Today started with two Collared Doves at the entrance to the glade. Later, a walk along the Cart revealed several flooded sections and a whole collection of unusual occurences and assemblages. Most notable were the following:
At least 17 Collared Doves in one flock (I have never seen more than two together locally)
Several large tit flocks including one containing at least 12 Long tailed Tits
A Dipper on an exposed log near the Leverndale bend
A Kestrel rising with prey from the rough grass in front of Leverndale Hospital
Gangs of Fieldfares with some Mistle Thrushes hanging on
An unprecedented 24 Mallards in a tight group
Three to four hundred corvids on stubble.

The flooding threatened by recent heavy rain was not helped by the highest tide I have ever witnessed (reaching almost to the top of the harbour wall at Greenock). As a result, the A8 was partially flooded at Cappielow.
This evening, the Cart was lapping over several sections of the Moulin riverbank, and one stretch of the path was under ankle-deep water.

Wind, Rain, Darkness. More or less says all there is to say about a busy winter's working day in Paisley.

The winds continue to blow from all points, bringing with them lots of rain, unseasonally warm temperatures and a much-twitched Wilson's Phalarope at Musselburgh.

Managed to squeeze in a short stroll along the central Paisley section of the Cart during a very late lunch break. The Mute Swan pair still have their 7 young in tow. I wonder how long it will be before they are driven off.
Collins are publicising their forthcoming title in the New Naturalists series: Books and Naturalists by David Allen (artwork below).

A walk along the river this afternoon was fairly unremarkable. However the views are much improved since the frost of last week has decimated the previously impenetrable screens of Himalayan Balsam.

Today started with a good count of 5 Cormorants in the Pollock roosting tree. Highlight of a rainy walk on Cathkin Braes was a hunting male Kestrel. Other birds seen there and on the walk back through Castlemilk included Grey Wagtial, Goldcrest and Mistle Thrush.