Happy Christmas

 Belated Happy Christmas to all those that have taken the time and trouble to read my blog over the year.

Not much to report from December with the weather conditions not having been conducive to taking photographs.

So just a few location shots from some of my favourite bird watching sites in Greater Glasgow to end the year.

Hogganfield Loch, Hogganfield Park LNR - 4 December 2021

Pond, Dawsholm Park LNR - 16 December 2021

    

Bingham's Pond - 20 December 2021

Balgray Reservoir - 21 December 2021

I will finish with a bird photo albeit just a record shot of the (red head) Smew that has been seen over the last few days at Hogganfield Loch - possibly the one from last year returning.

Smew - 27 December 2021

Birding in November 2021

 Again not too much to report with a trip to Musselburgh being a highlight, although no photos. Otherwise it was much of the same as previous months with visits to local sites in Glasgow.

The highlight of  my local birding was being asked to assist with the SOC Clyde Branch outing to Hogganfield Park LNR. 

As I entered the park I was lucky to see a Kestrel, my first here for a number of years.

Record shot of Kestrel

I joined the outing at the car park area and as the introductions were being made by the outing leader Donald, I spotted a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull! This was only my second ever sighting of this species at the park. It was also a first for many of the participants - an excellent start to the outing.

Mediterranean Gull (2nd winter)

As the Group walked around the loch, various common species were spotted and one of the upgraded shelters admired, despite some graffiti. 2 Jays were also spotted in the woodland behind the shelter.

From here we walked to towards the marshy pond and pools and I was asked to suggest the best place to 'see' Jack Snipe. Amazingly, thanks to Donald, Zul and their wellies, we were successful with sightings of a Jack Snipe -  a first for many on the outing - and 2 Common Snipe.

Heading back to the path, we saw good numbers of Redwing and a few Fieldfare. We then crossed Avenue End Road and headed for Cardowan Moss LNR, not much to report, and then on to Frankfield Loch where we added good numbers of Gadwall to our birding list, before heading home.

I was really pleased I had agreed to assist as not only was it a good day out, I added 3 species to my year Hogganfield List - Kestrel, Mediterranean Gull and Jack Snipe! So my year 'Hoggy' list now stands at 92, my best year ever, and there are still a few weeks to go to try and add a few more species.

Birding Glasgow in October 2021

Not too much to report this month although it is worth noting the number of improvements that continue to be made at some of Glasgow's open spaces. I also attended a joint Friends of Glasgow's LNRs/Clyde Bird Ringing Group event at Hogganfield which proved to be fascinating.

Dawsholm Park LNR 

The Council has been slowly improving access to and around the LNR over the past year or so. For example:

A former 'desire line' has been upgraded to a formal path - 5/10/21

The existing muddy path next to the pond has been upgraded - 5/10/21

Hogganfield Park LNR

One of the wildflower meadows has been cut and the arisings lifted. This should ensure that wildflowers continue to thrive there.

6/10/21

6/10/21

Lethamhill Golf Course

The works being undertaken by the R&A to transform the golf course and facilities, which lie adjacent to Hogganfield Park LNR, continues. It is hoped that the new Visitor and Information Centre and revamped golf course will open in Spring 2023.

25/10/21

Hogganfield Park LNR Ringing Event - 30/10/21

Following on from a previous event in September, the Ringing Group managed to catch and ring a number of different species, some of which had recently arrived as winter visitors. It was also good to note that one of the refurbished shelters - refurbished through a joint project between the Seven Lochs team and the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs - was being put to good use. 

Redwing

Blackbird

Great Tit

Observing bird ringing

Finally, it is good to report that the Whooper Swans are back on Hogganfield Loch.

Whooper Swan - 30/10/21

Egrets, we had a few - Two Go Wild in Dorset!

Not Glasgow I know but I sometimes report from our travels further afield and I thought our recent trip to Dorset was worthy of a few lines and photos.

Upton Country Park, Poole

This is an excellent park on the edge of Poole and incorporates Holes Bay, part of Poole Harbour. On our visits we saw 32 species including the usual 'park' birds such as Stock Dove, Jay and Nuthatch. However, it was memorable for the sheer number of Little Egrets, waders and wildfowl in the Bay.

Brownsea Island

A superb nature resource in Poole Harbour, owned by the National Trust and part managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. We saw 42 bird species on our visit with incredibly close views of waders and wildfowl from the hides. It was also the only location where we saw Spoonbills and Avocets!

The Lagoon from the Ferry

Approaching the jetty

Shoveler

Teal

Greenshank

Spoonbills

Durlston Country Park, Swanage

The park was a bit disappointing with only 15 species seen. With the right winds it can be a great place to visit but not on this occasion, although the views were good!

Studland

Once again the bird numbers were low but we did manage to see the Dartford Warbler and enjoy the views from the heathland before relaxing in our hotel.

Views across to Brownsea Island

Little Sea, Studland peninsula

Typical heathland path

View from our hotel

Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch

Travelling east we managed 29 species at a very windy Stanpit Marsh, where a 'scope would have been very useful! The main highlight here was the number of Little Egrets that were present.

Stanpit Marsh

Little Egret

RSPB Lodmoor and RSPB Radipole Lake, Weymouth

Finally, we moved to Weymouth where we recorded 51 species and these are just a few of the highlights:

Cattle Egret

Black-tailed Godwit

Mediterranean Gull

Great White Egret

Bearded Tit

In addition to all the bird species we saw Red Squirrels, a  Lizard (probably Common) and lots of dragonflies and butterflies.

I've been visiting Dorset off and on for over 30 years and was surprised to add to my Dorset 'bird list' which now stands at 195, following on from the sightings of Great White Egret (at least 3 at Lodmoor) and Cattle Egret at Radipole Lake. 

All I need to do now is update my talk and wait for the offers to pour in from local wildlife groups 😀 

The End of Summer Birding

In the days leading up to the end of summer (August) I managed, thanks to Judith and Mike, to visit the Cardwell Bay area in Greenock on the 18th and the Loch Lomond area on the 24th. I also managed to fit in visits to Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch.

Cardwell Bay/Ironotter Point

Here we saw a few common waders and some nice Sandwich Terns.

Turnstone

Curlew and Sandwich Terns

RSPB Loch Lomond and surrounding lanes and farm land

We managed two sightings of Osprey, one flying parallel to the River Endrick and one distantly on an island. Other nice sightings included Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch and a Small Copper butterfly.

Loch Lomond, with Ben Lomond in the background

Spot the dot (Osprey)

Spotted Flycatcher

Nuthatch

Small Copper

Not surprisingly, I managed to visit  Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch, where wader passage had begun.

Hogganfield Park LNR

Black-headed Gull (ringed in the Moorfoots, south of Edinburgh)

Male Bullfinch

Whitethroat (juvenile)

Blue Tit (juvenile)

Frankfield Loch

Ruff and Common Sandpiper

During this period I saw 69 species and my year list now stands at a very modest 153, with 97 of them having been seen in Glasgow.

On to September and the real birding begins, or not, depending on the weather!