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| Chiffchaff |
Singing in Cambuslang in the early evening.
Thursday 31 March 2011
Monday 28 March 2011
Bit of a Bloater
The clocks went forward on Sunday which means that it is now light until about 8pm. Over the Winter I have got into the habit of a handfull of biscuits or such like after my dinner followed up by sat in front of the TV or PC. As a result I am a bit of a bloater getting.
Tonight was different. A walk around Cathkin and I feel much better for it. I wonder how long I can keep it up before I lapse back into my usual routine. No seriously, I have to do something, I have no intention of going to Greece in the Summer and looking like a beached whale. Excuse me sir can you come off the beach, the tide wants to come in.
One of the reasons for Cathkin was that I saw a report of 4 Wheatears there over the weekend. They appeared to have gone tonight although I am hopeful of seeing some there over the next few days or weeks if I keep at it, because I've had them there in previous Springs.
Nonetheless, despite dipping on Wheatears I did see 6 Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting and a Stock Dove at the feeding site and I flushed 3 Snipe from the edge of Windlaw Marsh. A Buzzard and a male Kestrel were also notable.
Tonight was different. A walk around Cathkin and I feel much better for it. I wonder how long I can keep it up before I lapse back into my usual routine. No seriously, I have to do something, I have no intention of going to Greece in the Summer and looking like a beached whale. Excuse me sir can you come off the beach, the tide wants to come in.
One of the reasons for Cathkin was that I saw a report of 4 Wheatears there over the weekend. They appeared to have gone tonight although I am hopeful of seeing some there over the next few days or weeks if I keep at it, because I've had them there in previous Springs.
Nonetheless, despite dipping on Wheatears I did see 6 Tree Sparrows, 2 Yellowhammer, a Reed Bunting and a Stock Dove at the feeding site and I flushed 3 Snipe from the edge of Windlaw Marsh. A Buzzard and a male Kestrel were also notable.
Saturday 26 March 2011
Goshawk Lives Up To Its Reputation
I like to get out birding whenever I can. Often I am quite keen to go a distance, the idea of driving for 3 hours before it even gets light seems to be part of the attraction ! So when the weather is decent and the opportunity arises when Patricia is off I need to go. If I don't and waste my time pottering about the house or such like, I get annoyed and chastise myself. I think it's all stems from a condition called repetitive compulsive disorder. I think all serious birders suffer from this ?
I had been contemplating where to go for several days and with no 'big' birds anywhere to draw me in one particular direction, I was in a bit of a quandary. Speyside ?. In March ? Not a good idea, it'll still be Winter up there. Marshside ? Its about a 4 hour drive ! Probably not worth it just for 'just' a Lesser Scaup. What about Leighton Moss ? Good chance of something like a Garganey and there's bound to be some other early migrants. That's fine I'll set my alarm for 4am.
Indeed I did set my alarm, but there is a difference between setting my alarm and getting up. I fell back to sleep, and next thing I know it's half past SEVEN ! Too late to do Lancashire justice. So it's going to be a day pottering about the house is it ? No, time for Plan B.
A quick look at the weather forecast for the Hexham area and by 8:30 am (very late) I'm on my way to Keilder in Northumberland in the hope of Goshawk. Now Goshawk know I'm coming, I'm convinced of that. Despite a reasonable forecast, they're very good in my experience of making it rain or something similar so that they don't have to display and I don't see them. And when I got to Keilder................. you guessed it, it starts to rain.
However, things start quite well with a Green Woodpecker calling and what's that I hear ? Oh yes, a Crossbill and another one, very good.
First stop is the hide at Bakethin Reservoir, good for Mandarin Duck 2 years ago. Nope, none today. Several Goldeneye, Teal and Goosander though. My first Spring migrant, in the form of a Sand Martin soon appears, indeed there were several parties during the day. By now the rain has stopped. Time to try for Goshawk further along the Reservoir.
I spend the next couple of hours scanning the skies and tree tops on the other side of the Reservoir. Several Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were present but no sign of Goshawk. In truth the weather isn't great and it's quite cool and I was not altogether surprised there is a no show. During my vigil I am frequently entertained by lots of Siskin and the occasional Crossbill:
I spend the remainder of the afternoon searching in vain for Goshawk. Another Sparrowhawk shows well and I see plenty of Buzzards. A Great Spotted Woodpecker is also notable. By 5pm I have had enough and head for home. Disappointing not to see the target species, but hey it's better than staying in the house !
