This year’s peregrines chicks are not the only birds learning to fly and hunt. Scruffy juvenile buzzards can often be seen sitting on fence posts waiting to be fed, washed-out young blue-tits still demand food and pied wagtail chicks chase around after their hard-working parents. Watching the antics of these young creatures can be very entertaining but beware of interfering with a newly fledged chick, especially an owl; their parents are not far away and could attack you. If there is an immediate danger to the bird from traffic, dogs etc. gently move it to a higher, safer place otherwise it is best to leave them alone.
All the peregrine young have now fledged! The male chick took to the air on the 9th and was followed three days later (Lanimers Day) by one of the females. In the early hours of Friday morning the remaining female spread her wings and jumped! There is still a good possibility of seeing all the peregrines in and around the nest site and gorge on the Falls of Clyde reserve.
Wood warbler, dipper, grey wagtail, peregrine falcon, robin, blackbird, thrush, long-tailed tit, grey heron, grey squirrel (– swimming!) mallard duck, buzzard, badger, fox (drinking from the river below New Lanark) roe deer.
The Scottish countryside in the spring can rival anywhere in the world for beautiful blossom and perfumed air. Hawthorn, both red and white varieties, hang heavy with flowers throughout the Clyde valley, taking over from the earlier shows of apple and cherry. Take a walk, or enjoy a picnic, among the peppery scented bluebell woods but remember not to damage or pick wildflowers.
Sightings
Badger, fox, otter, barn owl, fieldmouse, heron, dipper, grey wagtail, mallard duck (ducklings) goosander, thrush, blackbird, chaffinch, great tit, tree-creeper, robin, crow, jackdaw and rook Butterflies: green-veined and orange tip. Tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies are currently going through their earlier life-cycle stages and the next batch of adults are not expected for some weeks.
17 May 2008Butterflies can be found in the strangest places as the weather warms up - even bedrooms! Having been securely tucked away out of sight in cracks in bark, stone walls or behind wardrobes, they fly into view again as the temperature rises. We are now seeing orange-tip, peacock, tortoiseshell and green-veined butterflies.
Sightings
Globe flower, bugle, stitchwort, pink purslane and bluebells are all flowering amid the lush new growth of the woodlands and riverbanks. Badger, fox, barn owl, pippistrelle bats, daubenton bats, roedeer, thrush, heron, peregrine falcon, goosander, dipper, grey wagtail and mallard duck with ducklings.
9 May 2008Sadly one of the peregrine chicks died a few days after hatching but the other three are doing well. The warm humid weather is encouraging beech and oak trees to spring into leaf. Wild garlic, common dog violet and bluebells mingle beneath mixed or deciduous woodland. Verges and riverbanks sparkle with red campion, cuckoo flower and marsh marigold. The importance of deciduous woodland habitats becomes very apparent if you look at the bare, pine needle strewn ground beneath densely packed conifers: nothing grows.
Sightings
Peregrine falcon, badger, osprey (last week), goosander, mallard (with ducklings) various and many woodland birds including: wren, blackbird, robin, thrush, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, rook, wood pigeon, buzzard.
All four peregrine chicks have now successfully hatched. These small bundles of creamy-coloured fluff spend most of the day huddled beneath the adult bird in the eyrie. When prey is brought in they become clearly visible, beaks gaping, ready to be fed. It is a rare treat to watch these wild birds rearing their young at such close quarters.
Sightings
Chiff-chaff, blackcap, thrush, wren, robin, blackbird and long tailed tit are among the host of birds in the woods and gorge. Mink sighted (unfortunately) on the river. Beautiful wildflowers now coming into their own – red campion, wood sorrel, bluebells, pink purslane, forget-me-not and common dog violet.
All is going well on the eyrie with the eggs continuing to be brooded. The cool weather is not causing too many problems and this morning the eyrie is in full sun so the adults should be nicely warmed up. In the last couple of days, another peregrine falcon has been seen flying around above the eyrie making the resident birds alert. It’s a female but we’ve not been able to tell how old yet to see if could be last year’s chick or if it’s an older bird.
The peregrines are now into their third week incubating their four eggs. They have both been busy taking their turn sitting and mobbing any passing crow or buzzard that gets too close. The watch site is again proving very popular and SWT staff and volunteers are on hand to assist.
Sightings
A female otter and a cub were spotted playing in the river this week. Sightings of these endearing mammals are becoming more numerous and is good news for the health of the river. Otter cubs start to swim at three months and will stay with their mother for at least a year.
There are now four eggs in the peregrine's nest, which being contiuously watched under Operation Peregrine.
Lively pondlife
This is a good time to gaze into the shallows of ponds where frogs, toads and newts are busy. In the first warm days of the year reptiles like grass snakes, common lizards and adders emerge to soak up the energy of the sun. Best places to look are in suntraps behind walls and hedges where a hatching of flies dance in clouds and the earth gives up a warm aroma of vegetation.
