Natural Connections
@naturalconnections.bsky.social
Heavy rain in South Glasgow has raised the water level in the river and created puddles all over the playing fields and paths. Some of the local Mallards have given up their usual haunt on the riverbank and were splashing about in a huge puddle where the old canal used to run #UKBirding (1/2).
April 5, 2024 at 10:34 PM
Heavy rain in South Glasgow has raised the water level in the river and created puddles all over the playing fields and paths. Some of the local Mallards have given up their usual haunt on the riverbank and were splashing about in a huge puddle where the old canal used to run #UKBirding (1/2).
Very cold in Dunkeld yesterday, but four Sand Martins and a singing Chiffchaff were at SWT Loch of the Lowes while the rookery on Stanley Hill was active, and plenty of Fallow Deer were feeding round the town.
April 4, 2024 at 9:27 AM
Very cold in Dunkeld yesterday, but four Sand Martins and a singing Chiffchaff were at SWT Loch of the Lowes while the rookery on Stanley Hill was active, and plenty of Fallow Deer were feeding round the town.
Natural connections from Mugdock Park yesterday..
April 2, 2024 at 9:15 AM
Natural connections from Mugdock Park yesterday..
Mallard and Goosander were on the Kelvin in Partick this lunchtime. Two Pied Wagtails were around nearby buildings. Some interesting Daffodil varieties were among the spring plants growing along the road verge at Yorkhill, and Winter Aconite was also present.
March 24, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Mallard and Goosander were on the Kelvin in Partick this lunchtime. Two Pied Wagtails were around nearby buildings. Some interesting Daffodil varieties were among the spring plants growing along the road verge at Yorkhill, and Winter Aconite was also present.
The highlight of our last day in Asia was a visit to Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is a fantastic collection with a large, naturalistic section which has earned in UNESCO recognition. Wildflife included Monitor Lizards, two Stork-billed Kingfishers and some jewel-like dragonflies and damselflies.
March 19, 2024 at 9:58 PM
The highlight of our last day in Asia was a visit to Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is a fantastic collection with a large, naturalistic section which has earned in UNESCO recognition. Wildflife included Monitor Lizards, two Stork-billed Kingfishers and some jewel-like dragonflies and damselflies.
A busy day here in Singapore didn't allow for many natural connections. However a walk along the Rocher River in thundery conditions produced two Pond Sliders and a couple of Javan Mynas.
March 17, 2024 at 3:51 PM
A busy day here in Singapore didn't allow for many natural connections. However a walk along the Rocher River in thundery conditions produced two Pond Sliders and a couple of Javan Mynas.
Today was another very warm day in Singapore. However plenty of wildlife was on show during an afternoon walk around the Kallang Basin. Best birds were White-throated Kingfisher, Red-breasted Parakeet and Javan Minah. Other wildlife consisted of five or six Pond Sliders (1/2).
March 16, 2024 at 3:12 PM
Today was another very warm day in Singapore. However plenty of wildlife was on show during an afternoon walk around the Kallang Basin. Best birds were White-throated Kingfisher, Red-breasted Parakeet and Javan Minah. Other wildlife consisted of five or six Pond Sliders (1/2).
The only sightings to add from our penultimate day in Bangkok were a White-breasted Waterhen and a Northern Treeshrew in Chatuchak Park.
March 14, 2024 at 12:28 AM
The only sightings to add from our penultimate day in Bangkok were a White-breasted Waterhen and a Northern Treeshrew in Chatuchak Park.
Birds included singing Black-naped Oriole (no photograph I'm afraid), nest-building Great Myna plus Paintive Cuckoo, Yellow-vented Bulbul and Large-billed Crow.
March 12, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Birds included singing Black-naped Oriole (no photograph I'm afraid), nest-building Great Myna plus Paintive Cuckoo, Yellow-vented Bulbul and Large-billed Crow.
Another day in Bangkok and again we spent several hours wandering in the fantastic parks south of Sukhumvit Road. Two Pond Sliders were in one of the ponds and dragonflies included Oriental Blue Dasher and Rufous Marsh Glider.
March 12, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Another day in Bangkok and again we spent several hours wandering in the fantastic parks south of Sukhumvit Road. Two Pond Sliders were in one of the ponds and dragonflies included Oriental Blue Dasher and Rufous Marsh Glider.
Back in Bangcock, I spent the middle of the day walking around Benchakitti Park. The small ponds there were alive with life including Ditch Jewel dragonflies and Common Parasol damselflies. The trees nearby held at least one Painted Jezebel butterfly.
March 11, 2024 at 4:44 PM
Back in Bangcock, I spent the middle of the day walking around Benchakitti Park. The small ponds there were alive with life including Ditch Jewel dragonflies and Common Parasol damselflies. The trees nearby held at least one Painted Jezebel butterfly.
There were plenty of birds at Takaragaike Park in northern Kyoto today, including Shoveler, Pochard and Eastern Spot-billed Duck, the latter a species I hadn't seen before.
March 11, 2024 at 3:41 PM
There were plenty of birds at Takaragaike Park in northern Kyoto today, including Shoveler, Pochard and Eastern Spot-billed Duck, the latter a species I hadn't seen before.
Yesterday, I took a walk along part of the Kyoto Trail in the hills to the east of the city. I failed to see any Japanese Macaques but I did hear a few Wild Boar in the undergrowth. Birds included Dusky Thrush and Brown-eared Tattler.
