That is a gorgeous picture!!!
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Western Scotland birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JTweedie
- Start date
JTweedie
Well-known member
I'd hoped the builders upstairs from me wouldn't be working today (a Saturday) but how wrong I was. As soon as I saw them coming it made up my mind to leave for the day.
I went down to Lochwinnoch and it was much the same as last week, with nothing out of the ordinary. I only stayed for an hour and a half and as usual didn't have any luck with the Long-tailed Duck, the Lesser Scaup and the Barnacle Goose. I didn't want to head home early as the builders would still be in, so I decided to get the train from Lochwinnoch to Largs.
Once at Largs I got the ferry over to the Isle of Cumbrae and I did a short walk around the northeast end of the island. Eiders and Oystercatchers dominated the view as the ferry arrived at the island, and shortly after landing I noticed the first of several Rock Pipits. A little later I spotted some Redshank and then noticed a shorter wader with them - in the end I counted 29 Dunlin. Waders are great in that once you see one, more start appearing and soon I saw nine Turnstone, five Ringed Plover and a single Curlew.
On the water were a few Wigeon, Mallard, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, west Scotland's seemingly biggest gathering of Common Gulls, and a Grey Seal popped its head up.
My visit was slightly disturbed by an idiot who was sitting in his idling car flying a drone low over the shore scaring the birds away.
I went down to Lochwinnoch and it was much the same as last week, with nothing out of the ordinary. I only stayed for an hour and a half and as usual didn't have any luck with the Long-tailed Duck, the Lesser Scaup and the Barnacle Goose. I didn't want to head home early as the builders would still be in, so I decided to get the train from Lochwinnoch to Largs.
Once at Largs I got the ferry over to the Isle of Cumbrae and I did a short walk around the northeast end of the island. Eiders and Oystercatchers dominated the view as the ferry arrived at the island, and shortly after landing I noticed the first of several Rock Pipits. A little later I spotted some Redshank and then noticed a shorter wader with them - in the end I counted 29 Dunlin. Waders are great in that once you see one, more start appearing and soon I saw nine Turnstone, five Ringed Plover and a single Curlew.
On the water were a few Wigeon, Mallard, Cormorant, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, west Scotland's seemingly biggest gathering of Common Gulls, and a Grey Seal popped its head up.
My visit was slightly disturbed by an idiot who was sitting in his idling car flying a drone low over the shore scaring the birds away.
JTweedie
Well-known member
I was up the West End of Glasgow today to visit a bookshop but I walked through Kelvingrove Park before heading home.
Usual parkland birds, but highlights were my first Dipper of the year and one of the Peregrines that nest in the tower of the Gilbert Scott Building at Glasgow University.
Usual parkland birds, but highlights were my first Dipper of the year and one of the Peregrines that nest in the tower of the Gilbert Scott Building at Glasgow University.
JTweedie
Well-known member
It was fun watching the Mallards and Goosanders on the Kelvin. The water was really high and flowing really fast, and the birds would fly upriver, then they'd come down on to the water and then let the current carry them downriver. Probably a good way of conserving energy.
JTweedie
Well-known member
I went to Irvine today. When I left home it was overcast and it looked like it would rain, but it actually hadn't rained for the full trip there - until we got to Irvine! It rained lightly on and off but it was very windy and stormy and the sea was looking really rough. I don't go to the coast often enough to see a stormy sea so this was an attraction on its own.
A walk from the station the beach brought me lots of Canada Geese, 11 Oystercatchers, a couple of Curlew, 23 Redshank, a single Eider and Goosander, lots of Mute Swans, including the first I think I've ever seen gliding as it came in to land facing the wind, a couple of Cormorants, lots of Starlings and quite a few Pied Wagtails in different plumages.
I spent a few minutes at the beach admiring the waves and I was then planning to walk down over the top the dunes. At this point it was dry but still windy, but then all of a sudden out of nowhere we were hit with ALL of Saturday's rain in one go. I got thoroughly soaked. There was a silver lining though. As I stood behind a building to shelter from the rain, I saw a Merlin flash by. Pretty certain I would not have seen this if I'd continued on my walk.
At the beach I found this dead Gannet with what I think is a fish (catshark? dogfish?) in its bill. Presumably the bird had choked on the fish that was bigger than it could swallow?
A walk from the station the beach brought me lots of Canada Geese, 11 Oystercatchers, a couple of Curlew, 23 Redshank, a single Eider and Goosander, lots of Mute Swans, including the first I think I've ever seen gliding as it came in to land facing the wind, a couple of Cormorants, lots of Starlings and quite a few Pied Wagtails in different plumages.
I spent a few minutes at the beach admiring the waves and I was then planning to walk down over the top the dunes. At this point it was dry but still windy, but then all of a sudden out of nowhere we were hit with ALL of Saturday's rain in one go. I got thoroughly soaked. There was a silver lining though. As I stood behind a building to shelter from the rain, I saw a Merlin flash by. Pretty certain I would not have seen this if I'd continued on my walk.
At the beach I found this dead Gannet with what I think is a fish (catshark? dogfish?) in its bill. Presumably the bird had choked on the fish that was bigger than it could swallow?
