Sunday, May 27, 2018

An early start in the Overtoun Estate was meant to be a quick check for Green Woodpeckers prior to heading to Ardmore Point but ended up taking the whole morning. Lots of birds were about with the addition of clouds of flies, regular butterflies, two species of damselfly (Common Blue and Large Red) and plenty of flowering plants. Bird highlight was a very showy Spotted Flycatcher which gave away its presence by its thin, raspy call but then proceeded to fly between several prominent perches including the top of a lightening conductor (!). Green Woodpecker resolutely refused to materialise but Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chifchaff, Tree Pipit (2), Raven (1), Buzzard (4) and a distant Cuckoo were some compensation. On Loch Bowie, the Mute Swans have eight cygnets but any Mallard, Tufted Duck or Little Grebe young are still to show.