Due to DAUNTLESS not returning from sea trials until the Saturday morning I spent the remainder of last weekend in Glasgow.  Unfortunately the Glasgow Harbour flat that the MOD has accommodated me in has a rather restricted view of the River Clyde and being located just a few miles West of the city the 'birding' opportunities are rather limited.  However, within a few hours of returning to the flat I had a 'patch tick'.   

   Whilst I enjoyed my first drinkable mug of coffee in three weeks I spotted a small flock of what I assumed to be Goosander fly upstream low over the water.  Unable to be absolutely sure of their ID I got my binoculars out just in case the birds returned.  Only a couple of hours later, while I read the BTO's book 'A Time To Fly', I spotted three 'red head' Goosander swimming and diving for food on the river in front of the Govan shipyard. 

   The following day nine 'red head' Goosander flew West downstream at 1056 and five roasted on a disused slipway for a good hour from 1521 that left five piles of white muck behind them to be washed away by the incoming tide.  There were still at least three birds in the area mid-Monday morning.  

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) Geosci (Open)