Garden Birds in Glasgow

Since my last post I've spent a lot of time watching the birds in our garden - 18 species in total!

Here's a few images ..................

Redwing

Blackbird

Fieldfare

Song Thrush

 

We're just hoping that the berries last for a few more days and who knows we may attract some Waxwings!

 

I've also spent a bit of time preparing my presentation for next week (13th) when I am guest speaker at the Glasgow Natural History Society. Perhaps I'll see some of you there?

 

I did manage out for a few hours on Sunday and added these two Ravens to my Bingham's Pond year list  ....

 

 

 

Finally, more recent sightings courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 4 December 2016
Eight Jack Snipe (three caught) and three Water Rails at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock.
20 Waxwings at the junction of Nether Auldhouse Road and Kilmarnock Road, Newlands.

 

Saturday 3 December 2016
Now four Ring-necked Parakeets in Hillview Place, Clarkston.
A Nuthatch at Glasgow Botanic Gardens (NS566676).

Friday 2 December 2016
34 Waxwings near the Botanic Gardens, on Garrioch Road at Hotspur Street, Glasgow. 

 

 

Sparrowhawk - The Garden Predator

In recent weeks we have been visited on a regular basis by a male Sparrowhawk.

He hasn't quite mastered the 'art of surprise' as he spends much of his time sitting on our bird feeder wondering why there are no birds in the garden! However, he has had a least two meals that we have witnessed.

A short video of this bird can be viewed on YouTube at the following link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ITnQzJ6QlU

As with all my videos please ensure that you view at the 'maximum' quality (1080pHD) which can be adjusted by clicking on the small 'wheel' icon on the bottom right of the YouTube screen.

Blackcap in Garden!

A feature of recent SOC Clyde Grapevine reports has been Blackcaps coming to feeders in gardens throughout the Clyde area. Well, this morning we had our first Blackcap of the 'winter' when a male decided to utilise our sunflower seed feeder. A still photo from another one of my video attempts follows...............................

Thank goodness for the Garden!

With all this poor weather, its reminded me how important gardens are both for people and wildlife - we get to see wildlife on our doorstep without having to venture out and wildlife can find some shelter and food.

We had a garden first yesterday with a male Azure Damselfly visiting our small pond......

Over the years we have had a wide range of unusual species visiting our Glasgow garden and since the weather isn't conducive to taking new pictures I've dug out a few from over the years that shows what can turn up in a small back garden.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth - 2006

Large Yellow Underwing moth - 2008

Bohemian Waxwing - 2008

Wood Mice - 2010

Elephant Hawkmoth caterpillar - 2010

Brambling - 2010

Fieldfare - 2010

Blackcap on feeder - 2012

The rarest, however, is this little bird that flew all the way from Siberia and spent 2 mornings in our garden in late autumn 2011 - a Yellow-browed Warbler...........................

So if you are lucky enough to have a garden, keep your eyes open, you don't know what you might attract!