Today began with an early morning visit to Hogganfield Loch, finding seven Whooper Swans, four Gadwall and a single Pochard. It quickly turned into a bit of a serial year-twitch, taking in the Tay reedbeds for Bearded Tit, Scone Palace grounds for Hawfinch (and Waxwing) and Broadwood Loch for Smew. Other good birds along the way included Water Rail, Reed Bunting and Kestrel.

A bitterly cold wind and a high tide meant that relatively few species were visible along the Inverclyde coast north of Inverkip today. However a big flock of Canada Geese on the fields behind the coastal path held a fair smattering of Curlews, Oystercatchers and Common Gulls. Passerines included Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush and Starling.

Today started brightly (like yesterday), encouraging several species to sing. Wren, Woodpigeon and Stock Dove were perhaps predictable, but a Mistle Thrush in faltering song was a surprise. Also notable was a single Fieldfare bursting out of the Holly tree which was being guarded by a Mistle Thrush over the weekend.

Broadwood Loch near Cumbernauld was alive with birds when I visited this lunchtime. Most notable were the large numbers of Wigeon, Goosander and Goldeneye out on the water, eight Common Crossbills near the car park, a good selection of other finches around the site and a drake Smew in the bay beside the boardwalk.  

Today was a two Buzzard day with one being chased by two corvids over Pollok Wood and a second being chased by a single corvid over the M77 at Dumbreck.

Another frosty morning developed into a beautiful autumn day with blue skies and little wind. Birds around Woodfarm included the usual flock of Jackdaws and a Starling prompted to sing (presumably by the spring-like weather).

Friday, November 24, 2023

With an appointment in Paisley to attend, I managed to squeeze in a short bird survey around the west end of the town (where the new museum building is rapidly taking shape). No Ravens were among the usual selection of corvids. In fact, for such a clement day, very few birds were on the wing.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Today started very cold but heated up when the sun came out. Birds encountered during a walk on Corstorphine Hill included lots of Long-tailed Tits and a Buzzard flying around under (what was left of) the tree canopy.

The stars of the show during today's walk from Strathblane to Milton of Campsie were the numerous fungi and lichens growing in the damp woodland which lines most of the route. 

All the "usual" birds were around Nelson Street in Greenock this morning, including Pied Wagtail and Herring Gull. Later, a Grey Heron flew over Inverkip Marina and a Hooded x Carrion Crow hybrid was near McInroy's Point.

A female Sparrowhawk bathing in a puddle was the highlight of a morning walk around Barshaw Park. The sunny and calm conditions probably accounted for the good total of 24 species recorded.

A walk around my home 1km square this morning produced a fairly typical species list for this time of year. However a tip-off from another birder had me heading into the adjacent square (centred on Crookston Road) where 59 Waxwings had gathered in the treetops above the tesco supermarket. Interestingly, this was exactly the spot where a flock encamped for a few days two winters ago.

An Otter (presumably the one that has been frequenting the river near my house over the past month) was showing really well this morning - repeatedly porpoise-diving, bringing food items up to the surface to chomp on them and twice hauling itself up onto the bank in full view of the footbridge and the cycle path. 

A busy afternoon at Woodfarm meant the only birds noted today were the usual garden birds including around 40 Jackdaws.

Interesting birds around Murdieston Park, Greenock today included a Grey Wagtail and a Dipper. Birds on the reservoirs were disappointing with only Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot and Moorhen present. Perhaps the weather has been too settled to bring in the regular Goldeneye and Goosander and the occasional Wigeon, Teal and Gadwall that I have recorded in past years.

I got in on the Waxwing act today. I happened to be in Shawlands when news came through (via the Birds in Clyde Whatsapp group) that a flock had been seen in Govanhill Park. With that site being only a mile away, it would have been rude not to go. When we arrived, around 50 were in the top of one of the tall trees at the "top" end of the park. There was quite a lot of calling, some fly-catching and some commuting between nearby trees. After about ten minutes, most of the flock flew off strongly to the east.

A Grey Wagtail was near the high school this afternoon but there was no sign of any Waxwings here yet.

Pied Wagtails appear to be occupying two winter territories in my 1km square again this year - one at the shops on Paisley Road West and one around the high school.

The Mallards on the river seem all now to  be paired off, the drakes in full breeding plumage. 

Spent a lovely day on the SOC Clyde Branch outing to Musselburgh Links today. The sun shone all day and good birds included Long-tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, Slavonian Grebe, Grey Plover and Shoveler. Best sightings of the day however were a total of six birdwatchers under 25: two young women from China, three High School-age girls and a young man who has recently taken up a post at the SOC. I was delighted to meet every one of these people. Without them and others like them our hobby and anything it might achieve for birds would be finished. As a personal reflection, I credit Chris Packham hugely with popularising nature to the extent that it is seen by increasing numbers of young people as something worth investing their time in.

Today's walk was from Perth to Bridge of Earn and back. Interesting birds included a single Jay, lots of Pied Wagtails and hundreds of Pink-footed Geese. Best however were the twenty or so Crossbills encountered near the top of Moncrieffe Hill. We spent a wonderful half an hour enjoying their antics as they flew between the tops of small conifers, feeding, perching on exposed branches and calling to eachother.

Greenshank and Little Egret were the best birds at Bo'ness shore first thing. Two Rabbits were near Kinneil House and a female Sparrowhawk chased passerines near the centre of Polmont. 

Wednesday, November 08, 2023

I managed a walk around my home square in south Cardonald this morning (having hardly visited for several weeks due to commitments elsewhere). It was an icy morning (one of several this week) but plenty of wildlife was active including a Kingfisher and an Otter (the latter seen by a couple I met on the Cardonald Place footbridge).

A single Little Grebe was on the main pond in Queen's Park when I walked by this morning. Also notable was a Nuthatch calling from trees near the Snack Van.

A Kingfisher was again on the White Cart in Shawlands this afternoon. The other birding highlight was a flock of Long-tailed Tits moving through the front gardens on Shawhill Road. 

A Collared Dove was singing in a car park in Busby when I stopped there this afternoon.

Having stayed in Dundee overnight, I headed up to Dundee Law before heading home. Only common birds were encountered, but there were a fair number of fungi species growing in the woods there. 

Highlights of the drive up to Dundee today were a Common Buzzard hunting over the Stepps bypass and a covey of five Red-legged Partridges running across the road near Balado. In Dundee itself, at least 800 Pink-footed Geese flew west, high over the evening rush-hour traffic.

Another day spent at the Woodfarm house meant natural connections were confined to anything moving through or over the back garden. A flock of 16 Feral Pigeons was slightly unusual. 

Wednesday, November 01, 2023

Another Shawlands day but a very wet one with even the ducks on the river taking cover. The cheerful calls of Goldfinch were the  only respite from the gloom.