Good to see two House Martins wheeling around Number 20 this morning. They were showing a lot of interest in the area under the apex of the roof - hopefully there is a nest of young hidden up there.

A mixture of sunshine and showers today. An afternoon walk along the Kelvin turned up nothing exceptional except an adult Woodpigeon "dribble-feeding" two well-grown squabs.
News from the web is of singing Quail in Skye, Mull, Bute, Ayrshire, Fife and Lothian.

Some much needed rain landed on the gardens of west central Scotland again today (after the downpours on Saturday night). Unfortunately the weather forecast for the next week is more of the same.
No natural connections today, apart from a Wren pottering about the "bus shelter". News from the web is unremarkable too - the summer doldrums appear to have descended!

A night of heavy rain was folowed by a fairly passable day. This evening, a Ladybird sp. appeared in the house and was duly liberated in the back garden.

An early start today found me exploring the same area as last weekend, but this time during the hour around sunrise. Highlights were a reeling Grasshopper Warbler and a family of Mute Swans at Gartland Bridge, a singing Yellowhammer slightly west of there, family parties of Rooks "cawing" angrily from the treetops and the ethereal image of Kenmure Temple floating above the temperature inversion along the Black Cart. Going earlier in the day did allow me to pick up a few difficult-to-detect species but I have to conclude that, judging from the complement of species seen, the area is well short of being optimal for farmland birds.
On the way home, stopped at a number of sites, resulting in some good records of Whitethroat and Yellowhammer, plus a family party of Linnets (along Reilly Road, south west of Bishopton). Other sightings included a Roe Deer, three Brown Hares and numerous Rabbits (including several black ones at Formakin), plus Collared Dove and three Swifts over Ranfurly.
In the afternoon, visited Rouken Glen Park. The place was thronged with visitors but I still managed to pick up a Dipper along the burn (and a Common Blue Damselfly over the pond).
This evening, a single House Martin was again over Cardonald Gardens, this time briefly visiting the apex of the roof of the usual house.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Yet another lovely day here in west central Scotland. The day got off to a great start with a Buzzard low over the motorway at the first Bishopton flyover.

Today started as yesterday, with a single House Martin loop-the-looping over Cardonald Gardens. What followed was another warm, sunny day. This evening, the pond weed had pushed up spikes of pink flowers to complement the white water lillies which came out last week. The Honeysuckle is also ready to flower.

While tidying the garden this evening, a Toad managed to get gathered up into the bin. Luckily he wriggled enough to get noticed and he was soon on his way through the flowerbeds to the woodpile.