Not Much About

Spent this afternoon doing local spots at Cathkin Braes & the Heritage Loch.

Cathkin being elevated enjoys great views over the city and in Spring gets Wheatears. This is what I was hoping for today but I was out of luck. Indeed it was particularly quiet, with only the 2 Jack Snipe that I flushed from Windlaw Marsh being of any real interest.

Reed Bunting - also in the marsh

I swithered about going to Heritage Loch because I thought it would be too busy but it was not as bad as I had thought.

There was little of interest however although this did not stop me using the camera:

BST - "Bloody Stupid Twats"

The clocks have now gone forward and it is now glorious BST. BST stands for "Bloody Stupid Twats.".................... and applies in particular to people in boats on the Heritage Loch scaring off all my birds.

A visit early morning confirmed that all the Tufted Ducks have gone, no doubt scared off by BST. Very little indeed remained. I was completely gobsmacked to find that the 2 Wigeon that I found last week were still present.

Awaiting BST

The other 'notable' thing this morning was that 3 of the memorial benches had been vandalised. Heritage Loch has a number of memorials that families have dedicated to departed family members. These memorials include trees and park benches with name plaques etc. At least 3 of the benches had been smashed up. Who, I ask you, can be so low to do such things ? A nearby discarded cheap cider bottle perhaps held some of the answers !

The nature reserve at least has some birds, including a Snipe, 1 Little Grebe and a Heron. There was a further Little Grebe on the loch.

In search of Sand Martin I headed to Hogganfield where there were none. A Great Crested Grebe however, showed quite nicely:

Exotic Ducks also provided some interest. What I really mean is that they were in range of the DSLR:

More Fun With My New Lens

Early morning in Glasgow was dull and a touch misty, but it was warm, I was weeding the garden in a tee shirt. Another Chiffchaff was singing from the railway embankment.

After dropping Rachel at the Mitchell Theatre I went down to Lochwinnoch. It was bright but still a tad hazy but it did not stop me making use of the photography hide.

The Drake Smew remained on the Aird Meadow but was distant and there was also a mixture of Goldeneye and Tufted Duck.

A check at the Barr Loch failed to find any Sand Martin.

Chiffchaff - 7 Days Earlier Than Last Year

1 Singing in Cambuslang late afternoon

Sigma 150-500 Zoom Lens

Bought one of these to mark a milestone birthday. Not saying which one, but it's got a 5 in it !

Tried it out for the first time at Hogganfield at lunchtime today:

Aside from trying out my new lens I was also able to note that all the wintering Whooper Swans now appear to have departed. There were 3 Oystercatchers present and a Buzzard caused all the Gulls and Feral Pigeons to take flight.

There were also at least 3 Great Crested and 1 Little Grebe present. Increased numbers of Lesser Black Backed Gulls were also a sign of the advancing Spring. Clocks go forward on Sunday !

Two Wigeon on the Heritage Loch - Patch Tick !

With Spring happening as I write this (first frog spawn in my garden pond yesterday) & despite the numbers of wildfowl dropping alarmingly on the Heritage Loch (there was only 8 Tufted this morning) the site still yielded a patch tick in the form of 2 Wigeon (drake & duck).

The 1st Winter Drake Scaup also remained. 1 Little Grebe, 1 Goosander & 2 Cormorants were present. The fields at the West end held at least 8 Fieldfare. This field looks good for a Wheatear over the next few weeks ?

 3 flyover Redpoll were also notable, there have also been a number around Cambuslang of late.

A patch tick !

Garden Pond Frogspawn

Heritage Loch Scores Again.....!

My first day back at work was relatively short. My meeting in Hamilton finished refreshingly early and allowed me to make my way home via the Heritage Loch.

An initial scan through the Gulls picked up a 1st Winter Iceland Gull, presumably the same one as yesterday and I also noticed the 1st Winter Drake Scaup on the far side of the loch still associating with the Drake Pochard. My second scan picked up a small neat gull with seemingly black wing tips about 2/3rds of the way across the loch. I immediately thought "Kittiwake" but wondered if I was imagining it and started to look round for a Common Gull to compare with................... there were none.

My initial doubts were quickly dispelled when the bird was harassed by a Herring Gull and took to the air confirming jet black wing tips and black legs. It quickly settled again and began to wash and preen. A good inland record and I wonder if it was the same bird seen at Baron's Haugh at the weekend ?

Other notables today included 4 Oystercatcher and the 2 Canada Geese.

Unfortunately, more boat activity today including some idiot in a dingy scattering everything just as I left.