'Autumn' Bird Watching

Over the past few weeks I have concentrated on bird watching rather than photography.

I have visited Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch in Glasgow; Musselburgh Lagoons and Torness in Lothian; and Cardwell Bay and Parklea in Inverclyde. Thanks go to Stephen, Judith & Mike and the government's travel pass!

The Lothian trip was the most memorable as neither Stephen nor myself took our cameras, partly due to the very poor weather forecast and partly because we wanted to concentrate on bird watching and in my opinion you can't always do both well!

Of course the sun generally shone and we had great views of Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Surf Scoter and Yellow Wagtail. The birds didn't fly off and we could have had good photos instead of just good memories.

On the other hand, on a trip to Hogganfield Park LNR, when no rain was forecast, I encountered a torrential downpour

Hogganfield Park LNR - 13/08/19

Thankfully, it soon cleared up

The rain seemed to follow me around because we were caught in another heavy shower at Cardwell Bay on the 20th. This Wheatear, however, was a pleasant surprise

We also got distant views of two Ospreys at Parklea (east) which was a nice end to the day.

Finally, I managed a couple of hours today at Frankfield Loch and Hogganfield Park LNR but there was nothing too unusual to report other than a sighting of Ayrshire birder Angus Hogg who had decided to twitch the Blue-winged Teal that has hung around Frankfield Loch for a few months now.

I had been hoping for some waders but could only see Lapwing, albeit a good count of at least 310.

Lapwing- Frankfield Loch - 21/08/19

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

Tuesday 20 August 2019
The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR, also a Green Sandpiper and a Greenshank.

Monday 19 August 2019

A female Mandarin Duck on Maxwell Park Pond, Pollokshields, Glasgow for its third day. 

The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR.

Friday 16 August 2019
The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR.
An Osprey catching a small fish at the Gadloch in the morning, then flying off SW.

Wednesday 14 August 2019

The drake Blue-winged Teal still at Frankfield Loch LNR.
An  Osprey (for a second day) fishing at Bishop Loch, and today flying off with a small perch in the direction of Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge.
An excellent count of at least 128 Collared Doves on wires at Wester Cleddens roundabout, Bishopbriggs.

Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves and the River Clyde

It's generally been a good week, managing to bird watch most days.

Starting at Dawsholm Park LNR on Monday (21st), it was a bit depressing with litter, dog dirt, overgrown paths and little sign of birds .... I did see a Tree Pipit, which was a good find, and a Buzzard was calling in one of the tall trees, otherwise there was little else to report ...

Buzzard - 21 August 2017

 

On Tuesday I headed for Cardowan Moss LNR, Frankfield Loch proposed LNR and Hogganfield Park LNR. Cardowan Moss LNR was looking good and had a range of animals present including Roe Deer, Common Darter dragonflies, 'blue' damselflies and common woodland birds ..

 

Cardowan Moss LNR, main entrance - 22 August 2017

 

The main attraction at Frankfield Loch was 413 Lapwing, with 4 Shoveler and 1 Snipe ..

 

A few of the 413 Lapwing plus 3 Black-headed Gulls - 22 August 2017

 

Hogganfield Park LNR was as welcoming as ever with young wildfowl adding to the interest .....

 

Great Crested Grebe (juvenile) - 22 August 2017

 

On the 23rd we paid an impromptu visit to both Frankfield Loch and Hogganfield Park LNR, thanks to Stephen. I didn't have my camera but took this landscape shot of Stepps Marsh, opposite Frankfield Loch, with my phone. We were lucky enough to see a Whinchat here ..........

Stepps Marsh - 23 August 2017

On Thursday (24th), we went birding with Mike and Judith and travelled down to Cardwell Bay and Parklea on the Clyde. In Cardwell Bay we saw a good range of common waders as well as a few Sandwich Terns ...

Sandwich Terns and Black-headed Gull - 23 August 2017

On the way back to Glasgow, we stopped off at Parklea and after walking east from the car park, we were lucky enough to see an Osprey sitting on a post in the water ....

Osprey - 23 August 2017

We walked further along the path and eventually saw 3 in total!

A nice way to end a good few days of birding