Hogganfield - Feeding in the Sun!!!!!

Yesterday (3 November 2013) I helped at the third feeding event held by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs at Hogganfield Park LNR. For once the sun shone, albeit it was cold and a short shower did try to spoil things. Thanks to the good weather lots of people turned out and helped feed the wildfowl................................................

 

As we were handing out free barley and giving bird ID tips, ten Whooper Swans flew in - four adults and a family group of six - to join those already present.

 

10 Whooper Swans fly in

3 of the 4 adults and the family group of 6

 

Formation swimming by the gang of four!

 

Once we had finished feeding, I led an informal guided walk attended by eleven people and we also filled two bags with litter found on our walk; thanks to Daphne and Lynda.

 

Yet again there were good numbers of Gadwall, Coot and Goosander; we also saw Greylag Goose, Little Grebe, Pochard, Goldeneye, a few Teal, a solitary Wigeon, Moorhen, Cormorant, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Redwing and Fieldfare. A nice end to a good day!

The next feeding event is on Sunday 8 December 2013.

 

Other news courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 3 November 2013

A Slavonian Grebe near the southwest corner of Balgray Reservoir.

 

 

Friends Wildfowl Feeding

I helped with the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Park LNR today. Despite the forecast there was a bright spell before the forecast rain came driving in.

It was good to see families of Whooper Swans, 30+ Gadwall and numerous Goosanders all within sight of the viewing platform although in all honesty we were too busy to do a 'count'.

Yes, despite the weather, people came out to feed the birds with bread and we supplemented this with our free barley. A few photos follow showing just how the weather changed.....................

Feeding frenzy - 27 October 2013

 

Male Goosander

 

Feeding in the Rain

 

The next wildfowl feeding session is next Sunday - on 3 November 2013.

 

Recent Sightings

Recent sightings courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Tuesday 8 October 2013

The drake Blue-winged Teal still on Frankfield Loch, also 27 Shoveler.

On nearby Hogganfield Loch, up to three Scaup (one male), a drake Ruddy Duck, 37 Gadwall and 11 Goosanders.

For those of you still to visit Hogganfield Park LNR or want some bird identification advice, there is another guided walk on Sunday 27 October 2013  from 1.15pm - part of the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves monthly wildfowl feeding sessions.

Hogganfield Park LNR Event - Date for Diary

Just an advert for a forthcoming event being held by the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves at Hogganfield Park LNR, Glasgow. I shall be leading a guided walk at 1.30pm on behalf of the Friends:

The first of our monthly wildfowl feeding sessions is less than 2 weeks away, on Sunday 22 September 2013 from 11.30am-2.30pm. Meet at the viewing/feeding platform overlooking the loch next to the car park.

Viewing/Feeding Platform - Hogganfield Loch

We shall be handing out free barley to those that want to help feed the 100s of ducks, geese and swans at the loch and answering questions on bird identification, etc. Later, at 1.30pm, there will be a guided wildlife walk around the loch and we shall also take along a couple of litter pickers with us to uplift any stray can or crisp packet we might encounter on the way.

If you would like to help, or attend the walk, please come along on the day – we would stress that these events are FREE and open to all. You don’t have to be a member of the Friends Group to participate.

Information on the Friends Group can be found at http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com

Hogganfield Park - back to winter!

After last Tuesday's visit to the park in glorious sunshine, unfortunately the RSPB Glasgow Local Group's last wildfowl feeding session for the season fell foul to wintery showers!

Thanks to those that braved the weather, there was the odd sunny period that lasted for around 10 minutes before the next wave of snow showers blew in; 'atmospheric' photo follows!

Hogganfield Loch - 11 March 2013

There were  still 11 Whooper Swans present and Goosanders and Goldeneye gave close-up views...............................................

Goldeneye (in poor weather) - Hogganfield Loch - 11 March 2013

 

However, in the end, the weather won.

 

A big thank you to all those that attended and/or helped at the wildfowl feeding events.

 

Hogganfield is a great place to visit at anytime, so keep an eye on this blog for sightings updates over the year AND get yourselves along and see for yourself; you won't regret it! 

Hogganfield in the Snow

Today was the second last winter feeding event to be held by the RSPB Glasgow Local Group at Hogganfield Park LNR in Glasgow. Normally these take place between 12 noon and 2pm. However, due to the poor weather conditions (and lack of visitors) four of us only spent 45 minutes there today, albeit the usual amount of barley was fed to the swans and other wildfowl. Yet again there were 32 Whooper Swans present, a really impressive number for a city site. However, viewing conditions were poor with a northerly wind blowing snow straight towards the viewing/feeding platform. A record shot, to prove we were there follows!

A dreich Hogganfield Loch - 10 February 2013

 

A big thank you to John (GCC- Countryside Ranger) for also helping. See you all on 10 March 2013 for the final winter feeding session of the season.

Hogganfield Park LNR - update

Yesterday (13th), I helped the RSPB Glasgow Local Group with their monthly winter wildfowl feeding session. Despite the weather a good few folk came along and we had, as ever, excellent sightings of Whooper Swan (32 in total!) as well as Goosander, Goldeneye and more common species such as Tufted Duck and Greylag Goose.

Whooper Swans and other wildfowl at Hogganfield Loch - 13 January 2013

In addition, I am pleased to say that Glasgow City Council has undertaken more habitat improvements along the edge of the loch - see following photos.

Before - showing uneven paving slabs and crumbling revetment (2011)

 

 

After - still not totally finished, but should look good in summer and help with water quality

 

So a big thank you to those in the Council that managed to obtain the funding, from a variety of sources, to allow these improvement works to go ahead.

 

Also note that the next wildfowl feeding session is on Sunday 10 February 2013 from 12 noon to 2pm.

Hogganfield Feeding & Dilger Delivers!

Yesterday (27 October 2012), I spent a pleasant few hours helping the RSPB Glasgow Local Group feed the wildfowl at Hogganfield Park LNR. This was part of a once monthly programme devised by the Local Group to help people identify and feed the numerous ducks, swans and geese that frequent the loch.

I am pleased to say that there were at least 14 Whooper Swans present - 11 adults and 3 youngsters. These birds have flown all the way from Iceland to spend the winter in Glasgow!

Other birds giving amazingly close views included Gadwall and Goosander.

Whooper Swan at Hogganfield Loch

 

In the evening, the Local Group's 40th Anniversary lecture featuring TV's Mike Dilger proved to be, as expected, very entertaining. It was also nice of Mike to buy a few of us a drink in the nearbye Griffin pub - much appreciated!

 

Mike Dilger and Jack Snipe on a previous visit to Glasgow!

Photo courtesy of Mike Dilger's management