Birding in Glasgow in May

 Following on from the excitement of the Spoonbill on 1 May 2021 - see last post - the rest of the month proved to be more normal, at least from a birding point of view. Only 66 species seen, as again I restricted birding to the city boundary (apart from one short excursion along the West Highland Way!)

Much of the time was spent helping check the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs nest boxes and I'm pleased to say that almost all were occupied.

Meanwhile, some summer migrants have been delayed due to the poor weather in May, so it was good to eventually manage to not only see, but also photograph this Grasshopper Warbler.

Grasshopper Warbler

Sixty six bird species were seen during the month, whilst my year list for Hogganfield Park LNR stands at 82 and for Bingham's Pond SINC it's 48, already a year record with 7 months to go!

In addition to birds, I thought it would be nice to illustrate some of the other forms of wildlife I saw during May in Glasgow's LNRs. 

Hawthorn Scrub and Poplars

Mother Shipton Moth 

Roe Deer

Cowslip

June is, traditionally, a quiet month, but with some lock down restrictions being lifted who knows what will be found.

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.

Local Birding

Since my last 'birding' post on 28 February 2020, I have visited Millichen, RSPB Loch Lomond hub, Hogganfield Park LNR, Cardowan Moss LNR, Dawsholm Park LNR, RSPB Lochwinnoch, Castle Semple, and Bingham's Pond. In the process, I have logged 66 bird species with my year list slowly increasing to a very modest 92. 

A few photos follow

Millichen Flood - 29/3/20

Whooper Swans - Millichen Flood - 29/3/20

Dawsholm Park LNR - 3/3/20 - reinstated steps to River Kelvin

Cardowan Moss LNR - woodland management underway - 4/3/20

Hogganfield Park LNR - Oystercatcher on biohaven - 4/3/20

Hogganfield Park LNR - Blue Tit investigating recently erected box

Hopefully, over the next few months we'll get a settled period of dry weather and that will result in a good breeding season for birds.

Meanwhile, some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

A male Blackcap (now in song) still coming to an Ormonde Drive, Netherlee garden.

1,700 Pink-footed Geese in two flocks at Boclair Farm, Bearsden.

A minimum of 20 Waxwings at Tesco, Milngavie.
51 Pochard on Bishop Loch, Glasgow is an excellent count in recent times, also 10 Gadwall on Gartloch Pool.
The female Blackcap still in a Bearden garden.

Local Birding and another Rarity

Please click on the photos to create a slide show and enhanced viewing

It has been a busy 10 days since my last post with year and patch ticks …

Starting on the 18th, I travelled to Frankfield Loch by train (to Stepps) and then walked to Cardowan Moss LNR and Hogganfield Park LNR …..

At Frankfield, I managed better views of the Blue-winged Teal 

before heading for Cardowan Moss LNR ..

.. where I saw a range of common woodland birds, butterflies and damselflies. This Grey Heron, in one of the ponds, was a bit of a surprise …

I carried on to Hogganfield Park LNR where I spotted this colour-ringed Greylag Goose.

Turns out it was ringed in 2003 in Gloucestershire and is part of the moulting flock that arrives at Hogganfield Loch every year from Slimbridge/Gloucestershire!

On the 23rd, I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR and then led a guided walk on their behalf to Cardowan Moss LNR 

Pink-footed Goose - Hogganfield

Great Crested Grebe with young on its back - Hogganfield

Large Red Damselfly - Cardowan

On Wednesday, we travelled with Judith and Mike to the River Kelvin near Torrance and Balmore Pool ..

River Kelvin

Balmore Pool

There wasn't much on the Pool but the river corridor played host to a range of farmland birds such as Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow and warblers, including this Sedge Warbler….

Returning to the car we decided to make a quick stop in the Millichen area where we got even better views of Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow 

Finally, on the 27th I managed some birding with Stuart, Sandy and Haitham at Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch before returning to accompany 'Green Flag' judges and Council staff around Hogganfield.

Hogganfield Park LNR was looking great in the sunshine..

and we saw at least 38 bird species including young Swallows.

Heading off to Frankfield Loch we were surprised to find a Little Egret present - a probable first for the City of Glasgow and my 148th species seen within the City boundary. I managed a distant record shot of the egret .. 

Frankfield Loch

I had to leave Frankfield earlier than I would have wished as it would have been good to explore further - other birds included Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. However, I had to get back to Hogganfield Park to join Council officers and the 'Green Flag' judges. Hopefully, they were impressed enough to renew the LNRs Green Flag status.