Some recent images

NOTE: North Lanarkshire Council has now given permission for Ruddy Ducks to be shot at Garnqueen Loch, if like me you disagree with this decission please contact them (click here for contact details)

Drake Ruddy Duck on Hogganfield Loch on 18th September 2007

Drake Ruddy Duck on Hogganfield Loch on 18th September 2007

Female Ruddy Duck in flight at Hogganfield Loch on 13th September 2007

Female Ruddy Duck at Hogganfield Loch on 13th September 2007


above: Tufted Ducks on Hogganfield Loch on 13th September 2007, the birds were very restless and taking to the air frequently



above: juv Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Hogganfield Loch, 18th September 2007

2nd winter Lesser Black-backed Gull at Hogganfield Loch on 18th September 2007.

below: juvenile Great Black-backed Gull at Heritage Loch, Stewartfield, East Kilbride on 3rd September 2007

Greylag Goose at Hogganfield Loch on 13th September 2007

above: Tawny Owl at Broadwood Loch on 8th July 2007

Friday 14th September 2007

Left: Dunlin (rear bird) and Pectoral Sandpiper in flight.

left: Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper at Balgray Reservoir.

Went to Balgray Reservoir to have a look for the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, it was on the island and associating with with a Ringed Plover and a Dunlin. There was also a single Black-tailed Godwit and a total of 16 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin present.

Recent sightings update

Hogganfield Park LNR 13th September
12 (9 males) Ruddy Duck on the loch but no sign of the drake Scaup. Around 25 Swallows and 4 House Martins were feeding over the loch.

SECC, 13th September
Adult Peregrine sitting on top of the Finnieston Crane.

Hogganfield Park LNR 12th September
The moulting drake Scaup and 10 (7 male) Ruddy Ducks are still present on the loch, Pochard numbers building up, now 20 (9 males) present, also 9 House Martins and 4 Swallows feeding over the loch. Nearby 2 Whitethroats were at the east marsh.

Hogganfield Park LNR 11th September
A moulting drake Scaup and 10 (7 male) Ruddy Ducks on the loch, 9 House Martins, 2 Sand Martin and 4 Swallows were feeding over the loch. At the east end of the park there were 13 Siskin and 7 Lesser Redpoll

left: Raven being harassed by a Carrion Crow over Cathkin Marsh.

Cathkin Landfill Site/Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve; 6th September
1 Raven being harassed by a Carrion Crow, 2 Wheatear, 10 Goldfinch, 30+ linnets, 6 Siskin, 1 Heron, 4 Teal and 4 Swallows moving south.

Thursday 6th September 2007

Went in to SECC at 0945 hrs for a meeting and the Peregrine was perched on the Finnieston Crane, it was still there when I left at 1210 hrs.

Went to Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve near East Kilbride and had a good view of a Raven being harassed by a Carrion Crow over the landfill site. Also saw 2 Wheatears, 2 Reed Bunting, 6 Siskin, 9 Swallow, 4 Teal and an immature Heron.

Returned to SECC to start work at 1430 hrs and the Peregrine was still perched in the same place, it disappeared for a couple of hours and it was still present at 1800 hrs.

Wednesday 5th September 2007

Adult Peregrine perched on top of Finnieston Crane next to SECC at 1600hrs.