I had been contemplating where to go for several days and with no 'big' birds anywhere to draw me in one particular direction, I was in a bit of a quandary. Speyside ?. In March ? Not a good idea, it'll still be Winter up there. Marshside ? Its about a 4 hour drive ! Probably not worth it just for 'just' a Lesser Scaup. What about Leighton Moss ? Good chance of something like a Garganey and there's bound to be some other early migrants. That's fine I'll set my alarm for 4am.
Indeed I did set my alarm, but there is a difference between setting my alarm and getting up. I fell back to sleep, and next thing I know it's half past SEVEN ! Too late to do Lancashire justice. So it's going to be a day pottering about the house is it ? No, time for Plan B.
A quick look at the weather forecast for the Hexham area and by 8:30 am (very late) I'm on my way to Keilder in Northumberland in the hope of Goshawk. Now Goshawk know I'm coming, I'm convinced of that. Despite a reasonable forecast, they're very good in my experience of making it rain or something similar so that they don't have to display and I don't see them. And when I got to Keilder................. you guessed it, it starts to rain.
However, things start quite well with a Green Woodpecker calling and what's that I hear ? Oh yes, a Crossbill and another one, very good.
First stop is the hide at Bakethin Reservoir, good for Mandarin Duck 2 years ago. Nope, none today. Several Goldeneye, Teal and Goosander though. My first Spring migrant, in the form of a Sand Martin soon appears, indeed there were several parties during the day. By now the rain has stopped. Time to try for Goshawk further along the Reservoir.
I spend the next couple of hours scanning the skies and tree tops on the other side of the Reservoir. Several Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were present but no sign of Goshawk. In truth the weather isn't great and it's quite cool and I was not altogether surprised there is a no show. During my vigil I am frequently entertained by lots of Siskin and the occasional Crossbill:
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| Male Crossbill |
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| And Again |
I spend the remainder of the afternoon searching in vain for Goshawk. Another Sparrowhawk shows well and I see plenty of Buzzards. A Great Spotted Woodpecker is also notable. By 5pm I have had enough and head for home. Disappointing not to see the target species, but hey it's better than staying in the house !
Tuesday 22 March 2011
1st Frog Spawn
I have a garden pond. It is not a great pond, you can see the plastic casing round the top, nor is it very big. If it ever leaks I will replace it with something much bigger. Nonetheless, it has been in situ for some years now and the water is always clear, so I must be doing something right.
The birds regularly use it for bathing and drinking and it frequently has frogs who regularly deposit frog spawn in the Spring. I have been keeping my eye on it regularly over the past few days for just such an event and today :
Indeed there were 3 Frogs present at the time I took this. Later on Louise reckoned she had 4.
The birds regularly use it for bathing and drinking and it frequently has frogs who regularly deposit frog spawn in the Spring. I have been keeping my eye on it regularly over the past few days for just such an event and today :
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| Frogs and Spawn |
Indeed there were 3 Frogs present at the time I took this. Later on Louise reckoned she had 4.
Sunday 20 March 2011
Still Awaiting Migrants
The 20th of March is still very early in this part of the world for Spring migrants and indeed there were none in evidence at Hogganfield this morning.
As regards the winter visitors, only 2 Whooper Swan now remain but there are still double figure numbers of Goldeneye. Other notable ducks included 19 Teal.
The Great Crested Grebes continue to display and there were at least 3 birds present this morning. At least 3 Herons are well on with their nests in the trees on the island. 3 Oystercatcher were on the mud at the North end of the loch.
At the North end in the marsh, Reed Buntings have now returned and will presumably be nesting soon. A Roe Deer was also present in the marsh this morning:
At the small pond close to the swing park, a single drake Gadwall was present and appeared to be paired with a female Mallard:
As regards the winter visitors, only 2 Whooper Swan now remain but there are still double figure numbers of Goldeneye. Other notable ducks included 19 Teal.
The Great Crested Grebes continue to display and there were at least 3 birds present this morning. At least 3 Herons are well on with their nests in the trees on the island. 3 Oystercatcher were on the mud at the North end of the loch.
