by Donald Wilson
November: Teal today, gone tomorrow
November in some ways can be a tough birding month but with decent spells of weather, the Clyde area can still deliver some good birding and the odd gem. That said, this November we have had some fairly awful days of high winds and rain but we have been blessed with enough decent days for some good winter walks and birding. The old adage of “if you don’t get out and look, you won’t see anything”, definitely rings true when it comes to birding.
In Clyde we have been very fortunate over the past few years to have some good winter scarcities/local rarities blessing our patch such as the American Wigeon (Newshot Island all month), the very popular Ring-necked Duck and of course the stonking male Smew which returned to his favoured Broadwood Loch (25th) which will no doubt please bird watchers and photographers alike.
On top of these special wildfowl, we are also so lucky, as documented before, to have the only now wintering population in the UK of Taiga Bean Geese. They are often found just on the outskirts of Clyde in the Slammanan Plateau area, which is part of the Forth recording area, but they quite often roost around Fannyside Loch, near Palacerigg CP close to Cumbernauld. I do wonder how long we will have these special birds with us as their numbers are dwindling. Perhaps climate change may be partly to blame - as the climate warms and the winter conditions become less harsh in their native breeding grounds in the extreme northeast of Europe and Russia, it may be that their need to migrate diminishes.
We also have a very decent wintering population of White-fronted Geese with ours coming all the way from Greenland. Again, there are not too many populations of this species in Scotland and it’s fabulous we have them on our doorstep. A peak of 134 Greenland White-fronted Geese were split between Gartocharn and Meikle Finnery (West Dunbartonshire) on the 20th and 21st with other sightings in the area throughout the month.
Along with the annual returning specialties of wildfowl, patch watching can produce a scarce or rare species. One such example is the Long-tailed Duck. Normally associated with the east coast in winter, we had a few records throughout this November and finding one on your local patch is a real thrill. A 1st-winter on Waulkmill Glen Reservoir was found on the 6th, staying to the 8th. A female/immature at Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch also on the 7th, was seen occasionally through the month between Barr Loch and Aird Meadow. Two were in Ardmore North Bay on the 22nd.
The other bird picked up this month (RSPB Baron’s Haugh on the 30th) was a Green-winged Teal, the North American cousin of our Eurasian Teal. It’s the only new species this month, taking us to 212 for the year. You can spot the drake with its lack of a lateral scapular stripe and instead an obvious vertical white shoulder stripe – although you might have to search through 100s of teal to find it. The female is very tough to distinguish. Soon though, in 2026, all bird lists are uniting to the IOC world list and as part of the taxonomic review and Green-winged Teal is losing its status as a separate species. This will mean it will be classed as the same species as our Eurasian Teal.
In Clyde we have been very fortunate over the past few years to have some good winter scarcities/local rarities blessing our patch such as the American Wigeon (Newshot Island all month), the very popular Ring-necked Duck and of course the stonking male Smew which returned to his favoured Broadwood Loch (25th) which will no doubt please bird watchers and photographers alike.
On top of these special wildfowl, we are also so lucky, as documented before, to have the only now wintering population in the UK of Taiga Bean Geese. They are often found just on the outskirts of Clyde in the Slammanan Plateau area, which is part of the Forth recording area, but they quite often roost around Fannyside Loch, near Palacerigg CP close to Cumbernauld. I do wonder how long we will have these special birds with us as their numbers are dwindling. Perhaps climate change may be partly to blame - as the climate warms and the winter conditions become less harsh in their native breeding grounds in the extreme northeast of Europe and Russia, it may be that their need to migrate diminishes.
We also have a very decent wintering population of White-fronted Geese with ours coming all the way from Greenland. Again, there are not too many populations of this species in Scotland and it’s fabulous we have them on our doorstep. A peak of 134 Greenland White-fronted Geese were split between Gartocharn and Meikle Finnery (West Dunbartonshire) on the 20th and 21st with other sightings in the area throughout the month.
Along with the annual returning specialties of wildfowl, patch watching can produce a scarce or rare species. One such example is the Long-tailed Duck. Normally associated with the east coast in winter, we had a few records throughout this November and finding one on your local patch is a real thrill. A 1st-winter on Waulkmill Glen Reservoir was found on the 6th, staying to the 8th. A female/immature at Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch also on the 7th, was seen occasionally through the month between Barr Loch and Aird Meadow. Two were in Ardmore North Bay on the 22nd.
