News from the back garden is that the Blue Tits have fledged - or at least I think they have. The box has not been disturbed, but there is no sight or sound of either parents or young, so I assume they all got off safely.
Yesterday (Thursday) was an amazing day. Left Paisley at 6 pm, heading for Dalbeattie. First sightings were of two Buzzards on telephone poles near the Dutch House Roundabout. Stopped at Dalmellington, and among the birds around the town centre were Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Swift, Jackdaw, House Sparrow and House Martin (At last - my first of the year). Further on, stopped at a layby south of Dalmellington for Curlew, Meadow Pipit and Skylark. Around Dalbeattie, lots of roadside flowers including whole swathes of Ragged Robin in the marshy field corners. Also a single Buzzard heading purposefully into a wood.
Joined a guided walk through Dalbeattie Forest. A drizzly day finally gave way to a clear and balmy dusk. Standing out amongst the Birch scrub, enjoyed the opening chorus of Robin, Chaffinch and Tawny Owl followed by the main event - at least 2 male Nightjars* churring in the gloom, and a brief glimpse of a possible female slipping over some nearby conifers. Lots of Pipistrelle Bats (including two flying in tandem) and clouds of Scottish Biting Midge (Culicoides impunctatus) added to the magic.
On the way back up the A71, caught sight of the ghostly form of a Barn Owl hunting a roadside field near Parkgate.

*According to the warden, only 24 Nightjars sang in Scotland last year [22 in D&G}, representing a halving of recent totals.