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Grapevine
March 2023

Lapwing © Zul Bhatia
 Wednesday 1 March 2023
Five Mandarin Ducks (four males) at Carrick Golf Course, west Loch Lomond.
A Chiffchaff calling and occasionally singing in buddleia bushes at Charing Cross railway station, presumably a wintering bird
The drake Ring-necked Duck again in the canal basin at Speirs Wharf.
At least one Green Woodpecker below the Lang Craigs.
A 1st-winter Glaucous Gull at the junction of High Blantyre Road and Glasgow Road in Hamilton.
A Barn Owl hunting at Merryton at dusk.
 
Thursday 2 March 2023
A probable 1st-winter Caspian Gull at Castle Semple Loch, then flying off to roost.
A Red Kite flying over the boardwalk at RSPB Loch Lomond.
The drake Smew still at RSPB Lochwinnoch.
The drake Ring-necked Duck at Speirs Wharf.
The female Smew still at Hogganfield Loch.
A Russian White-fronted Goose with Greylags opposite Columbie junction, Carstairs village.
A single Barnacle Goose at Newshot Island with 500+ Pinkfeet.
A male Crossbill and a Woodcock at Muirshiel Country Park this morning.
A Green Sandpiper on the small pool between Carbarns Pool and Lower Carbarns Farm and another flushed from river nearby; a Barn Owl briefly seen hunting over the Merse at Merryton.
 
Friday 3 March 2023
A Russian White-fronted Goose again off Ryeflats Road, Carstairs village.
The Long-tailed Duck still at Lomond Shores, Balloch.
A 2nd- winter Iceland Gull in car park 4 at Strathclyde Loch.
A Green Sandpiper at BAE Bishopton.
A Green Sandpiper on Carbarns Pool late afternoon, also 24 Oystercatchers and 177 Wigeon.
The drake Smew still at RSPB Lochwinnoch, also six Pintail on the Barr Loch.
Ten Yellowhammers at Flenders Farm, Clarkston.
 From the Isle of Bute, five Red-throated Divers just south of Kilchattan Bay and twelve Common Scoters off Bruchag Point.
 
Saturday 4 March 2023
The drake Smew again at the south end of the Barr Loch.
A Snow Goose flew over Meikle Finnery with Pink-feet, also 40 Greenland White-fronted Geese and two Barnacle Geese.
The possible Caspian Gull again at Castle Semple Loch.
A Barnacle Goose with 2000+Pink-footed Geese at Longhaugh Point.
Two Green Sandpipers at RSPB Baron's Haugh, later one at Carbarns Pool.
A 2nd-winter Iceland Gull at Heritage Loch, East Kilbride.
 
Sunday 5 March 2023
A Red-necked Grebe again off Ardmore Point.
A Snow Goose flying with Greylags over Loch Lomond in the direction of Croftamie.
A Green Woodpecker flying below Lang Craigs at Overtoun.
A Ring-necked Parakeet in Dougalston Woods, Milngavie.
A Chiffchaff (probably still a wintering individual) by the White Cart Water at Battlefield.
 
Monday 6 March 2023
The drake Ring-necked Duck back on Bingham's Pond, Glasgow.
A wintering Common Sandpiper by River Clyde at Govan Graving Docks.
A Chiffchaff (probably a wintering individual) in trees at Currys/PC World, Braehead Retail Park.
Two Woodcock at Blacklaw Moss, near Carstairs, also 850 Pink-footed Geese.
 
Tuesday 7 March 2023
Two Green Sandpipers at RSPB Baron's Haugh, also still a wintering Chiffchaff.
A Green Sandpiper at Balmore Pool.
Yesterday a possible Todd's Canada Goose with Pink-feet at Millichen.​
Picture
Buzzard © Frank Gibbons

Wednesday 8 March 2023
150 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Hillhead Farm; nearby, at Meikle Finnery, four Barnacle Geese with Pink-feet.
From RSPB Lochwinnoch, the drake Smew on Aird Meadow and a pair of Pintail on Barr Loch.
Two Jack Snipe at Windlaw Marsh, Carmunnock.
A Green Sandpiper still at Balmore Pool.
A pair of Pintail on Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond, also 14 Whooper Swans.
20 Whooper Swans on Loch Libo, Uplawmoor.
 
Thursday 9 March 2023
A drake Smew still on Aird Meadow, RSPB Lochwinnoch, later, on Castle Semple Loch.
A Red Kite over the M74 near Crawford.
 
Friday 10 March 2023
A White-tailed Eagle on the east side of Little Cumbrae and a Little Egret on West Bay, Great Cumbrae.
An adult/sub-adult Iceland Gull on the River Clyde at Riverside Museum, before flying south early afternoon.
The drake Ring-necked Duck again on Forth and Clyde Canal at Speirs Wharf.
The three Smew still with the drake at RSPB Lochwinnoch, the female at Hogganfield Loch and a redhead at Broadwood Loch.
A Green Sandpiper on River Clyde between Merryton/Carbarns.
A Green Sandpiper again at BAE Systems, Bishopton.
 
