Spring has sprung, more or less

My wife and I have been away for a few days attending a music festival and were pleased to see some of 'our' migrants. Hopefully, they make it to the Greater Glasgow area ...........

Spotted Flycatcher, Ibiza

On our return, I visited Hogganfield Park LNR and was pleased to see both Great Crested Grebes and Coot nesting on the Biohavens that were launched over the last few years ......

Great Crested Grebe on nest - 3/5/18

I then had a walk along the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Carbeth adding birds such as Cuckoo, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit to my 'year list'. I also had a good chat with another birder, Andrew.

Wood Warbler - WHW at Mugdock Wood - 6/5/18

Craigallian Loch from WHW - 6/5/18

Garden Warbler - WHW 6/5/18

On Monday, we both travelled to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs NP area, thanks to Peter, calling into various woodlands and lochs ....

Cashel Woods - 7/5/18

... the highlights being a male Pied Flycatcher in Ross Wood and the carrot cake in the Pier Café!

And finally we both travelled by train and met up with Judith and Mike and had a nice walk in Balloch Castle CP, albeit it was rather cold for the time of year and rain eventually stopped play!

Over this period, 3-8 May 2018, I recorded c70 species and it was good to see a few more summer migrants and add them to my year list although I am still lacking Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler - Hogganfield Park LNR here I come!

On the Right Track

Not much to report this week for a variety of reasons.

However, we paid a quick trip to our nearest LNR - Dawsholm Park LNR  - on Monday 20th and were pleased to see that the Council has upgraded a number of the footpaths. It is now possible to go for a circular walk in the park without wellies!

 

 

It wasn't so successful, however, on the bird front with only 4 species seen in c45 minutes.

 

On Tuesday we travelled with Judith and Mike to Mugdock Country Park for a coffee and then walk along the West Highland Way to Carbeth Loch. Unfortunately, the rain arrived earlier than forecast but we still managed a few bird sightings e.g. four species of tit, four species of duck, Goldcrest, Kestrel and Buzzard. This bird of prey proved to be a bit of surprise and then we saw its owner!

 

Harris's Hawk

 

It seemed quite happy sitting on the slopes overlooking Craigallian Loch but it eventually flew back to its owner.

I finish with some recent sightings courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Friday 24 February 2017
Two Nuthatches at the feeders at Pollok Country Park.

Wednesday 22 February 2017
A 1st-winter Glaucous Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull again at Balgray Reservoir gull roost.
Two Greenland White-fronted Geese with 540 Greylags at Candrens Farm, Paisley, also 19 Whooper Swans.

Sunday 19 February
Two Chiffchaffs (including a Siberian) still at SECC, Glasgow.
18 Waxwings on Clarkston Road, near Stamperland shops in the morning, later seven in same area.
15 Waxwings at Ashtree Park, Pollokshaws in the morning.
Four Tree Sparrows at Newford Grove, Clarkston, also a Tawny Owl at roost.
A Stock Dove continues to visit a Cathcart garden.

Birding in Greater Glasgow

Despite the week's poor weather forecast, broadcast last Sunday, I managed out most days to do a bit of birding. Originally, Monday was meant to be the only dry day so we headed out with Judith and Mike to walk in an around the West Highland Way between Mugdock Country Park and the Carbeth Huts. As well as seeing some of the more common woodland birds, we were rewarded with sightings of Osprey, Crossbill and Cuckoo. The birds were quite distant but thankfully I had my scope with me so we got excellent views. My Powershot did its best, but only record shots were possible ............

I called in twice at Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow and was pleased to see two Swallows on both occasions.

Dawsholm Park LNR was my next port of call, to check out the nest boxes. Only 2 were being investigated, but the weather was poor so I'm sure I'll get better results next week. I also had the bonus of seeing a Kingfisher on the River Kelvin and great views of a Great Spotted Woodpecker

A visit to Dawsholm would not be complete without mentioning the dogs and I had a record count of 6 dog walking companies and 50+ dogs in c15 minutes!

The week was completed with Peter suggesting we head off to Loch Lomond. We encountered 700 runners along the West Highland Way, so decided to head off into Ross Wood and we had a superb walk and added Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler to our list of summer migrants

WHW runners

Pied Flycatcher

Wood Warbler

 

We also encountered some stunning scenery.....

 

What a nice way to end the week.

 

So what have other people been seeing? Recent records for Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Saturday 30 April 2016
A singing Whitethroat at Balgray Reservoir where there was a feeding flock of 200 Sand Martins with only two Swallows and a single House Martin. 

Friday 29 April 2016
Nuthatches continue to colonise with 12 territories identified at Dalzell/Baron's Haugh, at least five at Pollok Country Park and one at Rouken Glen.

Thursday 27 April 2016
Wood Warbler singing at Gartloch Pool, Glasgow.

Tuesday 26 April 2016
An Osprey at Loch Ardinning.
Single singing Whitethroats beside Allander Water at Dobbies, Milngavie and Craigend Hill. Erskine.

Birding and Walking

Firstly, remember you can click on the photos to create a slide show (and enhanced viewing).

I may not have walked 500 miles, as per the Proclaimers song, but I've walked a fair wee distance this week whilst out birding!

On Tuesday, we walked from Anniesland to Victoria Park and back. It's been a while since we visited and we had good views of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.

We noticed a pair of Jackdaws with nesting material and watched them approaching a large hole when they were 'repulsed' by a Grey Squirrel! A good number of birds were either already nesting or collecting nesting material and we eventually recorded 26 species in the park including Ring-necked Parakeet.

