A long walk from Paisley to Erskine was quite poor for birds overall. I get the impression that the land between the airport and Inchinnan has been worked quite hard over the years and consequently biodiversity seems limited (I didn't see a single insect throughout the walk). A single Lapwing was displaying over a damp field just north of the Inchinnan Road. Coltsfoot was flowering in profusion on the edge of Paisley.
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Hi, really enjoy your daily updates; however I feel you must have been unlucky on your recent walk to Erskine as when it comes to biodiversity, the area around Inchinnan and the airport is extremely rich. The farmland supports some of the highest breeding populations of Tree Sparrow in the West of Scotland along with healthy breeding populations of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Skylark and Sedge Warbler. The area also holds breeding Lapwing, Water Rail, Grasshopper warbler and a several raptor species. Brown Hare are in good numbers, at least 2 Otter families are present on the Black Cart and Water Vole have started to make a comeback. Butterflies such as Ringlet, Small Copper and Meadow Brown can be abundant under the right conditions and a number of pools hold various Ordonata including Black Darter and Emerald Damselfly. The area has suffered a lot of overdevelopment in recent times; however the RSPB are currently in the early stages of instigating a programme to assist breeding farmland birds and the local development trust is purchasing areas of land to be maintained for the benefit of wildlife. Judging by your photo of the new bridge I think I was on the opposite bank the same day. You unfortunately just missed a Short Eared Owl. Hopefully your next visit is more fruitful.
cheers
Andy
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