Saturday 11 March 2023
An early Osprey flying west over Kilmory, Isle of Arran.
A 1st-winter Iceland Gull at Craigmore, Isle of Bute.
Two Black-tailed Godwits on a frozen Gartloch Pool.
All three Smews still present, a drake on Aird Meadow, RSPB Lochwinnoch, a redhead on Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld and a female on Hogganfield Loch,
A Green Sandpiper continues at RSPB Baron's Haugh.
20 Whooper Swans on Wards Pond, RSPB Loch Lomond; nearby, a male Crossbill at Garadhban Forest.
 
Sunday 12 March 2023
A Black-throated Diver off Ardmore.
A 2nd-winter Iceland Gull again at Strathclyde Loch.
Eight Greenshanks at Finlaystone Point.
Drake Smew continues on Aird Meadow, RSPB Lochwinnoch; nearby, 155 Goldeneye at roost on Castle Semple Loch.
Two male Hen Harriers hunting off the M8 at Calderbank, Airdrie.
Eleven Pochard on Bishop Loch.
Three Otters on River Clyde at Carbarns.
 
Monday 13 March 2023
The drake Ring-necked Duck continues on the Forth and Clyde Canal at Speirs Wharf.
Three Barnacle Geese flying over Aber Bog, RSPB Loch Lomond in the direction of Drymen.
 
Tuesday 14 March 2023
Two Iceland Gulls (a 1st-winter and a 2nd-winter) at the Strathclyde Loch gull roost.
The drake Smew continues on Aird Meadow, RSPB Lochwinnoch.
A Red Kite flying over Gartfairn Wood in the morning; nearby, 63 Greenland White-fronted Geese leaving their roost at RSPB Loch Lomond.
Now 24 Pochard on Bishop Loch
Picture
Reed Bunting © Davie Abraham

Wednesday 15 March 2023
The drake Ring-necked Duck still on Forth and Clyde Canal at Speirs Wharf,
Two Green Sandpipers on River Clyde at RSPB Baron's Haugh.
A pair of Gadwall on Loch Ardinning.
 
Thursday 16 March 2023
The drake Ring-necked Duck on Maxwell Park Pond, Pollokshields.
The female Smew still on Hogganfield Loch.
From the Isle of Bute, the 1st-winter Iceland Gull still in the Craigmore area, a Little Egret at Ettrick Bay, three Greenshank flying north past St Ninian's Point, three Barnacle Geese at Nether Ardoscodale Farm and 56 Golden Plover in St Ninian's Bay.
45 Curlew roosting on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch.
14 Waxwings on a tree in Main Street, Salsburgh, near mini roundabout early morning
 
Friday 17 March 2023
The drake Ring-necked Duck back on Forth and Clyde Canal at Speirs Wharf.
The female Smew still on Hogganfield Loch.
A Great Northern Diver off Ardmore, also a Little Egret in the north bay.
A Green Sandpiper on River Clyde at Merryton; nearby, 18 Gadwall at RSPB Baron's Haugh.
 
Saturday 18 March 2023
The drake Smew again on the scrape a RSPB Lochwinnoch
Arrival of Sand Martins noted at various locations, including the three RSPB Reserves and 20 at Castle Semple Loch, with 100 congregating before dusk at Strathclyde Loch.
A Swallow briefly with Sand Martins at Castle Semple Loch early evening.
A Wheatear on the Loch Thom road, Greenock.
A singing Chiffchaff at Hogganfield is almost certainly now a new arrival.
45 Whooper Swans north over Lochwinnoch early evening
24 Whooper Swans north over RSPB Baron's Haugh late afternoon, also a Green Sandpiper in the area.
 
Sunday 19 March 2023
A Red-necked Grebe on Hogganfield Loch, also still the female Smew.
The drake Smew again on Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch in the morning; later, on Aird Meadow, also two Ringed Plovers on the scrape there.
The drake Ring-necked Duck continues on Forth and Clyde Canal at Speirs Wharf.
13 Waxwings still on a tree in Main Street, Salsburgh, near mini roundabout early morning.
A drake Pintail associating with a female Mallard on River Leven at Balloch.
Tree Sparrows back on territory in the Inchinnan/Black Cart Water area.
 
Monday 20 March 2023
A redhead Smew still on Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld.
The drake Smew again on Aird Meadow, RSPB Lochwinnoch.
The drake Ring-necked Duck continues on Forth and Clyde Canal at Speirs Wharf.
 