Victoria Park

Grey Squirrel

Coot on nest

Ring-necked Parakeet

On Wednesday we travelled down to Culter Water, thanks to Judith and Mike. I was leading a RSPB Glasgow Local Group outing and I'm pleased that there were 16 of us in total. We walked from the parking area at Birthwood all the way to Culter Waterhead Reservoir and back and, in the process, saw at least 31 species. Sadly no Ring Ousel, but possibly the best day of the year, weather wise, so far!

Culter Water Glen

Culter Waterhead Reservoir

 

On Thursday, it was off to Hogganfield Loch to check on the BioHavens and obviously some birding - 35 bird species seen with Common Sandpiper being a nice surprise. The Havens seem to be doing fine and the plants are starting to grow.

 

Common Sandpiper

BioHaven - Hogganfield Loch

 

Finally, we travelled by train and then bus to the Carbeth Inn and walked back to Milngavie Railway Station. In doing so we walked part of the John Muir Way, West Highland Way and Clyde Coastal Path. Within Mugdock Country Park we saw our first Tree Pipits of the year and by the end of our walk we had recorded 34 species in total.

 

Craigallian Loch from West Highland Way

Record shot of distant Tree Pipit

 

I would like to say we feel a lot healthier from all this walking but ..............

 

Finally, another round-up of interesting sightings from the Greater Glasgow area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Thursday 21 April 2016
200 Pink-footed Geese north over Linn Park in the morning.

 

Wednesday 20 April 2016
A White Wagtail at Ardoch Farm, Eaglesham and still five Fieldfares between Over Enoch and Carrot.
Three Grasshopper Warblers (two reeling) at Mosswater LNR, Cumbernauld.
Single reeling Grasshopper Warblers at Littleton and Waulkmill Glen Reservoirs.

 

Tuesday 19 April 2016

An adult Mediterranean Gull at Ferguslie Park Gardens, Paisley.
A Short-eared Owl flushed at Windalw Marsh, also a Sedge Warbler.

A Cuckoo heard on Stockie Muir.
Single Tree Pipit singing at Mugdock Country Park.

 

Monday 18 April 2016
19 Shoveler (13 drakes), seven Gadwall and 260 Pink-footed Geese at Bridgend Farm Pool. KIrkintilloch.
A Cuckoo heard on Kilpatrick Braes near Loch Humphrey.



 

From Glasgow via 'Glasgow's Lake District' to Glen Clova!

I had a fantastic week's birding last week with over 70 species seen! I started locally in Dawsholm Park LNR in Glasgow on the Wednesday; walked the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Carbeth Huts and back on the Thursday; explored Glasgow's Lake District - Loch Lomond National Park - on the Friday (thanks to Mike and Judith); and finally headed up north to the Loch of Kinnordy RSPB Reserve and then Glen Clova on Saturday (thanks Peter).

There were loads of highlights! Raptors including Golden Eagle, Marsh Harrier and Osprey! Summer migrants including Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Pied Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Wheatear and House Martin. Resident species such as Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting and Siskin. 'Game' birds such as Black Grouse, Red-legged Partridge and Pheasant. And 'wetland' birds such as Red-breasted Merganser, Shoveler, Wigeon, Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Lapwing. Finally mammals included Roe Deer, Otter and Weasel!

A few images follow:

 

View from West Highland Way

 

Loch Arklet

 

Loch Katrine

 

 RSPB Inversnaid Reserve (formerly known as Garrison Farm)

 

Loch Lomond (from RSPB Inversnaid Reserve)

 

RSPB Loch of Kinnordy Reserve

 

Roe Deer

 

Wood Warbler

 

Pied Flycatcher

 

Weasel (video grab)

 

Wigeon

 

Osprey (video grab)

 

So despite the cold weather, a wonderful range of species seen and landscapes enjoyed, with a special mention to the excellent tea room at Stronachlachar!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Migrants Arrive

A busy week, so here goes - my photographic record (click on photos for a slide show/enhanced viewing):

Monday 20 April 2015 - Bingham's Pond

Tufted Duck (drake)

Coot (on nest)

Mute Swans (on nest)

 

In addition to the wildfowl, these Marsh Marigolds caught the eye

 

 

Whilst this was a gruesome reminder of 'nature in the raw'

 

In total 16 bird species with Lesser Black-backed Gull being the only 'migrant'.

 

Wednesday 21 April 2015 - West Highland Way from Milngavie to Carbeth Huts via Mugdock Country Park

 

Mugdock Castle

Craigallian Loch

 

Whinchat

Cuckoo (heavily cropped)

 

In total 32 bird species with summer migrants consisting of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Cuckoo and Whinchat.

 

Thursday 23 April 2015 - Dams to Darnley LNR

 

 

Dipper

Wren

 

31 bird species in total with lots of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, at least 6 Blackcaps plus my first 2 Common Whitethroats of the year!

 

More photos can be found at https://www.facebook.com/friendsofglasgowlocalnaturereserves

 

Thursday 23 April 2015 - Balgray Reservoir

 

Willow Warbler

 

The Reservoir was really disappointing, only 18 bird species, with high water levels and some anti-social behaviour. On the bird front, two pairs of Great Crested Grebe were engaging in some neck dancing whilst the only summer migrant to be seen or heard was the Willow Warbler.

 

A pity that such a good week finished on a bit of a low.

 

I just hope that we haven't just had our summer for the year!