Monday, 26 July, 2021

I had to pop down to Greenock to do my WEBS count today so took the opportunity to walk down to the seafront to see what was about. Highlights around the dams were both Mute Swan pairs with broods, Coot still incubating and a Grey Wagtail on the overflow pond. As usual at this time of year, two or three Swifts were a constant presence over the west end of the town. Also nice was a good-sized aggregation of House Martins (perhaps 20 to 30 birds) around the colony on the houses along the esplanade. At least nineteen Black Guillemots were on the sea and a Peregrine was calling overhead. The Rustyback ferns near the cemetery had responded to the heat by shrivelling up completely (although I am certain they will revive as soon as the rain returns). One bonus was that the smaller plants in the colony were easier than usual to spot among the other wall plants (being brown rather than green) and I counted at least thirty.