Waxwings at Bingham's Pond, Glasgow

Whilst the web page is still in 'cold storage', I thought this was worthy of another post - 12 Waxwings at Bingham's Pond, Glasgow, 6 December 2023.

Waxwing, Bingham's Pond - 6/12/23

Waxwing, Bingham's Pond - 6/12/23

Birding Review - January 2023

 I didn't manage out much this month for various reasons. However, the Ring-necked Duck continued to frequent Bingham's Pond and Victoria Park Pond in Glasgow.

Ring-necked Duck - 15/1/23 - Bingham's Pond

The month was dominated by other types of 'rings' with the following birds seen:

Black-headed Gulls 

Bingham's Pond - 25/1/23 - ringed 2022

Bingham's Pond - 25/1/23 - ringed 2019

Hogganfield Park - 25/1/23 - ringed 2020

Mute Swan

Hogganfield Park - 25/1/23 - ringed 2015

Away from Glasgow we travelled down to Fairlie on 19 January 2023 with these two birds being rather special

Little Egret

Greenshank

Finally, a trip through to Edinburgh on the 26th was rewarded with 29 Waxwings.

Waxwings

Waxwing

Hopefully, I'll get out and about more in February and will report back in c3 weeks.

2020 Vision

Hopefully, politicians throughout the world will listen to climate experts and do the right thing for their people and the planet.

Meanwhile, back in Greater Glasgow the weather has been mild albeit a touch dismal and wet. This has limited photo opportunities but we have still managed some birding with our friends.

After Christmas, I visited  the nearest LNR to our house - Dawsholm Park LNR in Glasgow - and it was a nice day! I managed good views of Ring-necked Parakeets and Nuthatch

… but the visit was spoiled by some horrendous litter and bags of dog poo - I won't post the photos!

On the 31st, we visited Balloch Country Park - great views of Mandarin Ducks - and the Clyde foreshore at Dumbarton Castle, with Judith and Mike. The difference in the weather over a few miles was incredible ....

River Leven at Balloch

Dumbarton Castle on the River Clyde

In the new year, we have managed to visit various locations (thanks to Stephen and Peter) which should help with a forthcoming RSPB Glasgow Group sponsored Bird Race! These have included: Fairlie Sands (Little Egret and Greenshank), Cardwell Bay (Little Gull and Mediterranean Gull), Mugdock Loch (Ring-necked Duck), Drymen (Crossbills) and 3 Black Grouse at a confidential location. 

Finally, yesterday I travelled by bus to the east end of Glasgow and caught up with a Waxwing flock of at least 200 birds. This photo, taken on my phone, doesn't do the spectacle justice ..

Glasgow Birding and More

Time for another update; despite the dark, dreary days there's lots been happening since my last update on the 16th ..........

On Sunday (18th) I helped at the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event at Hogganfield Loch. As ever it was good to see Whooper Swans up close and personal ...

 

This Mute Swan, with its crooked neck, caused us some concern and I contacted the Council .....

 

 

Their staff have looked for it but it seems to have moved on. Sadly, the swan that was rescued by the Ranger Service (see post on the 16th) had to be put down.

 

I paid a short late afternoon visit to my local Bingham's Pond on the 19th and was intrigued to see a female Goosander 'courting' a male Goosander - a bit early I thought ...

 

Video grab

 

He wasn't interested and she eventually 'gave up', but she did get a nice sun set!

 

Bingham's Pond - 19 December 2016

 

I travelled down to Lochwinnoch RSPB Reserve on the 20th in search of the elusive Hooded Merganser that has been reported from the Barr Loch and the nearby Kilbirnie Loch for a few months now. Success at last and a Scottish tick! Apologies for the poor quality, it's the bird closest to the far bank, but I think its worth showing .....

 

 

A Cormorant was a lot closer .......

 

 

And eventually, the sun tried to break through ...................

 

Barr Loch (RSPB Lochwinnoch Reserve) - 20 December 2016

 

I visited the RSPB Visitor Centre to give them the news that the merganser was present and the staff were most welcoming, the cup of tea was gratefully received!

 

The last few days have been taken up with Christmas (ho, ho, ho) and looking out for Waxwings which are being reported in good numbers throughout Glasgow. I've had a good few sightings but the weather has been poor stopping any decent photographs but here goes .....

 

24th - 66 Waxwings - Westerlands Estate (from our window)

 

25th -  56 Waxwings - Westerlands Estate (from our window)

 

25th - Some of the 63 Waxwings - Bingham's Pond

 

25th - One of 15 Waxwings - Dorchester Ave/Gt Western Rd

 

In all 3 locations a Mistle Thrush had taken 'ownership' of the berry bearing trees and were trying to see off the waxwings! Here is the 'Bingham's Pond' bird .........

 

 

As I type, c150 Waxwings are in our estate!

 

Other sightings from Greater Glasgow, excluding Waxwings, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 25 December 2016
An unusual record of a Dipper feeding at a flood pool in a Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields garden.

Monday 19 December 2016
52 Jack Snipe (16 caught) at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve.

Saturday 17 December 2016
A female Mandarin Duck back on White Cart Water at Sinclair Drive, Battlefield, Glasgow.
A Woodcock in flight over Silverburn, Pollok, Glasgow at 1000 hrs.
A Tawny Owl roosting in a tree at Williamwood High School, Eaglesham Road, Clarkston.
Up to four Nuthatches in the area of the walled garden, Pollok Country Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Glasgow Birding

Since the last post, we've had 'record' number of thrushes in our garden with 50 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings being the best count.

Redwing

Blackbirds, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush also continued to visit and I managed this record shot of the latter  .......

Mistle Thrush

Most of the rowan berries have now gone but we still had two Redwings this morning.

