The End of Summer Birding

In the days leading up to the end of summer (August) I managed, thanks to Judith and Mike, to visit the Cardwell Bay area in Greenock on the 18th and the Loch Lomond area on the 24th. I also managed to fit in visits to Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch.

Cardwell Bay/Ironotter Point

Here we saw a few common waders and some nice Sandwich Terns.

Turnstone

Curlew and Sandwich Terns

RSPB Loch Lomond and surrounding lanes and farm land

We managed two sightings of Osprey, one flying parallel to the River Endrick and one distantly on an island. Other nice sightings included Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch and a Small Copper butterfly.

Loch Lomond, with Ben Lomond in the background

Spot the dot (Osprey)

Spotted Flycatcher

Nuthatch

Small Copper

Not surprisingly, I managed to visit  Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch, where wader passage had begun.

Hogganfield Park LNR

Black-headed Gull (ringed in the Moorfoots, south of Edinburgh)

Male Bullfinch

Whitethroat (juvenile)

Blue Tit (juvenile)

Frankfield Loch

Ruff and Common Sandpiper

During this period I saw 69 species and my year list now stands at a very modest 153, with 97 of them having been seen in Glasgow.

On to September and the real birding begins, or not, depending on the weather!

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.

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 may have arrived!

Despite having had a cold for nigh on 2 weeks, I've managed some birding 😉 mainly in the Greater Glasgow area but on one excellent day I ventured east, thanks to Stephen.

Starting in the east this Ring-necked Duck proved to be a star:

Ring-necked Duck, Edinburgh - 8/4/18

Closer to home, I visited Millichen, with Judith and Mike, for the first time in a year and was pleased to see that Tree Sparrows appeared to be doing ok, although as per usual, we had to work quite hard to find birds

Millichen - 5/4/18

We then headed off to RSPB Loch Lomond and were impressed by the new facility at the reserve ...........

RSPB Loch Lomond - 5/4/18

However, I have to confess that my two visits to Hogganfield Park LNR on the 1st and 9th of April proved to be the most memorable with a total of 52 different bird species seen - remarkable for an urban reserve!

Slavonian Grebe - 1/4/18

Great Crested Grebe - 1/4/18

Iceland Gull - 9/4/18

Whooper Swan - 9/4/18

Wheatear - 9/4/18

Willow Warbler -9/4/18

So once again, if you have never visited Hogganfield Park LNR, what is stopping you?

For more information about Hogganfield Park LNR and the City's other LNRs see  http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com/

Also remember, you can click on the photos and create a slide show.

East, West, Scotland's the Best!

I started birding last week by going through to Aberlady Bay LNR, on the 31st, using the X5 bus from Edinburgh. The biggest surprise was the signage indicating that dogs were not welcome in the LNR ..........

 

 

 ... whilst offering a suggested alternative to dog walkers .....

These 3 Little Egrets posed nicely ............

 

 

We then travelled to the Loch Lomond area with Judith & Mike on the 2nd and managed a few landcapes and bird photos ........

 

Ben Lomond in the distance viewed from the viewing structure

Woodland path and railing

Meadow Pipit

Siskin

Finally, on the 5th, I travelled to Hogganfield Park LNR. The Whooper Swans have been slowly increasing in number and I actually saw another two flying in making a total of 19 birds, eight of which are juveniles .....

Whooper Swan family

 

It was such a nice day, I stayed for the sunset and was not disappointed ...

 

 

Finally, some more recent sightings courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 5 November 2017
A Red Kite at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve, also five (four ringed) Jack Snipe.
The immature Long-tailed Duck still on Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.
Three Jack Snipe at the east end of Gadloch.

Saturday 4 November 2017
Six Hawfinch (identified on call) over Shawlands, Glasgow, but no further details.

An immature Long-tailed Duck still on Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.
A ringtail Hen Harrier again at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.
A Jack Snipe at Mosswater LNR, Cumbernauld, also a pair of Stonechats.
16 Whooper Swans in two flocks east over Dumbreck Marsh at 0920 hrs.
A male Blackcap in a Hillview Drive, Clarkston garden.