At the North end in the marsh, Reed Buntings have now returned and will presumably be nesting soon. A Roe Deer was also present in the marsh this morning:
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| Roe Deer |
At the small pond close to the swing park, a single drake Gadwall was present and appeared to be paired with a female Mallard:
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| Confused Gadwall |
Sunday 13 March 2011
Drake Green Winged Teal
After another bout of snow in the Glasgow area yesterday, there was very little evidence of its presence this morning. Unfortunately, nor was there any evidence of cans of Stella Artois on the M74 following the major spillage from a lorry 2 days ago.
It was a bright morning at Caerlaverock as I arrived around 9:30 am. The approach fields had a big flock of both Barnacles & Pink Feet. I wondered if the latter had spent the winter in Dumfries & Galloway or could they be displacements from further South and merely using Caerlaverock as a pit stop ?
I scruitinised the feeders at the car park and a Tree Sparrow was present. My first stop was the Folly Pond where a Drake Green Winged Teal or hybrid Teal had been present for some time. I could not see it and indeed there were few Teal at all. Several Shovelers were close to the hide performing their circular feeding routine with their heads frequently below the surface making them dam difficult to photograph. I persisted :
C5 Black Tailed Godwits were also notable.
I headed in the direction of the 11 am Swan Feed and helped by the fact that the reserve was the quietest I have ever seen it on a Sunday I was distracted by good numbers of House Sparrows, Reed Buntings & Yellowhammers present in the track side bushes.
The Swan feed was only attended by me and one other and the warden pointed out a hybrid Tufted Duck/Scaup that was present.
I spent some time banging my head off the roof of one of the small green hides that line the Avenue down to the Tower in the hope of some decent Barnacle Geese shots. Despite my discomfort the results were not great:
A large flock of Barnacles were in the flooded fields to the left of the Avenue Tower. I attempted to go through them for something of interest, but the flock, that numbered several thousand, appeared very jittery and frequently took to the sky, wheeled around and settled again. I could not see what was disturbing them, but it is an impressive sight and sound to behold nonetheless.
I scanned the distant salt marsh in the hope of Peregrine but all I saw were Buzzards.
On the way back towards the Whooper Pond, a Moorhen posed in the sunlight:
Back at the Folly Pond I found the Green Winged Teal. I presume the indication of some sort of scapular stripe perhaps indicates the possibility of a hybrid ?
Some other images from the Folly Pond:
It was a bright morning at Caerlaverock as I arrived around 9:30 am. The approach fields had a big flock of both Barnacles & Pink Feet. I wondered if the latter had spent the winter in Dumfries & Galloway or could they be displacements from further South and merely using Caerlaverock as a pit stop ?
I scruitinised the feeders at the car park and a Tree Sparrow was present. My first stop was the Folly Pond where a Drake Green Winged Teal or hybrid Teal had been present for some time. I could not see it and indeed there were few Teal at all. Several Shovelers were close to the hide performing their circular feeding routine with their heads frequently below the surface making them dam difficult to photograph. I persisted :
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| Drake Shoveler |
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| Drake Shoveler - just about to put its head in again ! |
C5 Black Tailed Godwits were also notable.
I headed in the direction of the 11 am Swan Feed and helped by the fact that the reserve was the quietest I have ever seen it on a Sunday I was distracted by good numbers of House Sparrows, Reed Buntings & Yellowhammers present in the track side bushes.
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| Yellowhammer |
The Swan feed was only attended by me and one other and the warden pointed out a hybrid Tufted Duck/Scaup that was present.
I spent some time banging my head off the roof of one of the small green hides that line the Avenue down to the Tower in the hope of some decent Barnacle Geese shots. Despite my discomfort the results were not great:
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| Barnacle Geese |
A large flock of Barnacles were in the flooded fields to the left of the Avenue Tower. I attempted to go through them for something of interest, but the flock, that numbered several thousand, appeared very jittery and frequently took to the sky, wheeled around and settled again. I could not see what was disturbing them, but it is an impressive sight and sound to behold nonetheless.
I scanned the distant salt marsh in the hope of Peregrine but all I saw were Buzzards.
On the way back towards the Whooper Pond, a Moorhen posed in the sunlight:
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| Moorhen |
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| And Again |
Back at the Folly Pond I found the Green Winged Teal. I presume the indication of some sort of scapular stripe perhaps indicates the possibility of a hybrid ?
