Ardmore Point was virtually deserted when I arrived there first thing. The tide was quite far out and squally showers made the distant birds even more difficult to make out. However eventually some good birds were located including Slavonian Grebe, Pink-footed Goose, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot. 

Thirty-two Black-headed Gulls were on the local playing fields first thing - pesumably they roosted there overnight. Ballerina Waxcap was growing in a friend's garden.

More Blackbirds are about locally than of late. Redwings are present but still in relatively low numbers. A Kingfisher was on the river and Siskins were calling nearby. Some of the drake Mallards on the park pond were displayng.

Aberlady today was very blustery but thankfully mostly dry. Some good birds on the reserve consisted of Little Egret, Water Rail and Skylark. Natural connections around Luftness included Nuthatch, two Roe Deer and an avenue of Yew trees.

The Japanese Acer in Rosshall Park is just about at its peak in terms of autumn colour. Some of the less colourful acers in the park have already started to shed their leaves and I expect it will follow soon. Nearby, a Kingfisher was on the pond. 

This morning was spent walking the Avon Gorge from the Motherwell Road to Millheugh. The weather was variable but a good bird list was eventually built up. Highlights were Nuthatch (lots), Treecreeper (two birds interacting), Sparrowhawk, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing, Dipper and Grey Wagtail. The only mammal sighted was a single Grey Squirrel. A tatty Red Admiral was the only butterfly. Plant highlights consisted of Sweet Woodruff and Dog's Mercury, both growing in profusion in a few places. Fungi were surprisingly scarce (no Amethyst Deceivers in spite of lots of Beech Trees) with Stalked Puffball and Candlesnuff being the main species encountered.

Eight Whooper Swans (including a pair with five juveniles) were showing well at Hogganfield Loch this morning. Also interesting were four Gadwall and a single Pochard. 

Highlights of a wander around my neighbouring 1km square (Leverndale Hospital and Bull Wood) today consisted of a flock of 50 Lesser Redpolls; two Red Foxes flushed from long grass by dog-walkers; a pair of Ravens and small numbers of Redwings. The little red Maple in Rosshall Park is nearing its peak autumn colour. 

Only a few birds were braving the very heavy rain when I took a short walk down to the Clyde behind the Braehead Shopping Centre this afternoon. Birds on the Clyde itself consisted of Cormorant, Mute Swan, Mallard and Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Black-headed Gulls. Lnd birds were mostly confined to Robins and Wrens calling from cover.

A very wet walk along the footpath south from Lunderston Bay nevertheless turned up some great observations including freshly-emerged Fly Agaric, a single Common Seal hauled out on a rock, a flock of twenty or so Greenfinches (and one of twelve Turnstones), big groups of Oystercatchers and Curlews and a few each of Linnet, Black Guillemot, Rock Pipit and Meadow Pipit.

A bat feeding over the estate at dusk this evening was the highlight of an otherwise quiet day of natural connectons. 

Heavy rain deterred many of the local birds from straying out of cover today but passerine noise levels continue to increase with Wren (song), Robin (song), Dunnock (song), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest and House Sparrow all heard.

My first walk around my home square for a few days revealed that Redwings have arrived and are making their presence known by flying nervously between the treetops. Also notable were a single Little Grebe (my first of the "winter") and Mallard ducks now in breeding plumage (they have been for a good few weeks) and now pairing off.

Two Rooks and a Greenfinch were the pick of the birds around Paisley town centre today.

Good numbers of Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were present on the Murdieston dams this lunchtime. 

The drive down from Buckie to Glasgow today was notable for the following: Two Roe Deer in a field opposte Boat of Garten; an immature Common Gull over Loch Insh; a pair of Rooks courtship-feeding next to the A9 near Newtonmore; another two Roe Deer beside the newly-dualled section of the A9 north of Perth; an adult Common Gull "pattering" on the grass verge at the Inveralmond roundabout, Perth; and a Kestrel beside the Stepps bypass.

