Just back from a weekend in Auchengillan, just north of Carbeth on the Glasgow - Drymen road. Arrived too late on Friday for any worthwhile natural connections, but Saturday dawned warm and sunny (picture 1), which resulted in us staying out of doors most of the day and well into the evening. The morning started with singing Willow Warbler, calling Pheasant and a distant Cuckoo (my first of the year) over by the Whangie (2). Other good birds in the woods there were fighting Chaffinches and a dashing female Sparrowhawk. Nearby were one or two Small Toirtoiseshells (again, my first of the year). An afternoon walk onto nearby rough ground produced good views east to Dumgoygne (3) north to Killearn (4) and northwest to Ben Lomond (5). Also noticed a Sedum (Stonecrop) species (6) on east facing bluffs and Wood Anemone (7) on sunny banks. The day continued with Swallows hawking early midges in well into the evening, and finished with a possible Woodcock roding over the treetops.
Today was duller, with fewer memorable connections. However took a short walk at 7am and counted 5 or 6 singing Willow Warblers (but no Chiffchaffs) in an area less than half a mile in diameter. Also heard a Tawny Owl (although it was broad daylight at that time), a Great Spotted Woodpecker, two, possible Blackcaps and another distant Pheasant. Mammals encountered were Roe Deer and Rabbit.