March 9, 2024 at 1:50 PM
Yesterday, I took a walk along part of the Kyoto Trail in the hills to the east of the city. I failed to see any Japanese Macaques but I did hear a few Wild Boar in the undergrowth. Birds included Dusky Thrush and Brown-eared Tattler.
Today, the weather in Kyoto has alternated between sunshine and sleet. The temperature has been particularly low for the time of year (around 3 degrees C). Tonight, I was treated to the sight of at least twenty Little Egrets roosting in a tree just across the road.
March 9, 2024 at 1:42 PM
Today, the weather in Kyoto has alternated between sunshine and sleet. The temperature has been particularly low for the time of year (around 3 degrees C). Tonight, I was treated to the sight of at least twenty Little Egrets roosting in a tree just across the road.
At least four pairs of Falcated Duck were on the "moat" around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo today. Other birds present included Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Coot, White Wagtail and Tree Sparrow.
March 7, 2024 at 2:06 PM
At least four pairs of Falcated Duck were on the "moat" around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo today. Other birds present included Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Cormorant, Coot, White Wagtail and Tree Sparrow.
saw few birds on my travels around Kyoto today (only Tree Sparrow and Mallard), although there were plenty of sounds which could potentially have been made by Varied Tit, Daurian Redstart, Oriental Magpie-Robin and Large-billed Crow. Easier to find were a few ferns and lichens... (1/2).
March 6, 2024 at 2:38 PM
saw few birds on my travels around Kyoto today (only Tree Sparrow and Mallard), although there were plenty of sounds which could potentially have been made by Varied Tit, Daurian Redstart, Oriental Magpie-Robin and Large-billed Crow. Easier to find were a few ferns and lichens... (1/2).
Today was extremely wet, and was also mostly spent in the shopping district (where the only wildlife we saw was the shellfish being prepared for the hungry shoppers). Nevertheless a few big corvids (possibly Large-billed Crows) were scavenging around. Also martins of some sort over the river.
March 5, 2024 at 2:39 PM
Today was extremely wet, and was also mostly spent in the shopping district (where the only wildlife we saw was the shellfish being prepared for the hungry shoppers). Nevertheless a few big corvids (possibly Large-billed Crows) were scavenging around. Also martins of some sort over the river.
Some of the birds I saw around the centre of Kyoto and along the riverbank today included Japanese Wagtail, Little Egret, Black Kite, Tree Sparrow, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mallard and Wigeon.
March 4, 2024 at 12:10 PM
Some of the birds I saw around the centre of Kyoto and along the riverbank today included Japanese Wagtail, Little Egret, Black Kite, Tree Sparrow, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Mallard and Wigeon.
Birdlife in the very centre of Bangkok was not surprisingly quite limited. However four Oriental Magpie-Robins were singing above the traffic noise, and two Spotted Doves were feeding quietly along the roadside. Feral Pigeon was the commonest species.
March 3, 2024 at 6:01 PM
Birdlife in the very centre of Bangkok was not surprisingly quite limited. However four Oriental Magpie-Robins were singing above the traffic noise, and two Spotted Doves were feeding quietly along the roadside. Feral Pigeon was the commonest species.
A chirruping Tree Sparrow greeted us on our arrival in central Bangkok today.
March 2, 2024 at 2:10 PM
A chirruping Tree Sparrow greeted us on our arrival in central Bangkok today.
A singing Wren and Robin greeted the day in Glasgow this morning. There is nothing about in Doha right now (it's well after dark). I'm wondering what birdsong I'll hear over the next few days...
March 1, 2024 at 10:43 PM
A singing Wren and Robin greeted the day in Glasgow this morning. There is nothing about in Doha right now (it's well after dark). I'm wondering what birdsong I'll hear over the next few days...
Greenfinches continue to sing their wheezy song at various points around my home square. Siskins are still present in the area - I first heard birds calling about a week ago. Our local Daffodils are starting to flower.
February 29, 2024 at 11:50 PM
Greenfinches continue to sing their wheezy song at various points around my home square. Siskins are still present in the area - I first heard birds calling about a week ago. Our local Daffodils are starting to flower.
A Chaffinch was in song during a short visit to Hamilton yesterday. Back home, notable birds around the square included a singing Nuthatch and at least two Siskins. Today, birds heard in song included Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Song Thrush.
February 28, 2024 at 9:32 PM
A Chaffinch was in song during a short visit to Hamilton yesterday. Back home, notable birds around the square included a singing Nuthatch and at least two Siskins. Today, birds heard in song included Collared Dove, Chaffinch, Dunnock and Song Thrush.
It was a beautiful day in Kirkintilloch today. Nine different bird species were in song but I couldn't track down a Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail or Dipper on the burn. Back home, a Blue Tit scolding me in the back garden has apparently claimed the nestbox on the house wall.
February 26, 2024 at 10:55 PM
It was a beautiful day in Kirkintilloch today. Nine different bird species were in song but I couldn't track down a Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail or Dipper on the burn. Back home, a Blue Tit scolding me in the back garden has apparently claimed the nestbox on the house wall.
Visiting family in Balfron again today, I noticed that at least one of the sparrows in the garden was a Tree Sparrow. Other notable birds around the village included singing Chaffinch (I had another one at home first thing), singing Goldcrest and a few flyover Siskins.
February 25, 2024 at 9:26 PM
Visiting family in Balfron again today, I noticed that at least one of the sparrows in the garden was a Tree Sparrow. Other notable birds around the village included singing Chaffinch (I had another one at home first thing), singing Goldcrest and a few flyover Siskins.