28 Feb 10 Lochwinnoch

I don't always appreciate Lochwinnoch because often there aren't many birds around, but today was different. I went because the weather was poor and I thought that perhaps I could do some photography from the hides. The Glasgow area was hit again by snow during the week and there was still a fair covering today. It was bitter cold and generally dull with occasional wintry showers.

I saw the drake Smew that has been present for several days from the Wilson hide. However, it was distant and I only managed some record shots:

Other wildfowl of note included small numbers of Teal & Wigeon and a few Goldeneye. There were also severeral Goosander:

A Heron was showing well in front of the Aird Meadow Hide:

Back at the Visitor's Centre a male Great Spotted Woodpecker showed well in the trees to the right and later it was on a feeding log in front of the Centre. Several Long Tailed Tits were on the various feeders and other specicies of note were Reed Bunting and 2 Fieldfares. A Buzzard was perched on post in front of the Centre:

A male Hen Harrier had been reported earlier over the Aird Meadow but despite scanning around it failed to reappear.

I spent some time in the photography hide in the early part of the afternoon and took some of the birds coming to the feeders: