Reserve Birding

On Wednesday I led an outing for the RSPB Glasgow Group to Dams to Darnley Local Nature Reserve in Glasgow. I was joined by 18 birders and am pleased to say we saw a good range of summer migrants: Swift, Swallow, Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. In total we saw (or heard) c45 bird species as well as spotting a few mammals and butterflies .................

Dams to Darnley LNR - 13 May 2015

 

I travelled down to Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve on Friday and managed to get everyone in the Centre onto 4 Whimbrel that were flying over the Aird Meadow. Other species included Black-tailed Godwit, 2 drake Garganey and, once again, Spotted Flycatcher - in total, I saw 43 species. A few shots of the Garganey, taken in poor light, follow ..

 

 

.. and also the Spotted Flycatcher ..

 

 

Thanks to both these trips, my year list in Scotland now stands at 131.

 

As ever, I finish with some interesting sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Friday 15 May 2015
A Osprey low over a Mugdock village garden, flying in the direction of Mugdock Reservoir at 1440 hrs.
An extremely mobile Nuthatch in song near the Burrell, Pollok Country Park NS553623.

Thursday 14 May 2015
A Spotted Flycatcher briefly in a Glasgow Road, Milngavie garden.

Eight Shoveler (six males) at Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch, also still five Pink-footed Geese.

Wednesday 13 May 2015
A Spotted Flycatcher at Linn Park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Loch Lomond Visit and Forthcoming Guided Walk

A relatively quiet week with a nice trip to Inchcailloch on Friday (8th) - thanks to Mike and Judith.

 

The views were stunning and we saw a nice range of summer migrants, with Redstart being new for the year. I managed this photo of a Pied Flycatcher .....

 

 

... and a record shot of an Osprey ...

 

This week I am looking forward to leading a guided walk on Wednesday 13 May 2015 for the RSPB Glasgow Group around Dams to Darnley LNR in Glasgow - more details can be found at http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/glasgow/events/

 

Finally more recent sightings from around Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 9  May 2015
Eight Swifts flying over the courtyard at Pollok Country Park.

Thursday 7 May 2015
A male Yellow Wagtail at Gartloch Pool before flying off in the direction of Craigend at 0930 hrs.
A Nuthatch plastering a hole in a tree in Linn Park, also still a pair at last year's nest site.
A Tawny Owl chick in a Mugdock village garden.

Tuesday 5  May 2015
A Swift back in Battlefield, Glasgow.

Monday 4 May 2015
A ringed Osprey at Craigallian Loch.
A Spotted Flycatcher at Mugdock Wood.

Summer Migrants Arrive

A busy week, so here goes - my photographic record (click on photos for a slide show/enhanced viewing):

Monday 20 April 2015 - Bingham's Pond

Tufted Duck (drake)

Coot (on nest)

Mute Swans (on nest)

 

In addition to the wildfowl, these Marsh Marigolds caught the eye

 

 

Whilst this was a gruesome reminder of 'nature in the raw'

 

In total 16 bird species with Lesser Black-backed Gull being the only 'migrant'.

 

Wednesday 21 April 2015 - West Highland Way from Milngavie to Carbeth Huts via Mugdock Country Park

 

Mugdock Castle

Craigallian Loch

 

Whinchat

Cuckoo (heavily cropped)

 

In total 32 bird species with summer migrants consisting of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Cuckoo and Whinchat.

 

Thursday 23 April 2015 - Dams to Darnley LNR

 

 

Dipper

Wren

 

31 bird species in total with lots of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, at least 6 Blackcaps plus my first 2 Common Whitethroats of the year!

 

More photos can be found at https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves

 

Thursday 23 April 2015 - Balgray Reservoir

 

Willow Warbler

 

The Reservoir was really disappointing, only 18 bird species, with high water levels and some anti-social behaviour. On the bird front, two pairs of Great Crested Grebe were engaging in some neck dancing whilst the only summer migrant to be seen or heard was the Willow Warbler.

 

A pity that such a good week finished on a bit of a low.

 

I just hope that we haven't just had our summer for the year!

 

 

Millichen and Recent Sightings

Yesterday (14 April 2014) I spent almost 2.5 hours in the Millichen area of north Glasgow. I made the visit partly because I hoped to add a few more early summer migrants to my year list and more importantly because the sun was actually shining!

Eventually I was not to be disappointed as I spotted a Wheatear quickly followed by another and another.... eventually counting 8 birds all in a field just south of Millichen Road. At West Millichen Farm, two Swallows were flying together in formation.

