End of Year Update

 As suggested in my last post, the east coast was the place to be in late October.

I joined a RSPB Group outing to Barns Ness in Lothian on 22 October and we were rewarded with Red-flanked Bluetail, Pallas's Warbler, Brambling and some common migrants. I didn't manage a photo of the Bluetail so have included my only photo of this species which was taken in China a few years ago!

Red-flanked Bluetail

Record shot of Pallas's Warbler (centre)

Blackcap

A few days later (25th) we headed east again, with Stephen, to Forfar Loch and then Crail. At the loch we found the Whiskered Tern that had been reported and had great views as it flew over our heads! We then headed to Crail in Fife and again were lucky. This time the bird was a Stejneger's Stonechat, a life tick for all 3 of us, a bird whose ID has only been recently confirmed by DNA analysis!

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

Stejneger's Stonechat

After the east coast excitement it was back to birding locally. 

On 13 November 2022, the drake Ring-necked Duck made a welcome return to Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow although it did 'disappear' for a while due to many ponds freezing over. Following the thaw, it was reported yesterday from its other favoured pond at Victoria Park.

Ring-necked Duck

Since then, birding has been limited partly due to a a bird flu outbreak among the Mute Swans at Hogganfield Loch and a 14 day holiday in the sun.

On our return I did manage to see a Chiffchaff in our garden (10 December) and a Greylag Goose at Bingham's Pond on the 13th. The goose was my first record at the pond for 2022.

Chiffchaff

Greylag Goose

Finally, on 14 December 2022, I travelled through to Haddington with Stephen and after some time our patience was rewarded with a sighting of a Black-throated Thrush (another life tick for both of us).

Black-throated Thrush

Black-throated Thrush

Since then we've both been affected by a 'virus', not to mention awful weather, and birding has been limited to watching our garden birds.

I'll finish by wishing you all a Happy New Year, when it comes.
 

Autumn Wildlife Update

A few images from around Glasgow from between 17 September and 18 October 2022, plus a rarer bird species from Lothian!

Blackcap - Hogganfield Park LNR - 17/09/22

Hedgehog - our garden - 29/09/22

Buzzard - Millichen - 13/10/22

3 Barnacle Geese with Pink-footed Geese - Millichen Flood - 13/10/22

Teal - Bingham's Pond - 16/10/22

 Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) - Hogganfield Park LNR - 16/10/22

Jay - Hogganfield Park LNR - 18/10/22

Family of 7 Whooper Swans (plus 4 adults) - Hogganfield Park LNR -18/10/22

Ruby Tiger moth caterpillar - Hogganfield Park LNR - 18/10/22

And the Rarity

Wryneck - Torness Power Station - 21/09/22

With more easterly winds predicted, start looking for rarities at Fife Ness, Barns Ness, Torness Power Station and St Abbs Head over the next few days - some have already arrived! 

Hopefully, some will make it through to the west!

It's Autumn and Anything Can Happen!

The last post proclaimed it was Spring and here we are well into autumn - apologies to those that follow this site, hopefully there are still some of you left!

The last few weeks has seen migration build up with birds moving south both into and out of the country. When this happens, surprises follow.

Firstly, we had two Whitethroats in our garden on 22 August 2022. Whitethroats are summer visitors that migrate south to spend the winter in Africa, and hopefully they will make it.

Whitethroat - 22 August 2022

In addition to smaller birds, we also are lucky to get a variety of wading birds on passage. This year Balgray Reservoir, Frankfield Loch and even Hogganfield Loch have had good records over the past few weeks. Birds such as Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and even Pectoral Sandpiper (a north American species) have all been recorded.

A few of my record shots follow:

Frankfield Loch

Black-tailed Godwit with 2 Lapwing - 17 August 2022

Ruff - 31 August 2022

Ruff - 2 September 2022

Pectoral Sandpiper - 5 September 2022

Hogganfield Loch

My first ever Ruff at the loch and for once bright sunshine!

Ruff - 5 September 2022

Autumn is also a good time to look out for unusual gulls, terns and wildfowl. Cardwell Bay in Gourock is a good spot for gulls and terns. I saw this Mediterranean Gull on 22 August 2022 and noted it had a colour ring. The bird was ringed in Poland in 2017 and remarkably I first saw it in the same location on 22 August 2018, exactly 4 years ago to the day!

