Hogganfield Special

After an exciting couple of days and two visits to Hogganfield Park LNR, I am devoting a whole post to this wonderful wildlife resource in the City.

On my first visit for many weeks, I was lucky enough to find a Red-necked Grebe - a first for the LNR! 

It normally breeds in Europe and Western Asia and some can be found wintering off the Lothian coast in Scotland. So to get a bird in breeding plumage on a Glasgow loch at the end of June /beginning of July is very unusual to say the least.

Unfortunately the bird was distant when I found it (close to the island), it was clearly resting with its head down and the weather was dull and overcast. So my photos were poor to say the least but here are a couple, one of which also features another unusual duck - a moulting drake Scaup.

Red-necked Grebe with Tufted Ducks behind 

Red-necked Grebe in middle with Scaup at the back and Tufted Ducks either side 

To give a better idea of what it looks like, here's a photograph of a Red-necked Grebe I took in the east coast of Scotland, albeit beginning to moult into its winter plumage

Red-necked Grebe 

In total, I saw 43 bird species over the two days and it was good to visit what is one of the best bird watching sites in central Scotland. I managed a few photos of other species with this Grey Heron posing at the car park.

Grey Heron 

And this Whitethroat one of at least 8 birds seen.

Whitethroat 

In addition to the Red-necked Grebe there were a few Little Grebes and Great Crested Grebes, a pair on a nest and 4 others with youngsters 

Great Crested Grebe and nest 

Adult and young Great Crested Grebe

As well as the birds, there were a variety of insects and some stunning wildflowers.

Pied Hoverfly 

Ringlet butterfly 

Six-spot Burnet moth 

Common Spotted Orchid 

Ragged Robin

Greater Butterfly Orchid 

Ox-eye Daisies 

As I've said before, it really is worth a visit and you never know what you might find!