More Sunny December Birding!

Remarkably we have had a few more sunny days since my last post!

This has resulted in a few visits to Hogganfield Park LNR, Bingham's Pond and Balloch, not so sunny, but at least dry!

At Balloch, on the River Leven, I managed to connect with three Mandarin Duck (2m, 1f), although it was a bit dull for photography …

14/12/18

I managed two visits to Hogganfield (in the sunshine) and it was nice to bump into and have a quick chat with some fellow birders and bird photographers …

On the 10th I found a dishevelled Magpie apparently using a litter bin as its shelter ..

… a Grey Heron sitting atop a tree next to a path …

… and another ringed (2CK2) Black-headed Gull ..

Later in the week (16th) I helped out once again with the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs monthly wildfowl feeding and Bird ID event ……

At Bingham's Pond, I recorded the usual suspects ….

Goosander (female) - 9/12/18

Mallard (drake) - 9/12/18

Coot - 9/12/18

However, in addition to the wildlife, I was pleased to see that the Council had started to resurface the footpath around the pond ……

Resurfacing footpath - 9/12/18

Yesterday the footpath was complete and looking good …..

17/12/18

17/12/18

A big thank you to everyone involved for getting this done.

Finally this will probably be my last blog before Christmas, so 

Happy Christmas to you all 

Sunny December Birding!

What do I mean by the heading? Well it was sunny on the 3rd and a trip to Hogganfield Park LNR proved rewarding with my 82nd species for the year at this wonderful urban reserve. 

The species was Lesser Redpoll and 9 of these small beauties fed above my head, close to dusk.

Other sightings included Roe Deer, Kingfisher, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 31 Gadwall and the obligatory Whooper Swans!

Roe Deer

Gadwall and Mallard on 'biohaven'

Kingfisher

Gadwall

The wildlife was once again excellent but at this time of year, if it is bright and clear, it is worth waiting to catch the sunset. Who would have thought that this photo was taken in Glasgow? Remember to click on the photos to create a slide show and enhanced viewing.

Hogganfield Loch

Weather permitting, I'll certainly be back to this wonderful LNR before the end of the year. I'm certainly looking forward to the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs next wildfowl feeding session on Sunday 16 December 2018 from 10.30am until c1.30pm - meet at the viewing/photographic platform next to the car park.

Yet More Birding and it is still dark and dreary!

The last post seemed to work well with the latest news coming first so I will start with today's news: a small flock of around 20 Waxwings in Westerlands, Anniesland although I only had flight views.

Yesterday was our weekly trip with Judith and Mike and we travelled to Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve. We managed to see a good range of birds and timed our departure to coincide with the rain arriving! The highlight was a Little Egret which was a reserve first for all of us ..

Little Egret - 27/11/18

On Saturday (24th) we travelled with the RSPB Glasgow Group down to he WWT Reserve at Caerlaverock. The weather was excellent and it only started to rain shortly after leaving the reserve. As expected we had excellent views of wildfowl …

Barnacle Geese - 24/11/18

Wigeon - 24/11/18

Scaup with Tufted Ducks - 24/11/18

We also had a glimpse of a Great White Egret and up to 9 Little Egrets but the highlight for me was a Merlin perched on a post, seen from the Salcot Obervatory Tower.

On the Friday, I travelled to Knightswood Park and Bingham's Pond, both in Glasgow. I was looking for 'ringed' birds - which will the subject of a separate post - but was also struck by the fact that a small flock of Greylag Geese can be seen grazing at a Glasgow Park …

Greylag Geese - 23/11/18

Moving on to Bingham's Pond and I added to my year Pond list with a Raven flying over, 'cronking' and being harassed by gulls.

I also visited Hogganfield Park LNR on Saturday 17th to help with the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event. There wasn't any time to do much birdwatching other than from the viewing/feeding platform. However, this Great Black-backed Gull stood out …..

Great Black-backed Gull - 17/11/18

However, the real surprise turned out to be a group of 3 Shelduck which were a personal first for me for both Hogganfield Park and Glasgow.

Distant record shot - 3 Shelduck - 17/11/18

So, my Hogganfield list now stands at 106 (including feral/introduced species) and my Glasgow list 147.

So despite it still being dark and dreary, all in all it was a good week. 

Roll on December!

PS remember to click on the photos to produced a slide show and enhanced viewing.

Birding in November - the darkest, dreariest month of the year!

It's almost two weeks since my last post, so for a change I'll start with some up-to-date trips and work my way back.

Today we met up with Judith and Mike for our regular weekly coffee, scone and birds AND what a nice day it was.

We headed off to a farm near Bishopton and almost right away had distant views of the reported Cattle Egret, only the second time I've seen one in Scotland. We all, in the end, had good views and we also bumped into a few other birders, it was a popular bird!

Cattle Egret - 15/11/18

After watching the egret we headed off to near Croftamie and managed to see 24 of the Greenland White-fronted Goose flock …..

