Lochs and Wetlands Galore

Last Sunday (29th) we travelled north with Stephen, saw lots of birds and even had a chat with that well known twitcher and birder Lee Evans.

We started at Loch of Lintrathen, a SWT Reserve. It was a new location for both Lynda and myself and it came up trumps with American Wigeon and Red-necked Grebe ..........

American Wigeon - heavily cropped distant record shot

 



We then headed for the nearby RSPB Loch of Kinnordy Reserve. Sadly two of the three hides and footpaths were closed for health and safety reasons. The east hide was still open and afforded us reasonable views of the loch and a good range of wildfowl, including Shoveler. The feeding station was well stocked and allowed close views of  various species. More specifically, it was good to see more than just a few Tree Sparrows.

 

 

Our final stop, having encountered 4 Red-legged Partridge on the way, was Pitlochry and a small loch called the Cuilc. This lochan has played host to a drake Ring-necked Duck for the last two winters at least and today it also welcomed that well known birder, Lee Evans. Lee was on 'tour' with three other birders (clients?) and having left London a few days earlier had already twitched a number of rarities on their way north. No photograph of Lee but the Cuilc and Ring-necked Duck looked superb in the late afternoon sunshine ....

 

 

So after another excellent day's birding, my year list stood at 113 species!

On Wednesday, it was a lot closer to home with three hours spent at Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve followed by an hour scanning the Clyde from Battery Park, Greenock. Thanks go to our good friends Judith and Mike.

Once again we met Lee Evans, this time at Lochwinnoch, on his way back south. Lee and  his accomplices caused a bit of a stir in the visitor centre. They left content having got their target bird - Smew.

RSPB Lochwinnoch - Aird Meadow - from hide

 

Brambling

 

From Battery Park we managed distant views of Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Razorbill and Great Crested Grebe. Being high tide, only two wader species were seen - Oystercatcher and Curlew ..........

 

 

On the day we saw 50+ species with Brambling being my bird of the day and also being my 114th of the year!

 

More recent sightings, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 2 February 2017
A Little Egret still at the east end of Gadloch, Lenzie, also five Whooper Swans and a Ringed Plover.
A male Brambling still in a Hollows Avenue, Paisley garden.
A Stock Dove in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart garden.

 

Tuesday 31 January 2017
A Little Egret still at east end of Gadloch, Lenzie; nearby, 1,500 Pink-footed Geese feeding at Cardyke Farm.
14 Waxwings in a Montford Road, Rutherglen garden.

Monday 30 January 2017
A drake Scaup on Tannoch Loch, Milngavie.
A Little Egret still at east end of Gadloch, Lenzie, also a Jack Snipe and 1,000 Pink-footed Geese.
The 1st-winter Glaucous Gull, adult Mediterranean Gull and four Scaup still at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 450 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
30 Waxwings by the M74 at Polmadie junction.

Some Nice Rarities on my 200 quest!

Back to some birding following lots of work involving Hogganfield Park and The Friends of Glasgow's LNRs.

At the start of 2015, I set myself a 'target' of seeing 200 bird species in a year in Scotland and in recent weeks have been creeping slowly towards this total - so no option but to try some twitching!

On the 4th, I travelled through to Torness again by public transport and despite the poor weather managed to add Black Redstart to my total ...

One of two males - Black Redstart - Torness Power Station

 

Yesterday we travelled north, cheers Stephen, and thankfully the weather forecast was correct - mainly dry with some bright spells.

 

We started in Pitlochry with this superb male Ring-necked Duck ..

 

 

and this Dipper, with a sadly deformed left foot ........

 

 

We then headed off to Loch of Kinnordy RSPB Reserve .....

 

Loch of Kinnordy - 9 November 2015

 

and were rewarded with a magnificent birding spectacle; the highlights being Bittern and Great White Egret ...

 

Great White Egret - 9 November 2015

 

This Red Squirrel was also a nice find ...

 

 

 

So another great day with the Scottish Year Bird List standing at 195 - only 5 to go!

 

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

 

Sunday 8 November 2015
Two Stonechats still at Cathkin Marsh.

Wednesday 4 November 2015
A Jay in Top Wood, Linn Park, Glasgow.

Tuesday 3 November 2015
Two Ravens over Linn Park, Glasgow.

Monday 2 November 2015
Two Ring-necked Parakeets over Westwood Road, Pollokshaws.
A pair of Peregrines and a Raven on Stobcross Crane, Finnieston, Glasgow.
A late Swallow at the River Kelvin in Garscube Estate at 1230 hrs.

 

 

 

From Glasgow via 'Glasgow's Lake District' to Glen Clova!

I had a fantastic week's birding last week with over 70 species seen! I started locally in Dawsholm Park LNR in Glasgow on the Wednesday; walked the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Carbeth Huts and back on the Thursday; explored Glasgow's Lake District - Loch Lomond National Park - on the Friday (thanks to Mike and Judith); and finally headed up north to the Loch of Kinnordy RSPB Reserve and then Glen Clova on Saturday (thanks Peter).

There were loads of highlights! Raptors including Golden Eagle, Marsh Harrier and Osprey! Summer migrants including Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Pied Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Wheatear and House Martin. Resident species such as Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting and Siskin. 'Game' birds such as Black Grouse, Red-legged Partridge and Pheasant. And 'wetland' birds such as Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwing. Finally mammals included Roe Deer, Otter and Weasel!

A few images follow:

 

View from West Highland Way

 

Loch Arklet

 

Loch Katrine

 

 RSPB Inversnaid Reserve (formerly known as Garrison Farm)

 

Loch Lomond (from RSPB Inversnaid Reserve)

 

RSPB Loch of Kinnordy Reserve

 

Roe Deer

 

Wood Warbler

 

Pied Flycatcher

 

Weasel (video grab)

 

Wigeon

 

Osprey (video grab)

 

So despite the cold weather, a wonderful range of species seen and landscapes enjoyed, with a special mention to the excellent tea room at Stronachlachar!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Christmas Update

A lot has happened over the past few days so here goes!

On Wednesday (17th) we joined the RSPB Glasgow Group on their outing to Ardmore Point. The weather was reasonably kind and we saw lots of common waders and wildfowl in the north bay

Ardmore Point - North Bay - 17 December 2014

 

The highlight, however, was a male Long-tailed Duck off the Point.

 

The following day we made the long trip north to Loch of Kinnordy, thanks Fiona, and were pleasantly surprised at the habitat improvements that have been made to this RSPB Reserve.

 

Loch of Kinnordy - 18 December 2014

 

There were really impressive numbers of wildfowl, particularly Teal and Wigeon plus Whooper Swans, Goosanders, Goldeneye and Greylag Geese ...

 

 

There were also a nice range of woodland birds attracted to the feeders and being the festive season I have to include this Robin!

 

Robin - Loch of Kinnordy - 18 December 2014

 

From here we drove back south to Linlithgow Loch and managed to see the drake Lesser Scaup that had been reported as being present, along with another impressive range of wildfowl.

 

Yesterday I travelled through to Edinburgh and was luck enough to connect with four Waxwing in Princes Street!

 

Waxwing - Princes Street - 20 December 2014

 

An excellent way to end the week!

 

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

 

19 December 2014

A drake Wood Duck still on Banton Loch (Townhead Reservoir), Kilsyth.
Four Shovelers on Bridgend Farm Pool, near KIrkintilloch.