Baron's Haugh and Garden Predator

Firstly another reminder that the photos on each post can be viewed as slide show by clicking on a photo.

Yesterday (13th), I travelled by train to Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve on the edge of Motherwell.

As ever, I got views of common woodland birds, such as this Chaffinch ....

 

...... butterflies could also be seen with Peacock being the most prominent ....

 

 

Common Darter dragonflies also could be seen .......

 

 

 

However,  Baron's Haugh is renowned for its wetlands and the views of wetland birds from its 4 brick built hides ......

 

View from Marsh Hide

 View from Phoenix Hide

 

View from Centenary Hide

 

The highlights for me were the waders with 2 Greenshank, a Ruff, a Green Sandpiper and Lapwing seen from the Marsh Hide. From the Centenary Hide I could see 2 Ruff (one can just be made out in the photo above), 2 Dunlin and Lapwing.

 

So yet another enjoyable visit to this RSPB Reserve only 35 minutes from Glasgow city centre.

 

On my return home, I encountered a female Sparrowhawk in our garden. My wife had been watching it for at least 45 minutes and I managed to photo and video it as it remained for at least another 30 minutes! It was clearly hungry and nothing was going to separate it from its meal .......

 

 

The pictures are perhaps a bit gruesome but help illustrate 'nature in the raw'.

 

And finally, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

12 August 2014

An adult Mediterranean Gull in winter plumage at Frankfield Loch, Glasgow at 2020 hrs.

 

 

Sparrowhawk - The Garden Predator

In recent weeks we have been visited on a regular basis by a male Sparrowhawk.

He hasn't quite mastered the 'art of surprise' as he spends much of his time sitting on our bird feeder wondering why there are no birds in the garden! However, he has had a least two meals that we have witnessed.

A short video of this bird can be viewed on YouTube at the following link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ITnQzJ6QlU

As with all my videos please ensure that you view at the 'maximum' quality (1080pHD) which can be adjusted by clicking on the small 'wheel' icon on the bottom right of the YouTube screen.

Bingham's hanky panky!

Yet another visit to Bingham's Pond yesterday (5 April); the Coot were on nests, a pair of Moorhen were getting it together and female Mallards were under a bit of pressure! This one managed to avoid attention by sitting behind one of the park benches......................

Female Mallard - Bingham's Pond - 5 April 2013

 

In addition to the resident species of wildfowl there were 3 Goosanders present..............

 

 

and finally, the local Sparrowhawk put in its annual 'April' appearance circling high overhead.............................................

 

Record shot - Sparrowhawk - 5 April 2013

 

The Sparrowhawk was the 32nd species that I've seen at the pond this year. I would expect that the next species to be added will be Willow Warbler, perhaps in about 10 days time!