An early start brought us to St Ives ahead of the crowds. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth was the highlight of a walk along Porthmeor Beach. Later, a Kestrel caught a vole near the Lookout Station. A brief stop at Marazion Marsh on the way home produced some good birds in the form of a Little Egret hunting at close quarters and a Reed Warbler in full song.

 

To acquaint myself with my 'home patch' for the next week, I decided to go for an early morning walk as far as Pendeen Lighthouse and back. Commonest birds (apart from the ubiquitous Wren, Robin and Blackbird) were Whitethroat and Linnet (with a supporting cast of Kittiwake, Sedge Warbler, Raven, Buzzard, Fulmar, Rock Pipit and Stonechat). The habitat (rough grazing, fields left to be taken over by "weeds", dilapidated buildings) seemed perfect for Starling but none were seen all day. In the late afternoon, a walk down to Potheras Cove found Royal Fern growing on the steep grassy slopes overlooking the sea. Notable species included Raven, Kittiwake and a fantastic Peregrine. A female Pheasant had at least two young in the long grass, a Red Fox cub was hiding under a Cornish hedge (with an adult hunting Rabbits near the lighthouse) and Great Black-backed Gulls patrolled the cliffs.

Sunday was spent travelling from Herefordshire to Cornwall and ended with a beautiful sunset over the Atlantic. A bat spp was out hunting at dusk and later, a collection of moths drawn to the house lights included a lovely Ermine.

 

Most of Saturday was taken up with a big family event at How Capel Court in rural Herefordshire. However before the festivities began, I had a quiet half hour to listen to the local birds. Some notable species included Raven, Jay and Redstart.

 

An early morning wander around Peg's Farm found lots of common birds (Robin, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Blackcap etc) plus the odd notable species including Cuckoo, Stock Dove and Raven. A lunchtime walk in the Malvern Hills added Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Skylark. Heading back to the farm, a Spotted Flycatcher was hunting insects in the lea of a large tree. An afternoon trip to How Capel Court produced a Grey Wagtail and a stunning Red Kite.

 

Killington Lake service area was alive with Swallows and House Martins this afternoon. The martins were taking mud from a damp lawn edge and using it to build their nests under the eaves of the Lakeside Hotel. Two Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler were among the birds in the bushes around the car park and a Great Crested Grebe was on the lake. Later, some typical village birds around Leebotwood included Collared Dove, Greenfinch and Yellowhammer.

No sign of any Ravens during a visit to the west end of Paisley this lunchtime. Back home, six Long-tailed Tits (presumably a family party) moved noisily through the garden. 

Today's walk around my home square was a little later than usual and held a surprise in the form of an Otter seen three times as it moved upstream along a 200 metre stretch of the river. Although the glimpses were brief, the identification was certain. I have heard reports and seen evidence (in the form of photographs and videos) of at least one individual being present in the area over the past two years or more, but this was my first sighting. A Kingfisher nearby was the second most exciting sighting for a change. Also notable were a pair of Moorhens feeding a nest full of chicks on Rosshall Park Pond and a female Goosander (spooked by the Otter) hauled up on her usual rock.

The first bird of the day was an Oystercatcher flying along the river at 07:45. This afternoon, two Kingfishers were again on the stretch of river south of Bonnyholm Bridge. The Willow Warbler at Moulin, which has been silent for over a week, was singing again, and a pair of Moorhens were sitting tight (presumably incubating a clutch) on a nest on Rosshall Park Pond.

I was back walking in the north of Glasgow today, although south of Bearsden rather than north. In spite of yesterday's pronouncement about the relative abundances of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff in different parts of the city, I found the opposite today - seven singing Chiffchaffs and no Willow Warblers.

Only common birds were about along the slow way between Bearsden and Milngavie today, although again I was reminded that Willow Warbler is often the dominant leaf warbler along the north edge of the city (with four compared to one Chiffchaff today). It is the other way round down here in the south west.

The local Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls were making a tremendous racket over the Bonnyholm estate this evening. Eventually the cause of the commotion was revealed when a Grey Heron came lumbering into view from among the houses. Presumably it had been after Starling fledglings or maybe someone's Koi Carp. Two Kingfishers were adding to the noise along the river. The singing Willow Warbler which had been present for a few weeks has either stopped singing or moved on as I haven't heard him in over a week. There are still plenty of Blackcaps in song (four tonight) with at least two Chiffchaffs as well.

Thursday, 19 May, 2022

Three drake Mallards were chasing a duck on foot across Moulin Playing Fields this evening. 

