17 Jan 10 Strathclyde Loch

A family walk round the loch, the weather was bright and dry and the temperature was c6 degrees wth no wind. The walk up the Crest Rd produced nothing of interest until the north east end where c20 Siskin were present in the alders.

A skein of c150 Pink Feet flew high over the east side towards Bellshill. The family paused at the swings for a time and this allowed me a look at the river mouth. Keith Hoey was on the adult Iceland Gull - my first for the year and it showed well on the ice even with binoculars.

The Calder burn mouth area was largely ice free and returning ducks had congregated in good numbers. There were lots of Tufted Ducks with smaller numbers of Goldeneye and at least 1 drake Pochard. Little grebe was also present.

Drake Goosander on the ice in front of the south west car park: