Today's walk was quite a long one - from Kilbirnie to Kilwinning. It rained through almost the entirety of the walk, so natural connections were a little curtailed. However notable birds included Swifts at three sites, Yellowhammer at two sites and Linnet at one plus very large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Jackdaws feeding on pastureland. Plant highlights included Hart's Tongue, Wall Rue, Polypody, Maidenhair Spleenwort and Black Spleenwort all growing on roadside walls, Greater Knapweed in full flower and an unfamiliar monocot with bright pink "flowers" (possibly Keeled Garlic). Most interesting insect was a black fly with a yellow body feeding on umbellifers (probably Sciara hemerobioides / Dark-winged Fungus Gnat).

A single Swallow was over Bonnyholm Bridge. Another was feeding under the trees along the riverside path south of Pollok Roundabout. The big Oak tree at the Disk Golf course in Rosshall Park was displaying signs of a heavy infestation with the Knopper Gall Wasp. A patch of fungi has formed under a patch of conifers along the river and several Broad-leaved Helleborines are flowering under another.

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Heavy rain in Edinburgh curtailed any chance of natural connections today. I had to be content with the lazy sound of Woodpigeon song which continued even while the rain was falling.

Sounds coming from the woods and rooftops around my home today consisted of the persistent piping of a male Bullfinch, the begging calls of juvenile Buzzard and Lesser Black-backed Gull and the song of Woodpigeon.

Two Kingfishers were bickering along the river this evening.

I was back in Shawlands today so took the opportunity to walk around Queen's Park pond. A Coot was still on its nest although other pairs were caring for well-grown young. Four or five Tufted Duck looked like they hadn't bred, as did a single Little Grebe.

Today's walk along the river produced a calling Kingfisher (for the second day running), no singing warblers (just one calling Chiffchaff), an agitated Nuthatch with at least two large young and a single Black-headed Gull with a partially-moulted hood. 

A busy day of house moves started in Shawlands where sixteen Swifts were gathered high over Strathyre Street around 08:50. I imagine this must be the entire breeding population of the area (hopefully with some fledged young among them) getting ready to head south. I didn't hear them at all later in the day. Also notable was a Buzzard being chased by twenty or more Lesser Black-backed Gulls (some have young on neighbouring rooftops) near the primary school. A careful search of the Ragwort plants growing along Camphill Avenue eventually produced one pair of Common Red Soldier Beetles on the edge of Camphill Park. 

A walk along the river struggled to produce many birds but a large tit flock contained at least three tit species, a Kingfisher called from the river, an adult Magpie had two young in tow, a young Buzzard called from a tree near the house, a female Mallard still had three large ducklings in her care at the Bonnyholm footbridge and an immature Grey Heron was on Rosshall Park Pond. Back home, another positive sign of increasing biodiversity (following last week's Common Red Soldier Beetles) was the first grasshopper I have ever found on the back lawn.

The weather forecast was not very promising for today's SOC outing to Erskine Shore and Newshot Island. However it turned out to be fine and there was hardly a drop of rain all day. Having nearly twenty pairs of eyes and ears involved in the search meant that we managed to see a good range of bird species, most notable being up to four Common Terns, a Whitethroat, a Greenshank and up to seven Common Sandpipers. Breeding evidence was obtained for Lesser Black-backed Gull (three juveniles on a rooftop) and House Martin (a large number of birds concentrated over a small area - presumably indicating the presence of a colony). In what has already been a good year for the species, Common Red Soldier Beetles were encountered at various sites. 

Baron's Haugh was completely deserted when I visited this afternoon. However there were plenty of birds on the haugh including up to three each of Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper, single Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit, a calling Water Rail and flocks of Lapwing and Black-headed Gull. 

Birds were quiet in Pollokshaws today (as they have been recently in my home square). However Feral Pigeons were feeding young in nests under one of the railway bridges. 

A busy day spent in the garden allowed some of the local birds to be ticked off. Notably however, no Chiffchaff or Blackcap song was heard (although a Chiffchaff was heard calling at one point). In the evening, two Swifts were screaming over Langside - It won't be long until their time with us is over for another year.

We were over in Milton of Campsie today. A walk near the edge of the village produced mainly typical village birds but Rook and Pheasant indicated that the countryside wasn't too far off. 

I decided late today to check the slow way from Bonnybridge to Kilsyth. As a result, it was 5pm by the time I started walking. Fortunately the weather had improved by then and it turned out to be a pleasant walk in cool, calm conditions. The most obvious species along the way was Yellowhammer with at least eight singing males heard. Two Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk were also notable.

 

Sunday, July 16, 2023

I visited a new location (for me) today Cobbinshaw Reservoir at the extreme southwest end of the Pentland Hills. The strong, blustery wind made bird watching quite challenging. However some good sightings included: nesting House Martins (in the village of Woolfords Cottages), potentially nesting Lawings at three sites, foraging Swifts at two sites, a large flock of post-breeding Greylag Geese and a singing Whitethroat. 

