The Importance of Nature Reserves

The Importance of Nature Reserves  – Illustrated Talk – Toby Wilson (RSPB)

Earlier this year the UK’s wildlife organisations published a report on the health of the UK’s wildlife – the State of Nature. They discovered that of the 3,148 species assessed, 60% were in decline! This in part was due to habitat loss e.g. ponds, wildflower meadows, woodlands, etc.

In order to help stem this habitat loss, many Councils and wildlife groups are managing nature reserves and indeed within Glasgow there are 10 such reserves.

On Thursday 24 October 2013, the 'Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves' are hosting an illustrated talk by the RSPB’s Toby Wilson on ‘The Importance of Nature Reserves’. The talk is being held in the Hopkirk Building, Botanic Gardens, Great Western Road, Glasgow commencing at 19.15hrs.

Toby is the Conservation Officer for RSPB Scotland’s South & West Region and is a popular and well respected speaker; so the talk comes highly recommended.

Cost: free to members of the Friends Group; £3 to non-members. Meet at the main entrance gate at 19.00hrs to gain entrance to the Gardens and directions to the Hopkirk Building.

Rarity Alert & Update

Yet more excellent records from the Seven Lochs Project Area courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

18 October 2013
A Bittern in full view (with a telescope at 1400 hrs  and again at 1600 hrs) at Bishop Loch at NS689671. Best viewed from the other side of the loch entering from Lochend  Road as approaching through Gartloch Woods by the Old Hospital would most likely flush it, also on the loch a drake Gadwall, three Shoveler (two eclipse drakes) and 162 Wigeon.
The Blue-winged Teal still on Frankfield Loch.
A pair of Scaup, 24 Gadwall (14 drakes) and four Whooper Swans on Hogganfield Loch.
13 Gadwall (seven drakes) on Gartloch Pool.
Two pairs of Gadwall on Lochend Loch.

Apologies for the lack of updates but its been a hectic few days. On Sunday (13th) we managed some nice birding on the east coast - thanks Fiona!

On Monday, I undertook my monthly WEBS count at Bingham's Pond with the highlight being a personal record count of 28 Moorhen.

On Tuesday, I was invited to speak at the Cumbernauld & Kilsyth Photographic Society - a big thank you to Andy and all the club members for such a warm welcome.

On Wednesday I was leading a RSPB Glasgow Group outing to Musselburgh where we saw c45 species with 7 Barnacle Geese being the biggest surprise. A record shot taken with my wife's small camera follows.................................

Yesterday, I was speaking at the RSPB Forth Valley Group - a big thank you to Robert and all those that took the time and trouble to attend on such a foul night.

 

The next three days will be as equally busy; so my next update may not be until Tuesday by which time my 'page views' should have crashed through the 10,000 barrier. Thanks for watching!!

Seven Lochs - Sightings Update

Latest sightings for the Greater Glasgow Area, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine 

Saturday 12 October

The drake Blue-winged Teal still on Frankfield Loch.
Two Scaup (one drake) on Hogganfield Loch.
An eclipse drake Pintail on Gartloch Pool, also seven Gadwall (four drakes) and a pair of Shoveler.
Four Gadwall on Lochend Loch.

All four sites are located within the Seven Lochs project area, albeit Lochend Loch is in North Lanarkshire.................

Lochend Loch - 22 May 2013

More information on the Seven Lochs project can be had from www.sevenlochs.org

Hogganfield Park LNR

I paid another visit to Hogganfield Park LNR yesterday (10 October 2013) and it proved to be a glorious day, despite the 'breeze'!

Once again there were good numbers of Coot (c50) and Gadwall (33) whilst the 'rarest' birds were a male Ruddy Duck and a male Scaup. Other species included Greylag Goose, Goosander, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe and Buzzard.

A few of the Gadwall at Hogganfield Loch yesterday

However, still no sign of the Whooper Swans.

Recent Sightings

Recent sightings courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

Tuesday 8 October 2013

The drake Blue-winged Teal still on Frankfield Loch, also 27 Shoveler.

On nearby Hogganfield Loch, up to three Scaup (one male), a drake Ruddy Duck, 37 Gadwall and 11 Goosanders.

For those of you still to visit Hogganfield Park LNR or want some bird identification advice, there is another guided walk on Sunday 27 October 2013  from 1.15pm - part of the Friends of Glasgow's Local Nature Reserves monthly wildfowl feeding sessions.

Forecast Comes True! (Recent Sightings)

I suggested in a recent post that you should keep an eye out for Yellow-browed Warblers in the city; well yesterday (5 October 2013) one was seen in Richmond Park!

Report courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

A Yellow-browed Warbler with a mixed tit/thrush flock in Richmond Park, Glasgow NS602631, also ten Redwing.

It is also good to see that the Seven Lochs Project Area continues to deliver good birds; again courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine:

The drake Blue-winged Teal still on Frankfield Loch, also a female Pintail.

Two Jays flying west and calling along the tree line south of Blacader Drive, Gartloch Village, Glasgow NS680669.

3 LNRs in One Day (well almost)

I arrived at Frankfield Loch late yesterday morning (4 October 2013) and was greeted once again by 100s of birds. A count of some of the key species resulted in 6 Little Grebe, c70 Teal, 29 Shoveler, 1 Pintail, 1 Dunlin, 11 Snipe and c260 Lapwing. Photos of a Snipe and Lapwing (albeit not taken at Frankfield) follow:

Snipe

Lapwing

I am also pleased to say that the male Blue-winged Teal was still present. Also of note was a Kingfisher.

I then walked from the loch via the new footpath to Cardowan Moss LNR where I encountered a 'tit' flock and a few gulls overhead before reaching Hogganfield Park LNR some 25 minutes later.

As ever, Hogganfield Loch was full of birds with c90 Mute Swans, 11 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 77 Coot, 20 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 2 Ruddy Duck and 6 Goosander being of note. Still no sign of the Whooper Swans but I am hopeful that they will arrive by the next 'Friends of Glasgow's LNRs' feeding session on 27 October 2013.

Finally, for those wondering about the title to the post; well Frankfield Loch is a proposed LNR in Glasgow City Council's City Plan and certainly the birds it attracts and the local interest generated by these birds and bird watchers certainly confirms that it should be officially designated as soon as possible!