Summer Migrants and Dawsholm Dog Dirt!

We had a pleasant surprise this morning with a male Blackcap in our garden - my second summer migrant of the year.

At Dawsholm Park LNR on Friday there were 2 Chiffchaffs calling and lots of other birds singing, exploring nest holes and in the case of Carrion Crows, already on a nest.

Robin - Dawsholm Park - 10 April 2015

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dawsholm Park - 10 April 2015

 Bullfinch (male) - Dawsholm Park - 10 April 2015

 

Parts of the LNR were looking good ...............

 

 

...........whilst other areas had rhododendron starting to make a 'come back' following on from Council (Forestry Commission funded) attempts to eradicate it from the LNR ..

 

 

Also on the down side, there were lots of 'little messages' left by dogs and their owners and/or dog walking companies culminating in this depressing sight ....

 

 

.. all the plastic bags lying on the ground were full of dog poo. No further comments are required!

 

Finally, on a positive note and courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 11 April 2015

A singing Willow Warbler in a Hillfoot Drive, Barsden garden.

Thursday 9 April 2015

A Blackcap in song Pollok Country Park, where a pair of Nuthatches are on territory, also two Swallows.
A Blackcap and a Willow Warbler in song First Avenue, Netherlee.
A Swallow at Blackbyres Road, Barrhead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

West End Walkabout

Today (23 March 2014) we went for a pleasant walk around our local greenspaces. Just as we were leaving the small wood on the edge of our estate we heard a Chiffchaff - a good start. A few minutes later and we were on the Forth & Clyde Canal towpath listening to and watching one of the local Ravens. This was quickly followed by great views of displaying (and copulating) Buzzards! Who would have thought 15 years ago that Ravens and Buzzards would be breeding almost side by side in Glasgow?

From the Forth & Clyde Canal we walked down to the River Kelvin walkway and continued on towards Dawsholm Park LNR ................................

River Kelvin Walkway - 23 March 2014

 

Shortly after taking this photo we saw a Sparrowhawk flying away and watched a pair of Long-tailed Tits and Blue Tits mob a Magpie. A few yards further along we encountered 3 Goosander on the river and a pair of Grey Wagtail, the male resplendent with its black bib.

 

Just as we approached the bridge at Dawsholm Park we heard then saw a pair of Dipper - it is good to know that the river isn't just a magnet for plastic bags!

 

View from bridge at entry to Dawsholm Park - 23 March 2014

 

Heading into the Park/LNR we soon saw another Chiffchaff and added Mistle Thrush to our day list. We also encountered a 'new art form'?

 

 

Not so much 'tie a yellow ribbon to the old oak tree' but 'tie lots of shirts and other assorted clothes to a harmless tree'.

 

We scanned the river hoping for Kingfisher but sadly were unsuccessful. However, the rhododendron clearance from a few years ago has certainly had a beneficial impact allowing great views of the river, albeit some seem to be growing back ..............

 

 

 

We left the river and headed towards the 'Highland Cattle' fields noting that the paths are still incredibly muddy and that even more trees have blown down since our last visit.  

 

As we reached the 'fields' we soon became aware of large numbers of Carrion Crows, Magpies and Jackdaws many of which were calling even more loudly than normal. We soon found out why .....

 

Red Fox - 23 March 2014

 

Sadly at this point my batteries ran out so I only managed one record shot before the fox decided to head back into the bushes.

 

As we walked home our day was made complete by a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the small wood on the edge of our estate.

 

Glasgow really is wilds better!

 

Its just such a shame that some people seem to think that tying bags of dog dirt to railings and trees is the 'done thing'.

 

 

 

 



Dawsholm, Dog Dirt & Evening Times

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that the Evening Times had picked up on the dog dirt/dog walking companies issue at Dawsholm Park; well today they published an excellent report in this morning's edition as well as offering a sympathetic editorial.

You can read this online and comment at:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/fears-over-glasgow-dog-walkers-120166n.20646801

It will be interesting to see if they get any response.

Dawsholm Park revisited

After my last visit to Dawsholm Park, I posed the question 'local nature reserve or dog toilet'.
I'll let you decide by guessing what is in these two plastic bags!

 

 

 

On a positive note, it is clear that since my last visit some improvements have taken place in the woodland, although many paths are still extremely muddy. The old 'depot' area is also being cleared.........

 

 

On the wildlife front, I saw 20 species of bird in a 1hr 30mins period, including Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Stock Dove. A 'record shot' of a Stock Dove, taken in poor light, follows...

