Birding in April - before lockdown eases

 In the first 17 days of the month I have limited my birding trips to Hogganfield Park LNR, Bingham's Pond, Dawsholm Park LNR and a quick visit to Cardowan Moss LNR, all within the City of Glasgow.

The trips to Hogganfield Park LNR proved the most fruitful with a total of 52 species seen during the month and the 'year list' now standing at 69. I managed a number of early morning trips arriving c7am and these proved to be more than worthwhile with  highlights including a number of Meadow Pipits, the return of the Smew, Skylark and summer migrants - Chifchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow and Sand Martin. It was also good to see all four 'tit' species some of which have already started to investigate the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs nest boxes

Meadow Pipit

Record shot of distant Smew

Skylark

Chiffchaff

Long-tailed Tit

Great Tit leaving nest box

At Bingham's Pond the news revolved around the Ring-necked Duck that has spent much of the month at the Pond, although it did fly to Victoria Park pond a few times. The resident wildfowl are pairing up and have built, or are building, nests and the 'Friends' nest boxes are being investigated. The year list now stands at an excellent 43 species which is more akin to previous year totals for the Pond.

Ring-necked Duck (left) compared with resident Tufted Duck

Ring-necked Duck, showing ring at base of neck

Blue Tit leaving nest box

There is still a lot of 'access work' being carried out at Dawsholm Park LNR and as a result I chose to only visit the LNR on one occasion when I had excellent views of a Nuthatch. Currently, my year list for the LNR stands at 33 species.

Nuthatch

Finally, I also paid a visit to Cardowan Moss LNR, which lies adjacent to Hogganfield Park LNR, to check on the 'Friends' nest boxes. Although still quite early, it was good to see that the boxes were proving of interest to Blue and Great Tits.  

Blue Tit investigating nest box

The government's lockdown has been eased and we should now be able to visit other excellent birding sites outside the City boundary. However, I shall be continuing to visit sites within the City over the coming months and who knows what might turn up.

Finally, remember, to click on the photos to create a mini slide show for enhanced viewing.

March - still in lockdown

Another month and we are still in lockdown although there i some light at the end of the tunnel - it's a very long tunnel! So birdwatching still limited to the Glasgow area with 16 visits to Bingham's Pond - mainly to check out the status of the Ring-necked Duck -5 visits to Hogganfield Park LNR, 1 visit to Cardowan Moss LNR and one to Frankfield Loch proposed LNR. Taking each in turn:

Bingham's Pond: I saw 35 species during the month making a total of 41 species for the Pond so far in 2021. The highlight was the drake Ring-necked Duck, from North America, which was regularly seen during March. Other highlights included the pair of Greylag Geese that popped in just for one day and clear indications of spring with thoughts turning to breeding!

Ring-necked Duck

Coot on nest

Blue Tit examining nest box

Greylag Goose

Hogganfield Park LNR: I saw 50 species during the month with the year total now standing at 63 species seen. Highlights included continued sightings of Iceland Gull and Scaup and the first Chiffchaff of the year. A pair of Oystercatcher and a pair of Teal were also notable. However, the main highlight was the appearance of another drake Ring-necked Duck which was a first for the loch. This bird had been seen at nearby Frankfield Loch and the Gadloch before it eventually spent a day of two at Hogganfield.

Record shot of distant Ring-necked Duck

Pair of Teal

Scaup

Chiffchaff

Iceland Gull

Pair of Oystercatcher

Cardowan Moss LNR and Frankfield Loch: These sites can be readily accessed, after visiting Hogganfield Park LNR, via a series of footpaths from Avenue End Road and Cumbernauld Road.

It was nice to see that one of the nest boxes at Cardowan Moss was being investigated by a Blue Tit, whilst the highlight at Frankfield Loch was a distant drake Shoveler.

Blue Tit investigating nest box

Record shot of drake Shoveler

Frankfield Loch

As we enter April, more migrants should arrive any day now and lockdown should be easing a little over the next few weeks. In the meantime thanks for reading my blog and stay safe.