Birding at a Safe Distance

These are difficult times. But we all know that walking in green spaces is good for you. So provided everyone follows the Government guidelines and keeps a minimum of 2 metres apart, we shall hopefully be able to continue to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.

With all Friends of Glasgow's LNRs and RSPB Glasgow Group events postponed, I have been 'self-birding' in the Glasgow area. An illustrated diary follows:

15 March 2020 - Bingham's Pond - Black-headed Gull survey

Some of the Black-headed Gulls

17 March 2020 - Hogganfield Park LNR

Whooper Swans

Frog spawn

Common Frogs

Canada Goose

19 March 2020 - Hogganfield Park LNR

Grey Heron family

Female Bullfinch

Blue Tit

Eastern ponds and marsh

20 March 2020 - Bingham's Pond

Moorhen

21 March 2020 - Dawsholm Park LNR

Poor record shot of Nuthatch

Pair of Mallard, up a tree

During this spell, I encounterd more people in the 'parks' than normal albeit virtually everyone did keep their distance. However, based on scenes shown on the television, I can't help think it is just a matter of time before a total lock-down is enforced. If so this will be my last post for some time. 

Thanks to everyone for reading my ramblings.

Weather Improves - Dry and Dull

In the last few days the weather has improved albeit still, in the main, overcast.

On the 15th we joined the RSPB Glasgow Group outing to Drumpellier Country Park and Hogganfield Park LNR, thanks to Judith and Mike.

We started as ever with a coffee, this time in the renovated and extended visitor centre overlooking Lochend Loch …..

On leaving the visitor centre, whilst it was dry, it was a wee bit dull. We walked around Lochend Loch and then paid a quick visit to Woodend Loch. I found a ringed Mute Swan ...

.. and have since discovered, it was ringed at Hogganfield Loch by the Clyde Ringing Group on 01.01.16 (1475 days after ringing).

We left the Country Park and then headed for Hogganfield Park LNR when the weather deteriorated further limiting photo opportunities. However, I did find a few Stock Doves sitting in the trees on the island, only my second ever record for this species at the LNR. My first was also on a RSPB Outing! 

Despite the conditions I did take a photo record of the floating 'gull' platform which has dragged its anchor and now sits close to the loch edge.

It has been reported and I've been advised that it should hopefully be back in place over the next few weeks or so.

Despite the dull day I saw c40 different species. 

Since then I have been back at Hogganfield for the wildfowl feeding session organised by the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs on Sunday the 19th. 

In addition to the usual wildfowl we had distant views of a Kingfisher which was a welcome bonus.

This week (22nd) we visited Strathclyde Loch, again with Judith and Mike and we caught up with the Ring-billed Gull which has made a welcome return

We then headed for Logoch (south of East Kilbride) in the hope of locating a Great Grey Shrike that had been reported. Sadly, the weather beat us, as this photo illustrates

So over the past week or so I recorded 50 species and added to my year list which stands at a very modest 87 species. Wouldn't it be nice if the sun shone for a week or so?

Dull and Dismal, Wet and Windy - but still Birding!

Let's not mention the weather; all I will say is that the camera has been left at home during my recent birding.

Firstly, on the one decent day (Thursday), I was tied up with unpacking and numbering nest boxes for the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs ...

These will be getting erected at Dawsholm Park LNR (2), Hogganfield Park LNR (1), Dams to Darnley LNR (6) and Bingham's Pond SINC (1). More information can be had from Friends of Glasgow's LNRs

On Saturday, I joined other intrepid members of the RSPB Glasgow Group on a sponsored bird race. Yes, Saturday the wettest, windiest day of the year so far!

Despite that, we had fun raising money for the RSPB and in our team's case (thanks Karen and Neil) we managed 60 species between us with Black Grouse, Crossbill, Tree Sparrow, Greenshank and Nuthatch some of the more notable species.

On to Sunday when I walked to Bingham's Pond for a combined Black-headed Gull count and WEBs survey. The gull count started at 9am and at that time it was dark and raining, so I left the camera at home. Big mistake! By the time I had finished, at 11am, the sun was out and some good photos could have been had.

As an aside, the Black-headed Gulls peaked at 115, with the lowest count being only 24.

Finally, if you didn't know, the Ring-necked Duck is still at Mugdock Loch, Milngavie and large flocks of Waxwings are still being recorded in the east end of Glasgow. If you have never seen a Ring-necked Duck or Waxwing before, here is what they look like - note these images were not taken this year. 

Good luck!

Autumn Birding and Easterlies

Since the last post, I've visited Hogganfield Park LNR (to help with the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding); Kilminning, Fife Ness and Pettycur Harbour (with Stephen and Lynda); Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve and Dalzel Woods (twice, once with Lynda, Judith and Mike); Aberlady Bay LNR, Musselburgh Lagoons, Hound Point and Dalmeny Estate woodland path and RSPB Skinflats (all with the RSPB Glasgow Group). With a few easterlies forecast, I was hoping for one or two goodies and I wasn't disappointed.

Highlights included: Red-breasted Flycatcher and Manx Shearwater in the Fife Ness area; Arctic Skuas from Pettycur Harbour; Pintail, Blackcap and Chiffchaff in and around Baron's Haugh; Little Egrets at Aberlady Bay; Great Skuas and Pomarine Skuas (distantly) from Hound Point and stunning views of a Yellow-browed Warbler which I found on the Dalmeny Estate woodland path from Hound Point to Queensferry.

