Millichen Update

Just a quck message to say I have updated the Recent Sightings Section of the Millichen page (see link above) and will continue to do so.

Millichen

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

Autumn Wildlife Update

A few images from around Glasgow from between 17 September and 18 October 2022, plus a rarer bird species from Lothian!

Blackcap - Hogganfield Park LNR - 17/09/22

Hedgehog - our garden - 29/09/22

Buzzard - Millichen - 13/10/22

3 Barnacle Geese with Pink-footed Geese - Millichen Flood - 13/10/22

Teal - Bingham's Pond - 16/10/22

 Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) - Hogganfield Park LNR - 16/10/22

Jay - Hogganfield Park LNR - 18/10/22

Family of 7 Whooper Swans (plus 4 adults) - Hogganfield Park LNR -18/10/22

Ruby Tiger moth caterpillar - Hogganfield Park LNR - 18/10/22

And the Rarity

Wryneck - Torness Power Station - 21/09/22

With more easterly winds predicted, start looking for rarities at Fife Ness, Barns Ness, Torness Power Station and St Abbs Head over the next few days - some have already arrived! 

Hopefully, some will make it through to the west!

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)

Still Birding Locally - after all Glasgow's Wilds Better!

A few bird photos from Mugdock Woods, Bingham's Pond, Millichen and Dawsholm Park LNR - all taken over the last few weeks. 

Tree Pipit - Mugdock Woods 

Spotted Flycatcher - Mugdock Woods 

Mute Swan family - Bingham's Pond 

Tree Sparrow - Millichen

Whitethroat - Millichen 

Sedge Warbler - Millichen 

Cuckoo - Millichen 

Moorhen (juvenile) - Dawsholm Park LNR 

It was good to see some new birds for the year and certainly the Cuckoo was a surprise.

With the lockdown due to ease slightly I may venture a wee bit further from home whilst still remaining in the Greater Glasgow area. And the posts may get more frequent as well.

Local Birding

Since my last 'birding' post on 28 February 2020, I have visited Millichen, RSPB Loch Lomond hub, Hogganfield Park LNR, Cardowan Moss LNR, Dawsholm Park LNR, RSPB Lochwinnoch, Castle Semple, and Bingham's Pond. In the process, I have logged 66 bird species with my year list slowly increasing to a very modest 92. 

A few photos follow

Millichen Flood - 29/3/20

Whooper Swans - Millichen Flood - 29/3/20

Dawsholm Park LNR - 3/3/20 - reinstated steps to River Kelvin

Cardowan Moss LNR - woodland management underway - 4/3/20

Hogganfield Park LNR - Oystercatcher on biohaven - 4/3/20

Hogganfield Park LNR - Blue Tit investigating recently erected box

Hopefully, over the next few months we'll get a settled period of dry weather and that will result in a good breeding season for birds.

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

A male Blackcap (now in song) still coming to an Ormonde Drive, Netherlee garden.

1,700 Pink-footed Geese in two flocks at Boclair Farm, Bearsden.

A minimum of 20 Waxwings at Tesco, Milngavie.
51 Pochard on Bishop Loch, Glasgow is an excellent count in recent times, also 10 Gadwall on Gartloch Pool.
The female Blackcap still in a Bearden garden.