darnley Mill Pond.

Monday 9 January 2017
A Barnacle Goose with Pink-feet opposite Dobbies, Boclair Road, Milngavie.
A Jay in the woodland garden, Pollok Country Park, also a Nuthatch at the feeders.

Sunday 8 January 2017
A female Mandarin Duck still on White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield.

Saturday 7 January 2017
1st-winter Scaup still on Heritage Loch, East Kilbride.
40 Waxwings by the M8 at Townhead, Glasgow at 1000 hrs, at exactly the same time, the same number by M8 at Tradeston.
21 Waxwings at the junction of Wright Street and Percy Road, Renfrew at 1300 hrs, later 50 across Paisley Road at Glynhill Hotel.
A female Mandarin Duck on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield.
A Peregrine over Richmond Park, Glasgow.
Two Ring-necked Parakeets in Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

2017 - a new Birding Year

The first post of 2017 - I've been too busy birding!

On the 1st and 5th, I walked to one of my local sites - Bingham's Pond. In between, we managed trips down to Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire - thanks to Stephen; Peter and Tony; and Judith and Mike. The result - excellent company and 72 species! Today I added another bird to the list - Waxwing - with a bus trip into Glasgow City Centre!

Remember to click on the photos and create a slide show for enhanced viewing:

Barr Loch - 2/1/17

Aird Meadow - 2/1/17

Ring-billed Gull - Strathclyde Loch - 2/1/17

 

Distant, awful record shot - Hooded Merganser - Barr Loch - 3/1/17

 

Goosander - River Leven, Balloch - 4/1/17

Mandarin - River Leven, Balloch - 4/1/17

Nuthatch - Balloch CP - 4/1/17

 Buzzard - Balloch CP - 4/1/17

 

Bingham's Pond - 5/1/17

Moorhen - Bingham's Pond - 5/1/17

 

During the 'holiday period', lots of people have been out birding and here is a flavour of what's been seen in the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 5 January 2017
Six Waxwings at Millhouse Drive, Kelvindale, Glasgow.
Four Waxwings at Corrie Grove, Muirend, Glasgow.
Two Nuthatches at the feeders in Pollok Country Park.
A female Blackcap in a Boylestone Road, Barrhead garden.

Wednesday 4 January 2017
Two Chiffchaffs with Goldcrests at Glasgow Green.

Two Ring-necked Parakeets at Bishopbriggs Golf Course.

Tuesday 3 January
An adult colour ringed Mediterranean Gull at Knightswood Park, Glasgow.
The female Mandarin Duck still on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield.
A Nuthatch at feeders in Dowanhill Park, Highburgh Road, Glasgow.

Monday 2 January
An adult Iceland Gull at the Balgray Reservoir Gull roost.
Four Jack Snipe and 15 Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock, also three Water Rails.
Up to 40 Waxwings still at the back of Adelaide Church, Bath Street, Glasgow.
At least 40 Waxwings on a tree Darnley Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow.