Whinchat at Millichen in Glasgow

Visited the Millichen area on 3 May 2025 and was pleased to find a Whinchat posing on a fence post!

Whinchat - Millichen - 3 May 2025

All sightings from my visit and recent sightings by others can be found on the Recent Sightings section of the Millichen page - see link above.

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!

It will soon be Spring

Another relatively quiet week with some unexpected highlights.

Technically it is now Spring and certainly some birds are behaving as if 'spring is in the air'!

On the 27th I popped down to Bingham's Pond and noted a Moorhen on a nest whilst other Moorhen and Coot were safeguarding their territories by chasing rivals around the pond.

I also added to my annual Bingham's list by spotting a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Sparrowhawk - all the gulls and pigeons suddenly flying up was the clue.

We went out on our weekly jaunt with Judith and Mike on Tuesday exploring the Drymen/Gartocharn area and enjoyed some sunshine but we only saw a few geese, albeit 3 species. We moved onto Millichen hoping that the 'flood' would be flooded and that we would get large numbers of wildfowl ..............

Millichen Flood - phone photo - 28 Feb 2017

 

There was plenty of water, but no wildfowl. One solitary Grey Heron, 53 Lapwing and five species of gull were the only wetland birds to be seen. However, we were thrilled to see a Short-eared Owl - a first for me at Millichen and Glasgow. Sadly I didn't have my camera with me so this photo of a SEO taken in Lothian will have to do!

 

 

Finally, I was woken up this morning with the cry, there's Waxwings in the garden ....

I managed a few shots of the five birds despite being bleary eyed ..........

 

A nice end to the week.

 

Finally, some other records courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Wednesday 1 March 2017
Five Waxwings at Lomonside Avenue, Clarkston.

A Short-eared Owl still at Millichen Flood.
Five Tree Sparrows at East Millichen Farm and three at West Millichen.

Tuesday 28 February 2017
The Siberian Chiffchaff showing well at SECC, Glasgow.

Glasgow Birding

With blue skies at last, I managed to spend some time birding in Glasgow.

On Monday (22nd) I visited the Millichen area of Glasgow for the first time this year ...

Millichen Flood - 22 February 2016

 

Surprisingly, there were no wildfowl to be seen although there were 4 species of gull and c100 Lapwing around the flood. I had a nice surprise spotting three Stonechat, one at East Millichen and the other two at the flood...

 

Stonechat - East Millichen - 22 February 2016

 

In the afternoon I moved on to Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow ....

 

Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

The local wildfowl were showing well ...

 

Goosander - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

Tufted Duck - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

... as were the Black-headed Gulls .....

 

Black-headed Gull - Bingham's Pond  - 22 February 2016

 

It was so nice to be able to wander around without having to worry about the weather, long may it continue!

 

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

 

Monday 22 February 2016
An adult Mediterranean Gull at Newshot Island at 1200 hrs, later flying across to Dalmuir sewage works; also Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank at Newshot.
A male Blackcap on feeders in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
A Jay in Dawsholm Park Local Nature Reserve, Glasgow.

Sunday 21 February 2016
Three Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock, Glasgow.
A pair of Pintail at Millichen Flood, Glasgow.
Two Stock Doves in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

 

 

 

 

Autumnal Millichen

After a good few months, today I made a welcome return to the Millichen area of Glasgow ....

Looking south-east over the Steadings and 'Flood'

 

In a three hour period I saw 29 different bird species with the highlights including some of the UK's 'Red Data' bird species that can still be found in this corner of the City

e.g. 2 Fieldfare, 4 Redwing, 20 Starling, 16 House Sparrow, 11 Tree Sparrow and 7 Yellowhammer.

 

Tree Sparrow - East Millichen - 5 November 2014

 

Other species of note included 5 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 110 Collared Doves, 3 Stonechat, a few Meadow Pipits (amber listed) and 7 Reed Bunting (also amber listed)  ...

 

Meadow Pipit - Millichen - 5 November 2014

 

Reed Bunting - East Millichen - 5 November 2014

 

All in all, a very enjoyable spot of birding on a beautiful sunny day.

 

Remember click on photos to create an enhanced view and slide show.

 

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

 

1 November 2014

A Nuthatch and a male Blackcap at NTS Greenbank Garden, Clarkston.

 

 

 

Millichen and Recent Sightings Update

I visited the Millichen area in Glasgow yesterday (17 December 2013) in the hope of there being a 'flood' and lots of wildfowl. well the good news is that there was quite a large area flooded...

Millichen Flood - 17 December 2013

 

...however, the bad news was that the only 'wetland' birds present were 1 Greylag Goose, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Black-headed Gull plus thankfully 72 Lapwing.

 

During the 2 hours spent, I did see 26 different species with the stubble fields and hedges north of Millichen Road holding good numbers of Fieldfare, Linnet and Reed Bunting, flushed by a Buzzard, plus 1 Tree Sparrow, 3 Yellowhammer and 5 Stock Dove. The gardens of the Steadings  and adjoining hedges also hosted a few Reed Buntings with the 'best' bird being a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a species seldom seen at Millichen.

 

However, being close to Christmas the highlight had to be 4 Robins, one of which decided to pose for photographs.....................................

 

Robin - Millichen - 17 December 2013

 

Other news courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Two female Scaup on Bishop Loch.

A Jay in Gartloch Woods, also a Raven flying east to west over there.

 

Monday 16 December 2013

A male Blackcap briefly on feeders in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

 

 

 

 

 

Record Count and more..............

Yet more excellent records from the Glasgow area, all courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

30 October 2013
A Nuthatch in Linn Park, Glasgow near the stable gates; also three Otters showing well on the White Cart Water upstream from the White Bridge, and two Kingfishers nearby.

28 October 2013

A site record count of 56 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch; also 17 Whooper Swans (7 juvs).

A juvenile Gannet flew west over Millichen Flood in the morning.

We visited Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve yesterday (30 October 2013) and were pleased to see the recent publicised changes for ourselves - the new ponds next to the visitor centre looked impressive as did the upgrade to the centre itself......................

The new ponds from the Visitor Centre main window

The new ponds from the tower

The refurbished Visitor Centre and Tower 

 

From a birding point of view we had a small flock of Redwing and Fieldfare; small flocks of Redpoll and Siskin and close up views of Great Spotted Woodpecker and common tits and finches at the feeders. A Buzzard also put on an impressive display before landing in a nearby tree.

 

We saw a few Snipe flying up from the marsh whilst the ponds were full of Mallard with a few Teal, Mute Swan and Tufted Duck.

 

As ever we were made most welcome by the staff - so why not pay them a visit?

 

 

 

Millichen floods

After the heavy rain of the last few days I decided to visit Millichen yesterday (24 October 2013) and see if the flood plain had actually flooded! And yes it had!

Initially the weather was bright and sunny and I settled down to identify and count the wildfowl, waders and gulls. There were a good range present and indeed a personal first for me at Millichen in 2 Little Grebe. Other wetland species included: 2 Grey Heron, 3 Mute Swan, 91 Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose, 37 Wigeon, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Goosander, c135 Lapwing, 30+ Black-headed Gulls, 15+ Common Gulls, 70+ LB-b Gulls and a few Herring Gulls.

The weather, however, changed and soon clouded over and there was even some rain!

Record shot of Greylag Geese as the weather turned

 

In addition to the wetland birds there was a good selection of other species such as:

2 Buzzards and a Kestrel circling overhead, 66 Collared Dove, a pair of Stonechat, at least 5 Skylark also overhead, a few Meadow Pipits, 20+ House Sparrow, 2 Tree Sparrow, c20 Goldfinch, c50 Linnet and 7 Reed Bunting.

 

Reed Bunting at Millichen 24 Oct 2013

 

In total I saw 40 different species in c3 hours and it was good to see that the area can still deliver an excellent birdwatching experience. 

 

I'll finish with a shot of the flood taken from the path on my way to Hillfoot Railway Station - note the apparent wild bird cover crop in the foreground.