Highlights of a walk around Gartmorn Dam this lunchtime included a couple of singing Skylarks (my first of the year), two pairs of great Crested Grebes, some great views of two Treecreepers and the largest Scarlet Elf Cups I have ever come across. I had a good look around the area where I had a brief glimpse of  a Green Woodpecker last time I visited the site. No birds were either seen or heard (only a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker) but what appeard to be two nest cavities One above the other) in the same tree may have been the work of the former species.

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Two Nuthatches were coming to seed put out by the riverside path this afternoon. 

Saturday, February 26, 2022

At least two Palmate Newts have taken up residence in the back garden pond.

The Mute Swans on the pontoon in Cessnock Dock were working on their nest when I passed this morning. A Carrion Crow chased a Sparrowhawk all the way from Yorkhill to Govan before I lost sight of them both.

Overnight snow and a mixture of snow and blustery wind today made for difficult conditions locally. Nevertheless Greenfinch and Wren are now singing regularly, although a nice Song Thrush was more concerned with finding food on a snow-free patch of grass. Two Pied Wagtails wasan unusual total for the square which normally holds only one. Also notable was a single drake Goosander (they have been scarce this winter locally). 

Wednesday February 23, 2022

A very good count of 56 Black-headed Gulls was on the playing field today. In another month I expect numbers to be much lower as birds start heading to their breeding sites.

 

Peak weekly count of Black-headed Gull in my home 1km square in sw Glasgow (data from BTO Birdtrack).

A Nuthatch was calling excitedly at the south west corner of Rosshall Park while twenty Greylag Geese flew over. Thirty Redwing were feeding on the playing fields. 

A Grey Heron was hunting Brown Rats beside Rosshall Park Pond when I passed this evening. A Red Fox slunk along the opposite bank as I walked back along the river. 

At least one of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls which returned to the area a few days ago has remained here and has been resting on the flooded playing fields with around twenty Black-headed Gulls and a couple of Herring Gulls. The river is full to overflowing with rainwater, meaning much of the vegetation usually well up on the banks is partially submerged. The local Mallards have been exploring their newly-expanded domain.

Between two and three Mistle Thrushes are now singing regularly around my home 1km square. Wren, Robin and D unnock are also being heard daily but Song Thrush and Blackbird have been quiet so far.

A different walk to Paisley in the snow first thing was interesting for a flock of Siskins, two pairs of Goosander, Moorhens at two sites on the river and both Kestrel (at Leverndale) and Sparrowhawk (at Hawkhead) causing consternation among the local corvids and pigeons respectively.

Plenty of Goldfinches were singing in Kelvingrove Park this afternoon. I also saw my first Daffodil flowers of the year there. Later, a Mistle Thrush was doing its best Blackbird impression (I still haven't heard any song from the latter so far this year). 

On another day of torrential rain (interspersed by sunny spells and strong winds), eight Redwings and a Chaffinch were feeding on a grass verge near the Pollok Roundabout and two Lesser Black-backed Gulls (my first of the spring) were displaying and calling on the roof of a modern tenement on Lyoncross Road.

Tuesday, Februay 15, 2022

Highlights of quite a long walk from Barrhead to Thornliebank consisted of the following: Plenty of Hazel (especially near the river bridge at Rouken Glen) and Alder in catkin; Crocuses, Snowdrops and Winter Aconite (265 flowers at its one local site) all flowering in pofusion; a Little Grebe on the reservoir adjacent to Park Manor Avenue (with a Buzzard and my first singing Chaffinches of the year nearby); a Dogwood species covered in luminous red berries on an industrial site in Thornliebank.

Today's walk along the edge of my home 1km square turned up two Hazel bushes with male catkins and female flowers. The Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) tree that I visit every year was also just coming into flower (as was the ornamental Plum back home in my back garden). Notable birds consisted of a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker (that edge of the square regularly produces one), a small flock of Siskins and (down near the shops) a flyover Pied Wagtail.

On an extremely rainy day, two Moorhens were feeding out in the open on the grass field next to Rosshall Park, the first time I have ever seen them there. 

A total of five Wrens sang along the path today - a significant turnaround after the species had been fairly quiet until the last week or two.

The wet weather of late has quietened some of the local birds, but nevertheless at least three Wrens were singing along the river path today. 

The only notable bird species during a rainy walk around the west end of Greenock this morning was a Grey Wagtail flying among the rooftops and chimneys.

The twenty or so Redwings which have been around my home 1km square for the past two weeks were feeding on the verges near the school this afternoon.

A single Great Black-backed Gull was among other gull species on the pond in a very rainy Queen's Park this morning.

Today was spent walking between Pollokshields, Thornliebank and Giffnock. Two Goosanders under the bridge at Pollokshaws East station were the most notable of the few birds seen. Twice I thought I heard a Nuthatch calling, but on both occasions, it was a Mistle Thrush starting to sing (I have noticed this similarity in my home area too).

All the usual suspects were along the riverside path today including singing Stock Dove and calling Nuthatch. 

On a very wet and windy day, highlights were five Stock Doves feeding with three Woodpigeons on the woodland floor and six Redwings chattering in the treetops. 

A very cold but dry and sunny day allowed a trip to Edinburgh to search for Mistletoe which I had read could be found on trees in the Dean/Ravelston area of the city. I eventually found six trees bearing a total of seventeen clumps or growths. Mistletoe is both a fascinating and an attractive plant, so it was lovely to spend a few hours just appreciating this very rare (in a Scottish context) colony of the species in the morning sunshine.

Several Redwings were still in the area today, although perched near the tops of tall trees. There seems to have been an influx of Goldfinches with at least 32 present. Goldcrests were singing and calling excitedly at three sites.

A large group of Redwings (around 50 birds) was feeding on the Moulin playing field with a few Starlings first thing.  Notable songsters included Greenfinch and Stock Dove. Also notable were the first Snowdrops of the spring in flower.

On an extremely wet and windy day, a Goldfinch, a Greenfinch and two Bullfinches were still to annouce their presence to rivals.