Ayrshire

Spent a pleasant day on the Ayrshire coast today. It was dry and bright apart from the odd light shower. There was however a cold brisk North West wind blowing.

I spent 2 sessions either side of luchtime at Loans with the telescope on the window mount scanning the Geese. There were at least 17 European White Fronted Geese in with a flock of Greylag. Additionally there was a flock of several hundred Pink Feet. The pools themselves held good numbers of Curlew.

After a quick stop at Barassie, where there was very little, I moved round to Troon Harbour where there was at least 1 juvenile Iceland Gull present:

Continuing the very good run of late

I went back to Barassie for 3:15 pm and set the scope up on the window mount and did some Gulling. I was at least hoping for a Med and possibly the Ring Billed that has been about of late. However,during the full hour I watched all I could come up with of interest was a leucistic Black Headed Gull.

A detour to Tarbolton on the way home failed to locate any more Geese.

Hogganfield

Very quiet today. C25 Pochard, C12 Whoopers c15 Goldeneye & c5 Teal.

Iceland Gull Again

Had another short day at work today and was able to spend about an hour up at the Heritage Loch early afternoon. Being half term it was like Sauchiehall St, but nonetheless a 1st Winter Iceland Gull was in with the main Gull flock.

The water was now almost completely devoid of ice and c70 Tufted Duck had returned. I wonder where they go when it freezes ?

The Lapwing flock in the field just West of the loch had increased to exactly 50 birds.

Smew

Twitched the Drake Smew at Lochwinnoch this morning !

Left Cambuslang at 11am in relatively clear conditions. However, on getting West of the airport the mist rolled in an visability was not good on the Barr Loch.

Nonetheless the Drake Smew was seen distantly. Sparrowhawk was also notable. 20% off bird food was a bonus !

Nothing Really to Report

Following the previous evening's late night meeting, I was able to finish work at midday and head up to  Hogganfield. The weather was very dull & dreary, although it was not particularly cold and there was little or no wind. The loch was largely frozen although there was a large area in front of the car park that was open. After devouring a burger from the van I turned my attention to birding.

There was a sizeable flock of gulls loafing on the ice but I could not find anything particularly out of the ordinary. 35 Pochard were present but photography was difficult given the poor light. Rather than just capture a bird against a grey loch I tried to experiment with composition & captured this female Goldeneye:

Blurred Pochards top & bottom balance the shot. Or that's the idea anyway !

After collecting my suit from the dry cleaners, I went to the Heritage Loch arriving around 3pm. The loch was largely frozen but there was up to 500 Gulls present. Surely, I'm going to find something good in here ? Nope................... nothing !

Several GBB were present

1st Winter Black Headed

 C20 Fieldfares with maybe around 75 Starlings was a site tick as were 2 Stock Doves with Woodpigeons in adjacient fields. The Lapwing flock had now reached 46.

Bitter !

Spent about 45 minutes at the Heritage Loch this morning. We haven't got any snow, nor is it particularly forecast, however there was a biting Westerly blowing that could cut you in half.

The loch was significantly unfrozen to have encouraged 30 Tufted Duck to return (only about a third of the numbers present in mid January). There were lots of Gulls on the ice including at least 10 Great Black Backed and a few Common. Lapwing numbers have been gradually increasing since the New Year and I had a record count of 42 in the fields just west of the loch.

What price a Golden Plover soon ?

 

It's Friday it's 12 O'Clock it's a Long Lunchbreak

Adhering to my New Year resolution I spent my elongated Friday luchtime up at Hogganfield. I even had the audacity to 'treat' myself to a cheeseburger from the burger van in the car park.

Hogganfield was largely frozen, the only open area being in front of the car park. Gulls were scruitinised for a goody but I had to make do with 30 Pochard, 20 Whooper Swan, 80+ Greylag and a single Great Crested Grebe.