Greenland White-fronted Geese - 15/11/18

From here we headed for some fields just north of Drymen and added Pink-footed Geese and Greylag Geese to our day list …

Pink-footed Geese and Greylag Geese - 15/11/18

We finished at the RSPB Loch Lomond hub by which time it was getting dark even though it was only c3pm - a bat species was a pleasant surprise.

On the 11th we headed east, with Stephen, to the Lammermuirs hoping to see a Rough-legged Buzzard. Sadly, we failed, although it is still around, but we did see one juvenile White-tailed Eagle, one Buzzard, one Kestrel and one Snow Bunting ..

Snow Bunting - 11/11/18

The only other birds we saw in the Lammermuirs were Red Grouse, although Lynda did see a Wren! So 6 species of birds with five of them being individual birds!!! Who said driven grouse moors were bad for wildlife and the environment?

Red Grouse - 11/11/18

We also saw a few Mountain Hare one of which successfully escaped from a 'hunting party' of 3 men with 2 birds of prey (one a Harris's Hawk) and a dog. This plus the various 'traps' we saw and the general lack of birds left us pretty depressed.

One of a few traps seen in the Lammermuirs - 11/11/18

We decided to pay a late visit to Aberlady Bay LNR and we were rewarded by lots of birds and a nice sunset ….

Aberlady Bay LNR - 11/11/18

On the 6th I travelled to Hogganfield Park LNR and spent an enjoyable few hours there until the rain arrived. A few images ..

Hogganfield Loch - 6/11/18

Redwing - 6/11/18

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 6/11/18

Whooper Swans - 6/11/18

Ringed Black-headed Gull - 6/11/18

And I'm pleased to report the Black-headed Gull was ringed as a 'pullus' in June 2018 in Norway!

Why not pop along to the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event on Saturday 17th from 11am at Hogganfeld Loch and see if any more ringed birds can be found!

Birding Glasgow and the east Coast

In between yet more internet/TV problems, I've managed a bit of birding as well.

We started last Sunday at Hogganfield Park LNR helping out at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding and Bird ID event. Spot the 2 Whooper Swans and 2 Tufted Ducks in with the Mute Swans ….

Sadly, a Goosander had got caught up in some fishing line …..

We have reported it and hopefully it can be rescued and rehabilitated.

Moving on to the 29th and I travelled over to the pond at Knightswood Park hoping to see if I could pick out and report 'ringed' gulls. It is always fascinating to find out where birds have come from - I once found a ringed Black-headed Gull at Bingham's Pond that had been ringed in Poland! Sadly no ringed gulls so I had to settle for these 2 Mute Swans ..

Dark green ring white letters NZN on left leg, metal ring on right leg W35019

Metal ring on right leg W39653

I have sent off the information to the relevant ringer and will report the outcome.

On Tuesday we travelled through to Dunbar with Judith and Mike on a 2 day trip. On Tuesday, we visited the Torness and Skateraw area with the star bird being a Black Redstart.

From Torness with St Abbs in the distance - 30/10/18

From Torness looking towards Barns Ness with the Bass Rock in the background -30/10/18

On the Wednesday we visited Barns Ness, Belhaven Bay and Seafield Pond. At the Pond we encountered good numbers of wildfowl with a Scaup being the highlight ….

Caravan park and Seafield Pond - 31/10/18

3 Wigeon and 2 Moorhen

Teal

Scaup

Despite changeable weather forecasts we were fairly lucky with the weather whilst we were away but there wasn't the hoped-for 'fall' of birds. Better luck next time!

Birdwatcher's Shoulder!

Firstly, a reminder to click on the photos to get an enhanced view and slideshow.

Since my last post I have suffered from what I've termed 'birdwatcher's shoulder'. Whilst restricting my birdwatching, for example I've stopped carrying a 'scope and tripod, it hasn't forced me to stop!

I joined the RSPB Glasgow Group for one of their 'East Coast Magic' trips and this proved to be very pleasant albeit the winds didn't help so there were no rarities to be found. No pictures either as I left my camera at home.

Back in Glasgow, I managed a couple of visits to Hogganfield Park LNR on the 15th and 22nd and was rewarded with 3 birds I had never seen in the LNR before - Common Tern, Skylark and Jay. This brings my life list for the LNR to 104 and my year list to 80; not bad for a park less than 2 miles from Glasgow City Centre.

Common Tern - 15/10/18

Common Tern - 15/10/18

Other birds included Buzzard and Kestrel which were seen on both visits ….

Buzzard - 15/10/18

Kestrel - 15/10/18

I was pleased to see that more Whooper Swans had arrived, from Iceland ... 

Whooper Swans - 15/10/18

… and it was good to see a family group on the 22nd ….

Whooper Swan family group (2 adults and 4 juveniles) with Mute Swans - 22/10/18

I also managed to find a 'rarity' on the loch in the form of a distant Slavonian Grebe ..

Distant record shot of Slavonian Grebe - 15/10/18

So despite my dodgy shoulder I've still managed to get out and about and see some good birds.

You too could also see dome good birds if you come along to the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR on Sunday 28 October 2018 from 11am. For more info see - 

https://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com/

or

https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves