Overnight snow was the first of the winter. The temperature did not rise above one degree all day. A Cormorant was on the river about half way to the railway station footpath.

Having to stay in all day for the plumber was not much fun. Only a Goldcrest hovering around an ornamental conifer brightened the day up a little.

Highlights of today's walk were a Grey Wagtail again on the river behind the house, two Redwings in the treetops (they are still lingering in small numbers - I wonder if the snowy weather forecast for later this week will bring more down), Herring Gulls apparently now having relaced the summering Lesser Black-backs and singing Collared Dove, Wren, Robin and Blue Tit.

A late afternoon walk provided excellent views of a Kingfisher, a single Brown Rat (Meh!), a Nuthatch again proclaiming its territory, a confiding Song Thrush foraging in leaf litter right beside the path and a smart-looking Hooded x Carrion Crow hybrid.

Some interesting sightings on today's walk consisted of a Moorhen well away from the river in a small area of woodland (what was it looking for?) and two Nuthatches having a noisy altercation in the treetops.

Crossing the the footbridge at the bottom of Sinclair Drive this morning, I noticed a Woodcock flying down the river towards me. About ten metres away, it swerved suddenly and pitched down onto the right hand bank before continuing downriver and flying under the footbridge, then into the trees along the side of the recreation ground.

Friday, November 27, 2020

Two Goosanders were again with the Mallards under the Cardonald Place Farm footbridge.

Highlight of today's walk was a big female Sparrowhawk which burst out of the trees along the edge of Rosshall Park and flap-flap-glided all the way across a playing field into the trees on the other side. Apart from that, a flock of about twenty Goldfinches was in a treetop near the school.