Another mixed day weather-wise, but had clear blue skies for the drive down to Greenock over lunchtime. Highlights were all along Candrens Road: 30 or so Whooper Swans behind the Old Schoolhouse, a Buzzard on a telephone post and a Sparrowhawk in a "dogfight" with a small bird high in the sky. Later, a Kestrel was over Maggie's Mill.
News from the web is that frogs are spawning in Dumfries and Galloway.


Tuesday, February 26, 2008

An Ayrshire woodpecker sandwich today...
First natural connection of the morning concerned a tight flock of 30 Starlings swooping over the M77 above the early morning traffic. Managed a 10 minute walk around Rozelle Park pond before starting work. The staff there put out food for the birds, and I was followed by about five Blue Tits who obviously thought I was one of them. Totals for a quick circuit of the pond were as follows: Blue Tit (11), Great Tit (2), Coal Tit (2), Dunnock (4), Robin (4), Blackbird (12), Woodpigeon (9), Chaffinch (9), Mallard (96 including a leucistic female), Mute Swan (2), Moorhen (1), Carrion Crow (3), Black headed Gull (22) and Great spotted Woodpecker (1).
At the other end of the day, stopped briefly at Shewalton for Blue Tit (2), Magpie (2), Blackbird (1), Goldcrest (3) and a very showy Great spotted Woodpecker.
The last bird of the day was a Kestrel over the M77 just south of Newton Mearns.