In addition to these summer migrants it was good to see that the area still holds small numbers of typical 'farmland birds' including some that have declined throughout the UK over the last 30 years or so. I counted 2 Skylark, 15 Starling, 25+ House Sparrow, 5 Tree Sparrow, 6 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting all showing signs that they are likely to breed (or are already breeding) in the area.

In total, I managed to see 24 bird species which was a bit disappointing but made up by the quality on view.

There were also Roe Deer, a Brown Hare and Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies present - a photo of one of the Small Tortoiseshell's follows ...

 

Later in the evening I attended the AGM of the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs. There was an excellent turnout with over 30 people present and Joe Connelly (Countryside Ranger, Dams to Darnley CP) was a well appreciated guest speaker. See the Friends web site at http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com for more information.

 

Finally, some other recent sightings in the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

15 April 2014

Two Common Sandpipers at Waulkmill Glen Reservoir (Dams to Darnley CP).

 

14 April 2014

A pair of Nuthatches, male in song, at Fairways, Dougalston, Milngavie.

A House Martin over the River Kelvin at Balmuildy Bridge.

 

13 April 2014

Nine Swallows hawking over Rouken Glen Pond in the morning.

 

11 April 2014

Two Swallows over the White Cart Water at Scottish Power, Cathcart, Glasgow; nearby a Peregrine over Cartvale Road.

 

10 April 2014

A Blackcap in song by the White Cart Water between Carmichael Place and Millbrae Road, Langside, Glasgow.

 

9 April 2014

Two Willow Warblers in song at Duchray Park, Riddrie, Glasgow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balgray, Bingham's, Buzzards, Butterfly and a Bat - has Spring Arrived?

I visited Balgray Reservoir, part of the Dams to Darnley Country Park, yesterday (10 March 2014) in the hope of adding Great Northern Diver to my 'Balgray' list but sadly it was no longer present............................

Balgray Reservoir - 10 March 2014

 

However, there were signs of spring with Great Crested Grebe, engaging in their mating 'neck dance', as well as an apparent pair of Oystercatcher calling to each other and also a pair of Grey Wagtail.

 

I left Balgray to explore the remainder of the Country Park with the next stop being Ryat Linn Reservoir and a Chiffchaff - a record shot follows...............

 

Chiffchaff - Ryat Linn Reservoir - 10 March 2014

 

The bird was constantly flicking its tail and actively feeding, so please do not be too critical of my photographic attempts!  

 

At Waulkmill Glen Reservoir there were yet more Great Crested Grebe displaying as were some Goldeneye. From here I walked down the Darnley Glen (Dams to Darnley LNR) to Nitshill Road, adding a pair of Stock Dove to my list and noting that a new pond had been dug ........................

 

Dams to Darnley LNR

 

Today (11 March 2014), the local Buzzards were displaying over our house in Anniesland and a Small Tortoiseshell butterfly sunned itself in the garden! This inspired me to make a quick visit to Bingham's Pond where I recorded yet another personal pond first -  a bat species circling the pond, dipping to drink and then flying back towards the trees/houses!!!!!!

 

Thereafter, the birds proved to be just the supporting cast! Nevertheless, two Coot nests already built; Moorhens starting to display and the 'farmyard duck' chasing both male and female Mallards did suggest spring was in the air as did this floral display.............

 

Bingham's Pond - 11 March 2014

 

At this rate it will be autumn by June!

 

 

Two New Local Nature Reserves

Two new Local Nature Reserves have been declared in the Glasgow area, now making 10 in the city!

The ninth, at Cathkin Braes, was formally declared by Glasgow City Council at the end of last month with the newspaper advert and subsequent story appearing in the Evening Times more recently - link follows

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/extra-protection-for-park-as-it-gets-nature-reserve-status-121977n.20810050

Covering some 148 hectares, Cathkin Braes is now the largest LNR in Glasgow.

The other LNR is the Dams to Darnley LNR which was declared jointly by Glasgow City Council and East Renfrewshire Council, with the notification advert appearing in the Evening Times a few days ago.

This LNR is almost 37 hectares in size.  Whilst all of the land is in the ownership of Glasgow City Council, a small part of it is actually located within East Renfrewshire Council, hence the need for a joint declaration.

A few images follow

 

 

 

 

From this LNR it is a relatively short walk south to Balgray Reservoir, another excellent birdwatching site which has featured in this blog.