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| Green Winged Teal ? |
Some other images from the Folly Pond:
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Shelduck - Drake |
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| Eurasian Teal |
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| Wigeon Drake |
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| And Again |
Monday 7 March 2011
Falling Out of a Tree
I am on presently on holiday from work, catching up on some jobs around the house. This morning the task was to trim the Ash tree in the front garden. It needs to be trimmed annually, otherwise it gets really big and interferes with the phone lines.
As a merrily sawed and lopped in the tree tops, my attention was drawn to "Gyp, Gyp Gyp" ............. bloody hell a Crossbill. I watched it fly off in the direction of Burnside.
Next job was spreading a tonne of red chips in the driveway. The man delivered them and as the crane (on the lorry) not a bird, lowered them into position, 2 Buzzards drifted over the Avenue. There are plenty of Buzzards in the surrounding area but I don't see them too often over the house.
A well earned cup of tea mid afternoon coincided with Fieldfare calling from trees in a neighbouring garden.
As a merrily sawed and lopped in the tree tops, my attention was drawn to "Gyp, Gyp Gyp" ............. bloody hell a Crossbill. I watched it fly off in the direction of Burnside.
Next job was spreading a tonne of red chips in the driveway. The man delivered them and as the crane (on the lorry) not a bird, lowered them into position, 2 Buzzards drifted over the Avenue. There are plenty of Buzzards in the surrounding area but I don't see them too often over the house.
A well earned cup of tea mid afternoon coincided with Fieldfare calling from trees in a neighbouring garden.
Stranglers & Surfing in Fife
I have been a Stranglers fan almost as long as I have been a birder and another opportunity to see them at the O2 Academy on Saturday 5th March was not to be missed. As the years pass increasingly one feels that their long career must be nearing its end so when they come to Glasgow it is a must see.
I went with Louse, who is now old enough to get into the standing area and we had a good view only yards from the front. I took the wee Samsung camera with me and after two shots up came a message "memory full". I had forgotten to put in the SD card- bugger. I had to resort to the mobile phone & it really is crap. Anyway, some photos just for the memory:
Next morning Iain was at mine for 7:30 am for a days birding in Fife. By 9am we were in Elie and enjoying 16 Pale Bellied Brent Geese feeding on the rocks at low tide:
Other birds at Elie included 4 Long Tailed Duck and 2 Razorbills.
After Elie we headed round to Ruddons Point in the hope of seeing the Surf Scoter. The gate to the caravan site was locked so we could not sneak in and we were forced to walk to the point. A Yellowhammer showed on the way down. From the point there were reasonable numbers of Scoter but nothing spectacular but both Common & Velvet were however present. We eventually found the Surf Scoter, although it was very distant and in the choppy sea it was difficult to get Iain onto it. I think he did eventually did see it.
2 or 3 Slavonian Grebes were added as well as some Great Crested, but best of all was a single Red Necked Grebe that was not too far out. The usual Long Tailed Duck and Red Breasted Merganser were also well represented. A single Red Throated Diver was present, but disappointingly no other divers, probably all at Turnberry ! We had a look at the Cocklemill Burn and scored with 4 Sanderling.
We stopped at Kilconquhar Loch and had a scan from the church yard. Nothing spectacular, but decent numbers of Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye. A Little Grebe trilled from the reeds.
We headed round to Lower Largo and from the lane running down to the shore I spotted the dreaded wind surfer. There were 4 of them in fact, out for a good days bird scaring........bastards ! Not surprisingly we saw very little. 2 Razorbills were close in and a couple of smart Old Squaws...............let's give it it's American name, its far more descriptive than boring old "Long Tailed Duck".
We gave up at Largo and headed back west and stopped at Vane Farm. Being Sunday it was very busy and indeed the observatory windows were steamed up from the cooking in the cafeteria. We made our way down to the hides to scan the loch. 4 Whooper Swan were in the bay, but the best was 4 Brambling below the feeder. Unfortunately, I was attempting to take images through window glass and at an angle and all were really crap, even crapper than I usually do.
You can now walk all the way to Findattie along a cycle path that gives good views of the loch & St Serfs Island. We had several Pink Feet & Grey Lag and we had a single drake Scaup with the Tufted Ducks & Pochards. At least 2 Buzzard were seen.
I stocked up on black sunflower seed in the shop........20% off..........result.
All in all another good day out. Vane Farm probably deserved longer !
