Tag Archives: Strathclyde

May 12, 2013 · 7:56 pm

Photographs of Nesting Birds

Recently I visited some of the ponds near where I live to see how the nesting birds were getting along. Most of them were still sitting on nests incubating their eggs, although some Coots and Mute Swans had already hatched their eggs and were swimming in the water.

Mute swan Incubating the eggs

Royal Birds

With reports of Eastern Europeans killing and eating swans in the area, the local people are keeping an eye out for any unusual activity. I have also not given the location of the ponds to try and ensure the birds safety.

The Queen has a prerogative over all swans in Great Britain. The Swan Keeper also dispatches swans all over the world, sent as gifts in the Queen’s name.

Nesting Whooper Swan

Nesting Whooper Swan

The nesting Whooper Swan was unusual as Whoopers migrate back to Iceland in the spring to breed. The one above had not made the journey, probably due to injury. There was no sign of the male Whooper Swan on the day we were there.

At Baron’s Haugh in Motherwell there were some injured Whooper Swans which had not managed to migrate back to Iceland in the spring, so this bird may be one of them.

Greylag Goose

Greylag Goose Nesting

As we were about to pack up observing in one area, I spotted a Greylag Goose nesting in the reeds. She was well hidden and was only spotted by accident. In the picture above she can be seen keeping a close eye on us.

Coots Nest

Coots Nest

In another pond a Coots nest was in the process of being built. Coots nest on still water to minimize the danger from flooding.

Mute Swan in another pond

In a smaller pond there was only one pair of Mute swans nesting. No other birds could be seen, apart from some Mallard ducks.

Heron

The Heron above was seen looking for food, but no nest for it could be seen.

Canada Geese

Canada Geese Nesting

Some Canada geese could be seen nesting on a small island, well away from people. A small boat would be required to get to this nest so it should be safe from humans.

Adult Mute Swans and Cygnets

Family of Mute Swans

The first sight we got of Cygnets was at another pond were two adult swans were out and about with their young family. At one point they swam close to where we were standing with the scope on the male started hissing at us. We moved back a bit to be less threatening to the birds.

Swans are very strong and it is not advisable to go near them when they have young. A Swan can break a person’s arm with its wing if it feels threatened.

It was quite a dull and wet day and with the light getting worse, we decided to pack up. We had managed to get some good photos of the birds through my scope, which can be seen above.

I am looking forward to seeing how the birds develop over the summer.

Waxwings and Some Summer Visitors

On the walk to my local birdwatching area of Baron’s Haugh today, I saw a flock of Waxwing. There are birds I have been looking for since last Autumn and I was very glad to eventually see them. They were sitting on the roof of a block of flats and I managed to get some photographs of them using my video camera.

Waxwings

Waxwing have a soft silky plumage. They have unique red tips to some of their wing feathers which looks like sealing wax and gives the birds their name.

Their main food is fruit.They are winter visitors and do not breed in the UK.

Baron’s Haugh, Motherwell

The pair of Mute Swans who had built their nest a few weeks ago were both together with the female sitting on the nest. she kept moving around and we thought that she may be about to lay an egg shortly. However, the male soon left the vicinity of the nest to swim into the Haugh. The female then started collecting more reeds and made some alterations to the living quarters.

Nesting Mute Swans

Over on the raft, two Cormorant were perched looking over the Haugh. On getting a closer look with the scope, we saw a Common Sandpiper on the raft with them. This is a small wader with brown upperparts and white underparts. It bobs up and down as it moves and this is known as ‘teetering’.

Cormorant and Common Sandpiper (Click to enlarge)

The Sand Martins have arrived from Africa for the summer and Willow Warblers, another summer visitor, could be heard everywhere.

Only two of the injured Whooper swans could be seen on the River Clyde but they had been joined by a Mute Swan. It may be that the other Whooper Swan was able to fly back to Iceland as there was no sign of it anywhere on the river.

Looks like summer is around the corner.

Further Information:

Baron’s Haugh is an RSPB reserve in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/baronshaugh/index.aspx

Big Egg Hunt – Glasgow

The streets around Buchanan Street in Glasgow have been hosting a charity event organised by Action for Children called the Big Egg Hunt. There are 101 giant eggs, many of which feature designs from leading artists, which have been located in Glasgow’s streets and shops as part of an Easter fund-raising event.

The eggs are all around 2 feet high and are mounted on wooden boxes with details of their artists and sponsors. Unfortunately, one worth 10,000GBP was stolen on Friday 15th March, but hopefully it will turn up undamaged.

The event is being held in a number of cities in the UK.

Here are some photographs of the event in Glasgow.