The wind and rain of the past few days seem to have had the effect of concentrating birds into certain areas. So, this morning's walk around Bellahouston Park was notable for larger-than-usual flocks of Black headed Gull, Redwing (chattering and singing in the tree-tops), Starling, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw. Most birds were feeding on the municipal grass, suggesting that ready access to food was the reason for the flocking behaviour. The woods were quiet (no doubt due to blustery conditions) but the first tree (? Blackthorn) is now in flower.

An afternoon walk along the Cart and round Pollock Park turned up numerous items of interest. The walk started with 5 male House Sparrows perched quietly in the usual bush at Moulin Quadrant. A male Goosander (presumably the one that has wintered locally) and a Little Grebe (unusual along this stretch) were a hundred metres upstream of the duck bridge, together with two Mallards, the first of 57 along the river (with two more on the Top Pond in Pollock Park). Many Mallards were in pairs, but generally males outnumbered females. A Kestrel hunting over the M77 embankment was notable, as were two Hooded/hybrid-type Carrion Crows (one in the usual place beside Linthaugh Road and one just beyond the M77 underpass). The second Little Grebe of the day was trying to keep out of sight just before the underpass and a singing Greenfinch near Pollock House was the first of two heard today (other singers were Robin, Blue Tit, Goldcrest and Goldfinch). Four Moorhens were scattered along the Pollock Park stretch of the Cart and a pairs of Long tailed Tits were at two sites (as well as 7 together in a roving flock near Titwood Road). At least two Goldcrests were singing from conifers in the Big Wood and two more were working their way along the foot of the hedge near the riding stables. A flooded corner of the paddock there attracted 2 Goldfinches (another 7 were together in the treetops), 2 Chaffinches, and single Dunnock, Robin and Blue Tit. The hedges along the exit road were full of birds included the aforementioned Goldcrests, Goldfinches and Long tailed Tits plus single Robin and pairs of Blue and Great Tit.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Heavy rain, strong winds and a particularly high tide combined to create the most flooding I have ever seen along the M8 past Langbank and Bishopton. The "Bullrush pond" was completely inundated and the fields on the landward side of the motorway were about 25% under water.