The very damp weather of late does not seem to have deterred grassland fungi locally. In fact I have seen more this year than in any previous year (although admittedly I have been looking a lot more). In any case, I was surprised to find two interesting species on the grassy area at the entrance to my estate in south Cardonald today: Snowy Waxcap (Cuphophyllus virgineus) and Black Earth Tongue (Glutinoglossum glutinosum). In other news, a big flock (40+) of Siskins has arrived in the local area..

Saturday, 30 October, 2021

The usual Mistle Thrush was making quite a racket as it was advertising its ownership of a Rowan tree in a Moulin front garden.

A big flock of Redwings was in my home square today (after dribs and drabs for a few days). Some of the birds were including snatches of spring song among the "see-eeps" and buzzing chatter normally heard at this time of year.

Seven Collared Doves were gathered on the next rooftop to the one on which the local Feral Pigeons regularly flock. Nearby, a juvenile Woodpigeon must have only feldged in the last few days.

Another day of really heavy rain, perhaps the worst yet with flash flooding all over the city. The House Sparrows in Shawlands were hiding deep in the Privet hedges but Black-headed Gulls were still out scavenging along Kilmarnock Road.

Redwings were swooping over the tenements in Shawlands shortly before dusk this afternoon.

Today's walk took place in heavy rain so the number of species recorded was fairly low. Nevertheless the Black-headed Gulls on the playing fields and the Mallards on the park pond seemed unpurturbed.

A Rabbit feeding on a grass verge was the most interesting sighting during a visit to Marr Hall in Bishopton this lunchtime. 

Birds in a Port Glasgow suburb this afternoon included Pied Wagtail, the usual corvids and an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull which spent the whole time begging from its parent on a church roof.

Autumn colour in Polkemmet Country Park this morning was provided by a few Red Campion flowers, waxcap fungi in some of the lawns and the white form of Yellow Stagshorn Fungus in the woods. Later, Beecraigs Country Park had Candlesnuff Fungus and some glorious views as far as Stirling Castle and the Isle of May.

A Buzzard was circling over the afternoon traffic on the M77 at Plantation. 

The highlight of today's walk around Shawlands had been a Grey Wagtail until, that is, a Peregrine appeared above the tenements and had a go at a small group of Feral Pigeons before soaring away out of sight.

A Raven, a Grey Wagtail and two Moorhens were the pick of the birds in the centre of Paisley today. 

Five Whooper Swans flew over the estate at lunchtime. A little later another flock of Goldfinches (the second in two days) flew over nearby.

A wet day in South Cardonald. Still no Redwings but the Mistle Thrush count is up to two.

A Raven, a Stock Dove and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were the best birds during a quick walk around my home square this afternoon. 

No sign of the  Redwing invasion reaching South Cardonald yet (although a cackling Mistle Thrush was possibly new in).Two Roe Deer were behind the house.

Birds were fairly scarce in a drizzly Shawlands today.

Plenty of Mallards and Black-headed Gulls were on the Queen's Park ponds this afternoon, although I failed to find any Tufted Ducks for a change. Only one adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was left, although some of the juveniles there might have been this species.

Few birds were showing along the river through Shawlands today. In fact the only water bird seen was a Grey Wagtail, and even then it was frequenting a tenement roof rather than the river bank.

After being the most numerous gull species all summer, only a single Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the Murdieston Park dams when I visited today. Black-headed, Herring and Common Gulls were all more common. A big flock of at least 60 Jackdaws wheeled overhead.

A good selection of fungi was on show during a short walk in Ardblair Woods, Blairgowrie this afternoon. I'm certain the site would reward a longer visit. Wildlife on the journey consisted of a Kestrel overthe M73/M74 junction, a Jay near the Meikleour Beech hedge, three juvenile Pheasants on the road near Findo Gask and an amazing black-spotted white horse that so transfixed me that I nearly crashed into the rear of a right-turning caravan.

Saturday, 09 October, 2021

A very busy day meant natural connections were limited to what I could see and hear from a friend's garden. Birds mainly consisted of the usual corvids and doves. A Red Fox trotted across the road when we were leaving.

Guillemots, Razorbills and Red-throated Divers were all feeding on a flat calm sea out from Longniddry Bents Car Park No. 3. Lots of wild flowers were still flowering in the dunes and a mouse or vole species dived into a Bramble bush to escape examination. Other life included a faded Small White and a large Garden Snail.

A Chiffchaff was calling from bushes in Pollok today. However the dominant bird was Starling with packs marauding through the shopping centre car park and several singing from aerials and chimneys. 

Today's walk started in Thornliebank and followed the river all the way home. Some good birds along the way consisted of Grey Wagtial, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Dipper and Jay. Around midday, a Sparrowhawk spiralled up from Pollok Wood accompanied by two angry Black-headed Gulls. The Sparrowhawk seemed unconcerned.

Tuesday, 05 October, 2021

I managed quite a lot of walking today (Johnstone to Renfrew via Paisley, then back to Cardonald) but all the birds seen were common ones and fairly unremarkable. I couldn't even conjure up a Raven in Paisley, although a pair of Mute Swans with a brood of five large cygnets on the pond in Ferguslie Gardens were some compensation.

A Brown Rat was in Rosshall park today, Thankfully there don't seem to be as many about as previously. 

A Great Sotted Woodpecker was the only slightly unusual species on today's local walk.  House Sparows seem to be trickling back to the area after their late summer/autumn absence.

Despite the wet and windy weather, three Collared Doves were interacting on a rooftop near the bowling green. Later, a large tit flock, perhaps containing 50 birds, was in trees by the mini-roundabout.

A single Jay was the surprise find during a walk around the northern outskirts of Easterhouse. Naturalised Red Osier Dogwood and a neglected Apple tree were among the other highlights.