Cooper Park pond, Elgin was fairly quiet this morning with only a few Mallards, Moorhens and four displaying Mute Swans present. The river walk was also quiet but a small raptor flying out of the woods pursued by passerines turned out not to be the expected Sparrowhawk but a nice male Kestrel. Later, a walk out of Lossiemouth as far as Covesea Lighthouse was notable for double figures of Rock Pipits feeding along the tideline and lots of Sea Spleenwort in the caves.

Today's walk from the centre of Inverness to the old ferry pier, and back via the Caledonian Canal began in drizzle but ended in sunshine. Some of the birds encountered along the way included Wigeon, Teal, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Little Grebe (lots), Grey Heron (lots) and (unexpectedly) a Stock Dove.

Today was mostly spent walking the Slow Ways route from Cullen to Buckie. Some interesting birds along the way consisted of a Dipper on the Burn of Cullen, eight Skylarks in a stubble field, up to six Jays carrying acorns over treetops, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Yellowhammer at two sites each, a possible Goshawk powering out of a shelter belt and six Tree Sparrows in a hedge.

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

During visits to the Aberdeenshire villages of Banff and Macduff today, I managed some interesting walks along both shorelines. Banff's was notable for Shags and Rock Pipits, Macduff's for Great Black-backed Gulls and waders. Details as follows: On rocks at the east end of Banff seafront at 12:30: Nine Rock Pipits; 25 Shags; seven Cormorants; twelve Oystercatchers; ten Turnstones; four Redshanks. On rocks opposite High Shore, Macduff at 14:40: 30 Great Black-backed Gulls; 36 Oystercatchers; two Curlews; seven Redshanks; 22 Turnstones; one Rock Pipit.

A late morning visit to the Findhorn Basin opposite Findhorn Village produced some interesting sightings in the form of Razorbills, Guillemots and immature Gannets fishing in the basin, four Whooper Swans flying in off the Moray Firth and a Hooded Crow on a lampost. Later, a Dipper was on the  Burn of Mosset in Forres and a seawatch off Portgordon produced a single Red-throated Diver and a Bottlenose Dolphin.

Buckie seafront was sunny but windy and cold this morning. Birds were difficult to make out on the sea because of the choppy conditions. Waders on the shore consisted of Redshank, Turnstone and Oystercatcher. Four speces of Gull (Herring, Common, Black-headed and Great Black-backed) were also present with at least six Rock Pipits around Buckpool Harbour. In the afternoon, a Dipper on the River Isla was the highlight of a walk around Keith in blustery conditions.

Only five bird species were found during a short walk around a wet and windy Aviemore. An improvement in the weather brought out three Roe Deer near Boat of Garten and a Red Kite on roadkill near Congash. Roadside Bracken near Loch Vaa was a mixture of golden and brown. Nearby Birch trees were also golden brown. Many trees are turning, including red-leaved (presumed) Gean.

Saturday, October 08, 2022

Around 180 Pink-footed Geese flew over the house mid morning. Later in the day, a Blue Tit gave a burst of song and at least one Chiffchaff gave away its presence with its squeaky-toy "hooweet" call.

Some interesting species recorded along the Rivers Forth and Allan Water between Stirling and Bridge of Allan today consisted of Little Grebe; Goosander; Sparrowhawk; Chiffchaff; Grey Heron (2); Kingfisher (3); Grey Wagtail (2); Pink-footed Goose (three flocks totalling 200 birds) and a Brown Hare.

After  I had heard the odd Siskin flying over on two or three days earlier in the week, today I found a large flock of perhaps 80 birds in the treetops at Rosshall Park (my first big flock of the 'winter'). Also notable today were my first ever Ballerina Waxcap, my first Parrot Waxcap for my home 1km square and a dead Hedgehog (photos to follow).

Few birds were braving another day of very heavy rain. Dunnock was again heard.

Siskins were calling over my local patch for the second day running today. Dunnocks seem to have found their voices.

The Tawny Owl was back in the trees outside the house late last night. Today, a kingfisher was calling near Bonnyholm Bridge.

Some less typical species (at least recently) encountered on today's walk were Siskin, Goldcrest and Pied Wagtail.

Few birds were braving the heavy rain today although they included a Dunnock, a species which has become more vocal in recent days.