Recent Bird Sightings in Greater Glasgow

Since my last post we have been on holiday up north for 7 nights and this will be the subject of a separate post. In the meantime, some recent sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Saturday 30 September 2017
A Yellow-browed Warbler in Millfield Hill, Erskine, this morning. The bird was working through gardens in the street between 08:05-08:10, calling frequently and showing occasionally. It then flew off into sycamores at the top end of the street.
A Peregrine being mobbed by a Raven over Battlefield, Glasgow.

Friday 29 September 2017
Three Ruff, 440 Lapwings and 19 Shoveler at Frankfield Loch, Glasgow.
A Peregrine flew low over Gardner Street, Partick, Glasgow.

Thursday 28 September 2017
At least four Ring-necked Parakeets in Bishopbriggs Park.

Monday 25 September 2017
A Greenshank with 238 Redshank at Bowling Harbour with a Guillemot swimming upriver.
A Jay in Linn Park, Glasgow.

Frankfield Loch

Twitching a Spotted Crake!

Following on from my spell of local birding, I travelled down to Doonfoot in Ayrshire on the 14th in the hope of seeing a Spotted Crake. It has been some time since I've seen one so thought the trip down, by train and local bus, would be worth it.

Sure enough within minutes of arriving at Doonfoot I had caught up with the bird ....

Doonfoot

Spotted Crake

Surprisingly, there was only one other birdwatcher present although I believe more had been there earlier. The bird would disappear for short periods and then reappear as if by magic. Despite this, I managed to take some video of the bird - link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X13lroETThs 

It was a bit windy and having managed to see another 24 bird species, I decided to quit and make my way home, a cold but happy birder.

Glasgow's Wildlife Sites - Five in Four days

Between the 7th and 12th, I visited 5 of Glasgow's best wildlife sites (four LNRs and a L-SINC) and saw a total of 43 bird species.

Starting on the 7th, it was an early start, in order to beat the forecast rain, as I headed for Bishop Loch on the edge of Easterhouse. Thankfully, the reported Black Tern was present along with one other bird watcher - David Mitchell. Other birds of note were Shoveler, 20+ Pochard (possibly the Hogganfield birds) and Great Crested Grebe.

Bishop Loch LNR

On the 9th, it was the turn of Cathkin Braes on the south side of Castlemilk. I hadn't been here for a number of years so it was good to explore the many paths through the woodland and grassland. A couple of Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk and a large flock of Linnets were the highlights

Cathkin Braes LNR

 

On the 11th it was the monthly wildfowl count at Bingham's Pond and the only surprise was the lack of any Mute Swans.

 

Finally, on the 12th, I paid a visit to Robroyston Park, another site I hadn't visited for some time.

 

Robroyston Park LNR

 

I was rewarded with a Kingfisher, which was a big surprise, a couple of Buzzards and at least 5 Meadow Pipits. Seeing the Meadow Pipits, presumably on passage,I decided to carry on to Hogganfield Park (c20 minute walk) in the hope that I'd find some Meadow Pipits in the grassland there. And sure enough, I found one! My 99th species for the Park!

 

I also saw 4 Buzzards, amazing how this has now become a 'common' Glasgow bird, and at least 372 Goldfinches, as counted from this photograph!!!

 

 

 

So, the four days travelling around Glasgow proved you can enjoy some excellent birding on your doorstep.

 

For more information and photographs about Glasgow's LNRs see:

 

https://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com/ and

 

https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves

 

 

 

 

 

 



Musselburgh - wader fest and more!

Although I've managed a few trips to Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch over the past week, Musselburgh has been the stand-out location. Although, the Eden Estuary in Fife - with Avocet, White-tailed Eagle, 3 Ospreys and lots more - runs it a close second. Thanks to Peter plus Stephen and Lynda for the Fife trip.

So, Musselburgh and, in particular, the 'scrapes' has had a fantastic variety of waders over the last few days - a few photos, some good, some bad give an idea of what it has been like ....

Mixed waders, including Oystercatcher and Curlew

Bar-tailed Godwit

Green Sandpiper

 

Knot

 

Spotted Redshank

Ruff with 2 Redshank and 2 Black-headed Gulls

Curlew Sandpiper with 2 Dunlin and Redshank

 

Pectoral Sandpiper

 

In addition to the above, I saw Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper as well as the more common waders. I also managed to see Grey Partridge at the scrapes .....

 

 

.. Arctic Skua and Red-necked Grebe off the sea wall and Little Gull at the River Esk mouth ...

 

 

.. and even a Kingfisher on the Esk, c100 metres up stream ....

 

 

 

Closer to home I had some good records for the Clyde area particularly Kingfisher and c40 Snipe at Frankfield Loch.

 

Other interesting sightings, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine, for Greater Glasgow:

 

Saturday 2 September 2017
A juvenile Black Tern at Hogganfield Loch.
A Swift at Linn Park, Glasgow, also six Ravens.

 

Friday 1 September 2017
Five Ring-necked Parakeets (including two juveniles) at Victoria Park, Glasgow.

Thursday 31 August 2017
A juvenile Marsh Harrier at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.