Donald Wilson
@clydebirder1.bsky.social
Clyde is my home county, local patcher, Scottish & UK lister/Twitcher. Lover of all things nature. Says it as is.
Baron’s haugh is a semi urban wetland about 2 miles from Motherwell town centre. So far it’s had 16 species of wader and at least 20 sp over the past 15 years. Lately 8 sp been present simultaneously. This Greenshank showed very well yesterday. More to come this autumn?
July 16, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Baron’s haugh is a semi urban wetland about 2 miles from Motherwell town centre. So far it’s had 16 species of wader and at least 20 sp over the past 15 years. Lately 8 sp been present simultaneously. This Greenshank showed very well yesterday. More to come this autumn?
Apart from the superb Spoonbill over the past two days, Baron’s Haugh is one of the top sites in Scotland for wintering Green Sand. Six have now been seen at once at the site lately and last year the peak count was 20+, with 6/7 over wintering. Nice close one yday.
July 16, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Apart from the superb Spoonbill over the past two days, Baron’s Haugh is one of the top sites in Scotland for wintering Green Sand. Six have now been seen at once at the site lately and last year the peak count was 20+, with 6/7 over wintering. Nice close one yday.
And to round up today some cracking local Osprey action! Clyde birding at its best! Osprey just seem to be everywhere and going from strength to strength! 👍
July 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
And to round up today some cracking local Osprey action! Clyde birding at its best! Osprey just seem to be everywhere and going from strength to strength! 👍
Also today I came across two pairs of Little Ringed Plover (LRP). Once a mega rarity in Clyde but now our county seems to hold a high % of the Scottish breeding pairs? Obviously very recently fledged, is this not very late?
July 14, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Also today I came across two pairs of Little Ringed Plover (LRP). Once a mega rarity in Clyde but now our county seems to hold a high % of the Scottish breeding pairs? Obviously very recently fledged, is this not very late?
Some cracking local Clyde birding today with a Spoonbill being found several hours (not by me) after my early morning wader count! 🙄 This being my 3rd Clyde encounter with this species.
July 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Some cracking local Clyde birding today with a Spoonbill being found several hours (not by me) after my early morning wader count! 🙄 This being my 3rd Clyde encounter with this species.
What a day in urban Clyde. 114 Black Tailed Godwits today over 3 sites all in semi urban/urban environments. Also a superb 8 wader species afternoon at Barons Haugh inc 2 Wood Sand, 4 Common, 5 Green, 1RP, 1 Curlew, 56 Lapwing & 1 Redshank. These Blackwits were no more than 50m away! 👍
July 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM
What a day in urban Clyde. 114 Black Tailed Godwits today over 3 sites all in semi urban/urban environments. Also a superb 8 wader species afternoon at Barons Haugh inc 2 Wood Sand, 4 Common, 5 Green, 1RP, 1 Curlew, 56 Lapwing & 1 Redshank. These Blackwits were no more than 50m away! 👍
These striking Black Tailed Godwits were at Musselburgh Lagoons yesterday. After looking in the books I’m considering these are the sub species Limosa limosa ie the continental race? Comments welcome & happy to be wrong. 👍
July 2, 2025 at 12:10 PM
These striking Black Tailed Godwits were at Musselburgh Lagoons yesterday. After looking in the books I’m considering these are the sub species Limosa limosa ie the continental race? Comments welcome & happy to be wrong. 👍
My second singing Scottish Blyth’s Reed Warbler today. My first being the Nigg bird over 20 years ago (I think). This bird singing constantly and extremely obliging! 👍
July 1, 2025 at 4:21 PM
My second singing Scottish Blyth’s Reed Warbler today. My first being the Nigg bird over 20 years ago (I think). This bird singing constantly and extremely obliging! 👍
Along with the Wood Sand, 2 Greenshank also dropped in overnight. A scarce bird in Clyde this year especially during the spring. Both birds failed breeding adults probably.
July 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Along with the Wood Sand, 2 Greenshank also dropped in overnight. A scarce bird in Clyde this year especially during the spring. Both birds failed breeding adults probably.
Delighted to find this Wood Sandpiper yesterday at Barons Haugh, Motherwell. The third for this site this year & the first return passage bird.
