Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves and the River Clyde

It's generally been a good week, managing to bird watch most days.

Starting at Dawsholm Park LNR on Monday (21st), it was a bit depressing with litter, dog dirt, overgrown paths and little sign of birds .... I did see a Tree Pipit, which was a good find, and a Buzzard was calling in one of the tall trees, otherwise there was little else to report ...

Buzzard - 21 August 2017

 

On Tuesday I headed for Cardowan Moss LNR, Frankfield Loch proposed LNR and Hogganfield Park LNR. Cardowan Moss LNR was looking good and had a range of animals present including Roe Deer, Common Darter dragonflies, 'blue' damselflies and common woodland birds ..

 

Cardowan Moss LNR, main entrance - 22 August 2017

 

The main attraction at Frankfield Loch was 413 Lapwing, with 4 Shoveler and 1 Snipe ..

 

A few of the 413 Lapwing plus 3 Black-headed Gulls - 22 August 2017

 

Hogganfield Park LNR was as welcoming as ever with young wildfowl adding to the interest .....

 

Great Crested Grebe (juvenile) - 22 August 2017

 

On the 23rd we paid an impromptu visit to both Frankfield Loch and Hogganfield Park LNR, thanks to Stephen. I didn't have my camera but took this landscape shot of Stepps Marsh, opposite Frankfield Loch, with my phone. We were lucky enough to see a Whinchat here ..........

Stepps Marsh - 23 August 2017

On Thursday (24th), we went birding with Mike and Judith and travelled down to Cardwell Bay and Parklea on the Clyde. In Cardwell Bay we saw a good range of common waders as well as a few Sandwich Terns ...

Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gull - 23 August 2017

On the way back to Glasgow, we stopped off at Parklea and after walking east from the car park, we were lucky enough to see an Osprey sitting on a post in the water ....

Osprey - 23 August 2017

We walked further along the path and eventually saw 3 in total!

A nice way to end a good few days of birding

Hogganfield Park LNR - update

Just one day's birding, at Hogganfield Park LNR; don't you just love the summer weather!

Wanted to check on the Great Crested Grebes nesting on one of the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs biohavens on the loch and I'm pleased to say it was still sitting and I was lucky enough to see it turn its eggs ............

Great Crested Grebe on nest - 15 August 2017

 

You can tell autumn/winter is approaching as there were at least 24 Pochard, 10 Gadwall and a Shoveler present in addition to the 'normal' wildfowl ....

 

Shoveler  - 15 August 2017

 

Successful breeding was still evident with these three Tufted duckling showing well  .....

 

 

It was also good to see a few Common Darter dragonflies ...........

 

 

 

So as ever, a very productive visit to this excellent LNR close to Glasgow city centre.

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

Saturday 19 August 2017
A Greenshank at Frankfield Loch, Glasgow.

Friday 18 August 2017
A  Hobby hunting Swallows at Garscube Estate at 1300 hrs, before drifting east.

Thursday 17 August 2017
An Osprey over Gartloch Pools, Glasgow early afternoon.
A Greenshank with 356 Lapwing at Frankfield Loch, Glasgow
Six Swifts flying over Rosshall Park, Glasgow.

Wednesday 16 August 2017
An adult male Peregrine flying around Crown Plaza Hotel, Glasgow.

Tuesday 15 August 2017
34 Black-tailed Godwits at Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
Seven Whinchats at Gartloch Pools, Glasgow.

Local and Lothian Birding

This week, I managed to visit  two local sites - Bingham's Pond (twice) and Knightswood Park - as well as a visit to Musselburgh Lagoons in Lothian.

Bingham's Pond - 8 August 2017

juvenile Coot - Bingham's Pond - 8 August 2017

adult Moorhen - Bingham's Pond - 8 August 2017

 

Grey Heron - Bingham's Pond - 9 August 2017

 

Some years ago, Bingham's Pond benefitted from a naturalisation scheme and it is good to see that part of the Knightwood Park pond has also been naturalised ......

 

Knightswood Park pond - 9 August 2017

 

.... resulting in nesting opportunities for a variety of birds as well as providing a more attractive outlook for the locals.

 

On Friday, I travelled through to Musselburgh Lagoons (Levenhall Links) and had great views of a host of waders - Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper and Ruff to name just a few. I also had a bit of a surprise with a Little Gull being present ..

 

Black-tailed Godwits plus - Musselburgh Lagoons - 11 August 2017

Little Gull - Musselburgh Lagoons - 11 August 2017

 

At Musselburgh Lagoons I saw 49 different species in just over 3 hours and, over the week, totalled 55 species.

 

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

 

Saturday 12 August 2017
Two Crossbills feeding on larch in Linn Park, Glasgow.
Two Ring-necked Parakeets visiting a feeders in a Hardgate, Clydebank garden.

Tuesday 8 August 2017
A Nuthatch at Garscube Estate.

 

 

 

 

Hogganfield Park Local Nature Reserve

Earlier this week I travelled over to Hogganfield Park LNR primarily to see how the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs biohavens were doing and I was not disappointed!

Another pair of great Crested Grebes have nested on one of the islands .........

 

Two of the other islands that were 're-planted' in spring were awash with colour, thanks to the 'fencing' that has helped prevent geese and swans from trampling and grazing the vegetation. I also suspect a pair of Coots are nesting on one of them ..................

 

 

A pair of Mute Swans and their cygnets were using another island to 'loaf' ......

 

And there was further evidence of successful breeding with young Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Coot and Tufted Duck - see photos - as well as Mallard and Moorhen .........

 

 

 

Sadly, I was only able to stay for around 2 hours but what a wonderful 2 hours!