Millichen - surprise bird sighting!

 Having produced a new page focussing on the Millichen Area - see tab above - it was only right that I should make another visit to this piece of countryside in the north of Glasgow.

I arrived at 11am on 9 December 2024, courtesy of a taxi! It was a beautiful, albeit cold, day.

I walked from Balmore Road along the new path that runs parallel to Millichen Road and almost immediately saw a flock of around 10 Meadow Pipits -  a good start.

Footpath next to Millichen Road - 9 December 2024

Soon I could hear Pink-footed Geese and eventually had good views of small groups flying to and fro.

Pink-footed Geese - 9 December 2024

Walking past the new housing at the former East Millichen Farm, I stopped to view the 'flood' which was frozen and only had a couple of Herring Gulls plus lots of  'corvids'.

Millichen Flood - 9 December 2024

Continuing along Millichen Road, I was pleased to meet two locals who were also out birdwatching - Douglas and Gina.

Millichen Road and hedgerows - 9 December 2024

We all saw a beautiful male Bullfinch in the hedgerow and I stopped to try and get some photos as Douglas and Gina carried on. When I got home I discovered, by checking my records, that this was a new bird for me at Millichen, being my 107th!

Bullfinch - 9 December 2024

I also managed a record shot of a Pheasant in one of the fields to the north of the road.

Field north of Millichen Road - 9 December 2024

Pheasant - 9 December 2024

I carried on along Millichen Road towards West Millichen Farm and then turned left down towards the 'Steadings' passing a bold little Robin.

Towards the 'Steadings' - 9 December 2024

Robin - 9 December 2024

In and around the Steadings, I added Ring-necked Parakeet, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Tree Sparrow and Greenfinch to my list. 

I walked to the end of the road before retracing my steps and in the distance I could see the new housing built on the former East Millichen Farm.

New housing in the distance - 9 December 2024

At this point I also realised that it was time to leave in order to catch a bus at Allander Toll, only one per hour, to Milngavie Railway Station!

Back towards West Millichen Farm - 9 December 2024

I did, however, have time for one last photo - a Roe Deer.

Roe Deer - 9 December 2024

Only 21 bird species seen but getting a 'new' bird for the area made it special.

Millichen

I have produced a new page (with links) featuring the Millichen area of Glasgow. See page link above.

In the meantime a few photos from Millichen and the species seen there, over the years.

Grasshopper Warbler - Millichen

Tree Sparrow - Millichen

Yellowhammer - Millichen

Roe Deer - Millichen

Looking towards the 'Steadings' and West Millichen Farm

Looking down towards Millichen Flood and some of the Steadings in the foreground

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)

Glasgow Birding

With blue skies at last, I managed to spend some time birding in Glasgow.

On Monday (22nd) I visited the Millichen area of Glasgow for the first time this year ...

Millichen Flood - 22 February 2016

 

Surprisingly, there were no wildfowl to be seen although there were 4 species of gull and c100 Lapwing around the flood. I had a nice surprise spotting three Stonechat, one at East Millichen and the other two at the flood...

 

Stonechat - East Millichen - 22 February 2016

 

In the afternoon I moved on to Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow ....

 

Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

The local wildfowl were showing well ...

 

Goosander - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

Tufted Duck - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

... as were the Black-headed Gulls .....

 

Black-headed Gull - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

It was so nice to be able to wander around without having to worry about the weather, long may it continue!

 

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

 

Monday 22 February 2016
An adult Mediterranean Gull at Newshot Island at 1200 hrs, later flying across to Dalmuir sewage works; also Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank at Newshot.
A male Blackcap on feeders in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
A Jay in Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve, Glasgow.

Sunday 21 February 2016
Three Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock, Glasgow.
A pair of Pintail at Millichen Flood, Glasgow.
Two Stock Doves in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

 

 

 

 

Autumnal Millichen

After a good few months, today I made a welcome return to the Millichen area of Glasgow ....

Looking south-east over the Steadings and 'Flood'

 

In a three hour period I saw 29 different bird species with the highlights including some of the UK's 'Red Data' bird species that can still be found in this corner of the City

e.g. 2 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 20 Starling, 16 House Sparrow, 11 Tree Sparrow and 7 Yellowhammer.

 

Tree Sparrow - East Millichen - 5 November 2014

 

Other species of note included 5 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 110 Collared Doves, 3 Stonechat, a few Meadow Pipits (amber listed) and 7 Reed Bunting (also amber listed)  ...

 

Meadow Pipit - Millichen - 5 November 2014

 

Reed Bunting - East Millichen - 5 November 2014

 

All in all, a very enjoyable spot of birding on a beautiful sunny day.

 

Remember click on photos to create an enhanced view and slide show.

