Breeding birds at SECC, Pair of Kestrels raised 2 juveniles, Pair of Raven fledged 3 juveniles, Pair of Long-tailed Tit fledged at least 8 juvs, pair Blue Tit fledged 4 juvs from nest box. Other breeding bird include Carrion Crow (1 territory), , Magpie (2 territories), , Robin (1 territory), Dunnock (3 territories), Goldfinch (1 territory), Greenfinch (1 territory), and Blackbird (2 territories),

Ravens nested onsite for the first time this year, a pair raised 3 juveniles on the crane.

A Peregrine has been seen perched on top of the Stobcross Crane on several dates through October and November. A drake Red-breasted Merganser was on the River Clyde near the helipad on 25 November.

The Fox at the compound has been doing its rounds of the site allowing very close approach during the last week of November.

An Immature Male Peregrine stooped at a Feral Pigeon over the new arena site at 1500hrs.

On Monday 3 January a Buzzard flew south past the centre at 1030hrs.

On Friday 7 January a Collared Dove was at Car Park 7, only the 3rd sighting of this species on the site.

On Monday 10 January 11 Waxwings flew over car park 5 towards Yorkhill at 1115 hrs.

2 Raven (see photo)were feeding along the railway line and flying over car park 6 (first record of this species at the sight), a pair of Goldeneye also flew downriver past the centre at 1600hrs.

3 Waxwings flew east over the compound at 1100 hrs and 4 Greylag Geese flew west at 1335 hrs.

7 October

3 Grey Wagtails in the compound at 1700hrs.

Thursday 23 September

A Guillemot on the River Clyde in Glasgow city centre between the Millennium Bridge and Bell's Bridge.

Thursday 16 September

Still a Guillemot on the River Clyde beside the Science Centre.

Wednesday 15 September

Two Guillemots flew upstream past Bell's Bridge at 0920 hrs, later two Guillemots on the River Clyde in front of the Science Centre at 1750 hrs.

Friday 3 September

A Peregrine perched on Stobcross Crane at 1000 hrs.

A pair of Goldeneye have been feeding on the River Clyde at the Squinty Bridge over the last few weeks, these birds are more often seen flying along the river past the centre, a Coot was also feeding in the river after the last cold snap in February.

3 Chiffchaffs were heard singing along the Kelvin Walkway at Kelvingrove Park this morning so the summer visitors are arriving in earnest.

The Peregrine has been seen almost daily on the Finnieston Crane for the last 2 weeks.

Over the last 3 weeks, Redwings have been heard calling as they fly over at night, they are arriving in the area for the winter, some birds will continue on further south.

Goldcrests have also been seen along the Clyde Walkway and the Greenfinch's continue to use the feeders at the east entrance. I am predicting more birds using them in the next few weeks as it gets colder.

The image is not of the birds at SEC, one bird was very similar to this bird though.

Yesterday (16 September 2009) I had the thrill of seeing two juvenile Honey Buzzards gliding slowly south over the Armadillo, they are rare birds in Scotland with only a few pairs nesting each year. These are the first Honey Buzzards I've ever seen, I've searched for them in Southern Spain, Cyprus, the Greek Island of Lesvos and also at their breeding areas in Norfolk to no avail. In typical Glasgow bus style, after waiting so long; two come along at once :)

Description's have been submitted to the local rarities committee, because they are so rare the record has to be accepted by the committee. Will post an update on their decission.

This is one of 5 young Lesser Black-backed Gulls to have fledged from 4 nests on the hall 1/2 roof.

Other birds on site today;

4 Greenfinch at the nut feeders and a Willow Warbler was singing from the clyde walkway at Car Park 7.

An Oystercatcher flew east over the centre at 1530 hrs.

This Cormorant caught two small Flounders within a few minutes, it is just about to swallow this one.

A pair of Blue Tit's have taken up residence in the same nest box as last year, hopefully a new generation of birds will be fledged this year.

As some may have noticed spring is in the air, the Magpies at the staff car park are busy with nest building and a pair of Blue Tits have again taken an interest in the nest box next to the medical portakabin, hopefully they will once again rear a brood from this box.

A Peregrine seen chasing a pigeon above Clydeside Expressway at Skypark, Finnieston 10:50am (reported by Steven McGrath).

35 Waxwings turned up next to the Crown Plaza Hotel on Monday 24 November and 38 were present at 1600 hrs on Tuesday 25 November.

A male Peregrine hunting over the site at 1000 hrs.

A Song Thrush was feeding on the grass at the east entrance at 0715 hrs, not a common bird for the site.

Another photo of the injured bird detailed in previous post.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the birds injuries were worse than initially thought, the bird had to be put to sleep. At least it didn't have to suffer the fate of starving to death as would have happened if it was left in the roof guttering.

2 Oystercatchers flew over the main building towards the river at 1400hrs today.

A Risso's Dolphin was spotted in the River Clyde at the SECC on Sunday 22nd June, the animal was present for three day's but dissappeared, hopefully back to the open sea. They normally live in deep water and feed mainly on squid, this one was well away from it's natural habitat.

One of the cleaners brought my attention to a small bird at the tiered seating in hall 4. I went over with him and found the bird sitting still on the step, it was a Chiffchaff.

They winter in Africa and return to breed each summer, it would have been migrating through when it somehow found it's way in to hall 4. The bird was very weak and unfortunately died shortly after I picked it up.

This is only the second record of Chiffchaff on the site.

At the beginning of the year the SECC funded the purchase of 12 nest boxes which were located around the site, 4 open fronted nest boxes (for Robin & Pied Wagtail) and 8 closed nest boxes (for Great & Blue Tit). The boxes were purchased from the RSPB Shop at the Lochwinnoch Reserve, these boxes are made from sustainable sources and profit from them helps the RSPB with their conservation work.

As of today (17 April 2008) none of the boxes seem to be occupied, I will keep a close eye on them and report any progress.

This female took me by surprise by flying out of a group of trees about 30' from me in car park 6 and flying off towards the SECC main building.

7 Goldeneye flew downriver past the SECC at 1345 hrs.

Record shot of the first winter bird at Pacific Quay/River Clyde, the bird was feeding around the inlet to the quay (opposite the helipad) before flying off.

Record shot of a 1st winter bird at Pacific Quay, behind Science Centre opposite the SECC, Glasgow.

Young female on River Clyde at SECC, Glasgow

I approached the management and very much to their credit they allowed me to intervene on the gulls behalf when re-roofing was carried out during 2006/07. This allowed the roofing work to go ahead as planned and allowed me access to monitor the birds and get involved with any conflicts between the two.

As it happened everything went pretty much as planned other than 3 young from a nest I didn't know about. They had to be moved for their own safety so I decided to take them to Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust where they fledged successfully. A successful outcome for the gulls and the SECC, unfortunately gulls get a lot of bad press and regarded by some as vermin. They are a victim of their own success; as they are so adaptable they have moved in to cities where food is abundant (due to our untidiness).

They can be aggressive during the breeding season, they swoop down on people but very rarely do they ever make contact (despite some of the press talking about birds "attacking" people), I have demonstrated this to several people who were surprised that the birds did not make contact with me despite standing still while they made repeated dive bombing runs at me.

They are (to me) very elegant birds that deserve more respect and to be left alone for the few weeks they need to rear their young, not to much to ask, is it?

This bird turned up on the River Clyde near the Bell's Bridge at the SECC, Glasgow. They are scarce inland but are sometimes blown in by gales or driven by hunger when there are food shortages at sea.