Autumn migration has begun!

It has been a busy few days since my last post. 

I travelled down to RSPB Lochwinnoch by train on the 21st and was sorely disappointed. The Aird Meadow part of the reserve was almost devoid of birds. I only saw 19 species in 2 hours and these were, in the main, visiting the feeders.

Aird Meadow from Visitor Centre Tower

I had better luck on the Wednesday when we both travelled to Ironotter Point/Cardwell Bay in Gourock with Mike and Judith.

The tide was perfect, as we had hoped, and we had good views of a solitary Sanderling with a small flock of Ringed Plover. Apparently the Sanderling was a first record for Cardwell Bay!

Sanderling and Ringed Plover

Also present were up to 31 Sandwich Terns, two of which had been ringed but we were unable to read the rings …

Sandwich Tern, with rings

More excitingly we also saw two Mediterranean Gulls one of which had been ringed in Poland in 2017!

Mediterranean Gull (not ringed)

Mediterranean Gull (ringed PUP2)

We also called in at Newshot Island on the way home and got good views of a Greenshank plus other common waders and gulls.

Newshot Island, from viewpoint

Closer to home I helped the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs at the Garscadden Wood LNR event on Sunday.

Garscadden Wood LNR, Drumchapel, Glasgow

Here, I saw 2 Buzzards and 2 Sparrowhawks as well as common woodland birds. Two of us also had a glimpse of what was probably a Purple Hairstreak butterfly high in the canopy of an oak tree.

So a nice end to a good week with more exciting weeks ahead, I'm sure!

Migration has clearly started, so some interesting recent sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 26 August 2018
 A 1st-winter/female Garganey at Frankfield Loch, also a Greenshank and a Swift.
Friday 24 August 2018

An adult Mediterranean Gull roosting at Frankfield Loch, also a Greenshank present.

Wednesday 22 August 2018
A juvenile Kittiwake on Balgray Reservoir this evening, also a good count of 140 Linnets.
Two juvenile Ruffs, 14 Black-tailed Godwits and four Greenshank at Newshot Island in the morning, also a Reed Warbler feeding with Willow Warblers in the hedgerow there. 

Monday 20 August 2018
Three Whinchats at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.
A Hummingbird Hawk-moth again feeding on buddleia in a Netherlee garden.
Sunday 19 August 2018

A female Scaup on Woodend Loch, also a total of 15 Gadwall between there and Lochend Loch.Two Sandwich Terns over Balgray Reservoir at 1430 hrs, also there a Black-tailed Godwit with four Ringed Plovers and two Dunlin.
Five Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin at Frankfield Loch.
Four Whinchats at Todds Well, near Gartloch Pools, Glasgow; nearby, a Comma in a Gartloch Village garden.