Hi Maggie, are you sure it was Red-breasted Mergansers with young? Goosander often bring broods down to the River Clyde from the Kelvin but have never seen Merganser with young on the inner Clyde

cheers, John

Nicely observed blog Maggie!

Here's hoping that your hide.... and the birds will continue to give you pleasure Maggie......well done for persevering with such good results in such an area!
Nature will win out in the end!

An osprey. Nice.

I feel like I'm there when I read your blogs.

Nice one Alan, you can tell it was a good day when three Marsh Harriers sitting in a tree merits only a cursory mention!!

A great read Alan,I'm chuffed for you with the Osprey!
I know how you felt about the attacking Gulls......on the Farne Isle we were set upon by Arctic Terns......very aggresively too.....put me in mind of Hitchcock's "The Birds"!!
What a lovely moment with the Wrens........a nice picture too of it singing in the rain!

Thanks for the tip re Nightjars Stuart.
I always think when I'm out that I'll remember the bird calls I hear then when I get back and listen to them get confused.......so a good idea to have them with you in the field!

Thanks Ruth!

If you were to visit the South Coast (New Forest or RSPB Arne, perhaps) at dusk during the summer, I think you'd be unlucky not to hear a nightjar.

As an aside, I've invested in a copy of the Field Guide to the Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Northern Europe (Book & CD) by Dave Farrow. Its pretty good, and I've put the cd's onto am MP3 player so I can take it out with me; unfortunately, while I now know what a woodlark sounds like, I've forgotten what the bird in the bush sounded like!!

I too have just enjoyed reading your trip report Stuart......ah the joys of camping,the snoring takes me back to the years when all we had was a small tent and a single Gaz burner! lol

Green Sandpiper sopunds about right for this time of year,about the same size as a Common Sandpiper,a Greenshank would be larger.

Great with the nightjars too,a bird I've never come across yet......mind I'm very much a Lark and usually asleep way before the night birds start singing!

Hi Judith

thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed it.

I'm not sure about the 'other' sandpiper, I was thinking it might be either a green sandpiper or a greenshank. I know they're fairly different sizes but other than they're quite similar and as I said, the light wasn't great, and the bird was in and out of the reeds but on its own so it was difficult to judge the size. I suppose I'll never know!!

I really enjoyed reading your report , Stuart! Your vague plan to go camping turned up some great birds! I wonder if your Sandpiper-ish bird could have been a Green Sandpiper?
Great when a weekend goes well, glad yours did for you!

Thanks Ruth and Alan,went back the next day to see if i could see the Plovers again but no luck,there were more people about to day with it been Saturday. I had my bins round my neck, people were stopping me to talk about the birds they had seen especially the Red kites,it was nice to pass on what I know and everyone was realy nice and keen to know about the wildlife in the area..

Nice one Amanda, I love Plovers and the Sandpiper and Kingfisher are great too

Well done Amaanda......these are all good birds to see.......it is amazing how time flies when you're engrossed isn't it!

Thanks Alan,I'm a bit Eccup mad at the moment,didn't manage to get any photos of the Goldcrest they move round to fast,hope to go on Friday.On the look out for birds of prey,I'm sure i will let every one know what I saw.......

What a lovely sentiment Amanda, although you have given me a mental image of you dancing around the fridge in the small hours of the morning singing, ''I'm a secret Eccup-challenge drinker...Eccup....Eccup''

Some nice birds to add to your list too, I've not had a sniff of Goldcrest this year.

Sounds like you were being taken for granted Maggie.....good luck in your hunt for another job.

Thanks Ruth,got used to the Red Kite at Eccup because there are so many about,hope to see one land and get photos.This year is the first time I have seen one fly over my house,the Crows soon moved him/her off,and just this week I have seen Two in the area Yeadon Town,so that is realy good.

I love your idea of bottling for sad people Amanda.......& wouldn't it be nice to be able to watch birds in nice surroundings all day long!
I love your Hare pic,well done with tother birds too,especially the Red Kite!

Well done Alan,that's a great achievement......and you look good too!