Late August Update

I'm been away down south since the last update but thanks to Clydebirds and the SOC Clyde Grapevine I've been able to keep up-to-date with what's been turning up in the Greater Glasgow area.

All the sightings have come from wetlands in north east Glasgow and I predict the next 'goodie' to be found there will be a Black Tern, so get out there and get looking! In the meantime, a few key records courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

A juvenile Garganey, eclipse drake Blue-winged Teal and Greenshank have been seen on a regular basis at Frankfield Loch. 

Whilst there have been sightings of an Osprey at Bishop Loch, Frankfield Loch and Gartloch Pools.

Frankfield Loch - August 2019

'Autumn' Bird Watching

Over the past few weeks I have concentrated on bird watching rather than photography.

I have visited Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch in Glasgow; Musselburgh Lagoons and Torness in Lothian; and Cardwell Bay and Parklea in Inverclyde. Thanks go to Stephen, Judith & Mike and the government's travel pass!

The Lothian trip was the most memorable as neither Stephen nor myself took our cameras, partly due to the very poor weather forecast and partly because we wanted to concentrate on bird watching and in my opinion you can't always do both well!

Of course the sun generally shone and we had great views of Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Surf Scoter and Yellow Wagtail. The birds didn't fly off and we could have had good photos instead of just good memories.

On the other hand, on a trip to Hogganfield Park LNR, when no rain was forecast, I encountered a torrential downpour

Hogganfield Park LNR - 13/08/19

Thankfully, it soon cleared up

The rain seemed to follow me around because we were caught in another heavy shower at Cardwell Bay on the 20th. This Wheatear, however, was a pleasant surprise

We also got distant views of two Ospreys at Parklea (east) which was a nice end to the day.

Finally, I managed a couple of hours today at Frankfield Loch and Hogganfield Park LNR but there was nothing too unusual to report other than a sighting of Ayrshire birder Angus Hogg who had decided to twitch the Blue-winged Teal that has hung around Frankfield Loch for a few months now.

I had been hoping for some waders but could only see Lapwing, albeit a good count of at least 310.

Lapwing- Frankfield Loch - 21/08/19

Other recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine, include:

Tuesday 20 August 2019
The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR, also a Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank.

Monday 19 August 2019

A female Mandarin Duck on Maxwell Park Pond, Pollokshields, Glasgow for its third day. 

The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR.

Friday 16 August 2019
The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR.
An Osprey catching a small fish at the Gadloch in the morning, then flying off SW.

Wednesday 14 August 2019

The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR.
An  Osprey (for a second day) fishing at Bishop Loch, and today flying off with a small perch in the direction of Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge.
An excellent count of at least 128 Collared Doves on wires at Wester Cleddens roundabout, Bishopbriggs.

Butterflies (and other insects) Galore

Edited 7 August 2019 to add photo of hide at Skinflats.

Since my last post, the Greater Glasgow area (and the rest of the country) has been inundated with Painted Lady butterflies - see the following photos

Our garden - 28/7/19

Neighbour's garden - 28/7/19

Other insects have also been recorded including this Brimstone Moth …

Our garden - 25/7/19

and a variety of bees and hoverflies feeding on knapweed, again in our garden

I have managed a few days birding locally at Bingham's Pond, Hogganfield Park LNR, Cardowan Moss LNR and Frankfield Loch LNR but the overcast conditions weren't conducive to photography. I did manage a photo of the Tufted Ducks (female and youngster)

at Bingham's Pond on 31/7/19 and this Lapwing (one of c300) at Frankfield Loch on 29/7/19

We also travelled through to the Forth estuary on Sunday (4th) with Stephen and managed a good few birds including a breeding plumaged Red-necked Grebe off the sea-wall at Musselburgh - no decent photos as I left my camera at home, thanks to the forecast of rain. However, I did manage a photo with my phone of this 'hide' at Skinflats. Totally impractical and more likely to be an 'art installation'.

Finally, I also managed to fit in a visit to Dawsholm Park LNR in my role as chair of the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs following litter concerns raised by locals via the Friends FaceBook page. I spotted additional maintenance issues and have contacted the Council; photographs of some of the issues are available via this link Friends