A real red-letter day today. Tried to avoid the traffic on the A8 by heading home via Auchmountain Road. At the top of the hill (just after the cemetery), two Common Cranes appeared flying north west, heading in the general direction of Helensburgh. The birds were so close, and the views so good, that I could make out the black and white facial/neck markings.
Once I had parked the car, I tried to find the birds again but without success. However a Cuckoo singing from above Knocknairshill was my first of the year and a nice consolation.
This evening, Moorhens were in two places, on the river and on Rosshall Park Pond. Meanwhile a female Mallard with four tiny ducklings near Rosshall School was my first breeding record of the year. Back home, a Blue Tit was taking nesting material into the box on the back wall.