Hogganfield Park was full of people today, but the loch was also teeming with birds making use of the clear water between frozen areas. Numbers of Tufted Duck (around 190) and Black-headed Gull (well over 200) seemed particularly high. Up to twelve Pochard (just two females) and single Smew and Scaup were also notable. A Buzzard flew low over the path, being chased by two Carrion Crows. 

Grey Wagtail, Goosander and Nuthatch were along the Kelvin in the west end of Glasgow this afternoon. 

A Dipper was singing, unseen, on the Kelvin in Glasgow today. 

Siskin and Greenfinch numbers in the garden continue to creep up.

Another damp but calm day and a short walk out past the western boundary of the lockdown area along part of the Forth and Clyde Canal. A pair of Goldeneye, the male displaying to the female, were the best birds. 

Today was a very damp but thankfully calm day. I delayed my exercise walk until nearly dusk. There was no sign of the Otter that has been reported recently, but orty Jackdaws were noisily heading to their roost.

 

A few Redwings were in the park between the M8 and the Southern General Hospital this lunchtime. I have only encountered small numbers this winter, but I understand that larger numbers have appeared in the northern isles and Caithness recently so the situation locally may change.

The (presumed first winter) male Siskin which has been visiting the back garden for the past few weeks seems to be getting more colourful as the weeks progress (presumably due to feather wear). Nine Goosanders are now gathered under the Cardonald Place footbridge (amended 17/02/21).

A pair of Collared Doves continue to frequent the garden but numbers of smaller birds have dwindled slightly. The occasional presence of a Sparrowhawk may be the reason. This afternoon, a Grey Wagtail was the highlight of a walk along the (currently very popular) Kelvin walkway between Kelvinside and Kelvin Bridge.

The presence of small birds on the feeders led a Sparrowhawk to slip over the back fence and shoot through the garden. It was unsuccessful on this occasion. Also notable was a single Pink-footed Goose calling as it flew high overhead.

A huge gang of birds continues to come to the feeders in the back garden with maxima of 50 Goldfinches, ten Chaffinches, six Bullfinches and three Siskins. Along the river, two Goldcrests working their way through a Bramble patch were probably the best. Singing birds included the usual Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Greenfinch and Nuthatch. Two Mistle Thrushes were feeding together on the Moulin playing field.

Wednesday, January 20, 2020

Some interesting observations along the river today included: six Stock Doves (two singing), the regular Carrion Crow x Hooded Crow hybrid, a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from a treetop, a Mistle Thrush singing virtually a full spring song, a Pied Wagtail over the school and Woodpigeons feeding on Ivy berries. Back home, lots of finches were using the back garden feeders. Goldfinches and Siskins were noticeably more dominant on the feeders than the other species, with Greenfinches next, followed by Bullfinches, and Chaffinches the most timid.

Birds in the garden today included two Siskins and three Greenfinches. Took an exercise walk into the hills above Clydebank, being careful to comply with all the Covid restrictions.It was so good to get some fresh air and wider vistas.

There was a lot of early breeding activity evident in my home 1km square today with Mallard, Feral Pigeon and Woodpigeon displaying, the latter two species plus Collared Dove (1), Stock Dove (2), Nuthatch (2), Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Starling, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Bullfinch and Greenfinch all singing, and a pair of Mistle Thrushes possibly defending an early nest from Magpies.

The usual walk along the river was disrupted a little by unusually-large numbers of walkers. The immediate result was that some of the shier species such as Stock Dove, Song Thrush, Redwing and Greenfinch failed to show. A few Grey Squirrels are venturing out (now that the temperature has risen) but numbers are significantly lower than usual. A Buzzard flying over put up most of the gulls, corvids and pigeons in the area.

The river was swollen with snow melt and overnight rain today, meaning most of the Mallards were hauled up on the banks and the usual Goosanders were nowhere to be seen. A single Siskin visited the garden feeders.

Today started with a Collared Dove singing at dawn and then another (or the same) on the back garden fence. A walk along the river as far as Battlefield produced some interesting sightings including a Raven croaking over Queen's Park and both Redwing and Mistle Thrush in trees at the top of Victoria Road.

Heavy overnight snow meant the garden feeders were busy this morning with Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blue, Great and Coal Tits all present. A Cormorant was on the river and two Common Gulls were with the usual Black-headeds, Herrings and Lesser Black-backs. The male Goosanders (currently four of them) on the river are looking really impressive. The apricot colour of their undersides is particularly bright, possibly exaggerated by the otherwise monochrome landscape.

A day of constant drizzle nevertheless produced a good bird list along the river (31 species) although fewer were in song.

A day of better weather again produced a very good count of 33 species (even with omissions of regular species such as Goldcrest, Goosander, Kingfisher, Cormorant and Grey Heron). Some of the best birds were a Siskin on the garden feeders and a singing Mistle Thrush.

Despite the discouraging weather forecast, I decided to go a little further affield today so headed for some parkland, farmland and moorland on the north east edge of Glasgow. Virtually no-one was around due to the lockdown and persistent drizzle. As a result there were some good birds showing including a Woodcock that got up right in front of me, a Raven alarm calling (presumably because I strayed into its territory), several Treecreepers, good views of a Jay and at least two Tree Sparrows in a roadside hedge.

The overnight thaw led to big numbers of some species appearing locally. Black-headed Gull (61), Cormorant (three), Goosander (nine) and Mallard (51) all reached their highest counts of the winter so far.

A walk around the Botanic Gardens this afternoon produced little of note except my first Grey Squirrel of the week. Have they been staying in their dreys during this snowy weather?

A return to the bright, cold weather of earlier in the week increased the number of birds showing on my daily walk (from 19 yesterday to 28 today). Some notable species were single Nuthatch (seen almost daily now), two Great Spotted Woodpeckers (possibly a courting pair), three Stock Doves (becoming more visible lately) and an exceptional eight Greenfinches (including five singing males). The cold weather and lying snow has obviously sent the Grey Squirrels back to their dreys as I haven't seen any since Monday.

A change in the weather today brought low mist and an end to the blue skies of recent days. Birds were less active as a result but the Goosanders on the river continue to put on a good show as they charge over the surface chasing fish. A Collared Dove was singing for the third day this week.

Back to my home sqare today where Redwings, Blackbirds and Chaffinches were feeding on unfrozen ground under a group of Willows and all the Mallard ducks on the river were escorting a big Red Fox along the bank. Singing birds consisted of Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Dunnock, Robin, Starling, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon and Collared Dove.

Another walk to another adjoining 1km square produced a possible Jay, a Cormorant and a Kingfisher. Back home, a very secretive Little Grebe was glimpsed again on the river.

A short trip into one of the 1km squares bordering my own produced some notable sightings including two Jays, a group of seven Roe Deer, a pair of Ravens, two Song Thrushes, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch. Two of the latter were feeding together in my own square. Greenfinches were singing for the third day running and three Goosanders were chasing fish in the river. 

A duller day today, so fewer birds were active or singing. It was still cold though with the river behind the house frozen over. 

Similar to yesterday with clear, crisp weather meaning a good range of bird species was on show around my local patch. Highlights was probably a good total of six Goosanders.

Friday, January 01, 2021

Thirty species showed well on a crisp, clear day on my local patch. Perhaps the best sighting was of a very confiding Goldcrest (they have been quiet and difficult to find lately).