The other bird picked up this month (RSPB Baron’s Haugh on the 30th) was a Green-winged Teal, the North American cousin of our Eurasian Teal. It’s the only new species this month, taking us to 212 for the year. You can spot the drake with its lack of a lateral scapular stripe and instead an obvious vertical white shoulder stripe – although you might have to search through 100s of teal to find it. The female is very tough to distinguish. Soon though, in 2026, all bird lists are uniting to the IOC world list and as part of the taxonomic review and Green-winged Teal is losing its status as a separate species. This will mean it will be classed as the same species as our Eurasian Teal.
Teal (left) and Green-winged Teal (right) © John Agnew
Other wildfowl of note includes a female/immature Common Scoter logged at the south end of Barr Loch, RSPB Lochwinnoch on the 1st. The 2nd saw a first-winter drake Scaup on Barr Loch (to 5th), and the 2nd also saw a female Scaup briefly observed at RSPB Baron’s Haugh. Four days later, on the 6th, two Scaup were seen off Craigendoran. There was a single drake Scaup present on Balmore Pool on the 14th-19th, and five female-type Scaup were noted on Bardowie Loch on the 19th.
A single Pintail was present at Newshot Island on the 2nd, the same day a pair of Pintail were observed at Ardmore North Bay. Two drakes were documented in Cardross Bay on the 4th, with 12 recorded there later in the month on the 17th. A Black-necked Grebe was sighted off Craigendoran on the 6th. An inland record of a single Slavonian Grebe at Johnston Loch, Coatbridge early in the month and at Craigmaddie Reservoir between 23rd-25th were both good local patch records. Nine were between Cardross and Ardmore (7th) and eight later in the month (29th).
Diver records included a single Great Northern Diver off Newark Castle on the 9th, one was off Coronation Park, Greenock on the 10th, and one off Wemyss Bay ferry terminal on the 15th. Four Red-throated Divers were seen off Parklea on the 9th.
Nine Barnacle Geese were feeding alongside Pink-footed Geese at Raw Farm (South Lanarkshire) on the 2nd. Perhaps the same nine were at Pots of Gartness (Stirlingshire, 15th), three were in the Gartocharn area on 20th-21st and one at Newshot Island (13th).
A single Brent Goose was again in Ardmore North Bay on the 6th, Whooper Swan records included 135 counted at Pettinain/Eastfield Farm on the 5th, while 113 Goldeneye and 31 Goosander were at roost on Castle Semple Loch on the 18th.
A single Pintail was present at Newshot Island on the 2nd, the same day a pair of Pintail were observed at Ardmore North Bay. Two drakes were documented in Cardross Bay on the 4th, with 12 recorded there later in the month on the 17th. A Black-necked Grebe was sighted off Craigendoran on the 6th. An inland record of a single Slavonian Grebe at Johnston Loch, Coatbridge early in the month and at Craigmaddie Reservoir between 23rd-25th were both good local patch records. Nine were between Cardross and Ardmore (7th) and eight later in the month (29th).
Diver records included a single Great Northern Diver off Newark Castle on the 9th, one was off Coronation Park, Greenock on the 10th, and one off Wemyss Bay ferry terminal on the 15th. Four Red-throated Divers were seen off Parklea on the 9th.
Nine Barnacle Geese were feeding alongside Pink-footed Geese at Raw Farm (South Lanarkshire) on the 2nd. Perhaps the same nine were at Pots of Gartness (Stirlingshire, 15th), three were in the Gartocharn area on 20th-21st and one at Newshot Island (13th).
A single Brent Goose was again in Ardmore North Bay on the 6th, Whooper Swan records included 135 counted at Pettinain/Eastfield Farm on the 5th, while 113 Goldeneye and 31 Goosander were at roost on Castle Semple Loch on the 18th.
Slavonian Grebe © John Chapman
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Greenland White-fronted Geese © John Hutton
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A few other very good observations included a late Spotted Redshank (noted roosting on Craigendoran Pier on the 10th) . This species is sometimes known to over-winter with at least one returning bird to Kinneil Lagoons in Forth over the past few years.
