Unusual little town centre bird oasis

[~T~]

So I work in Glasgow beside a little...I guess you could call it a park though it's only maybe a 100m x 100m patch of grass and trees sourrounded by offices (might even be less than that as im cack at estimating).

But it seems to be an absolute mecca for birds. I think this has to do with the year round food and water sources and it being the only green space for miles around. It has several berry type trees (including a holly) for winter migrants as well as the locals, it has an oak tree, cherry blossom trees, bushes and flowerbeds and one bed that turns into a little pond with even a small amount of rain (and we get a lot of rain) that attracts thirsty birds. In summer it's a magnet for people too so theres always plenty of free food on offer (and the bins are the easy access kind). Theres not bad insect life with the usual flies, bees, spiders etc plus someone brings bread for the pigeons a few times a week and scatters it round the undergrowth. I've been so tempted to hang up a feeder or 2 and see how well it does, I bet it would be popular.

No predators as such although I have seen a sparrowhawk not too far away. The only real issue that keeps it from being perfect for birds is the company that takes care of it are there all the time cutting the grass, clearing leaves, pruning the shrubs etc (it's defo not the local council ).This is partly why I dont think there are many nesting sites though blackbirds nest in or near it as in summer there are always fledgelings around watching me from the undergrowth as I cut through in the morning. Years ago it was very overgrown with a big fence round it and was frequented by a different type of night bird so now it's kept neat and open so they don't return. One summer morning it was like a scene from the the film "The Birds" as the local gulls had decided to use it as a creche for their recently fledged young, there must have been about 20 blundering about about with angry adults swooping down from above. A few summers back there was a ring necked parakeet living there too. It seemed to be happy enough squawking away attracting a lot of stunned onlookers. Apparently it was a local escape and was there a few months before vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

In the time I have worked near the square I have seen the following bird species.

Herring gull
Lesser black backed gull
Common gull
Black headed gull
Carrion crow
Rook
Jackdaw
Magpie (sometimes in large numbers)
Feral pigeon
Ring necked parakeet
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Redwing
Mistle thrush
Song thrush
Starling
Waxwing
House sparrow
Dunnock
Robin
Blue tit
Great tit
Pied wagtail
Plus probably a lot more I can't think or or didnt know the species.

Here are a few pictures

The Square from above



The square in early Autumn



The view of the square in winter from my office



Redwing?



Mistle thrush? (it was pretty big, and noisy)



Waxwings (when im over looking at them I keep meeting people who love to watch them too).





Anyway sorry to bore everyone, I just think it's cool that nature can thrive in the most inhospitable areas

[Tringa]

Interesting record T. Its always good to hear of birds doing well in what probably appears at first sight to be unpromising.

Good to see the waxwings and the hear about the parakeet. I wonder if that is the most northerly sighting.

Dave

[Wild-Woman]

Sounds like a true little oasis you've got there. It just goes to show how even the smallest patch of green supports wildlife, even in the middle of a city. Good to see.

[Synn]

Wow, didn't realise hat little square had so much Bird-life in it!
I'll need to check that out at somepoint, only been their once before.

[seamusagleann]

nice little place ,well worth looking after !! going down to glasgow tommorow ,but unfortunenately no time to go on a nature ramble !!

[artdemole]

Blythswood Square if thats the name of it,seems to have a lot going on for such a small patch.

[solus]

Originally Posted by ~T~

So I work in Glasgow ... I've been so tempted to hang up a feeder or 2 and see how well it does, I bet it would be popular.

I bet it'd be nicked!

Sorry, possibly unfair! I was in Glasgow last Saturday night and I have never experienced such a cold temperature as it was walking back to our hotel at 3:00am..... Yes, I have been colder, but never been out in cold like that! Nice city - what little we saw of it: must return one day to see it properly. When the weather is warmer and the grass is green!

PS Yes, Redwing and Mistle Thrush.

[actionfinch]

Looks like a mini central park in NY ...
amazing how such a small space can harbour a wide variety...
Dont show any building planners/developers they could think we can get rid of all our green space and just have a small square every so often.
(no offence if anyone is )

[~T~]

Originally Posted by actionfinch

Looks like a mini central park in NY ...)