I'm big on traditions, big on continuity to the past, often to the extent that I verge into nostalgia and denial that things change.
Anyway, one of these traditions is that each Boxing Day, Mrs Green Sandpiper takes the mini- Sands to the pantomime with her mother and our niece. Having an aversion to panto, and my mother- in- law, tradition dictates that I do my own thing- a clear euphemism for birdwatching.
Normally, I'd stay local, do some patch work. This year, 2012, though has seen me broaden my birding horizons. No longer afraid to venture outside my local area, I've travelled East and West, and added more than a dozen lifer ticks to my modest total.
With this in mind, I decided on a whim to forego my local patch and head to the Clyde Estuary. I recently went to the Southern side of the estuary, but this time thought I'd try for Ardmore Point on the north shore, one of the best sites in the West of Scotland.
Having casually mentioned my plans, I was lucky enough to have some company for the visit. Less lucky, by the time I dropped off the other Sandpipers at the theatre, we had less than 3 hours of 'sunlight' left, not helped of coruse by the gloomy and overcast conditions. Despite this, I still had the exhilirated feeling of being out birding, and excitement of going somehwere new.
The Clyde Estuary is, obviously, tidal, and unfortunately we missed high tide by about 2 hours. Upon arrival, though, it was clear that this is an exceptional place. The site is split, roughly, into 2- the north bay and south bay. In the South bay, a dozen or so Redshank prowled the exposed mudflats, while curlew and oystercatcher tried to drown out each other's calls. Further into the water, a common seals stuck their noses above the waves, while teal and wigeon swam lazily upstream. Highlights, though, were the three Slavonian Grebes swimming and diving at naked eye distance- though much better through my buddy's scope. A lifer tick, which was only surpassed by the red- throated diver (loon)- another lifer.
Chasing daylight by now, we then tried the north bay. Massed flock of shelduck on the mudflat, curlew again, greylag geese, gulls, a buzzard, and a lost- looking lapwing. No lifers here, but the more secluded nature of this bay holds real potential for my next visit.
So, a successful day, 2 lifers, a new place to make a point of visiting- in daylight this time- its amazing what you can achieve if you go with your first instinct.
Happy new year to one and all.
Anyway, one of these traditions is that each Boxing Day, Mrs Green Sandpiper takes the mini- Sands to the pantomime with her mother and our niece. Having an aversion to panto, and my mother- in- law, tradition dictates that I do my own thing- a clear euphemism for birdwatching.
Normally, I'd stay local, do some patch work. This year, 2012, though has seen me broaden my birding horizons. No longer afraid to venture outside my local area, I've travelled East and West, and added more than a dozen lifer ticks to my modest total.
With this in mind, I decided on a whim to forego my local patch and head to the Clyde Estuary. I recently went to the Southern side of the estuary, but this time thought I'd try for Ardmore Point on the north shore, one of the best sites in the West of Scotland.
Having casually mentioned my plans, I was lucky enough to have some company for the visit. Less lucky, by the time I dropped off the other Sandpipers at the theatre, we had less than 3 hours of 'sunlight' left, not helped of coruse by the gloomy and overcast conditions. Despite this, I still had the exhilirated feeling of being out birding, and excitement of going somehwere new.
The Clyde Estuary is, obviously, tidal, and unfortunately we missed high tide by about 2 hours. Upon arrival, though, it was clear that this is an exceptional place. The site is split, roughly, into 2- the north bay and south bay. In the South bay, a dozen or so Redshank prowled the exposed mudflats, while curlew and oystercatcher tried to drown out each other's calls. Further into the water, a common seals stuck their noses above the waves, while teal and wigeon swam lazily upstream. Highlights, though, were the three Slavonian Grebes swimming and diving at naked eye distance- though much better through my buddy's scope. A lifer tick, which was only surpassed by the red- throated diver (loon)- another lifer.
Chasing daylight by now, we then tried the north bay. Massed flock of shelduck on the mudflat, curlew again, greylag geese, gulls, a buzzard, and a lost- looking lapwing. No lifers here, but the more secluded nature of this bay holds real potential for my next visit.
So, a successful day, 2 lifers, a new place to make a point of visiting- in daylight this time- its amazing what you can achieve if you go with your first instinct.
Happy new year to one and all.