A few photos, mostly taken with my phone: 

Wildfowl feeding - Hogganfield Park LNR 21/09/19

Snipe - Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve 27/09/19

Aberlady Bay LNR - 28/09/19

Musselburgh Lagoons - 28/09/19

Queensferry - 29/09/19

Skinflats RSPB Reserve - 29/09/19

Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve 1/10/19

So some great birding, in cracking locations and with good company. In total, 94 species seen with Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler the star birds, literally only a few yards away. What will be next?

Nest Box Monitoring and more

It has been a busy 10 days since my last post with checking on the biohavens at Hogganfield Park; monitoring nest boxes at both Hogganfield Park and Dawsholm Park LNRs; preparing for the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs (Friends) AGM;  and joining the RSPB Glasgow Local Group for a trip to RSPB Loch Lomond.

Hogganfield Park LNR - two visits,10 May 2019 and 17 May 2019 
One pair of Great Crested Grebes have nested on one of the Friends 'biohavens' (floating islands) whilst two other pairs are using the islands installed by the Seven Lochs Project. A pair of Canada Geese have got 5 goslings and there are still a few Mallard ducklings around. A 'summering' Whooper Swan is still present and used another of the 'Friends' biohavens to preen. All five 'Friends' tit boxes are occupied by tit species and summer migrants now include Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, House Martin, Swift and Swallow.

Pair 1- Great Crested Grebe  - 10/5/19

Pair 2 - Great Crested Grebe -17/5/19

Pair 3 - Great Crested Grebe - 17/5/19

Whooper Swan  - 10/5/19

Whitethroat  - 10/5/19

Dawsholm Park LNR - 12 May 2019
An early start to monitor the use of the 'Friends' 18 nest boxes and as expected, based on previous years, less than half (6) were being used. However, I would hope that c14 would be occupied by the end of the month. The important news is that one is being used by Nuthatches, probably the first nesting attempt by this species at Dawsholm.

Nuthatch - 12/5/19

RSPB Loch Lomond & Gartocharn - 15/5/19

Thanks to Judith and Mike we headed off to Loch Lomond/Endrick Mouth along with 12 others from the RSPB Glasgow Group. We were blessed by superb weather, low water levels and a good range of species including Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, White Wagtail and Osprey

Loch Lomond  - 15/5/19

Osprey - Endrick Mouth - 15/5/19

Endrick Mouth - 15/5/19

Over this period I saw 70 different species with my year Scottish list now standing at a modest 128.

Finally, thanks to everyone that came along to the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs AGM. If you want to know more about the Group see Friends of Glasgow's LNRs

Spring at Last - any summer migrants?

Since my last post, I've visited a number of Glasgow's interesting birding sites plus enjoyed a visit to Eglinton Country Park, near Irvine.

Firstly, a visit to Knightswood Park where the area in and around the pond is of particular interest as there is always a chance of spotting a 'ringed' bird. And yes another 'successful' visit with this ringed Black-headed Gull...…

Black-headed Gull - Knightswood Park - 18/3/19

However, unlike other birds I've found here which have been ringed in Norway or the Netherlands, this bird was ringed by a local ringer at Knightswood Park pond in January this year!

On the 20th we travelled, courtesy of Judith and Mike, down to Eglinton Country Park and met up with the rest of Glasgow RSPB mid-week outings group (20+). It was the first time many of us had visited this park and it proved to have a wide range of habitats. Whilst the bird numbers were disappointing, a view of a Jay was most welcome.

I've since made a number of visits to Bingham's Pond hoping for a Chiffchaff or maybe even a Sand Martin but to no avail. However, I did find a female Blackcap on the 23rd.

Other visits have included Frankfield Loch ..

…. Cardowan Moss LNR ….

.. and Hogganfield Park LNR where this Long-tailed Tit posed for a second or two …

I also saw a colour-ringed Mute Swan and I've just heard that it was ringed as a cygnet at Dedridge Pond, Livingston on 16 August 2017.

Sadly, the day ended with a sighting of a Goosander with its bill entwined by fishing line/tackle ...

I have reported it and hopefully the bird can be 'captured' and taken to Hessilhead for treatment.

Back to earth with some Local Birding

After the excitement of our cruise, we have got back to some local birding with the highlight being a RSPB Glasgow Group outing to Ayrshire.  We got a good few 'year ticks' - Black-throated Diver, Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Purple Sandpiper, Scaup and Little Egret - plus this 'Scottish mainland tick' - a Chough, near Turnberrry Point ..

Chough - 23/02/19

We also managed through to the east coast, thanks Stephen, where this Shag posed nicely in Dunbar Harbour …

Shag - 24/02/19

.. and also, yesterday, to Fairlie, with Judith and Mike. No photos but excellent views of Little Egret and 2 Greenshank.

Locally, I have visited Bingham's Pond, where this Grey Heron posed for photos, and ..

Grey Heron -  22/02/19

… also Hogganfield Loch twice; firstly for the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event and then early this week for a spot of birding...….

Wildfowl Feeding  - 17/02/19

Hogganfield Loch  - 25/02/19

 On the 25th, I recorded 39 species including this ringed Mute Swan

I have sent off the ring details and hopefully I'll find out the history of this bird in the near future. UPDATE - swan ringed as a youngster at Hogganfield Park on 26/11/16.

So, I'll end my post with this little piece of info - my year (2019) Scottish list stands at 90. For comparison, our 16 days on holiday resulted in closer to 190 - hopefully I'll reach 200 in Scotland by the end of the year!