RSPB Lochwinnoch

Took another trip to the nature reserve this afternoon. Here are the fruits of my visit.

Little robin redbreast

Mrs Chaffinch

Mr Chaffinch

A heron watching and waiting

Success!! Well for the heron anyway

Nordic Copenhagen

Just a few pics of Nordic Copenhagen on her way to Rothesay dock this afternoon, being escorted by Svitzer tug, Anglegarth. I don't believe I have seen her on the river before.

Balmoral

I missed Balmoral and Waverley going into Garvel Drydock a couple of weeks ago. I think they are due out soon so I'm hoping that I'll manage to get to see them both coming out.

In the meantime I've been down a couple of times to see how they are looking.

Balmoral sitting waiting for a shiny new coat

Doesn't she look wonderful?

Clyde Marine tugs

Listening on the scanner last week, I heard Battler and Bruiser getting ready to depart for a job at Finnart. Next thing one tug came out of Victoria Harbour followed a couple of minutes later by the second.

Operation Joint Warrior, Sunday & Monday

A bit late as always, but a few pictures from last weekend's comings and goings from some of the participants of the current Joint Warrior exercise

3 Serco tugs returning to base

HMS Bulwark off to join in the war games

Stern view of Bulwark showing her 'back door' for launching landing craft

HMS St Albans entering Rhu narrows

Type 23 'Duke' class frigate, St Albans

Survey ship, H88 HMS Enterprise

HNoMS Uredd, small enough for working in coastal waters

S305 HNoMS Uredd

Rear of Bulwark submerged for landing craft to enter

Setting sun reflecting off side of Bulwark in Firth of Clyde

On Monday the ships headed back out. I managed down to East India harbour and caught a couple of frigates on their way down from Glasgow.

German Sachsen class frigate Hessen

F221 Hessen

HNLMS De Ruyter

HNLMS De Ruyter

HNLMS De Ruyter, Royal Netherlands Navy frigate

Operaton Joint Warrrior, Friday

The ships have started gathering on the Clyde for the first of this year's two Joint Warrior exercises. 

Due my work hours, I missed some of today's arrivals but I took myself down to East India harbour this morning on time for the German minesweeper Siegburg sailing to Glasgow. 

HMS Monmouth & HMS Bullwark off Roseneath

SD VIctoria

Serco training ship, SD Victoria returned to Greenock this afternoon. The weather was terrible the first time she came, so I took advantage of the drier conditions today to catch a few pictures. 

SD Victoria approaching Greenock

Passing East India harbour

Backing in to Great Harbour past SD Salmoor & Kommandor Calum

Berthing alongside Northern River

Castle Semple Loch

Near the RSPB reserve in Lochwinnoch is Castle Semple Visitors Centre where a large colony of seabirds will happily devour any titbits thrown to them by the public.

This means that they are well accustomed to being around people and is great for close up photographs.

Mute swan with its wings arched

Pair of mute swans swimming gracefully

Being watched by a whooper swan

Several canada geese also form part of the mixed flock

RSPB Nature reserve, Lochwinnoch

A lovely spring afternoon for a trip to the RSPB bird sanctuary. I've a feeling I will be back for many more visits.

Everybody knows this little chappie, a cheeky robin

A male chaffinch with a seed in its mouth

The femaile chaffinch is not so colourful but just as pretty

A great tit looking directly at me

A pair of goldfinches at one of the feeders

New Lanark

New Lanark is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 18th Century village was built around a cotton mill on the bank of the River Clyde.

The village has been beautifully restored and is surrounded by spectacular scenery. I stopped in for a visit last autumn where the golden colours added to the beauty of the place.