A longish walk along the White Cart and Brock Burn this morning found the vegetation reaching its peak (although the Hymalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed are still to take over the landscape completely.  The closed canopy meant smaller birds were harder to locate. Nevertheless a good range of species was recorded including: three Kingfishers  (one on the Brock Burn and two on the Cart); a juvenile Dipper feeding avidly beneath Howford Bridge; a single Raven on the tower; two Swifts mating on the wing; a Stock Dove singing in Rosshall Park; a Roe Deer in tall grass on Leverndale Meadow. This afternoon, the young Blue Tits were looking out of the entrance hole to the nest box. I will be surprised if they haven't fledged by tomorrow.