Glasgow's Water Bodies

Three birding trips this week, all with a water theme.

We joined the RSPB Glasgow Group's outing to Stronachlachar on Wednesday, thanks to Mike and Judith.

After an excellent coffee and scone in the tearooms, we explored the small hamlet and then walked along the path on the south western shore of Loch Katrine, Glasgow's water supply.

It was a bit chilly and overcast (not conducive to taking photos) but we eventually found a few summer migrants. The highlight, however, had to be the Crossbills, which I found close to semi-derelict buildings - record shot follows  ............

On walking along the path around the loch we added a few species to our list including Tree Pipit, Common Sandpiper and a pair of Stonechat - photo of the male .......

The weather had got a wee bit better and many of us stopped to photograph this pair of Canada Geese and their goslings ........

 

The scenery was stunning, as ever, and we all had a great day's birding with just over 30 species seen  ....

 

 

On Thursday I visited Hogganfield Loch and was pleased to see that a second phase of installing Biohavens had begun. Being the instigator of phase 1, through the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs, it was good to see more islands being put in place ...

 

 

I added House Martin to my year list and also got nice views of this Chiffchaff before heading home as a result of an unexpected shower ....

 

 

My final day out was to Bingham's Pond on the 28th. No photos but have a look at this video of Coot in dispute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FkLO59o7no

 

Please view at 1080pHD by adjusting the settings (small icon next to the YouTube logo at the bottom of the video).

 

I finish with a few more sightings, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 29 April 2017
Three Crossbills over Coulter's Wood, Carmunnock. also a male Whitethroat.

Thursday 27 April 2017
360 Pink-footed Geese at Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
A migrant female Redstart in a hedge at Linn Park Golf Course.

 

 

Glasgow Birding

I concentrated on birding in Glasgow over the past week visiting Bingham's Pond (18 species), Dawsholm Park LNR (27 species) and Hogganfield Park LNR (41 species).

I checked out the nest boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs and found that only a few boxes were being visited. This also happened last year, but by May virtually all the boxes were occupied, fingers crossed for the same result this year!

I had hoped to find Nuthatch at Dawsholm Park - they have been seen at the Botanic Gardens - but sadly it was not to be. I can't help thinking it's just a matter of time before they move in but, on the plus side, it was good to see a few summer migrants - Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

The visit to Hogganfield Park was excellent with a few birds, including Grey Heron, on nests. The viewing/feeding platform has been re-opened and even the inside of the Golf Club House has had a minor makeover.

A few images from the week .............

Coot on nest - Hogganfield Park LNR -  22 April 2017

 

Mute Swan on nest - Hogganfield Park LNR -  22 April 2017

 

Mistle Thrush - Dawsholm Park LNR - 24 April 2017

A reminder that Scott Ferguson (Seven Lochs Project Co-ordinator) will be speaking at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs AGM tonight. Venue: Hopkirk Building, Botanic Gardens; doors open 7.15pm. Its FREE, including tea and cake, and you don't need to be a member to attend. The Hopkirk Building is well sign-posted once inside the Botanic Gardens - just follow the 'brown signs' - see photos

 

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

Sunday 23 April 2017
14 White Wagtails at Waulkmill Glen Reservoir; nearby, 200 Sand Martins at Balgray Reservoir.
12 White Wagtails and 150 Sand Martins at Drymen Bridge.
Two singing Sedge Warblers at the west end of Bishop Loch and four reeling Grasshopper Warblers and two White Wagtails between there and Gartloch Pool.
A Nuthatch at Greenbank Garden, Clarkston; nearby, a Tree Sparrow at Low Flenders Road.
Three Ring-necked Parakeets at Victoria Park, Glasgow.

Saturday 22 April 2017
Three singing Tree Pipits at Mugdock Country Park, also a Woodcock and 12 Crossbills, later a flock of 20 Crossbills over Mugdock village.
12 Crossbills in Pollok Country Park.

Friday 21 April 2017
A singing Whitethroat at Hurlet Hill, Glasgow.
Single singing Nuthatch at Rosshall Park, Glasgow.

Has Spring Stalled?

Since my last post I have been birding locally - Bingham's Pond and Botanic Gardens - and to the north and west of Glasgow with Stephen on the 12th and 'east' with Peter on the 15th and, it appears, migrants are thin on the ground! 

I did, however, get some special sightings with two drake Garganey at the Gadloch on 12 April 2017 and one male Ring Ousel in the Lammermuirs on 15 April 2017. Other sightings included a single Swallow and Willow Warbler at Bingham's Pond; Sand Martins at Drymen Bridge; a Common Sandpiper at Musselburgh Lagoons; Wheatears along the Lothian coast and in the Lammermuirs; and White Wagtails at a few sites, again, along the Lothian coast.