This photo allows comparison with the similar Black-headed Gull on the right

On the same day there were two Sandwich Terns also in the bay. 

Sandwich Terns (top two birds)

And finally, unusual wildfowl can be found within the City at Hogganfield Loch and Frankfield Loch with species such as Shoveler, Pintail and Wigeon all recently seen, as these record shots show.

Shoveler - Frankfield Loch - 2 September 2022

Pintail - Hogganfield Loch - 5 September 2022

Wigeon - 5 September 2022

So, get ready for the unexpected as we all look forward to even more surprises over the next month or so.

It's Spring, despite the weather!

 Apologies for the lack of updates.

Just a quick round-up of the last few weeks:

Most summer migrants have arrived - photos show Willow Warbler and Blackcap from Hogganfield Park LNR

Waterbirds are breeding and young hatched - photos show Mallard at Bingham's Pond and Coot and Moorhen at Hogganfield Loch.

Other birds included this Pied Wagtail, feeding two youngsters at Bingham's Pond, and there was also evidence of some success at the heronry at Hogganfield Loch

The main story however was the 'west end' drake Ring-necked Duck which has stayed in the area and has been associating with a pair of Tufted Ducks, although I'm not sure the drake 'Tuftie' appreciates his presence. They have been undertaking a 'tour' of the West End and have been sighted at Bingham's Pond, Dawsholm Park pond and even Kelvingrove Park pond. It will be interesting to see what will be the outcome!

At Bingham's Pond:

and at Dawsholm Park pond:

Meanwhile, hopefully the weather will improve over the next few weeks and we can see more evidence of successful breeding particularly from birds using nest boxes.

Rare Grebe back at Hogganfield Loch

 A Red-necked Grebe, in breeding plumage, has turned up once a again at Hogganfield Loch - the first one arrived in the summer of 2020 and this may be the same bird. 

A few record shots from 29 March 2022 follow

Chiffchaffs, a summer migrant, could be seen and heard at the LNR (as well as at Bingham's Pond and other locations in greater Glasgow) and over the next few days expect Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Sand Martins to appear. The next two months should be fun!

March Update - a rare Goose and a new 'village' in Glasgow's countryside

The Millichen area of Glasgow has for many years been an excellent place to birdwatch, although like all locations it has had its good and bad days!

After almost 10 years from when it was originally proposed, work has commenced on a new housing development on what was the 'footprint' of East Millichen Farm. The farm consisted of a farm house (to be retained) and a number of barns, sheds, outbuildings and hard standing which have all been demolished to be replaced with 11 additional houses. 

East Millichen Farm 2006

The photo above shows the extent of the 'building footprint' when the land was farmed by a tenant farmer based at East Millichen Farm. The photo below is an artist's impression used to advertise the development

Interestingly, the planners insisted that the hedgerow on either side of the single track Millichen Road be retained whilst also requiring a footpath to be installed, The developers have found a solution by agreeing to construct the footpath away from the road - see photos below for the initial footpath works and the remaining farm house.

 

Despite the obvious disturbance from the development works, visits over the last few weeks proved that the area continues to be a magnet for birds.  Last month there was a first for Glasgow in the shape of a Ross's Goose. This rare North American Goose was found with a large flock of Pink-footed Geese in fields nearby, at West Millichen Farm.

Ross's Goose with Pink-footed Geese

 Other species found more recently include 'red data' species such as Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and Greenfinch and amber species such as Reed Bunting and Snipe - record shots follow:

Tree Sparrow

Yellowhammer

Greenfinch

Reed Bunting

Snipe

It will be interesting to see whether the new houses will have an adverse impact on the wildlife but other developments over the years - refurbishments and new build have had little if any adverse impact so we can only wait and see.

Meanwhile in other news, the female Smew remains at Hogganfield Loch and the drake Ring-necked Duck continues to spend its time between Bingham's Pond and Victoria Park Pond.

Ring-necked Duck with Black-headed Gulls - Bingham's Pond

As I write Chiffchaffs have arrived in Glasgow and other summer migrants are on their way.

If you want to learn more about these summer migrants and other species to be found in the City why not come along to the 'City Nature Challenge' event at Dawsholm Park LNR on Monday 2 May 2022 from 10am. More details will follow but in the meantime get the date in your diary and check out Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves | A voluntary Group passionate about Glasgow's wildlife (wordpress.com)