Decided to check one or two local spots for any leftover Guillemots from the influx earlier in the week. Left the house at 7am to walk along the Cart to Hawkhead. Pletny of birdlife on the river , including four of the "riparian six" (Goosander, Grey Heron, Dipper and Grey Wagtail, but no Kingfisher or Cormorant). The Goosanders consisted of two family groups: one of 6 and one of 4. Grey Herons were showing particularly well with up to three birds present. The Dipper was along the stretch of river just west of Hawkhead Estate Park and the Grey Wagtail was an overhead (possibly migrant) bird. Guillemot failed to show, but other highlights included a group of 16 Mallards, a Moorhen (quite secretive here) and over 100 Jackdaws flying in tight formation. Also notable were a singing Chiffchaff and a Rabbit (both unusual).
Next stop was Balgray Reservoir where rainy conditions prevented a proper search for any lost auks. However two Pochards in a bay normally occupied only by Tufted Ducks was a worthwhile record. A short detour to Glanderston Dam found over 50 House Martins and over 100 Swallows feeding over the reservoir and adjacent fields.
The afternoon was spent walking from Newshot Island to Erskine Golf Course. Finding good birds was hard work, mainly due to an unfavourable tide and lots of people along the shore. However a couple of Teal were among the Mallards, a Greenshank was with a huge flock of Redshanks, Long tailed Tits were at five different sites, and a single Guillemot (below) was sailing upstream immediately under the bridge. The afternoon ended with a Red Fox pottering across the mud at Newshot.