I went with Louse, who is now old enough to get into the standing area and we had a good view only yards from the front. I took the wee Samsung camera with me and after two shots up came a message "memory full". I had forgotten to put in the SD card- bugger. I had to resort to the mobile phone & it really is crap. Anyway, some photos just for the memory:
Next morning Iain was at mine for 7:30 am for a days birding in Fife. By 9am we were in Elie and enjoying 16 Pale Bellied Brent Geese feeding on the rocks at low tide:
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| Pale Bellied Brent Goose - watching for bloody dog walkers |
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| Pale Bellied Brents - all dog walkers have now buggered off |
Other birds at Elie included 4 Long Tailed Duck and 2 Razorbills.
After Elie we headed round to Ruddons Point in the hope of seeing the Surf Scoter. The gate to the caravan site was locked so we could not sneak in and we were forced to walk to the point. A Yellowhammer showed on the way down. From the point there were reasonable numbers of Scoter but nothing spectacular but both Common & Velvet were however present. We eventually found the Surf Scoter, although it was very distant and in the choppy sea it was difficult to get Iain onto it. I think he did eventually did see it.
2 or 3 Slavonian Grebes were added as well as some Great Crested, but best of all was a single Red Necked Grebe that was not too far out. The usual Long Tailed Duck and Red Breasted Merganser were also well represented. A single Red Throated Diver was present, but disappointingly no other divers, probably all at Turnberry ! We had a look at the Cocklemill Burn and scored with 4 Sanderling.
We stopped at Kilconquhar Loch and had a scan from the church yard. Nothing spectacular, but decent numbers of Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Goldeneye. A Little Grebe trilled from the reeds.
We headed round to Lower Largo and from the lane running down to the shore I spotted the dreaded wind surfer. There were 4 of them in fact, out for a good days bird scaring........bastards ! Not surprisingly we saw very little. 2 Razorbills were close in and a couple of smart Old Squaws...............let's give it it's American name, its far more descriptive than boring old "Long Tailed Duck".
We gave up at Largo and headed back west and stopped at Vane Farm. Being Sunday it was very busy and indeed the observatory windows were steamed up from the cooking in the cafeteria. We made our way down to the hides to scan the loch. 4 Whooper Swan were in the bay, but the best was 4 Brambling below the feeder. Unfortunately, I was attempting to take images through window glass and at an angle and all were really crap, even crapper than I usually do.
You can now walk all the way to Findattie along a cycle path that gives good views of the loch & St Serfs Island. We had several Pink Feet & Grey Lag and we had a single drake Scaup with the Tufted Ducks & Pochards. At least 2 Buzzard were seen.
I stocked up on black sunflower seed in the shop........20% off..........result.
All in all another good day out. Vane Farm probably deserved longer !
Saturday 5 March 2011
Signs of Spring
I hadn't been at Hogganfield for about 3 weeks and the most obvious change was the far greater number of Lesser Black Backed Gulls that had arrived. Sometimes overlooked as a migrant and undeniably a sign of the advancing Spring.
Also of note today was Great Crested Grebe, that had increased to 4:
Interestingly no Little Grebes have yet returned and given the national cull that is still in progress, more worryingly no Ruddy Ducks yet either.
Other wildfowl of note included a raft of c20 Pochard, Teal, smaller numbers of Goldeneye evidencing their probable northward reorientation by now and only 5 Whooper Swans now remain.
Spent a good time digiscoping, I am trying to move away from apperture priority and was fully manual today. My goal is to develop the hobby into full SLR photography in the coming year. Funds permitting ofcourse.
Some attempts on manual, photoshop enhanced ofcourse........................what a cop out.
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| Lesser Black Backed Gull - adult |
Also of note today was Great Crested Grebe, that had increased to 4:
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| Great Crested Grebe |
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| Great Crested Grebe - Displaying |
Interestingly no Little Grebes have yet returned and given the national cull that is still in progress, more worryingly no Ruddy Ducks yet either.
Other wildfowl of note included a raft of c20 Pochard, Teal, smaller numbers of Goldeneye evidencing their probable northward reorientation by now and only 5 Whooper Swans now remain.
Spent a good time digiscoping, I am trying to move away from apperture priority and was fully manual today. My goal is to develop the hobby into full SLR photography in the coming year. Funds permitting ofcourse.
Some attempts on manual, photoshop enhanced ofcourse........................what a cop out.
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| Grey Lag goose |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Drake Tufted Duck |
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| Whooper Swan - 1 of 5 remaining |
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| Grey Heron |
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