Sightings
Dippers, mallard ducks and grey wagtails are all back on the river. Blackbirds (especially tuneful dawn and dusk), blue tit, chaffinch, pigeon, rook, raven, wren, and the beautiful long-tailed tit have been seen this week.
The peregrine's nest on the ledge can be viewed from either the hide (45 mins walk from New Lanark) or on our new CCTV link into the visitor centre. It has been confirmed that there are two eggs in the eyrie, with a possibility of a third. The angle of viewing the nest and the deep depression the birds scrape into the earth hamper close inspection.
Operation Peregrine is now up and running, co-ordinated by SWT, and with grateful thanks to the band of willing volunteers who provide a 24/7 watch. Peregrines are protected by law yet are still widely persecuted across Britain. In 1999 the Falls of Clyde peregrine nest was sabotaged and all chicks lost, so there is no room for complacency.
Spring flowers
Gardeners will have noticed that their grass is growing again and new growth on herbaceous plants is clearly visible. In the wildlife reserve wood anemone, primrose, marsh marigold and alternate-leaved golden saxifrage are taking over from snowdrops.
Sightings
As well as the usual woodland birds which are in good voice at dawn there have also been sightings of wood pigeon, cormorant, buzzard, mallard duck, jay, raven, dipper and an otter.
Things can change very quickly in the world of wildlife watching and, as this column is written several days before publication, it was hoped that the peregrines would be nesting on the cliffs again when last week’s Notes were read. For the past 10 years peregrines have favoured a particular area of the gorge, only slightly varying their choice of eyrie between 2 or 3 ledges. Since early February the birds had been seen regularly in their usual site and in the last few weeks courtship displays were observed - bringing in food, mating and calling to each other. This site (presumably having fledged 25 young peregrines over the last decade) is considered preferable to any other part of the cliff. This is a happy and useful occurrence because the hide built by the Scottish Wildlife Trust for protecting and viewing the birds has not needed to be moved during that time!
Happily, over the last week the birds did choose a suitable ledge. At 11.00am on Saturday 22nd March the live CCTV was switched on so that this wonderful, rare sight can be enjoyed by visitors to the exhibition in the SWT visitor centre in New Lanark.
Sightings
Crossbills, geese (pink-footed heading north-east), buzzard, raven, whooper swan (unusual locally) and a mute swan, tree creeper, peregrine falcon, dipper, great spotted woodpecker, thrush, blackbird, robin. Otter have also been spotted several times, with one satisfied family watching 2 otters fishing for several minutes.
15 March 2008
By the time this goes to press the peregrine falcons in the Falls of Clyde wildlife reserve may well have chosen their nest site for this season! Peregrines are the fastest creature on the planet, reaching speeds of up to 200 mph as they dive to take their prey out the sky. This breeding pair of peregrines has been seen regularly in the gorge over the last few weeks. Their courtship display of exchanging loud calls and bringing food to one another, as well as mating, is part of the bonding process that results in them choosing a cliff ledge to scrape a depression in the soil to receive the eggs.
Ravens in Clydesdale
There have been several sightings of ravens in the local area; most recently, one flew up the gorge. Ravens are huge black birds, with distinctive shaggy feathers under their chin and a strange “cronk cronk” call. They are as big as a buzzard and the feathery “fingers” at the end of their wings can add to the similarity as they fly over you. Buzzards are much lighter coloured underneath – Ravens, as the name suggests are jet black all over.
Sightings
As the water level drops (much to the relief of fishermen now that the trout season is open) waterside birds are back on their perches. Dipper, heron, goosander, grey wagtail have all been seen. In the woods the air is alive with the busy chattering, calling, singing and - in the case of the great spotted woodpecker – drumming, of spring birds!
7 March 2008 It is now March and the air temperature may be cold but places such as sheltered spots behind sun-warmed walls may already be buzzing with activity. Listen for the sound of tiny cellophane-thin wings against the still spring air as blow flies and hoverflies are lured out of suspended animation for a spot of sunbathing. Butterflies may also be seduced by the beckoning finger of spring sunshine – look out for small tortoiseshells and peacocks.
Dawn chorus
If you are awake as dawn creeps over the horizon you will probably have noticed that garden birds are beginning to sing. Small ones such as blue tits and great tits get going in all but the coldest weather. On dismal days, when many birds revert to wintry recluses, mistle thrushes keep on singing – hence, they are also known as storm cocks. Spring blooms such as primroses, celandines and wood anemones are out to lure the early insects. Less obvious flowers such as catkins of hazel, willow, aspen and alder shed their pollen to the breezes before the leaves unfurl and get in the way.
