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?

Happy Birding New Year

Like many bird watchers, I keep lists - year lists, site lists, and garden lists. At the beginning of the year I sat down and spent a wee bit of time looking back on 2017 and the birds we encountered in Greater Glasgow and also the rest of Scotland. 

With the use of BirdTrack it is now a lot easier to explore your records and compare your bird sightings with previous years. For example, I saw 69 species at Hogganfield Park LNR in 2017; this compares to 68 in 2016 and 63 in 2015. I also recorded my 100th species at Hogganfield in 2017.

Needless to say, the listing has started again and of course Hogganfield Park LNR has been visited as well as other local sites such as Bingham's Pond and Victoria Park. We also travelled a bit further afield, with Peter and Stephen, to Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve and Strathclyde Loch...............

At Hogganfield Park LNR there were 4 Great Black-backed Gulls present, three of which are represented below ...

3 Great Black-backed Gulls with Herring Gulls - Hogganfield Park LNR - 5 /1/18

This Kestrel gave great views before going off and successfully hunting ......

Kestrel - Hogganfield Park LNR - 5/1/18

Baron's Haugh was looking good in the sunlight and we did manage to see a Tawny Owl as well as the usual species. 

Baron's Haugh RSPB Reserve - 6/1/18

From Baron's Haugh, we headed over to the nearby Strathclyde Loch and thankfully located the famous Ring-billed Gull which has returned for its 4th 'winter'. It remained fairly distant so I had to settle for this record shot .....

Ring-billed Gull - Strathclyde Loch - 6/1/18

 On the 8th, I walked to Victoria Park and found that most of the pond was frozen ....

Victoria Park - 8/1/18

There were still good numbers of waterbirds present with this Little Grebe showing particularly well ....

Little Grebe - Victoria Park - 8/1/18

 Another sighting of note was this ringed Black-headed Gull. I have sent off details and will hopefully receive information about where and when the bird was ringed from the relevant ringer ...

Back-headed Gull - Victoria Park - 8/1/18

Finally, I couldn't help hearing the screech of the 'local' Ring-necked Parakeets and I located 3 within the park boundary, away from their nest hole ...

Ring-necked Parakeet - Victoria Park - 8/1/18

So the year is less than 2 weeks old and my bird list stands at 51. Other people have also been out birding and their records, from the Greater Glasgow area, and courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine, follow:

Wednesday 10 January 2018
11 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch.
Two Jays flying across River Clyde from Erskine Wood to Bowling. 

Monday 8 January 2018
A male and a female Scaup still on Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.
Two Barnacle Geese with about 1,000 Pink-footed Geese at Boclair Farm, Milngavie.

Sunday 7 January 2018
The 2nd-winter Yellow-legged still at the Balgray Reservoir, roost, also 44 Goosanders.
Four Crosssbills in Mugdock Country Park.
A remarkable19 Ring-necked Parakeets at roost in Victoria Park, Glasgow.

Tuesday 2 January 2018
A male and female Scaup still on Waulkmill Glen Reservoir, also two Stonechats.

Ring-billed Gull

Today we visited Strathclyde Loch with Judith & Mike. It was a mixed day weather wise, however, we saw at least 33 species with Peregrine being one of the highlights. The best bird was of course the Ring-billed Gull that has been present for a wee while now. Despite the ever changing light I managed a few photos with my Canon Powershot, notice the pale eye ...

Other recent sightings of interest in Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

4 January 2015
Five Jack Snipe and three Water Rails at Windlaw Marsh, near Carmunnock.
A Stonechat at Cathkin Marsh, near East Kilbride.

3 January 2015
Two female Scaup and 14 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow.

1 January 2015
15 Gadwall and 21 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow.
Seven Gadwall and seven Whooper Swans on Gartloch Pool, Glasgow.

The Last Post 2014

It might be late December but the birding continues! Firstly, on Sunday  (28th) I visited the best little pond in Glasgow - Bingham's Pond. Once again I filled the bird feeders and a short time later watched intrigued as a family proceeded to place two 'cheesy wotsits' in the feeder ports thus inadvertently blocking the seed from flowing!

The pond itself was almost completely frozen ....
 

 

 ...... although there were still a good range of wildfowl and gulls present, albeit nothing out of the ordinary. This Moorhen, however, did amuse me with its antics .....

 

 

On Monday we travelled through to East Lothian calling in at Musselburgh and Torness as well as a few other locations, thanks Fiona, with the highlight being a small group of Grey Partridge in a field just yards from the car - sadly though, no camera!

 

Yesterday, I travelled through to Strathclyde Loch .....

 

Strathclyde Loch - 30 December 2014

 

.... bumped into a few other birders  and eventually saw the adult Ring-billed Gull that has been present for a few days (thanks for the use of your 'scope, Fiona). A record shot follows ...

 

Ring-billed Gull - Strathclyde Loch - 30 December 2014

 

There have also been a few interesting gulls (and other species) seen in the Glasgow area, details, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine, follow:

 

30 December 2014

An adult Kittiwake at Prince's Dock, Pacific Quay, Glasgow.
A Stonechat at the north side of Balgray Reservoir.

28 December 2014

A Mandarin Duck back on the White Cart Water at Scottish Power, Cathcart, Glasgow.

 

27 December 2014

Two Stonechats in Robroyston Park LNR, Glasgow after an absence of five years.

 

26 December 2014

Six Gadwall on Gartloch Pool, Glasgow, also six Whooper Swans.
Nearby, three Stock Doves at Gartloch Village.

 

25 December 2014

17 Goldeneye on the River Clyde at Govan.

 

24 December 2014

An adult Mediterranean Gull on the River Clyde at Glasgow Science Centre.

 

Finally, thanks to everyone that has helped make this one of my most memorable birding years - wishing you all a prosperous and peaceful New Year.