The May Bank Holiday meant an interesting day of natural connections (although fairly tame compared to the weekend's). A morning walk around Rouken Glen Park found a male and female Grey Wagtail on the river and a pair of Mallards with an impressive 16 tiny young on the pond (the latter my first of the year). Also notable were two Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff.
This evening, the usual walk, west along the river, produced a number of surprises (avian and other). A Red Fox was drinking calmly from the river just across from the Moulin playing field. As it moved away, the reason for its tameness became apparent - it was limping heavily due to a damaged left hind foot. A female Mallard was shepherding ten newly hatched ducklings (including two pale-coloured birds) just upstream from Howford Bridge. Not far from there, a Dipper sped downstream, giving its characteristic call. That was one of three new species added today to the square (Ralston/Crookston), the others being Bullfinch and Whitethroat (the latter my first of the year: 120). Today's walk also produced two new species for the neighbouring square of Bull Wood / Leverndale: Black headed Gull and Common Gull.
Also notable along the Leverndale stretch of the river was a massive tree which has lost half of its trunk (and branches) since I last walked there. Meanwhile, someone was driving a full-sized motor bike (not one of those toy ones) along the cycle path. More welcome were the first Ramson and Bluebell flowers of the year, and a nice clump of Marsh Marigold (15,861).

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