Millichen Magic

Yesterday (16th), I was lucky enough to accompany Fiona, Jenny and David ( 3 committee members of the local group of the Scottish Wildlife Trust) on a visit to Millichen.

A bleak looking Millichen - 16 January 2013

Initially, there was not much sign of life with most birds seen 'in the distance'. There were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 50+ Common Gull, 1 Herring Gull and 15+ Black-headed Gull on Millichen Flood (or more accurately, Millichen Puddle) and 42 Pink-footed Geese feeding at the top of a stubble field.

We looked for Water Rail in the burn (one had been seen back in December by members of the RSPB Glasgow Local Group) but to no avail, although we did get a nice Grey Wagtail. We eventually headed for the unharvested field near West Millichen Farm as it was clear there were lots of birds flying around and perching on the hedges and trees.

When we arrived we were stunned by the number and variety of finches and buntings. I counted at least 66 Brambling, 10 Chaffinch, 2 Tree Sparrow, 10 Yellowhammer, 15 Reed Bunting and c150 Linnet. These figures relate to the number of species seen at any one time; but as they were constantly flying up and down into the field they are a conservative estimate. The following photos illustrate the spectacle.....................................

c115 birds, mainly Linnets and a few Brambling

 

155 birds - mixed flock

 

c70 birds, mixed flock of Linnet, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Brambling

 

In addition to the wetland birds and finch-bunting flock, we saw 2 Buzzard, 2 Pheasant, 200+ Wood Pigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 3 Blackbird, 7 Fieldfare, 7 Starling, Magpies and Carrion Crows, plus 22 Roe Deer.

 

If only every farm in the UK set aside one field, like the one at West Millichen, and then perhaps our farmland birds would no longer be in decline. 

 

 

The Birds (and other animals) of Glasgow

I shall be presenting an illustrated talk entitled ‘The Birds (and other animals) of Glasgow’ to a local group of the Scottish Wildlife Trust on Thursday 11 October 2012. The venue is the Lesser Town Hall, Milngavie (directly opposite Milngavie railway station). The talk will commence at 7.30pm.

The talk will examine two key areas of the City – Bishop’s Estate (in north east Glasgow) and the Kelvin-Canal Triangle. It will touch on the importance of habitat management and illustrate examples of habitat creation.

Habitat creation at Hogganfield Park LNR (part of Bishop's Estate)

 

Dawsholm Park (part of the Kelvin-Canal triangle)

 

Whilst concentrating on birds, the talk will also cover butterflies, damselflies and a few mammals.

 

Small Tortoiseshell

 

 Just another reminder that the talk will start at 7.30pm and all are welcome to attend.

Seven Lochs Project

I attended a Community Engagement Workshop for the 'Seven Lochs Project' yesterday and it was good to meet a wide range of enthusiastic volunteers, representatives from 'green' groups and officers from both Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire Councils.

The broad aim of the 'Seven Lochs Project' is to create a nationally important wetland park between Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire. This will be done through linking existing Local Nature Reserves in Glasgow and North Lanarkshire with Drumpellier Country Park, other wildlife sites and open countryside. If the funding can be found, new paths will be created, habitats managed and improved, and enhanced visitor facilities provided.

A lot of good work has already been undertaken by the small project team, Glasgow City Council, North Lanarkshire Council and Forestry Commission Scotland, in collaboration with a variety of community and voluntary groups such as Froglife, Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB Glasgow Local Group and Friends of Glasgow's LNRs.

For more information see
http://www.gcvgreennetwork.gov.uk/projects/Gartloch-Gartcosh/7-Lochs-Wetland-Park.html

A few images from the area follow:

Pond at Cardowan Moss LNR, Glasgow

Gartloch Pools (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation), Glasgow

Hogganfield Park LNR, Glasgow

Hopefully, the necessary funding will be found for this ambitious project - watch this space.