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Dog fish by the looks of it
JTweedie
Well-known member
Hogganfield Loch today.
Saw the two Arctic Terns that have been there for a few days. Really pleased to see these as I missed them last year as they hadn't nested on the Isle of May which I rely on for an annual sighting. Other firsts for year include a mixed flock of House Martins and Sand Martins, with more of the former. A few Barn Swallows were also present, and I heard a few Willow Warblers calling here and there.
There was a big build up of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with smaller numbers of Common, Black-headed and Herring Gulls.
Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Goosander, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan made up most of the waterbirds. Also spotted my first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year, and there was a Common Buzzard being buzzed by a Carrion Crow, and just as I was leaving a Kestrel flew over.
Goldeneye notable by their absence.
Saw the two Arctic Terns that have been there for a few days. Really pleased to see these as I missed them last year as they hadn't nested on the Isle of May which I rely on for an annual sighting. Other firsts for year include a mixed flock of House Martins and Sand Martins, with more of the former. A few Barn Swallows were also present, and I heard a few Willow Warblers calling here and there.
There was a big build up of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, with smaller numbers of Common, Black-headed and Herring Gulls.
Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Goosander, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan made up most of the waterbirds. Also spotted my first Great Spotted Woodpecker of the year, and there was a Common Buzzard being buzzed by a Carrion Crow, and just as I was leaving a Kestrel flew over.
Goldeneye notable by their absence.
birdboybowley
Well-known member.....apparently so ;)
Hey all, am heading northwards for the warbler on weds and was wondering if anyone has any nuggets for some more birding nearby. Gotta get car back to airport by 1900 so will have the whole afternoon....black guillemots at Saltcoats? Any red grouse sites within reach as girlf has never seen one...? Any help gratefully received, cheers
LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese
Well-known member
If you have a scope then Cloch Point or Longhaugh Point are good south side, Ardmore Point is also good but north bank of the Clyde. Not been to Saltcoats so can't comment.
LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese
Well-known member
Second visit of the year to Balloch and the Loch Lomond shores, to see what migrants have turned up so far. In the woods in order of numbers I heard Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap with good viewings of male and female of the latter, first time I've sighted them this year although heard back in Glasgow. There were no hirundines in sight and on the water little at this time of year with the Goldeneye gone, just Cormorant and Goosander and a couple of Common Gulls along with the very routine stuff. Oystercatchers were on the roof of the shops calling noisily. The Nuthatches were as chirpy and prominent as they normally are and I also got closeups of Treecreeper (so close in fact I could actually hear him creeping up the bark!) and surprisingly my first Great Spotted Woodpecker for the site, bringing me up to a pleasing site total of 58 species.
JTweedie
Well-known member
I had five Mute Swans flying over my flat this morning. Not the most exciting sighting in the world, but it was the first time I'd seen them here. They were flying towards a park that has a pond in it, but the park isn't exactly on my doorstep. Heard them before I saw them!
It was like seeing a Snowy Owl from my window.
It was like seeing a Snowy Owl from my window.
JTweedie
Well-known member
I went to Lochwinnoch today. An unplanned visit. When I left home it was grey but dry, but at Lochwinnoch it was just constant heavy drizzle. This along with it being a Monday meant the reserve was really quiet, but the birds didn't appear to be too bothered by the weather.
On the scrape I saw a Black-tailed Godwit, two Little Ringed Plover, lots of Lapwing, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon. Three Snipe were very active, constantly flying up, and Shoveler seemed to be in full display mode, and their numbers have doubled to six birds (at least) since the winter.
A Canada Goose and a Mute Swan were having a set-to. I just kept thinking that they could have turned their backs and swam away, but they just kept turning back and having another go. The Mute Swan was trying to look all hard and the Canada Goose was falling for it.
Quite a lot of warblers around including Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler (had one of each of these calling at the same time either side of the hide), Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcap. I met the warden who said a Garden Warbler is about, but I didn't see or hear that.
There was a flock of several hundred Swallows, Sand Martins and a handful of House Martins. No sign of the Swifts that someone said they saw last week.
On the scrape I saw a Black-tailed Godwit, two Little Ringed Plover, lots of Lapwing, Grey Heron, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon. Three Snipe were very active, constantly flying up, and Shoveler seemed to be in full display mode, and their numbers have doubled to six birds (at least) since the winter.
A Canada Goose and a Mute Swan were having a set-to. I just kept thinking that they could have turned their backs and swam away, but they just kept turning back and having another go. The Mute Swan was trying to look all hard and the Canada Goose was falling for it.
Quite a lot of warblers around including Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler (had one of each of these calling at the same time either side of the hide), Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcap. I met the warden who said a Garden Warbler is about, but I didn't see or hear that.
There was a flock of several hundred Swallows, Sand Martins and a handful of House Martins. No sign of the Swifts that someone said they saw last week.
I'm glad you've got Sand Martins over there - went to a Sand Martin breeding bank yesterday and not one to be seen.
JTweedie
Well-known member
Hopefully yours will turn up. They built artificial nests for them at Lochwinnoch but the birds never used them, preferring natural riverbanks nearby.