Sadly only one photograph as I wanted to concentrate on bird watching so left the camera in its bag! One of the locations visited on Wednesday was the RSPB Loch Lomond Reserve. The facilities are coming along nicely with good footpaths; a car park, simple wooden building and toilet that forms what they call 'The Hub'; benches; picnic tables; and a small feeding station. The station attracted Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Bullfinch to name but three.

RSPB Loch Lomond

I would also like to thank everyone that came along to my talk at the RSPB Glasgow Group on Wednesday night - it is the first time I've had a police escort!

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

Sunday 16 April 2017
A drake Ring-necked Duck on Woodend Loch, Coatbridge, also six Gadwall and 50 Swallows.

Saturday 15 April 2017
Two Little Ringed Plovers at Twechar Marsh, Kirkintilloch.
A drake Garganey on Woodend Loch, Coatbridge.
Three White Wagtails at Drymen Bridge.

Friday 14 April 2017
Two Little Ringed Plovers and 12 White Wagtails at Longhaugh Point field pools, also three Black-tailed Godwits and 62 Pink-footed Geese in the morning.
A Greenshank, two Redshank, two Common Sandpipers and a White Wagtail at Drymen Bridge.
Two Nuthatches calling at two different locations Queen's Park, Glasgow.

Thursday 13 April 2017
Five Crossbills at Linn Park, also three Nuthatches.
70 Golden Plovers circling over Shieldhill Farm, near Eaglesham early evening.

 

Forthcoming Talk and Thank You

I shall be speaking at the RSPB Glasgow Group's meeting on Wednesday (12th April) the subject being 'The Birds and Other Wildlife of Dorset (Part 2)'.

A few months ago I stepped in, at the last minute, and gave Part 1 of my Dorset talk, covering Poole Harbour and Purbeck. They have kindly asked me back to present Part 2, which covers the Weymouth area, more specifically Chesil Beach, Portland Bill (an important migration point) and the two RSPB reserves in Weymouth at Radipole Lake and Lodmoor. 

The meeting takes place at Renfield St Stephens Church Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow - doors open at 7pm - see link http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow/events/

As a taster ...................

Shoveler - Lodmoor

Black-tailed Godwit - Lodmoor

Why not pop along and say hello?

Moving on, I would like to thank all my 'readers' - the stats indicate the Blog has had just over 100,000 page views! Hopefully, you will all keep on reading ..........

Finally, more news of recent bird sightings, including migrants, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 9 April 2017
A House Martin at Dams to Darnley Country Park.
Two White Wagtails at the Heritage Loch, East Kilbride late afternoon.
An Osprey flying along the Endrick Water from Drymen Bridge at 1525 hrs.
A Nuthatch in Rosshall Park, Glasgow.
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeets in Victoria Park, Glasgow.
A Ring-necked Parakeet flew east along Dumbarton Road near the canal in Clydebank.

Saturday 8 April 2017
120 Pink-footed Geese northeast over Langside, Glasgow this evening.
A nesting pair of Nuthatches in the Botanic Gardens.
Chiffchaffs now "numerous" in Pollok Country Park.

Dunbar Delivers!

Apologies to regular readers for the lack of posts, I am now back 'online'.

Since my last post, summer migrants have been arriving with Sand Martin, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Swallow and House Martin all making an appearance in the Clyde area.

I had intended to bird locally on Wednesday, in search of some of these migrants but in the end we travelled east, thanks to a call from Stephen. We had a great day with Black Grouse and Red Grouse being two of the highlights. Surprisingly we only made contact with two summer migrants - Chiffchaff and Wheatear.

One of our stops was at Dunbar Harbour ..............

 

We were pleased to see our first Kittiwakes of the year on the cliffs ....

 

 

.. Eider in the harbour ............

 

 

.. and this stunner ....

... a Glaucous Gull - the other bird is a Herring Gull, check out the size difference!

All in all a great, albeit tiring, day with c60 species seen and my year list now standing at 137.

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

Thursday 6 April 2017
Two Nuthatches coming to feeders at Pollok Country Park, Glasgow.
Chiffchaff and Blackcap return near complete, and small numbers of Willow Warbler and Swallow now widespread.

Wednesday 5 April 2017
Five Black-tailed Godwits at Buchley Pool, nr Summerston.

Tuesday 4 April 2017
Eight Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock, Glasgow.
An Osprey fishing along the Endrick Water from Drymen Bridge at 1800 hrs.
16 Shoveler (11 drakes) at Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
592 Pink-footed Geese at Millichen Flood, and a Tree Sparrow at Millichen Farm, Glasgow.

Monday 3 April 2017
Five Swallows at Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow.
A singing Willow Warbler at Gartloch Pools, Glasgow.
A singing male Blackcap in Linn Park, Glasgow.