I enjoyed a good walk from Uplawmoor to Neilston via the farm roads south of Neilston Pad. Highlight of the day was probably stumbling across a big rookery (I counted 161 nests) on the edge of Uplawmoor. Also notable was a single male Wheatear classically perched on a rock in a pasture field. Other good upland farm birds included Linnet, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Swallow and a lot of warblers (Willow Warbler the commonest, followed by Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat and - only when the outskirts of Neilston were reached - Chiffchaff and Blackcap). Non-bird highlights consisted of British Soldier lichens on an old stone wall and a scattering of common butterflies.

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