Jack Snipe © Mark Hartshorne
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This month also sees Jack Snipe returning in numbers, although they are notoriously tricky to see. A northern European breeder which comes to the UK to winter, most sightings are either from organised ringing studies or if you don your wellies and wander through the right kind of habitat you may flush one up. Unlike Common Snipe, they often sit tight until you almost step on the bird before it decides to take flight! 13 Jack Snipe were at Cathkin Marsh SWT Reserve on the 14th, with seven at Balgray Reservoir on the 20th. The 8th saw 230 Snipe on Aird Meadow scrape, RSPB Lochwinnoch which was a great count. There were some daytime Woodcock records with one at Newshot Island (9th) and two separate records from Gartcosh area (21st). We do have a few breeding pairs of Woodcock but winter is the best time to see one of these cracking birds. Again, a typical sighting will be walking through a woodland when you accidentally flush one. It doesn’t take much to put one up! Earlier in the month 600 Golden Plover must have been a fantastic sight at South Medwin Pools on the 2nd – not to be outdone by 453 Lapwing in the same area on the same day. |
Other waders included a count of 63 Bar-tailed Godwits at Ardmore North Bay (9th) with ten Black-tailed Godwits at Langbank the same day. A peak of four Green Sandpiper this month at RSPB Baron’s Haugh on the 23rd, five wintering Greenshank at Finlaystone Point on the 9th and unusually one at Pettinain/Eastfield Farm on the 5th.
Winter is also a brilliant time to engage with some of our iconic birds of prey and two that spring to mind are Merlin and Hen Harrier. These species are generally high moorland breeders but in winter they can be found hunting fields and marshes at lower levels. RSPB Loch Lomond and the surrounding area has been one hot spot for Hen Harrier and a winter visit on a dry, still day may well produce an encounter with one of these stunning birds. For Merlin any coastal site could be productive but one site where there may be a chance of seeing one of these locally scarce raptors is the Blackstoun Farm Rhubarb fields. Even if you don’t see one, this site has plenty to offer with literally thousands of finches wintering in the area.
The 30th saw three Brambling within a large congregation of 1,000 Chaffinches, 400 Skylarks and 170 Stock Doves at Blackstoun Farm. Bramblings were also seen at Kilmacolm and a Motherwell garden on the 7th, with one noted again at the Motherwell garden on the 19th. Another good finch count was fifty Redpolls at the west end of BAE Systems, Bishopton on the 12th.
Raptor sightings included a Golden Eagle at Ben Vorlich on the 8th (with a Ptarmigan flushed at the summit). An unconfirmed report of a White-tailed Eagle was received from Net Bay, RSPB Loch Lomond, on the 20th. Red Kite sightings included one over RSPB Loch Lomond on the 14th and 20th, with four at Burn of Mar on the 17th. Hen Harrier records comprised a male and a ringtail at Croftamie on the 15th, a ringtail at Blackthird Farm on the 16th, a male over Aird Meadow on the 17th, a ringtail in the RSPB Loch Lomond/ Wards Pond are on the 18th and 20th, later a male and ringtail Hen Harrier (30th), a male at Glen Fruin on the 24th, and one on Brownside Braes on the 27th.
Glasgow’s resident Peregrines, Bonnie (female), Clyde (male) and this year’s juvenile, Victor (immature male) were still noted around Glasgow University, the City Chambers and Drygate (City Centre) during the month. Further sightings included single Peregrines over Balmore (12th), hunting at Newshot Island (15th), east over Bishop Loch (19th), and at RSPB Baron’s Haugh (23rd). A male Merlin was hunting in Glen Fruin on the 23rd.
A Barn Owl was seen over Greenock Road on the 25th.
Winter is also a brilliant time to engage with some of our iconic birds of prey and two that spring to mind are Merlin and Hen Harrier. These species are generally high moorland breeders but in winter they can be found hunting fields and marshes at lower levels. RSPB Loch Lomond and the surrounding area has been one hot spot for Hen Harrier and a winter visit on a dry, still day may well produce an encounter with one of these stunning birds. For Merlin any coastal site could be productive but one site where there may be a chance of seeing one of these locally scarce raptors is the Blackstoun Farm Rhubarb fields. Even if you don’t see one, this site has plenty to offer with literally thousands of finches wintering in the area.
The 30th saw three Brambling within a large congregation of 1,000 Chaffinches, 400 Skylarks and 170 Stock Doves at Blackstoun Farm. Bramblings were also seen at Kilmacolm and a Motherwell garden on the 7th, with one noted again at the Motherwell garden on the 19th. Another good finch count was fifty Redpolls at the west end of BAE Systems, Bishopton on the 12th.
