Scoping out the end of the reserve from
the observation tower at the visitor's centre, we spotted our first Sedge
Warbler, bopping busily around in the reeds. Later, we wandered
down the forested trail down beside Aird Meadow, which was also productive
of a variety of common forest birds, including our first Treecreeper,
with Chaffinch, Great Tits, and a very confiding juvenile Robin, that had
us stumped for a while. Luckily, it wasn't going anywhere in any particular
hurry, and sat around until we finally located it in the field guide. From
the hides, we scoped out Cormorants, Tufted Duck, Mallards, a number of
Grey Herons and lots of Black-headed Gulls.
...
Then, a few days later, we attempted
to find Baron's Haugh, an RSPB reserve in the Glasgow suburbs. After recrossing
the River Clyde several times trying to find the right turnoff from the
A723, we then got thoroughly lost in a residential area, ending up at a
garage pleading for help. They set us right and we headed for the parking
area. 
for a map of the reserve. The first parking area that we found was on a
hillside, with a fairly steep path leading across a meadow down towards
the river. Given the short time we had available (our relatives were out
shopping), we wimped out and went exploring by car. We found a road that
provided disabled access to the hides with the gate flying wide open (normally
you have to contact the warden to gain access to this road which parallels
the river and overlooks the water meadows bordering the River Clyde). |
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