 

One of two Stock Doves - Dawsholm Park - 20 March 2013

 

The various bird and bat boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves all seem to have survived the winter - remember technically it is now spring!

 

Two bat boxes - Dawsholm Park - 20 March 2013

 

And finally, a visit to Dawsholm would not be complete without a mention of the Highland cattle...

 

Highland cattle - Dawsholm Park - 20 March 2013

 

 

Professional Dog Walking Companies

Following on from my post re-dogs and Dawsholm Park, I found, thanks to the Dams to Darnley Country Park facebook site, an organisation and web site that promotes "Responsible Dog Walking".

The organisation poses the question "Looking for a "Professional Dog Walking Service" then please read the following before you decide who to intrust your dog with. Don't be afraid to ask for a copy of their insurance, references and about their experience in dog handling/training skills. Your dog is your family member, you wouldn't let your child go to just anyone..... don't do it to your dog."

The web site can be found at http://www.k9chat.co.uk/responsible-dog-walking-services

I found it interesting and thought it was worthy of a wider audience.

In addition, I would recommend the Dams to Darnley Country Park site and this can be found at http://www.facebook.com/#!/DamsToDarnleyCountryPark 

Dawsholm Park - LNR or dog toilet?

After 4 weeks of wildlife spotting 'down under', we eventually ventured out yesterday (26 December 2012) to see what winter in Glasgow could offer.

We visited Dawsholm Park, which is also one of the City's 8 Local Nature Reserves, and hoped for a pleasant morning's stroll.

Right away we encountered a small flock of birds - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and a beautiful male Bullfinch. This was quickly followed by a Red Fox, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and the ever present and numerous Magpie.

The views from the park over the City can be superb but today it was grey and misty....
 

 

However, the Highland Cattle posed well......................................................................

 

 

and another Red Fox successfully managed to catch and despatch a small mammal, with the local Magpies looking out for any scraps...................................

 

 

 

The Highland Cattle have been introduced as a management tool to help improve the grassland for wild flowers and insects. Elsewhere in the LNR it appears that contractors are still carrying out works in the woodlands with evidence of the cutting of rhododendron ponticum regrowth. (Note: Following on from the extensive 'rhody' removal over the past few years, the stumps should be sprayed to prevent any regrowth. Whilst, in the main, this appears to have been done, some small areas of regrowth appeared during the summer).

 

As we continued through the park the various bird and bat boxes erected by the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves appeared to be intact. However, some of the paths were still impassable as a result of wind blown trees from last winter! We eventually reached the upper walkway overlooking the River Kelvin, which was in full flow...........................

 

 

This walkway was extremely muddy and clearly many people had chosen to leave the path thus creating disturbance to the woodland floor which can't be good for any plants/understorey trying to come through after years of having been smothered by rhododendron.

 

Sadly, dog walkers were also continuing to hang bags of dog dirt on the boundary railing.

 

As the steps down to the River Kelvin are still blocked by fallen trees, we moved back towards the new pond created by 'Froglife'.............................................

 

 

Since our last visit, the Council has erected an interpretation board explaining the purpose of the pond and politely requesting dog walkers not to allow their dogs to enter the pond.....

 

 

However, just next to the sign were 2 bags of 'rubbish', which on closer inspection included yet more dog dirt!

 

 

 

The Council has erected signs asking people to report 'dog owners' that flout the regulations but still we see the evidence. The day finished with a dog running straight towards me with shouts by its owner that it wouldn't bite. Over the last 12 months I have been intimidated by dogs, primarilly packs of dogs being 'looked after' by dog walking companies, and been subject to verbal abuse by their owners/walkers.  I neither 'like' nor 'dislike' dogs. However, I feel that I should not be subjected to dogs, 'friendly or otherwise', running towards me, barking at me, baring their teeth at me or jumping up on me. The fact that this is happening in a Local Nature Reserve makes the situation even worse.

 

Local Nature Reserves are meant to be quiet, peaceful places that are good for wildlife and which can be enjoyed by people without creating disturbance or harm to the wildlife. They should  benefit from positive habitat management (for wildlife) and good access (for people). People should feel safe and should certainly not feel intimidated when visiting a LNR (or any other park).

 

Dawsholm is excellent for wildlife; a small number of dedicated Council staff are doing their best to manage and improve the habitats with the support of local groups such as 'Froglife' and the 'Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves'. The removal of rhododendron has opened up the LNR for the benefit of wildlife and people. However, I have been told by a few people they still don't feel safe in the park mainly because of the dogs.

 

Despite its many good points, I am afraid that Dawsholm is no longer a place I would recommend to visit.