Lochs and Wetlands Galore

Last Sunday (29th) we travelled north with Stephen, saw lots of birds and even had a chat with that well known twitcher and birder Lee Evans.

We started at Loch of Lintrathen, a SWT Reserve. It was a new location for both Lynda and myself and it came up trumps with American Wigeon and Red-necked Grebe ..........

American Wigeon - heavily cropped distant record shot

 



We then headed for the nearby RSPB Loch of Kinnordy Reserve. Sadly two of the three hides and footpaths were closed for health and safety reasons. The east hide was still open and afforded us reasonable views of the loch and a good range of wildfowl, including Shoveler. The feeding station was well stocked and allowed close views of  various species. More specifically, it was good to see more than just a few Tree Sparrows.

 

 

Our final stop, having encountered 4 Red-legged Partridge on the way, was Pitlochry and a small loch called the Cuilc. This lochan has played host to a drake Ring-necked Duck for the last two winters at least and today it also welcomed that well known birder, Lee Evans. Lee was on 'tour' with three other birders (clients?) and having left London a few days earlier had already twitched a number of rarities on their way north. No photograph of Lee but the Cuilc and Ring-necked Duck looked superb in the late afternoon sunshine ....

 

 

So after another excellent day's birding, my year list stood at 113 species!

On Wednesday, it was a lot closer to home with three hours spent at Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve followed by an hour scanning the Clyde from Battery Park, Greenock. Thanks go to our good friends Judith and Mike.

Once again we met Lee Evans, this time at Lochwinnoch, on his way back south. Lee and  his accomplices caused a bit of a stir in the visitor centre. They left content having got their target bird - Smew.

RSPB Lochwinnoch - Aird Meadow - from hide

 

Brambling

 

From Battery Park we managed distant views of Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Razorbill and Great Crested Grebe. Being high tide, only two wader species were seen - Oystercatcher and Curlew ..........

 

 

On the day we saw 50+ species with Brambling being my bird of the day and also being my 114th of the year!

 

More recent sightings, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 2 February 2017
A Little Egret still at the east end of Gadloch, Lenzie, also five Whooper Swans and a Ringed Plover.
A male Brambling still in a Hollows Avenue, Paisley garden.
A Stock Dove in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart garden.

 

Tuesday 31 January 2017
A Little Egret still at east end of Gadloch, Lenzie; nearby, 1,500 Pink-footed Geese feeding at Cardyke Farm.
14 Waxwings in a Montford Road, Rutherglen garden.

Monday 30 January 2017
A drake Scaup on Tannoch Loch, Milngavie.
A Little Egret still at east end of Gadloch, Lenzie, also a Jack Snipe and 1,000 Pink-footed Geese.
The 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and four Scaup still at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
30 Waxwings by the M74 at Polmadie junction.