Glasgow Patch Ticks plus more!

Despite yet more rain and dreich skies I've managed to bird watch near and far, since my last post.

Firstly, two days at Hogganfield Park LNR:

26 October 2019 - Whooper Swan family, Cormorant and Mistle Thrush

27 October 2019 - I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs Wildfowl Feeding event and managed to see and photograph 2 'rare' ducks - an eclipse male Ruddy Duck (my 72nd species for Hogganfield this year) and a very distant female Common Scoter (my 73rd for the year and a life Hogganfield tick for me, meaning I have now seen 108 bird species at this wonderful site). Thanks to Agnes, Karen and Lynda. As an aside, the scoter was the 143rd bird ever recorded at Hogganfield Park LNR!

28 October 2019 - a quick bus trip to Knightswood Park Pond to search through the many gulls for ringed birds. Luckily I managed to find two ringed Black-headed Gulls. 

31 October 2019 - our weekly birding trip with Judith and Mike and we headed to Troon.
On the south beach we found the Snow Bunting that had been reported and around the harbour we had good views of Purple Sandpiper (no photos) and Ringed Plover and Dunlin. We also saw the ringed Herring Gull which spends most of its time here - ringed on July 2013 on Lady Isle

1 November 2019 - a new month and a trip to Fife in heavy rain with Stephen. It actually stayed dry for around 1 hour in the Balcomie/Kilminning area but, thereafter, it poured down so we headed for the visitor centre/hide at Guardbridge. Despite the weather we managed c40 species including Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit and Golden Plovers - but no photographs!

5 November 2019 - Yesterday and another good trip with Judith & Mike, this time to Ladies Pond, Dougalston, Milngavie - a new site for all of us. And then on to an old favourite of mine, the farmland at Millichen, Glasgow.

The walk to Ladies Pond proved to be very pleasant with Nuthatch seen along with other more common woodland birds. The pond itself played host to a small range of wildfowl including a drake Blue-winged Teal, probably the bird that spent much of the summer at Frankfield Loch in Glasgow.

From Ladies Pond we headed, after a civilised coffee stop, to the Millichen area where we saw Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and large numbers of Pink-footed Geese flying around and then landing out of view!

However, the obvious highlight was a 'Millichen' tick for me in the form of Ringed-neck Parakeet - two of them - which is the 105th species I've seen at Millichen.

So nearing the end of the year and still getting 'ticks' and some enjoyable days birding - thanks to our friends and other birders we met on our travels. Hopefully, there will be more to come over the next few weeks.

West Coast v East Coast

On Wednesday, I led a RSPB Glasgow outing to Troon - 14 people braved the initial rain and cold wind. Sadly, some of the anticipated birds could not be found although we did see 2 Red-throated Divers flying by, a Black Guillemot in winter plumage and the usual common waders and wildfowl. Most of us carried on to Irvine Harbour where we hoped we'd be lucky and see a Grey Phalarope that had been seen earlier in the week, but again no luck.

However, we were told of 'a phalarope' at Stevenston Point so six of us called in and incredibly we discovered there were two Grey Phalarope showing well .............

So it was a happy, albeit smaller, group that enjoyed the sunset at Stevenston ...

Yesterday (3rd), I travelled through by bus to Cramond and the mouth of the River Almond. The tide was out so I managed to walk along the causeway where small waders were feeding literally feet away. Sadly, the weather was rather dismal hence the poor quality of the photos. However, there were 100s of birds present, including Greenshank, and it certainly looked like a location worthy of a further visit ...........

To Cramond Island

To Cramond

 

Dunlin

Turnstone

Distant view of Greenshank

 

Finally, recent Sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Thursday 3 December 2015
A Green-winged Teal still on Townhead Reservoir/Banton Loch, Kilsyth.
A single Short-eared Owl hunting at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve, also two pairs of Stonechats.

Wednesday 2 December 2015
Four Short-eared Owls hunting at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

Tuesday 1 December 2015
A Green-winged Teal on Townhead Reservoir/Banton Loch, Kilsyth.

Birding Update

With the awful weather we haven't managed much birding but last week we managed to get out on a couple of days. Firstly, last Wednesday with Judith and Mike on a recce down to the Troon Harbour area - I am leading a RSPB Glasgow Group outing to Troon harbour tomorrow!

We managed to see a few Purple Sandpipers - the target species - but eventually we were beaten by the weather, although a quick visit to Irvine Harbour during a brief break in the rain showers helped add to our day list.

On the Thursday (26th) we travelled through to Aberlady Bay by bus. The tide was coming in and ideal for birding, however, with the limited daylight hours we headed off across the wooden bridge ................

Aberlady Bay - 26 November 2015

On reaching the Marl Loch we came across a life tick - Simon King the TV presenter and wildlife cameraman!

Simon King - 26 November 2015

He was looking for the same bird as us, but sadly we all dipped - so this photo from last year will have to do! 

Long-eared Owl - 2014

As usual, I'll finish with some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Monday 30 November 2015
20 Siskins coming to the feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden.

Sunday 29 November 2015
A pair of Stonechats just SE of Gartloch Pool.

Saturday 28 November 2015
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeets feeding on apples at Hillview Place, Clarkston.

Friday 27 November 2015
An adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also a female Scaup and 350 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Some N(ice) Birding

Last Monday (19th) I filled the feeders and undertook the Wetland Birds (WEBs) Count at Bingham's Pond . The pond was frozen making the count a lot easier than normal

Bingham's Pond - 19 January 2015

 

Despite the frozen conditions there were 6 Mute Swans, 58 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 5 Moorhen, 8 Coot, 193 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Common Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 4 Herring Gulls (plus the pinioned domestic duck).

 

Later in the week we visited a few sites in Ayrshire (thanks to Judith and Mike) and saw 50 species. I managed a few photos at Troon ..

 

Shag - Troon - 22 January 2015

 

Redshank - Troon - 22 January 2015

 

Purple Sandpiper - Troon - 22 January 2015

 

I also managed some video of the Purple Sandpipers - see this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5qFwSDNzZU When viewing please click on the small wheel icon and adjust setting to 1080pHD.

 

Finally, an update of latest sightings in the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Friday 23 January 2015
Still two Stock Doves coming to the feeders in a HIllfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

Thursday 22 January 2015
Two female Scaup, an excellent 37 Gadwall and 23 Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
110 Canada Geese at Waulkmill Glen Reservoir.
Now two Stock Doves coming to the feeders in a HIllfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.

Wednesday 21 January 2015
A female Mandarin Duck still coming to bread on the White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
Three Blackcaps (one male) at feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, but only one House Sparrow.
Two Ravens over Hollows Avenue, Foxbar in the direction of Paisley.

Tuesday 20 January 2015
Two female Scaup  on Hogganfield Loch, also 32 Whooper Swans and 21 Gadwall.
Unusually a Stock Dove in a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
A male Blackcap at feeders in a Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow garden.

Saturday 17 January 2015
A pair of Pintail (present yesterday with eight Shoveler) on Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
17 Great Crested Grebes on Balgray Reservoir, but no sign of the Yellow-legged Gull.
A Tree Sparrow coming to a Hillfoot Drive, Bearsden garden.
Two female Blackcaps still coming to feeders in a Sween Avenue, Cathcart, Glasgow garden, but male has not been seen since Thursday.
35 Lesser Redpolls and 50 Goldfinches coming to a Hollows Avenue, Paisley garden.