Tuesday 21 March 2023
The drake Smew again on Aird Meadow, RSPB Lochwinnoch, also a Redshank on the scrape.
The drake Ring-necked Duck continues on Forth and Clyde Canal, but now at Kelvindale.
14 Waxwings still at Main Street, Salsburgh near mini roundabout.
A Wheatear at Drumadoon Point, Isle of Arran.
Single singing Chiffchaffs recorded at Gartloch Pools, RSPB Loch Lomond and Lochwinnoch. 
Picture
Lesser Scaup © John Sweeney

Wednesday 22 March 2023
A Red-necked Grebe again and still a female Smew on Hogganfield Loch.
The drake Smew now on Castle Semple Loch.
14 Waxwings still at Main Street, Salsburgh near mini roundabout.
Wader build up noted at Balgray Reservoir, including a Redshank and three Ringed Plovers.
The 1st-winter Iceland Gull continues at Bogany Point, Isle of Bute
 
Thursday 23 March 2023
A Red-necked Grebe again and still a female Smew on Hogganfield Loch.
14 Waxwings still at Main Street, Salsburgh near mini roundabout.
A Green Sandpiper still wintering at BAE Systems, Bishopton.
Chiffchaffs singing at many locations throughout the area, also Isle of Arran's first at Whiting Bay.
 
Friday 24 March 2023
A Red-necked Grebe again and still a female Smew on Hogganfield Loch.
A Black-tailed Godwit on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch
In South Lanarkshire, a Red Kite at Lamington and another at South Medwin Pools, also two Shelducks back at their breeding site.
 
Saturday 25 March 2023
A female Lesser Scaup on Balgray Reservoir, also a Greenshank and two Wheatears.
A female Smew continues on Hogganfield Loch.
A Black-tailed Godwit still on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch.
Two wintering Green Sandpipers at Carbarns Pool in the morning.
A pair of Pintail and 30 Shovelers on Bridgend Farm Pool, Kirkintilloch.
14 Waxwings again at Main Street, Salsburgh.
 
Sunday 26 March 2023
A female Lesser Scaup still on Balgray Reservoir, also a drake Garganey.
A female Smew continues on Hogganfield Loch.
A wintering Green Sandpipers at Carbarns Pool in the morning; nearby, a Swallow at RSPB Baron's Haugh.
A Red Kite in the North Sannox area, Isle of Arran.
14 Waxwings again at Main Street, Salsburgh.
Yesterday, an Osprey SE over Gleniffer Braes, Paisley.
 
Monday 27 March 2023
An adult Iceland Gull at Bingham's Pond; nearby, yesterday, the drake Ring-necked Duck still on Forth and Clyde Canal, viewed from Cleveden Bridge.
A White-tailed Eagle still on Little Cumbrae; while, from Great Cumbrae, a female Long-tailed Duck still at Fintray Bay, two Greenshank at White Bay, also two Sandwich Tern and a Wheatear.
A female Lesser Scaup and drake Garganey still on Balgray Reservoir, also a pair of Gadwall.
A Red-necked Grebe and a female Smew continue on Hogganfield Loch.
A good count of 17 Slavonian Grebes and 29 Red-throated Divers off Ardmore.
Two Little Ringed Plovers back on territory at undisclosed site (please let us know of any sightings of this species to [email protected] and if adding to BirdTrack or eBird, please mark sensitive).
Two Green Sandpipers still at Carbarns Pool early evening.
An Osprey at Ring Point, RSPB Loch Lomond and a Black-tailed Godwit on Endrick Water at Drymen.
 
Tuesday 28 March 2023
The drake Ring-necked Duck back on Bingham's Pond; yesterday, on Victoria Park Pond.
 A female Lesser Scaup and drake Garganey still on Balgray Reservoir, also 21 Whooper Swans and 30 Stock Doves.
A Red-necked Grebe and a female Smew continue on Hogganfield Loch.
A Little Ringed Plover at Waterlands Farm Pool, Law (non-breeding site).
A White-tailed Eagle continues on Little Cumbrae.
Five Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch.
A Merlin at Thankerton Moor.
Two Sand Martins at Mossend Pond, Isle of Arran are the first arrivals for the island.
A female Blackcap in a Milngavie garden may well still be a wintering individual. 
Picture
Ringed Plovers © Norman Tait

Wednesday 29 March 2023
A female Lesser Scaup and drake Garganey still on Balgray Reservoir, also two female Pintail and a pair of Gadwall.
A Little Ringed Plover still at Waterlands Farm Pool, Law (non-breeding site).
A Willow Warbler in song at Linn Park.
A female Blackcap still in a Milngavie garden may well be a wintering individual.
 
Thursday 30 March 2023
A female Lesser Scaup still on Balgray Reservoir, also an adult Mediterranean Gull in summer plumage, up to 39 Whooper Swans and a female Pintail.
The Red-necked Grebe and female Smew still on Hogganfield Loch.
A Little Ringed Plover still at Waterlands Farm Pool, Law (non-breeding site), also two Barnacle Geese.
A Greenshank and two Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape at RSPB Lochwinnoch.
Three Black-tailed Godwits at Longhaugh Point.
 
Friday 31 March 2023
An adult Iceland Gull again at Bingham's Pond.
A Little Egret at its usual spot at Gruggies Burn, Dumbarton.
Three Green Woodpeckers in Overtoun Glen, Milton.
A Swallow over Strathaven Road, East Kilbride.
Yesterday, a Willow Warbler at Kirk Dam, Isle of Bute.
Chiffchaffs widespread. 
Picture
Greenshank © Ian Fulton
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