July 1, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Delighted to find this Wood Sandpiper yesterday at Barons Haugh, Motherwell. The third for this site this year & the first return passage bird.
A wee wader fest at RSPB Baron’s Haugh Motherwell mid morning. 2 Green Sand, 3 RP, 1 LRP, 2 Juv Common Sand & 11 Lapwings. Lanarkshire urban birding. 👍
June 27, 2025 at 11:20 AM
A wee wader fest at RSPB Baron’s Haugh Motherwell mid morning. 2 Green Sand, 3 RP, 1 LRP, 2 Juv Common Sand & 11 Lapwings. Lanarkshire urban birding. 👍
After twitching the Tentsmuir Iberian Chiff for a welcome Scottish tick it was off to the Ythan to try for the BB Sand. 5 mins from the destination this mega was found over the tern colony. Another very unexpected & welcome Scottish tick! Always take the luck when you can! Bridled Tern!
June 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM
After twitching the Tentsmuir Iberian Chiff for a welcome Scottish tick it was off to the Ythan to try for the BB Sand. 5 mins from the destination this mega was found over the tern colony. Another very unexpected & welcome Scottish tick! Always take the luck when you can! Bridled Tern!
What a superb week in NE Poland based in the ❤️ of the Bialowieza Forrest with Wild Poland during their birding festival. A mix of some short guided trips & birding on my own.159 species recorded with only 4 heard & finding many of my own.Here a 3 Toed Woodpecker as part of one of the guided trips.
June 11, 2025 at 7:58 AM
What a superb week in NE Poland based in the ❤️ of the Bialowieza Forrest with Wild Poland during their birding festival. A mix of some short guided trips & birding on my own.159 species recorded with only 4 heard & finding many of my own.Here a 3 Toed Woodpecker as part of one of the guided trips.
My first Scottish tick of the year & much better views than my Norfolk one in 2011, despite the horrendous weather. This was the 26th May, the day after it was re-identified.
June 11, 2025 at 7:49 AM
My first Scottish tick of the year & much better views than my Norfolk one in 2011, despite the horrendous weather. This was the 26th May, the day after it was re-identified.
Delighted to connect with a pair of Avocet at one of my local haunts, Barron’s Haugh. I was in Croatia when they turned up last Fri. Only the 4th record for Clyde and a county 1st for Lanarkshire. It amazes me how they find food with that sweeping action!
June 11, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Delighted to connect with a pair of Avocet at one of my local haunts, Barron’s Haugh. I was in Croatia when they turned up last Fri. Only the 4th record for Clyde and a county 1st for Lanarkshire. It amazes me how they find food with that sweeping action!
An inland breeding? RP in Clyde today. A joy to observe!
April 27, 2025 at 9:47 PM
An inland breeding? RP in Clyde today. A joy to observe!
Any views on this “hooded” LBB Gull in Clyde today? A different race or ?
April 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Any views on this “hooded” LBB Gull in Clyde today? A different race or ?
Delighted with these 6 Black Tailed Godwits at RSPB Barons Haugh, Motherwell this morning. My 2nd find of this species in Clyde this spring. All but 1 in full breeding plummage, stunners! 👍
April 13, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Delighted with these 6 Black Tailed Godwits at RSPB Barons Haugh, Motherwell this morning. My 2nd find of this species in Clyde this spring. All but 1 in full breeding plummage, stunners! 👍
Little Ringed Plover in Clyde. This was once a mega rarity in our recording area but now perhaps 12-20 breeding pairs. Cracking wee bird.
April 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Little Ringed Plover in Clyde. This was once a mega rarity in our recording area but now perhaps 12-20 breeding pairs. Cracking wee bird.
Displaying Mute Swans Bishop Loch, Glasgow.
April 13, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Displaying Mute Swans Bishop Loch, Glasgow.
A post work visit to RSPB Barons Haugh in Motherwell produced my first self found spring passage wader with this non- redwing plumaged Black Tailed Godwit &
my first Sand Martin of the year.
my first Sand Martin of the year.
April 7, 2025 at 6:08 AM
A post work visit to RSPB Barons Haugh in Motherwell produced my first self found spring passage wader with this non- redwing plumaged Black Tailed Godwit &
my first Sand Martin of the year.
my first Sand Martin of the year.