A Moorhen on Rosshall Park Pond was accompanied by five fluffy young this afternoon. Adult Starlings were being harassed by flying young. Three Stock Doves on the riverside path were keeping VERY close together and may have been a family party. The Blue Tits in the nest box on the back wall of the house are still visiting (or at least one is). I haven't heard any chicks yet so it may be the male going in to feed a sitting female.

 

 

Five Swifts were screaming over the west end of Greenock this morning as I was heading to do my belated WeBS count at Murdieston Park. Later, three more were screaming above the traffic on Kilmarnock Road through Shawlands, Glasgow. In between, I checked on the two Mute Swan pairs on Cowdenknowes Dam (three newly-hatched cygnets and two unhatched eggs) and Town Dam (five unhatched eggs). A little later, I found a male Whitethroat singing from scrubby wasteground beside Craigton Road, Govan. Elsewhere, male Chaffinches were singing at Halfway and Woodlands (both Glasgow). My local birds here in south Cardonald seem to have stopped singing.

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A female Goosander was resting on a rock in the middle of the river at Moulin today. I hadn't seen her for at least four weeks and had assumed she and her mate had left the area - until I saw him about two weeks ago. I am wondering now if she has been incubating a clutch all this time. And if so, presumably the attempt has now failed. Also of interest today were seven Martin sp (possibly House Martins) feeding over riverside trees and drifting downriver. 

A single Black-headed Gull was the first in my home 1km square for over a week.

Friday, May 13, 2022

The Rookery at the west end of Fountain Gardens in Paisley held at least five active nests this afternoon.

Some good birds along the seafront at Helensburgh today included Red-breasted Merganser, Black Guillemot and Eider. An Oystercatcher was on a nest at the end of the pier and a juvenile Starling was chasing its parent.Two House Martins swooping around the co-op in Cardross may have been nesting there.

A Kingfisher was along the river this morning but more remarkable  was a Wood Sandpiper flying strongly upriver. I have submitted a description but given the unlikely setting and brief views it will probably not be accepted. A male and female Orange Tip butterfly were active during one of the sunny spells.

Two little Grebes (presumably a pair) were on the larger of the Queen's Park ponds today, presumably enjoying the truly huge numbers of Sticklebacks present there. A Blackcap was singing in the shrubbery over near Langside Avenue.

Three patrolling Gannets and a single Black Guillemot were among the birds off Kempock Point, Gourock this evening. Earlier in the day, a Willow Warbler was singing at a slightly unusual location near the footpath behind the Moulin Estate.

Mistle Thrush was one of the stand-out birds of this short break in Badenoch and Strathspey with a single alarm-calling near Speybank, another flying up to the very top of an enormous Sequoia (both yesterday) and today, two mobbing a Buzzard over Birch woodland at Loch an Eilein. A Red Squirrel was showing well on the feeders at the latter site. A singing Tree Pipit was the highlight of a blustery walk along the lochside. Heading south, the river at Blair Atholl held 20+ Common Gulls (possibly nesting). A Mistle Thrush sang in the rain. Arriving in Dunkeld, thirteen Fallow Deer were resting in a roadside field. The shingle island under the old A9 bridge held around 100 Black-headed Gulls and around 30 Common Gulls (many of both species apparently nesting) plus a single Oystercatcher. Feeding over the bridge in the rain were House Martin (c10), Sand Martin (c10), Swallow (c5) and my first Swift of the year.