It is now March and the air temperature may be cold but places such as sheltered spots behind sun-warmed walls may already be buzzing with activity. Listen for the sound of tiny cellophane-thin wings against the still spring air as blow flies and hoverflies are lured out of suspended animation for a spot of sunbathing. Butterflies may also be seduced by the beckoning finger of spring sunshine – look out for small tortoiseshells and peacocks.
Sightings
Great-spotted woodpeckers can be heard drilling noisily, (marking out their territories). Also noted were tree creeper, wren, robin, long-tailed tit, green finch, chaffinch, great tit, blackbird, buzzard, wood pigeon (flocks), mallard duck, dipper.
Last weekend saw a lot of walkers on the Falls of Clyde reserve taking advantage of the first glimpses of spring. The peregrine falcons have been photographed up in the gorge where good progress is being made on the new hide. The signs are hopeful that the pair will choose to nest on the cliff-side again.
Sightings
Peregrine falcon, tree creeper, goosander, mallard duck, dipper, great-spotted woodpecker, thrush, greenfinch, goldfinch, blackbird and wren are all among the host of sightings reported locally last week.
After the dark, drab days of deepest winter it is clearly noticeable that the days are lengthening! What more beautiful, life-affirming sight to share than the vibrant sunsets and sparkling new moons we were treated to over the week encompassing St. Valentine’s Day? The urge for regeneration is at its strongest now, with nests being built, and the earliest breeding birds will already have laid eggs. Bulbs that have stored their energy through the winter are erupting into life. Frogs are courting: see the first batches of spawn bobbing in ditches.
Early insects
For insects, spring is an on-off affair, because their activity is shackled to temperature. When it’s warm, their switches are flicked, and many come out of hiding. As well as hoards of midges and flies, look out for the first butterflies, such as small tortoiseshells, peacocks and brimstones, which have been hibernating as adults in sheltered, dry places.
Sightings
As well as the peregrine falcons, other wildlife spotted on the reserve and locally include: dippers, heron, goosander, cormorant, mallard duck, fox, long tailed tits, great spotted woodpecker, robin, thrush, blackbird.
The recent snowfall across the south of Scotland transformed our landscape, sharpening outlines and blanketing fields. Outstanding landmarks like Tinto Hill or Loudon Hill, took on an added dimension and importance. Now we are into February there are signs of spring everywhere! Although the cold, stormy weather may suggest that we are still in the grip of winter, it is worth noting how much lighter it is in the evenings. Wildlife behaviour, both in plants and animals, reacts to the longer hours of daylight as much as to temperature. Look out for winter hellebores, aconite, the first green crumpled leaves of primrose, gleaming pools of snowdrops and hazel catkins.
Badger cubs
This is the month in which all badger cubs are born. There will be a lot of activity around the maternity sett as old bedding is cleaned out and the cubs are cared for by the adults in the group. Grey squirrels will also have young at this time and frogs and toads are starting their noisey mating rituals.
The heavy rainfall we have had recently has made the Falls of Clyde spectacular! A twenty minute walk from New Lanark will bring you to Corra Linn and another twenty minutes or so will give you stunning views of Bonnington Linn. Waterproofs and walking boots are advised, not only because of the muddy paths but also due to the spray from the Falls as it rises like smoke from the tumbling, crashing cascades drenching the surrounding cliffs, trees and spectators alike! If it is freezing when you visit, you are in for a real treat. The water droplets form ice-crystals, magically transforming the gorge landscape into sparkling silver!
Sightings
Woodland birds feature more in our reported sightings this week mainly due to the high level of the water in the River Clyde which deters our usual waterside birds. Long tailed tits, great spotted woodpecker, robin, chaffinch, blackbird, wren, greenfinch, goldfinch, great tit, blue tit, thrush, peregrine falcon, buzzard, rook, crow.
Most of the easily accessible hedgerow fruits and seeds have been eaten by now and birds, mice, shrews, squirrels, foxes and badgers will be foraging for energy sources needed during the cold, dark months. A well-stocked, regularly attended bird table can be a life saver.
Although we are barely into January it is often possible to see the first signs of new growth showing on trees, plants and bulbs. Look out for the pale green pointed tips of clumps of snowdrops peeping through the soil or buds appearing on stems.
Sightings
Winter is a good time for spotting wildlife. There are no leaves on the trees or bushes and when it is frosty or white with snow the dark shapes of birds and mammals can be much more easily identified from a distance. While walking in the snow it is fun to watch out for tell-tale tracks. You may be amazed to see the evidence of lots of wildlife activity in areas close to homes, schools and shops and even your own front door step! On the reserve there have been sightings of finches (gold, chaffinch, green,), long tailed tits, wrens, great spotted woodpeckers, tree creepers, robins, blackbirds, dippers (when the water level dropped) and mallard ducks. The peregrines have also been seen regularly.