One unusual 'tick', on the 13th, was from the window of the Esquire House pub when we saw 14 Waxwings, albeit briefly.

Finally, we joined the RSPB Glasgow Group at Hogganfield Park LNR on Wednesday (14th) and despite the overcast conditions I managed to record 34 species, including 15 Whooper Swans and 14 Gadwall, before 'rain stopped play'!
 
Sadly, a Mute Swan was looking rather sickly  .............

 

However, as if by magic a Council Countryside Ranger arrived, rescued the bird and hopefully it is now recovering at the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre http://www.hessilhead.org.uk/

 

Other recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 15 December 2016
A Scaup at Balgray Reservoir.

Wednesday 14 December 2016
Two Chiffchaffs opposite Morrisons, Bridge Street, Cambuslang.

Tuesday 13 December 2016
100 Waxwings at Beith Street, Partick, Glasgow.
 65 Waxwings at Greentree Drive, Baillieston, Glasgow.

Monday 12 December 2016
At least 50 Waxwings at the junction of St Georges Road/Garscube Road, Glasgow.

Sunday 11 December 2016
A drake Gadwall still on Alexandra Park Pond, Glasgow. 

Thursday 8 December 2016
150 Waxwings on McIntyre Street, Anderston, Glasgow at 1000 hrs.
60 Waxwings at The Forge, Parkhead, Glasgow at 1430 hrs.
At least five Waxwings at Govan Road/Burndyke Court junction, Glasgow.
Two Nuthatches still coming to the feeders in Pollok Country Park.
A Ring-necked Parakeet at Hogganfield Loch before flying off south.

 

 

From Asian to Bohemian (Hornbills to Waxwings)

We have been on our holidays but it was nice to arrive home just in time to see some Waxwings in the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow!

Needless to say 1000s of photos were taken on our trip and I'm still sorting through them but here are a few typical 'Asian' bird species .........

Oriental Pied Hornbill - Singapore

 

Crimson Sunbird - Vietnam

 

Oriental Magpie Robin - Hong Kong

 

Collared Kingfishers - Philippines

 

Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Borneo

 

Yes, the humble Tree Sparrow proved to be one of the most common species in all of the countries we visited!

 

Whilst it wasn't a bird watching holiday, we saw some excellent birds and added to our 'world list' whilst enjoying temperatures in the 30s (Celsius!)

 

Although feeling a bit tired and coming down with the dreaded 'Glasgow Cough' we couldn't resist visiting the Botanic Gardens to try and see the reported Waxwing flock and thankfully we saw c30 birds in three small groups. A record shot, taken in poor light, follows....

 

 

They disappeared soon after taking this picture, so we were really pleased to have made the effort to see them. There are plenty of berries in Glasgow's West End so no doubt they will be relocated. Anyway thanks to the SOC Clyde Grapevine for the heads up. Other recent SOC sightings include:

 

Monday 28 November 2016
The adult Yellow Legged Gull again at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 650 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
At least 80 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

Sunday 27 November 2018
A female Scaup on Gadloch, Lenzie.
At least 115 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, before flying in the direction of Addison Road at 1510 hrs.
15 Waxwings on Kelvin walkway.
Eleven Whooper Swans and 15 Gadwall on Hogganfield Loch.

Saturday 26 November 2016
At least one adult Yellow-legged Gull at the Balgray Reservoir gull roost, also 70 Goosanders and a female Scaup.
Now 100 Waxwings at the Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeets again In Hillview Drive, Clarkston.

Wednesday 22 November 2016
An immature Scaup at Balgray Reservoir, also a Stonechat.
60 Waxwings (20 yesterday) at Arboretum, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
A total of 38 Waxwings in the Mosspark area with 14 at Lugar Drive and 24 at Clunie Road.
12 Waxwings at Baillieston Distribution Centre, Barrachnie Road.
40 Gadwall and three Shoveler on Woodend Loch.
97 Teal and 107 Lapwing on Gartloch Pool.

 

Frozen Bingham's & Waxwings

This morning I popped down to Bingham's Pond to see how the cold weather was affecting the local wildfowl. As expected, part of the pond was frozen......................................

A partially frozen pond with 3 Goosander in the foreground

 

Despite the icy conditions, there were a good range of species to be seen:

1 Mute Swan (we await news of it's mate at the rescue centre), 32 Mallard, 25 Tufted Duck, 8 Goosander, 4 Coot, 23 Moorhen, 130 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Common Gull and 12 Herring Gull. The hybrid duck and 3 domestic/cayuga duck were also still present.

Other birds included 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Blackbird, 1 Robin and 2 Blue Tit.

 

Mute Swan

Six of the 25 Tufted Duck

Common Gull with 2 Black-headed Gulls in the foreground

 

Having left the Pond, I decided to check out Shelley Road, an area that has been good for Waxwings in the past, although none had, as yet, turned up this year. I am pleased to say I found at least 40! As you can tell from the Bingham's photos the light was not great this morning but I managed a few record shots, one of which follows..................................

 

 

 

 

 

Waxwing Invasion

Over the last few weeks there have been more and more reports of Waxwings being seen in the country. This indicates that there has been a 'berry failure' on the continent.  In Glasgow, birds have been reported from around the city e.g. Garscube Road, Partick, Hyndland, Whiteinch, Cardonald, Kings Park, Newlands and Hogganfield Park (all reports courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine).

Tom Rankin also reports c40 birds near the Botanic Gardens on Saturday 17 November 2012.
 
Sadly I have still to see one this winter despite walking for hours around their usual haunts in Anniesland. So I'll have to make do with a bird photographed at Binghams' Pond in 2008....

 

and one taken in our garden also in 2008.......................................