This morning started with a very early walk along the Spey from Kincraig to Speybank and then back to Kincraig via the path next to the B9152. Birds in song around the village and on the way down to the river consisted of Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Warbler (many), Blackcap (one), Wren, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin and Chaffinch. House Sparrows were chirrupping in the hedges and visiting nests in the eaves of an old house. Two Rabbits were on a house lawn with two more at the entrance to the woods. Jackdaws and Rooks were evident overhead, the latter very noisy as they visited nests in the Scots Pines near the railway bridge. Two Pheasants called but were not seen. On the loch were a Grey Heron, two male and one female Goldeneye, six Mallards, seven Greylag Geese and a Mute Swan pair attending a nest. More Rooks were commuting back to the colony (as they were all over the area), many with full crops. Heading along the anglers' path, Wood Anemone and Sweet Violet were flowering under Birches with Cuckoo Flower and Marsh Marigold in the damper areas. More Goldeneye were on the river, making grunting noises as they interacted and their wings creaking loudly as they flew up and down. A singing Redstart here was the only one of the walk. A pair of Bullfinches called quietly to eachother. Reaching a high point above the river, various other species could be heard close by (Blackcap; Great Spotted Woodpecker) and in the middle distance (Pheasant; Oystercatcher; Curlew; Cuckoo). A Mute Swan flew over heading east and more Rooks passed on the way to the rookery. A little further on,a begging juvenile raptor could have been a Buzzard or a Sparrowhawk. A Grey Heron flew over. Nearing the railway line, a Tree Pipit was singing, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Mistle Thrish both gave their alarm calls and as well as the various sounds of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Wren, Blackbird and Chaffinch, the unmistakable fluty song of a Redwing rang out. Across the railway, four Jays (presumably a family party) flew off noisily, another Tree Pipit was singing and a Roe Deer bounded off through the trees, where Wood Sorrell was flowering on roadside banks. Heading back along the road past Baldow, more birds of open country (Greylag Goose; Collared Dove; Pheasant; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Black-headed Gull; Carrion Crow; Cuckoo; Pied Wagtail; Swallow; Starling; Goldfinch) joined those of the woodland edge (Woodpigeon; Coal Tit; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Willow Warbler; Song Thrush; Blackbird; Robin; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Siskin). Plenty of Rabbits were about, preferring the gardens. Black-headed Gulls were passing west to east in small numbers (seven in total). A Lapwing continually chased a Carrion Crow before returning to brood three mobile chicks right at the back of a sheep field. Heading out for an expedition to the Doune later in the morning, a Red Squirrel was at West Lodge. Birds in song at the old graveyard consisted of Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Blackbird, Wren and Chaffinch. Also present were Greylag Goose (over), Pheasant, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Mistle Thrush and Bullfinch. A Brown Hare was disturbed from a patch of long grass. Flowering plants in the area included Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrell and Greater Stitchwort. Single Willow Warbler and Blackcap were also singing at the Rothiemurchus Triangle where two Siskins called. An evening trip to the Insh Marshes Lookout yielded a different suite of birds again. These included Greylag Goose (five in small groups plus a pair with a brood of five goslings), Shoveler (a single), Mallard (two), Curlew (two calling), Snipe (one), Lapwing (two), Redshank (two), Black-headed Gull (only two across the whole marsh), Common Gull (one apparently on a nest) and Reed Bunting (a male in song) as well as the more typical Pheasant, Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Blackcap (are they commoner this year?), Willow Warbler (these were everywhere today - but I didn't hear a single Chiffchaff), Starling, Song Thrush, Robin and Chaffinch. Greylag Goose was probably the bird of the evening with another 20 together in a field near Lynachlaggan. Mistle Thrush was a close second with one on grass at the distillery and another two on a sheep field past Insh to add to those seen in the morning. Mammal of the evening was Brown Hare with four in roadside fields. Last bird of the day was an Osprey roosting opposite the Swan Chapel.

A brief stop at Dunkeld on the way north found the rookery over the car park in full swing with at least four nests (but certainly many more) occupied. Singing birds in the village included Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Woodpigeon and Collared Dove. Later, another stop by the side of a highland loch found two Red-throated Divers swimming serenely in the distance and a pair of Mute Swans feeding out in the centre (so presumably not breeding this year).

Mugdock Park was alive with common warblers and Tree Pipits, all singing in the sunshine this afternoon. A Cuckoo over near the range was a bonus. Final totals for a 45 minute circuit from the visitor centre to the loch and back were: Willow Warbler (19), Chiffchaff (6), Blackcap (3), Tree Pipit (7) and Cuckoo (1). The most frquent singer however was Chaffinch (21).

All the usual suspects werre along the river during today's walk. One Stock Dove is still singing in Rosshall Park.

A Kingfisher sped along the river this evening and a Mistle Thrush disappeared into the treetops carrying food. Gangs of Starlings continue to stalk the local playing fields looking for leatherjackets for their newly-hatched broods.

A walk from Clackmannan to Alloa today was notable for large numbers of the three common warblers, a Kingfisher on the river, a pair of Linnrts beside Clackmannan Tower and the woods full of Bluebells and odd patches of Stitchwort. Later, a walk from Polmont to Grangemouth produced two Swallows perched on a wire at Old Polmont and a Rabbit in the horse field opposite the Inchryra Hotel. 

A Kingfisher was along the river in south Cardonald this evening. The male Willow Warbler at Moulin appears to have fallen silent or moved on. Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, Blackbirds and Greenfinches continue to dominate the soundscape. The local Starlings are behaving more frantically than before, suggesting that their young have hatched.

Warblers singing today in the 1km square centred on Inverkip Marina consisted of three Blackcaps, four Chiffchaffs and five Willow Warblers.