Only one pair of Mute Swans appear to be nesting in Murdieston Park, Greenock this year. A bird was sitting tight on a nest beside the island on Cowdenknowes Dam, but there was only a deserted nest mound at Town Dam next door. A female Mallard had elevn newly-hatched ducklings in the overflow channel at the western end of the site. Down the hill, a Dipper flew across the road from the settling pond. Back at the dams, at least three Coot pairs appeared to be incubating. Tufted Duck pairs were still on the water but most of the Mallards present were drakes, the females presumably on eggs. Back home, a single Raven was attempting to hide in a Birch tree behind my neighbour's garden (What is the attraction of that small area?) but was flushed by two Carrion Crows and two Magpies and flew off a few metres over my head. Also notable were two drake Goosanders on the river and a female pulled out on a rock (the latter presumably a failed breeder). Two pairs of Moorhens were having a firce territorial dispute just downstream from the Cardonald Place footbridge.