Motherwell, Scotland
You might be surprised at the wide variety of birds that this Scottish town has to offer
Urban birder David Lindo highlights all the great birds you could see on a trip to this Scottish town
Motherwell. Not an urban centre that you would associate with ornithological excellence, nor is it likely to be featured on the to-do lists of even the most dedicated travelling urban birders. Perhaps better known for its football team, that shares its name, you would hardly think that there would be more than Feral Pigeons to see in this large North Lanarkshire town of more than 30,000 people. Neighbouring Hamilton, and not a million miles away from Glasgow, this town has a surprising amount to offer. The largest expanse of birding opportunity in Motherwell is Strathclyde Country Park. Bordering Hamilton, it covers an impressive 1,100 acres (445 hectares) with the central feature of a large artificial lake, known as Strathclyde Loch. Don’t expect a quiet summer’s walk in absolute solitude, though, because the park’s primary use is as a public recreation location, with the loch itself being a favoured venue for watersports. Despite the potential crowds there are still areas of mature woodland, rough wetland, scrub and grassland in which to search for birds. The River Clyde that borders to the west is also worth a gander. During the breeding season, Whitethroat and Blackcap are commonly encountered, while Grasshopper Warbler is a regular migrant that may possibly also breed. Swift and hirundine numbers are at their best during the autumn, when hundreds can occur. However, the best place for birding within Strathclyde Country Park is Strathclyde Loch, especially at the mouth of the South Calder (known locally as The Cawder), a river that flows into the loch. It is a spot where a lot of the wildfowl gather. Generally speaking, during the winter, expect to see the usual waterfowl massing on all the water bodies, headed up by the expected Mallard and Tufted Duck. Despite the disturbance, Little Grebes persevere, as do Goosanders. Both are listed as breeders, and in the case of the latter, especially along the River Clyde. A Kingfisher or two would also be within the realms of possibility. The biggest attraction for birders is the winter gull roost that forms on the loch itself. Thousands of birds assemble. Rubbing shoulders with the usual Black-headed, Common, Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls could be exciting larid discoveries. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are well worth searching for and Mediterranean Gulls are not unknown. Vagrant Ring-billed Gulls seem to have been quite frequently recorded in the past. Indeed, at the time of writing, a beautiful adult was discovered at the roost. Strathclyde Country Park has had a few local oddities turn up, especially after stormy conditions. Seabirds such as Pomarine Skua and Grey Phalarope have shown their faces, and Snow Buntings have also made an appearance. This site is a big place, so there is a lot of scope for finding
the unusual among the usual. The urban birding jewel in Motherwell’s crown has to be Baron’s Haugh RSPB reserve. At 420 acres, it is a blend of beauty juxtaposed with urban starkness. The bird hides are brutal concrete structures offering little in the way of cosy comfort, so bring a cushion to sit on. Their door-less design and squared-off viewing slats offer no protection from the elements. They are also the favoured targets for vandals, yet, at the same time, they are fantastic. They don’t creak or leak and importantly, they are sited right up by the birds, which take little notice of them. The reserve is mostly a wetland, featuring open water, pools, wet grassland, small reedbeds, exposed mud, along with muddy shorelines. There is a two-hour circular walk around the entire site that also takes in four hides and brings you into contact with some woodland habitat. Brave the winter cold and you could be rewarded by Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher and Water Rail. The latter, the secretive long-billed relative of the Coot and Moorhen, is peculiarly showy at Baron’s Haugh, especially from the Causeway Hide. They also breed in the reserve. Winter also means that, aside from clamouring gulls on the areas of open water, there will be Whooper Swans, with numbers of Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal and Goldeneye among them. Peregrines sometimes swoop in from their lofty perches on the nearby high-rise flats in Motherwell and are not always a welcome sight to some of the birds on the reserve. In the owl department, there are a few Tawny Owls present, while Long-eared Owls are possible. Along the muddy edges, you will find Snipe, while Jack Snipe are also possible if you are lucky and patient enough to witness one morphing into view from cover. Take a good look and you will really appreciate the intricacies of its vermiculated plumage. In good light you may even see the greenish sheen on its mantle and scapulars. That’s not a vision that one sees every day. Other regular birds include Nuthatch and Jay in the woodlands. Both species have been slowly spreading north and are fairly recent newcomers. Summer sees the usual array of breeding species but passage times can be quite exciting, not least for waders, like Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit, that pass by. Recent rarities have included an obliging Alpine Swift that graced the area a couple of years ago.