 

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

 

1 November 2014

A Nuthatch and a male Blackcap at NTS Greenbank Garden, Clarkston.

 

 

 

Millichen in Summer

As many of you will be aware, summer is not the best time to visit Millichen but after a few months I was getting withdrawal symptoms!

Millichen  (from the north west) - 8 July 2013

 

As expected there was very little standing water, although I did find 2 female Mallard in a puddle! So I concentrated on trying to locate typical 'farmland' birds and found a good mix spread throughout the area - East Millichen Farm, West Millichen Farm, the Steadings and the 'flood'.

 

East Millichen Farm, looking north east across the 'flood' - 8 July 2013

West Millichen Farm, looking north across the 'flood' - 8 July 2013

 

I eventually saw 26 species of bird with summer migrants represented by 1 Sand Martin,

20 Swallow (including young), 2 Sedge Warbler (feeding young) and 3 Willow Warbler.

 

Farmland/red data species included c110 Starling, with lots of young........................

 

Record shot of one of many juvenile Starling - 8 July 2013

 

......................... c45 House Sparrow, at least 3 Tree Sparrow, 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting (feeding young).

 

There were also good numbers of Ringlet butterflies and a few Meadow Browns.

 

As an aside, for those that visit Millichen by car, the small area of hardstanding/car parking at West Millichen is now being used to store gravel and other materials, presumably for filling in the pot holes in the road!

 

 

Having left the Millichen area, I walked along the River Kelvin footpath towards Summerston.........

 

East Millichen Farm looking north from the Kelvin footpath - 8 July 2013

 

This proved to be an excellent idea as I saw my first Scottish Kingfisher of the year!

 

A perfect end to a beautiful day.



 

 

 

Thank You & Catch-up

A big thank you to all the 'Friends of the Botanic Gardens' who came along last night to my talk on the 'Wildlife of Glasgow'. Your kind words and hospitality was much appreciated.

I've not been able to birdwatch in the Glasgow area for a few weeks so here is an update of what I have been missing, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Thursday 28 February 2013
A flock of 1,234 Pink-footed Geese in a field at Boclair (NS563728) at 16.40hrs.
100 Linnets and 80 Yellowhammers in a stubble field on the northside of the road at East Millichen Farm.

Saturday 23 February 2013
A female Ruddy Duck on Hogganfield Loch.

Saturday 16 February 2013
49 Goosanders on Balgray Reservoir.

The count of 80 Yellowhammer at East Millichen Farm is particularly welcome and once again shows how important the area is for farmland birds. A photo taken a few years ago follows.............

Yellowhammer - Millichen area

Millichen 5 October 2012

I visited the Millichen area yesterday and whilst the ground is clearly saturated there is still 'no flood'! Unfortunately, 'juncus' is also spreading which could have a detrimental impact on birds. I have already asked a few questions and hopefully will have some answers over the next few weeks.

So needless to say no waders or wildfowl although there were 8 Grey Herons present.

The most pleasing sight was a family of 6 Swallows (2 adults and 4 juveniles) still flying around East Millichen Farm. Here, there were also 45+ Collared Doves, a female Pheasant and a small flock of Goldfinches. Small numbers of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks were frequenting the stubble fields along with hundreds of corvids and Wood Pigeons.

Juvenile Swallow - East Millichen 2008

Overhead there were 3 Buzzards and 1 Kestrel; a male Stonechat in the 'flood' area was another highlight.

In just over 2 hours, I saw 29 species of bird and 2 Roe Deer - not bad considering there were no waders or wildfowl.

Needless to say I shall keep on trying!

Millichen (if at first you don't succeed!)

Another visit to Millichen, again in hope of finding some passage migrants.

The fields and puddle known as Millichen Flood!

With the 'flood' still no bigger than a puddle and only 5 Mallard and 2 Grey Heron to be seen I concentrated on the hedgerows and overhead wires.

 

At East Millichen there were 62 Collared Dove sitting on wires with a further 43+ perched in a lone tree and coming down into the fields and hedgerows - a potential record count of at least 105 birds!

 

Poor record shot of some of the Collared Doves to be seen at East Millichen

 

A scan of these hedgerows with my 'scope resulted in c60 House Sparrow, 4 Tree Sparrow, 1 Whinchat, 2 Yellowhammer and 1 Whitethroat being seen.

 

The 'tree and hedgerows' at East Millichen Farm

Other birds of note, among the twenty four seen in just under 3 hours, were at least 25 Swallow and 1 Grey Wagtail feeding in one of the drainage ditches/realigned burn.

The most memorable sighting has to be the Roe Deer that was totally oblivious to my presence. At one stage it headed straight for me as if it planned to jump the gate I was standing behind when I moved slightly and it veered off at the last moment!

Roe Deer at East Millichen before it headed straight for me!