The summer doldrums have set in a little, with warm, albeit unsettled weather. Main sound around the estate is the very welcome cheeping of House Sparrows. Only last year I was bemoaning how unfamiliar a sound it had become. The party of Feral Pigeons (20 today) continue to enjoy next door's daily bread fest, along with assorted Jackdaws, a few House Sparrows and an unusual crow that has been around for a few weeks. It's definitely a Carrion Crow, possibly one of this year's young, but has very aberrant plumage. Its head and upper breast are black, but its back, shoulders and lower breast are chocolate brown. There are also white flecks on the leading edges of both forewings. It makes quite a forlorn sight as it flaps about with the other species. It doesn't seem to associate with any others of its own kind.
Driving in North Ayrshire over the 1st and 2nd, saw a Kestrel hovering over the hills just above Largs, then a long-winged, brown raptor (possibly a Hen Harrier) over the road at Muirhead/Camphill Reservoirs. Back in Paisley, checked out those white-flowered plants along Arkleston Farm Road. The flower is mallow-like, so my guess would be Musk Mallow (the only species, according to my books, that appears in a white-flowered form). However I can't rule out a cultivated variety of some other species.