Raptor sightings included a Golden Eagle at Ben Vorlich on the 8th (with a Ptarmigan flushed at the summit). An unconfirmed report of a White-tailed Eagle was received from Net Bay, RSPB Loch Lomond, on the 20th. Red Kite sightings included one over RSPB Loch Lomond on the 14th and 20th, with four at Burn of Mar on the 17th. Hen Harrier records comprised a male and a ringtail at Croftamie on the 15th, a ringtail at Blackthird Farm on the 16th, a male over Aird Meadow on the 17th, a ringtail in the RSPB Loch Lomond/ Wards Pond are on the 18th and 20th, later a male and ringtail Hen Harrier (30th), a male at Glen Fruin on the 24th, and one on Brownside Braes on the 27th.
Glasgow’s resident Peregrines, Bonnie (female), Clyde (male) and this year’s juvenile, Victor (immature male) were still noted around Glasgow University, the City Chambers and Drygate (City Centre) during the month. Further sightings included single Peregrines over Balmore (12th), hunting at Newshot Island (15th), east over Bishop Loch (19th), and at RSPB Baron’s Haugh (23rd). A male Merlin was hunting in Glen Fruin on the 23rd.
A Barn Owl was seen over Greenock Road on the 25th.
Sparrowhawk © Linda Hamilton
Great White Egret records included one seen regularly around RSPB Lochwinnoch area throughout the month. One at Douglas Estate East Pond (8th), one at Hillend Reservoir (9th, 12th), and two regularly around RSPB Loch Lomond this month.
A report of a Bittern on the west side of Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld on 28th but not reported since will require a description for the Clyde Bird Records Panel.
Seabird activity included four juvenile Gannets flying southwest over Newshot Island on the 2nd. Two adult Little Gulls were observed far off Ironotter Point on the 10th. A number of Mediterranean Gulls have been reported again this month with an adult in a flooded field at Candrens Farm (Linwood) on the 4th, and one at Newshot Island on the 11th. Two adults were in Cardwell Bay on the 14th, and the Belgian ringed individual was seen again at Strathclyde Loch, where it continued to the 26th, and was joined by another that day.
A "Siberian" Chiffchaff calling alongside three Chiffchaffs near Torrance Bridge on the 8th, and a probable wintering Chiffchaff by the White Cart Water on the 21st. Large flocks of Fieldfare were noted on the 8th, with 300 at Ben Vorlich and 500 at Newshot Island.
I trust I have given a flavour of both how lucky we are with the superb birding we can have in Clyde and that November can provide some great birding encounters. Keep on birding and smiling!
A report of a Bittern on the west side of Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld on 28th but not reported since will require a description for the Clyde Bird Records Panel.
Seabird activity included four juvenile Gannets flying southwest over Newshot Island on the 2nd. Two adult Little Gulls were observed far off Ironotter Point on the 10th. A number of Mediterranean Gulls have been reported again this month with an adult in a flooded field at Candrens Farm (Linwood) on the 4th, and one at Newshot Island on the 11th. Two adults were in Cardwell Bay on the 14th, and the Belgian ringed individual was seen again at Strathclyde Loch, where it continued to the 26th, and was joined by another that day.
A "Siberian" Chiffchaff calling alongside three Chiffchaffs near Torrance Bridge on the 8th, and a probable wintering Chiffchaff by the White Cart Water on the 21st. Large flocks of Fieldfare were noted on the 8th, with 300 at Ben Vorlich and 500 at Newshot Island.
I trust I have given a flavour of both how lucky we are with the superb birding we can have in Clyde and that November can provide some great birding encounters. Keep on birding and smiling!
Greenfinch © John Chapman
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Smew © Kate Powell
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So just the one new species this month - Green-winged Teal
| Green-winged Teal |
This brings the list to 212* with the final month of the year to go.
(209 confirmed -
*Lesser Scaup subject to assessment by BBRC.
*Honey-buzzard subject to assessment by CBRP.
*Cetti's Warbler subject to assessment by SBRC )
Until next month - enjoy your birds and birding.
A full current species list, month by month for 2025, can be viewed here - the order and nomenclature follow the Clyde list.
We welcome any corrections or suggestions - please do get in touch at: https://www.birdsinclyde.scot/contact-us.html
A full current species list, month by month for 2025, can be viewed here - the order and nomenclature follow the Clyde list.
We welcome any corrections or suggestions - please do get in touch at: https://www.birdsinclyde.scot/contact-us.html