DAWSHOLM PARK - REPORTS

 

Please note, these reports concentrate on 'red data' bird species; wetland bird counts, summer migrants and unusual

faunal records or counts for the area; they do not constitute a complete data base of all species recorded.

All photographs are copyright Jim Coyle.

 

10 October 2009 - 18 species, recorded between 10.30-13.30 hours, included 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker

and 3 Song Thrush.

 

6 September 2009 - 17 species recorded between 15.00-17.00 hours in light drizzle - the River Kelvin still in full flow!

'Summer' migrants: 4 Swallow, 7 House Martin and 1 Willow Warbler.

Wetland birds: 1 Grey Heron, 19 Mallard and 1 Mute Swan flying over the highland cattle fields!

Others: 1 Treecreeper and 2 'tit' flocks with Long-tailed Tit being the dominant species (9 and 7).

 

15 August 2009 - Only 7 bird species seen from 15.30-17.30hrs in strong winds and after heavy rain - the

River Kelvin was in full flow! The 'highlight' was 1 Swallow over the wildflower area (former playing pitches).

Poor record shots (from a mobile phone) of the Kelvin and the meadows follow.

 

                 

 

18 July 2009 - Only 14 bird species in a 2 hour afternoon walk! The highlights were 2 Swift over the Highland cattle

field and 1 male Blackcap between the pond and the River Kelvin.

 

4 July 2009 - Only 19 bird species recorded in a 3.5 hour walk! At the pond 2 Mallard duckling survive but there was no

sign of the Moorhens. There was evidence of some successful breeding with young Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits and

Wren all seen. 4 Swallows and 1 Swift flew back and forth over the wildflower/highland cattle fields whilst, from the

hawthorn scrub, 2 Blackbirds,  a Song Thrush and Willow Warbler were competing for the most attractive song of the day.

Although the range of birds was disappointing other fauna included butterflies - 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Large White,

7 Ringlet and 1 (pale) Painted Lady - at least 2 species of damselfly, numerous hoverflies, 'white-tailed' and 'brown' bees,

2 Grey Squirrels and 1 Red Fox.

 

13 June 2009 - 26 bird species recorded in a 3 hour walk. At the pond there was a brood of 6 Mallard duckling and a

brood of 5 Moorhen. On the River Kelvin a Dipper performed well whilst 2 Goosander flew upstream. In the woods,

Treecreeper was seen as was Song Thrush, Stock Dove and 4 species of 'tit', whilst Chiffchaff was heard. A lone Swallow

hawked for insects over the wildflower/ highland cattle fields whilst the song of the Willow Warbler could be heard

clearly from the hawthorn scrub.

 

1 June 2009 - on a quick visit, 1 adult and 2 juvenile Ravens on the roof of the adjoining Dawsholm Cleansing Depot.

 

19 April 2009 - 22 bird species seen including 4 Mallard, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker,

2 Chiffchaff, 2 male Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 20+ Blue Tits, 6 Great Tits, 2 Coal Tits and 1 Long-tailed Tit.

One male Orange Tip butterfly also seen.

 

21 February 2009 - 19 bird species seen including 5 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 1 Dipper, 4 Stock Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk,

1 Kestrel, 'tit' flock including Long-tailed Tit, 3 Siskin and 30 Magpies.

 

25 January 2009 - 17 bird species seen including 2 Bullfinch, 10 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Siskin,

9 Redwing and 39 Magpies.

1 Red Fox also seen.

 

2 January 2009 - an excellent record of an Otter seen on the banks of the River Kelvin  - Sarah Cockram.

 

16 November 2008 - 24 bird species recorded including 2 Waxwings (in trees next to Highland cattle pens), 2 Ravens, 

1  male Sparrowhawk, 'tit' flocks with Treecreeper and Goldcrest, 4 Siskin and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

1 Red Fox and 1 Grey Squirrel were also seen.

3 Waxwings (flycatching) at the nearby Kelvindale railway station.

 

2 November 2008 - 19 bird species recorded including a 'tit' flock with Treecreeper, winter 'thrushes' and a Grey Heron,

in the Pond. 2 Red Fox and 1 Grey Squirrel were also seen.

 

Grey Heron at Dawsholm Park on 2 November 2008.

 

5 October 2008 - Only 15 bird species seen including 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and at least two mixed 'tit' flocks.

 

8 September 2008 - 2 Ravens flying over; also 1 Swallow.

 

21 July 2008 - 26 bird species seen or heard - including Moorhen (well grown brood of 3), Swift, Swallow, Willow

Warbler, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Kingfisher, Dipper and Grey Wagtail.

Also seen 1 Red Fox, 5 Grey Squirrel, 1 Large White, 2 Ringlet, 3 Meadow Brown and a Six-spot Burnet Moth.

 

21 June 2008 - 30 bird species seen or heard as part of a survey for the BIG Project - including  Song Thrush, Bullfinch,

Moorhen (brood of 2), Mallard (brood of 3 almost full grown), Swift, Swallow, Whitethroat (my first ever in the park),

Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Tit and Kingfisher.

Also many young birds, such as Blue Tits, in family groups.

 

Young Blue Tit

 

7 June 2008 - 31 bird species seen or heard as part of a survey for the BIG Project - including  Song Thrush, Moorhen,

Mallard (brood of 3 and brood of 7), Swallow, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker,

family party of 7 Long-tailed Tit, Grey Wagtail, Dipper and Kingfisher.