I had just looked back to see when I photographed them before, which was May.
Really can't think I was too early going, as we'd seen both Swallows and House Martins, seemingly just arrived yesterday.
Don't know if you've been there, it's near Lintrathen Loch.
Really can't think I was too early going, as we'd seen both Swallows and House Martins, seemingly just arrived yesterday.
Don't know if you've been there, it's near Lintrathen Loch.
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JTweedie
Well-known member
I say my first hirundines of the year on 14 April (mentioned in a post above) but it was just a few of each. Today it was a mixed flock of several hundred so it sounds like they've really started to arrive now. Hopefully more will turn up where you are in the next few days.
One of my favourite things was standing on a ridge at 1500 m in northern Spain late last autumn and seeing Swallows especially swooping up the slopes and over the ridge, making their way south. There's something special about seeing them in the act of migration.
One of my favourite things was standing on a ridge at 1500 m in northern Spain late last autumn and seeing Swallows especially swooping up the slopes and over the ridge, making their way south. There's something special about seeing them in the act of migration.
LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese
Well-known member
I went to the other end of Clyde region and did a walk from Croy to the canal and upper Kelvin. Got two year ticks in Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler which interestingly were site ticks too, plus Sand Martins and Swallows over the canal. No solid Grasshopper Warblers for me yet this year but a couple of faint ones heard on the bike where I couldn't stop safely.
JTweedie
Well-known member
Good trip to Lochwinnoch today. I think this is the first trip there this year it's not been raining. It was overcast, but it was quite warm and it stayed dry all day.
My target species was Garganey which had turned up yesterday. My luck was in and the drake gave excellent views. I don't think pictures in books do them justice, their plumage is beautiful. I also hoped to see a Spotted Flycatcher but no luck there, but I should see them on a later visit.
Little Ringed Plover were showing well on the scrapes, as were a good number of Lapwing. It's one of those birds you can take for granted, but it's not doing well generally, so we have to celebrate Lochwinnoch being a good reserve for them.
Other highlights were Treecreeper - you wait for ages then four of them turn up at once! I was having a chat with a couple a metre from a trunk that these birds were scrambling up - as is typical with them, they act as if you're not there.
Saw a couple of Curlew, and then later my luck was in with 11 Whimbrel (this was my 101st species for Lochwinnoch). Common Sandpiper was spotted down towards Lochwinnoch village itself. I think they might have nested on the reserve last year, so it'll be good to see if they do so again this year.
Lots of warblers again, with Grasshopper, Sedge, Wood, Willow, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. There were many more Willow Warblers than Chiffchaffs and I couldn't help but notice that the latter seem to be found more in mature woodland, whereas the Willow Warblers are found in mature woodland too, but also in more open woodland and in scrub.
Finally, I saw my first Swifts of the year. I had wandered down to Castle Semple Loch and there were loads of them there, in a mixed flock with Barn Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins. Of the latter three, there weren't as many as I saw last Monday when the place was sodden.
I noticed when I was at Castle Semple Loch that there was a field with Butterfly Conservation and Bumblebee Conservation Trust signs on the fence. I'm assuming the field is managed for the insects, so I'll need to keep an eye on this.
My target species was Garganey which had turned up yesterday. My luck was in and the drake gave excellent views. I don't think pictures in books do them justice, their plumage is beautiful. I also hoped to see a Spotted Flycatcher but no luck there, but I should see them on a later visit.
Little Ringed Plover were showing well on the scrapes, as were a good number of Lapwing. It's one of those birds you can take for granted, but it's not doing well generally, so we have to celebrate Lochwinnoch being a good reserve for them.
Other highlights were Treecreeper - you wait for ages then four of them turn up at once! I was having a chat with a couple a metre from a trunk that these birds were scrambling up - as is typical with them, they act as if you're not there.
Saw a couple of Curlew, and then later my luck was in with 11 Whimbrel (this was my 101st species for Lochwinnoch). Common Sandpiper was spotted down towards Lochwinnoch village itself. I think they might have nested on the reserve last year, so it'll be good to see if they do so again this year.
Lots of warblers again, with Grasshopper, Sedge, Wood, Willow, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. There were many more Willow Warblers than Chiffchaffs and I couldn't help but notice that the latter seem to be found more in mature woodland, whereas the Willow Warblers are found in mature woodland too, but also in more open woodland and in scrub.
Finally, I saw my first Swifts of the year. I had wandered down to Castle Semple Loch and there were loads of them there, in a mixed flock with Barn Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins. Of the latter three, there weren't as many as I saw last Monday when the place was sodden.
I noticed when I was at Castle Semple Loch that there was a field with Butterfly Conservation and Bumblebee Conservation Trust signs on the fence. I'm assuming the field is managed for the insects, so I'll need to keep an eye on this.
LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese
Well-known member
That's a pretty good haul! There are lapwings on the farmland north of Glasgow albeit low numbers at any one place this year so far - saw one from the train between Lenzie and Croy the other day. The biggest numbers I tend to see are at Newshot Island in winter.
