Today's expedition was to the SWT reserve at Loch Ardinning, just north of Milngavie and required a 2.5 hour walk there and back (neary 40K steps in total). However the weather was perfect and there were many memorable natural connectons. Probably the main highlight was up to five Cuckoos with three calling males (two showing well calling from tree tops and flying across the reserve) and (unusually) two bubbling females. I also heard another male at Drumclog Moor. Other memorable encounters included clouds of insects (including several Chimney Sweeper moths), flying up from the grass with every step, good views of a Jay, several singing Tree Pipits (other notable singers were Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Garden Warbler, Redpoll, Reed Bunting and the usual Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chaffinch), a good range of (presumably breeding) waders on surrounding land including Lapwing, Curlew and Snipe (plus Common Gull), a family party of Stonechats, a pair of Blue Tits feeding chicks in a hole in a tree, a lovely buck Roe Deer, several Four-spotted Chasers (in addition to numerous Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies) and flowering Woodruff and Ragged Robin (with Dog's Mercury in Mugdock Wood and both White and Yellow Water Lillies on Mugdock Loch). Some good breeding evidence for Mugdock Wood came in the form of a Treecreeper carrying food back to its nest. Some possible breeders at West Rugby Club consisted of Oystercatcher and Pied Wagtail. A fine specimen of Kniphofia was flowering on a traffic island at Canniesburn. Finally, two Swifts screamed over the back garden at 21:00.

Woodruff

Dog's Mercury