Wader Week!

Note: remember to click on the photographs to get a slide show and better view of the images.

Since the last post I've visited six different birding sites and seen 65 species including 12 species of wader.

On Sunday, I led a guided walk from Hogganfield Park LNR to Frankfield Loch via Cardowan Moss LNR on behalf of the SOC Clyde Branch in conjunction with the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs. We saw 37 species with a Garganey at Frankfield Loch being the highlight, plus three species of wader were seen - Greenshank, Snipe and Lapwing.

Grey Heron - Hogganfield Park LNR - 9/9/18

Approaching Cardowan Moss LNR - 9/9/18

Record shot - Garganey with Wigeon and Teal in foreground - 9/9/18

On the 12th I headed over to Balgray Reservoir using the No.3 McGills Bus from Glasgow City Centre to Neilston - get off at Oakbank Drive in Barrhead and then walk west for 10 minutes to a walled entry point to the Dams to Darnley Country Park. From here it's another 10 minutes or so to the car park and footpaths for Balgray Reservoir.

The reservoir's water levels are being dropped to facilitate work on the small reservoir opposite Balgray on the other side of Aurs Road. This has resulted in vast expanses of mud which is attracting a nice variety of waders - 8 seen here - Black-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Redshank, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, Ringed Plover and Lapwing.

Balgray Reservoir - 12/9/18

Curlew - 12/9/18

Black-tailed Godwits - 12/9/18

There were also good counts of Little Grebe (19) and Great Crested Grebe (11) plus a nice surprise, this female Scaup with a female Tufted Duck for comparison ….

Scaup and Tufted Duck (foreground) - 12/9/18

In between these trips, I also walked down to Bingham's Pond to check out if anything unusual had turned up. I added Grey Heron which, surprisingly, I hadn't seen at the Pond this year. This means my 'Pond Year List' now stands at 37. 

Finally, yesterday I travelled through to Musselburgh. It was too wet for any photography but I did add a few other waders to the weeks list - Ruff, Oystercatcher and, the highlight, Curlew Sandpiper. I also added Red-necked Grebe to my Year List.

Other people's sightings in Greater Glasgow,courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine, include:

Friday 14 September 2018 
The Garganey still at Frankfield Loch, also the first 36 Pink-footed Geese SE over at midday.
Balgray Reservoir counts included, a Knot, a Green Sandpiper, five Black-tailed Godwits, ten Dunlin, also still two Pintails, 20 White Wagtails and 250 Linnets.
Three Whinchats and eight Stonechats on the A77/M77 border at Shieldhill Farm, near Newton Mearns. 

Thursday 13 September 2018 
The Garganey still at Frankfield Loch, also an outstanding 38 Shoveler with eleven Gadwall.

A Ruff at Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch.

Waders at Balgray Reservoir included a Green Sandpiper, still seven Black-tailed Godwits, four Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper, also at least ten White Wagtails amongst the Pied.

Wednesday 12 September  2018
The Garganey still at Frankfield Loch.

No sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper at Balgray Reservoir, but a good collection of waders and ducks, including now two Green Sandpipers, seven Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Ringed Plovers and five Dunlin, also two Pintail with an  unusually high count for the site of 19 Little Grebes.

Tuesday 11 September  2018
The Pectoral Sandpiper still at a very reduced Balgray Reservoir, favouring the SW shore this morning, also three Dunlin and four Redshanks; late afternoon, also a Knot, a Green Sandpiper and seven Black-tailed Godwits.

Saturday 8 September 2018
A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Balgray Reservoir.