Friday 3 November 2017
An immature Long-tailed Duck on Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.

Thursday 2 November 2017
30 Pochard on Balgray Reservoir, also two Whooper Swans.
Two Jays at Cathkin Braes and a Stonechat, nearby, at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

Has Spring Stalled?

Since my last post I have been birding locally - Bingham's Pond and Botanic Gardens - and to the north and west of Glasgow with Stephen on the 12th and 'east' with Peter on the 15th and, it appears, migrants are thin on the ground! 

I did, however, get some special sightings with two drake Garganey at the Gadloch on 12 April 2017 and one male Ring Ousel in the Lammermuirs on 15 April 2017. Other sightings included a single Swallow and Willow Warbler at Bingham's Pond; Sand Martins at Drymen Bridge; a Common Sandpiper at Musselburgh Lagoons; Wheatears along the Lothian coast and in the Lammermuirs; and White Wagtails at a few sites, again, along the Lothian coast.

Sadly only one photograph as I wanted to concentrate on bird watching so left the camera in its bag! One of the locations visited on Wednesday was the RSPB Loch Lomond Reserve. The facilities are coming along nicely with good footpaths; a car park, simple wooden building and toilet that forms what they call 'The Hub'; benches; picnic tables; and a small feeding station. The station attracted Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Bullfinch to name but three.

RSPB Loch Lomond

I would also like to thank everyone that came along to my talk at the RSPB Glasgow Group on Wednesday night - it is the first time I've had a police escort!

Finally, other recent sightings courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Sunday 16 April 2017
A drake Ring-necked Duck on Woodend Loch, Coatbridge, also six Gadwall and 50 Swallows.

Saturday 15 April 2017
Two Little Ringed Plovers at Twechar Marsh, Kirkintilloch.
A drake Garganey on Woodend Loch, Coatbridge.
Three White Wagtails at Drymen Bridge.

Friday 14 April 2017
Two Little Ringed Plovers and 12 White Wagtails at Longhaugh Point field pools, also three Black-tailed Godwits and 62 Pink-footed Geese in the morning.
A Greenshank, two Redshank, two Common Sandpipers and a White Wagtail at Drymen Bridge.
Two Nuthatches calling at two different locations Queen's Park, Glasgow.

Thursday 13 April 2017
Five Crossbills at Linn Park, also three Nuthatches.
70 Golden Plovers circling over Shieldhill Farm, near Eaglesham early evening.

 

Birding the Clyde area and beyond

Generally, another week of dull and dreary weather, but we managed out a couple of days - Lochwinnoch and Troon Harbour with Stephen on Sunday and Loch Lomond NNR and Craigendoran with Judith and Mike on Thursday. I also popped round to Cairnhill Woods on Monday.

Sunday was really good with Stephen getting two life ticks and I added to my year list with Purple Sandpiper and Golden Plover being the star birds. (Lynda doesn't do lists - she just enjoys the birds!)

Visiting Cairnhill Woods was a last minute, late afternoon visit but I was pleased with both the variety of common birds and the 30 Redwings appearing almost at dusk.

Sadly, the weather on both these days was not conducive to any photography!

However, we awoke to a clear blue sky on Thursday and our birding trip, to Loch Lomond NNR and beyond, provided excellent birds and scenery. We started by exploring some of the minor roads around Croftamie and picked up 4 species of geese, including 13 Barnacles.

After a much needed cuppa and hot roll, we headed over to the RSPB Loch Lomond Reserve and were pleased to discover that a new woodland trail has been opened. Lots of common woodland birds were seen with Siskins being the most notable .. 

RSPB Loch Lomond 'Hub'

RSPB Loch Lomond woodland trail

 

Our next stop was at Craigendoran in search of a reported Black Redstart. After a walk south along the shoreline, we found the Black Redstart - a record shot follows ...........

Black Redstart

 

...  as well as 2 unexpected Little Egrets....

 

Little Egret

 

The sunset provided a glorious end to an excellent day ..

 

 

I finish once again with some recent sightings, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Thursday 26 January 2017
The 1st-winter Glaucous Gull still at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost.

Tuesday 24 January 2017
A Jay at Pollok Country Park.