SINCs and WCs

Spent a couple of days visiting a few of the City's 'Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs)' and 'Wildlife Corridors (WCs)' as defined in Glasgow City Council's City Plan.

Firstly, I popped into my local patch - Bingham's Pond - which is described as being a locally important site (L-SINC). the pond was surrounded by a mass of colourful plants with Green-veined White butterflies and various species of bee enjoying a nectar boost!

The usual wildfowl were present with 60+ Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen and Mute Swans. There has been some breeding success with a number of Mallard duckling and the 5 cygnets seem to be doing well ........

 

After Bingham's I checked out the Forth & Clyde Canal (a wildlife corridor) at Hamiltonhill Claypits (a SINC and part LNR)

 

Hamiltonhill SINC  with the area to left of the small inlet also being part of the LNR

Hamiltonhill SINC with the canal bank apparently destined for future development, albeit the land below the electricity lines is part of the LNR!

British Waterways offices, Forth & Clyde Canal wildlife corridor

 

Finally, I headed for Linn Park (a City-wide SINC and LNR and also part WC!) on the south side of the City. It is characterised by its mature semi-natural woods, mixed plantations and parkland trees, with associated wildflower meadows and amenity grasslands in an historical estate setting.

 

Signage

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, the White Cart Water (a WC) flows through the park and forms a core landscape feature of the LNR ........

 

 

 

So three different sites in different parts of the City and all proving that Glasgow really is the 'Dear Green Place'.

Daily Glasgow Birding

Despite winter arriving, I've managed out virtually every day since the last post - Knightswood Park and Bingham's Pond on Saturday (7th); the Forth & Clyde Canal/River Kelvin walkways and Dawsholm Park (8th); the River Kelvin Walkway from Kelvingrove Park to the Botanic Gardens (9th); Victoria Park (10th) and the Millichen area, courtesy of Judith & Mike, on the 11th! I certainly feel a lot fitter and my bird list has increased to 80+ for the year; one of the highlights being three Waxwings at the junction of Ilay Road/Bearsden Road.

Only a few photos as the weather was so poor ...

Knightswood Park pond - 7 January 2017

Knightswood Park pond - 7 January 2017

River Kelvin - 9 January 2017

Kelvin Walkway at Arboretum, Botanic Gardens - 9 January 2017

Also, at short notice, I delivered a 45 minute presentation at the RSPB Glasgow Group on Wednesday evening - the 'Birds and Other Wildlife of Poole Harbour' seemed to go down well.

Finally, a quick round-up of recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Wednesday 11 January 2017
20 Waxwings in gardens between Royal Crescent and Fitzroy Place, Glasgow.
20 Waxwings over Drumyone Post Office, Shieldhall Road, Glasgow.
A male Blackcap in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, also 20 Bullfinches.

Tuesday 10 January 2017
A male Blackcap again in a Boylestone Road, Barrhead garden.
30 Siskins at Darnley Mill Pond.

Monday 9 January 2017
A Barnacle Goose with Pink-feet opposite Dobbies, Boclair Road, Milngavie.
A Jay in the woodland garden, Pollok Country Park, also a Nuthatch at the feeders.

Sunday 8 January 2017
A female Mandarin Duck still on White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield.

Saturday 7 January 2017
1st-winter Scaup still on Heritage Loch, East Kilbride.
40 Waxwings by the M8 at Townhead, Glasgow at 1000 hrs, at exactly the same time, the same number by M8 at Tradeston.
21 Waxwings at the junction of Wright Street and Percy Road, Renfrew at 1300 hrs, later 50 across Paisley Road at Glynhill Hotel.
A female Mandarin Duck on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield.
A Peregrine over Richmond Park, Glasgow.
Two Ring-necked Parakeets in Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

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'.

 

 

 

 



Spring at Last plus weekly update

I went for a walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal today, from Bearsden Road to Great Western Road, and at last there were a few signs of spring.

A narrow boat was getting ready to negotiate the locks............

 

We wondered what he thought about the litter............................

 

 

This Red Fox had no such concerns.............................

 

 

We saw a Chiffchaff, near Westerton Station, our first summer migrant of the year and small clumps of Marsh Marigold were also a welcome sight..................

 

 

Elsewhere during the week, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine, recent bird sightings included:

 

13 April 2013

48 Waxwings at Ormonde Drive, Netherlee.

1 Swallow at Balgray Reservoir.

6 Chiffchaffs at Dams to Darnley Country Park.

 

12 April 2013

2 Gadwall at Hogganfield Loch.

 

11 April 2013

A Swallow over Clairmont Gardens at 14.45hrs.

 

9 April 2013

An Osprey SE over Balgray Reservoir at 1100hrs plus a single Chiffchaff.

2 Jack Snipe, 20 Snipe and a calling Water Rail at Windlaw Marsh.

6 pairs of Gadwall and 2 Sand Martins at Gartloch Pools.

 

At last there appears to have been a small influx of summer migrants; let's all hope for a good spring and summer!