Not too much to report this month although it is worth noting the number of improvements that continue to be made at some of Glasgow's open spaces. I also attended a joint Friends of Glasgow's LNRs/Clyde Bird Ringing Group event at Hogganfield which proved to be fascinating.
Dawsholm Park LNR
The Council has been slowly improving access to and around the LNR over the past year or so. For example:
A former 'desire line' has been upgraded to a formal path - 5/10/21
The existing muddy path next to the pond has been upgraded - 5/10/21
Hogganfield Park LNR
One of the wildflower meadows has been cut and the arisings lifted. This should ensure that wildflowers continue to thrive there.
6/10/21
6/10/21
Lethamhill Golf Course
The works being undertaken by the R&A to transform the golf course and facilities, which lie adjacent to Hogganfield Park LNR, continues. It is hoped that the new Visitor and Information Centre and revamped golf course will open in Spring 2023.
25/10/21
Hogganfield Park LNR Ringing Event - 30/10/21
Following on from a previous event in September, the Ringing Group managed to catch and ring a number of different species, some of which had recently arrived as winter visitors. It was also good to note that one of the refurbished shelters - refurbished through a joint project between the Seven Lochs team and the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs - was being put to good use.
Redwing
Blackbird
Great Tit
Observing bird ringing
Finally, it is good to report that the Whooper Swans are back on Hogganfield Loch.
Not Glasgow I know but I sometimes report from our travels further afield and I thought our recent trip to Dorset was worthy of a few lines and photos.
Upton Country Park, Poole
This is an excellent park on the edge of Poole and incorporates Holes Bay, part of Poole Harbour. On our visits we saw 32 species including the usual 'park' birds such as Stock Dove, Jay and Nuthatch. However, it was memorable for the sheer number of Little Egrets, waders and wildfowl in the Bay.
Brownsea Island
A superb nature resource in Poole Harbour, owned by the National Trust and part managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust. We saw 42 bird species on our visit with incredibly close views of waders and wildfowl from the hides. It was also the only location where we saw Spoonbills and Avocets!
The Lagoon from the Ferry
Approaching the jetty
Shoveler
Teal
Greenshank
Spoonbills
Durlston Country Park, Swanage
The park was a bit disappointing with only 15 species seen. With the right winds it can be a great place to visit but not on this occasion, although the views were good!
Studland
Once again the bird numbers were low but we did manage to see the Dartford Warbler and enjoy the views from the heathland before relaxing in our hotel.
Views across to Brownsea Island
Little Sea, Studland peninsula
Typical heathland path
View from our hotel
Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch
Travelling east we managed 29 species at a very windy Stanpit Marsh, where a 'scope would have been very useful! The main highlight here was the number of Little Egrets that were present.
Stanpit Marsh
Little Egret
RSPB Lodmoor and RSPB Radipole Lake, Weymouth
Finally, we moved to Weymouth where we recorded 51 species and these are just a few of the highlights:
Cattle Egret
Black-tailed Godwit
Mediterranean Gull
Great White Egret
Bearded Tit
In addition to all the bird species we saw Red Squirrels, a Lizard (probably Common) and lots of dragonflies and butterflies.
I've been visiting Dorset off and on for over 30 years and was surprised to add to my Dorset 'bird list' which now stands at 195, following on from the sightings of Great White Egret (at least 3 at Lodmoor) and Cattle Egret at Radipole Lake.
All I need to do now is update my talk and wait for the offers to pour in from local wildlife groups 😀
In the days leading up to the end of summer (August) I managed, thanks to Judith and Mike, to visit the Cardwell Bay area in Greenock on the 18th and the Loch Lomond area on the 24th. I also managed to fit in visits to Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch.
Cardwell Bay/Ironotter Point
Here we saw a few common waders and some nice Sandwich Terns.
Turnstone
Curlew and Sandwich Terns
RSPB Loch Lomond and surrounding lanes and farm land
We managed two sightings of Osprey, one flying parallel to the River Endrick and one distantly on an island. Other nice sightings included Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatch and a Small Copper butterfly.
Loch Lomond, with Ben Lomond in the background
Spot the dot (Osprey)
Spotted Flycatcher
Nuthatch
Small Copper
Not surprisingly, I managed to visit Hogganfield Park LNR and Frankfield Loch, where wader passage had begun.
Hogganfield Park LNR
Black-headed Gull (ringed in the Moorfoots, south of Edinburgh)
Male Bullfinch
Whitethroat (juvenile)
Blue Tit (juvenile)
Frankfield Loch
Ruff and Common Sandpiper
During this period I saw 69 species and my year list now stands at a very modest 153, with 97 of them having been seen in Glasgow.
On to September and the real birding begins, or not, depending on the weather!
Since my last post I've managed some birding in Grampian and Wester Ross and more locally I continued to add to my year and life Hogganfield bird list.
Starting with Hogganfield, I was surprised to see this Lapwing on the loch edge, a year first for me at the LNR although I have had them in previous years flying over the loch.
Lapwing - 2 August 2021
Moving on and a personal first for me at the LNR of a Green Sandpiper and this poor record shot
Green Sandpiper - 7 August 2021
Finally another personal first for me at the LNR, this time an Osprey. I had seen one at Frankfield Loch on the 2nd but this bird, probably the same one, performed brilliantly as this video shows
My 'life list' for Hogganfield Park LNR now stands at 117 whilst my 'year list' is 87, so far!
In mid July, we spent a week on a wildlife holiday in Grampian and Wester Ross and these are just a few of the highlights
White-tailed Eagle
Great Skua
Gannet
Dark Green Fritillary
Red Deer
There were lots of other species seen e.g. Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Red Kite, Common Dolphin, Red Squirrel and Corn Bunting - all in all it was just great to be able to 'almost get back to normal!'
Finally, I managed this photo of a Crossbill whilst birding north of Glasgow
Crossbill - 14 August 2021
The next few weeks should be interesting as wader passage intensifies and perhaps we shall be lucky and a rarity might arrive.
