Rarity Alert & Update

Yet more excellent records from the Seven Lochs Project Area courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

18 October 2013
A Bittern in full view (with a telescope at 1400 hrs  and again at 1600 hrs) at Bishop Loch at NS689671. Best viewed from the other side of the loch entering from Lochend  Road as approaching through Gartloch Woods by the Old Hospital would most likely flush it, also on the loch a drake Gadwall, three Shoveler (two eclipse drakes) and 162 Wigeon.
The Blue-winged Teal still on Frankfield Loch.
A pair of Scaup, 24 Gadwall (14 drakes) and four Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
13 Gadwall (seven drakes) on Gartloch Pool.
Two pairs of Gadwall on Lochend Loch.

Apologies for the lack of updates but its been a hectic few days. On Sunday (13th) we managed some nice birding on the east coast - thanks Fiona!

On Monday, I undertook my monthly WEBS count at Bingham's Pond with the highlight being a personal record count of 28 Moorhen.

On Tuesday, I was invited to speak at the Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Photographic Society - a big thank you to Andy and all the club members for such a warm welcome.

On Wednesday I was leading a RSPB Glasgow Group outing to Musselburgh where we saw c45 species with 7 Barnacle Geese being the biggest surprise. A record shot taken with my wife's small camera follows.................................

Yesterday, I was speaking at the RSPB Forth Valley Group - a big thank you to Robert and all those that took the time and trouble to attend on such a foul night.

 

The next three days will be as equally busy; so my next update may not be until Tuesday by which time my 'page views' should have crashed through the 10,000 barrier. Thanks for watching!!

Seven Lochs - Sightings Update

Latest sightings for the Greater Glasgow Area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine 

Saturday 12 October

The drake Blue-winged Teal still on Frankfield Loch.
Two Scaup (one drake) on Hogganfield Loch.
An eclipse drake Pintail on Gartloch Pool, also seven Gadwall (four drakes) and a pair of Shoveler.
Four Gadwall on Lochend Loch.

All four sites are located within the Seven Lochs project area, albeit Lochend Loch is in North Lanarkshire.................

Lochend Loch - 22 May 2013

More information on the Seven Lochs project can be had from www.sevenlochs.org

Hogganfield Park LNR

I paid another visit to Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday (10 October 2013) and it proved to be a glorious day, despite the 'breeze'!

Once again there were good numbers of Coot (c50) and Gadwall (33) whilst the 'rarest' birds were a male Ruddy Duck and a male Scaup. Other species included Greylag Goose, Goosander, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Buzzard.

A few of the Gadwall at Hogganfield Loch yesterday

However, still no sign of the Whooper Swans.

Seven Lochs Area - sightings

The Seven Lochs Project area extends from Hogganfield Loch in Glasgow to Lochend, Woodend and Garnqueeen Lochs in North Lanarkshire - see previous posts for more information on the Project.

Courtesy of the SOC Clyde Area Grapevine, I can report the following recent sightings from the project area:

17 October 2012
Five female/immature Scaup and twelve Gadwall at Bishop Loch.

Bishop Loch (a Site of Special Scientific Interest) is underwatched, partly due to there being limited formal access. It can be viewed from the paths of Bishop Loch LNR (see http://friendsofglasgowlnrs.wordpress.com and click on Local Nature Reserves/Bishop Loch for a location plan) but views can be limited without a telescope.

Bishop Loch looking north east from LNR path