I walked from Kilsyth to Kirkintilloch today, mainly following the south side of the Forth & Clyde Canal. Bird highlights consisted of singing Grasshopper Warbler, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting, three broods of Mute Swan cygnets, three Kingfishers and the full complement of breeding hirundines (Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin) and Swift.

I had to stay home for most of the day but managed out mid-afternoon (just as the heavy rain began) to have a look around Portnauld between Renfrew and Inchinnan. Land birds included Buzzard, Swallow, lots of Woodpigeons and two singing Yellowhammers. Birds along the river included Redshank, Oytercatcher, around a hundred Black-headed Gulls, two Grey Herons and a Common Sandpiper. Continuing one of the themes of the week, two Common Red Soldier Beetles were on a Hogweed flower. 

A Swift screamed over the tenements in Portobello when we arrived there mid-morning. At least one juvenile Sandwich Tern was begging its parent for food. Back home, a Goldcrest sang briefly along the river. Also notable was an Oystercatcher calling over the river behind the house at the beginning of the day. 

It was nice to get back to my home patch today after being away for so long. Most of the usual birds were present but two slightly unusual species were a single Common Sandpiper feeding on branches beside the river and a Buzzard flying low over the estate. Also notable were two singing Chiffchaffs and two singing Blackcaps (with one more of each in the neighbouring 1km square). Presumably these represent pairs undertaking repeat or replacement breeding attempts. Several juvenile Jackdaws were feeding with adults on the municipal grass, suggesting a successful breeding season for that species. On Rosshall Park pond, at least one of the latest brood of chicks has survived. My route took me past the "meadow" to the south of Crookston Castle and the meadow strips in Rosshall Park. The former was covered in ripening seed heads of Yellow Rattle. Also notable at both sites were Red Soldier Beetles (including mating pairs) while a single Seven-spot Ladybird was at Rosshall. The final total of at least fifteen Red Soldier Beetles was by far the biggest number I have seen locally - perhaps an early sign that the meadows project is proving successful.

Another day of sunshine interspersed with heavy showers. A short stop off at James Hamilton Herritage Park in East Kilbride and a circuit of the loch found the geese and Mallards apparently finished breeding for the year, but a pair of Mute Swans were still attending seven part-grown juveniles. Two Little Grebes were on the "reserve"

Today's delayed WeBS count in Greenock took place in heavy rain. However all the usual birds were on show as well as an unseasonal Black-headed Gull. Also notable were both Dipper and Grey Wagtail, neither guaranteed at this site. 

The crossing from Stromness to Scrabster was mercifully calm compared to going the other way. Several people were keeping a lookout for cetaceans but none materialised. Heading down the A9, our first stop was Dunkeld. I was sad to see that the Common Gull colony on the Tay just downstream of the old A9 bridge had been almost completely flooded. Thankfully it looked like at least fourteen of the chicks had survived with some immature birds flying round the site while others were clinging to any uncovered patches of gravel, logs and even the bridge piers. The adults (around 40) were mostly gathered together on the trees in the centre of the main island (the only area not inundated). Four Black-headed Gulls and two Oystercatchers were in the area but I couldn't see any young of either species. A Nuthatch was calling near the cathedral where two Rabbits (including a black individual) were feeding and 18 Fallow Deer were in their usual field.

With today being our last day in Orkney, natural connections were slightly lower down on the agenda. Nevertheless a Short-eared Owl was nice to see as it hunted beside the road to Dingyshowe Beach. The beach itself had a few interesting passerines (Rock Pipit, Pied Wagtail and Linnet) and a Ringed Plover which was possibly nesting in a quieter area. A fairly thorough beach clean produced only a single dead Guillemot (which I thought was encouraging) and a few long since predated gull and tern wings. Also notable were the numerous cuttlefish bones (or parts thereof) scattered about.

Today started with a Barn Owl hunting in a plot of land on the way to Kirkwall. Later, a Short-eared Owl showed well in a field at Garth Farm (exactly where a Hen Harrier showed well a few hours later). In between, a walk along the Mull Head Coastal Path produced some notable records including a Snipe on a fencepost;  Sedge Warbler singing;  MANY Fulmars on the cliffs (apparently lone singles or pairs but almost certainly brooding a juvenile under their feathers); Large White, Green-veined White, Common Blue and Meadow Brown butterflies; all four breeding auk species, two separate Arctic Skuas (klepto-parasitising Puffins particularly) and a pair of Great Skuas; a few gannets offshore; three Twite near Mull Head; a passage of Kittiwakes (and two Cormorants) past the head; a single Whimbrel calling as it flew inland to a field pool. Later in the evening, a visit to Birsay Bay produced more Arctic Terns, Arctic Skuas, Eider broods, Ringed Plover and Sand Martins to add to the week’s totals plus two new species in the shape of Shelduck and Dunlin.

We had a later start today but eventually spent most of the afternoon touring some interesting spots around South Ronaldsay and the other south islands (linked to each other by the “Churchill Barriers”). Some highlights included two Redshanks in the harbour at St Margaret’s Hope, a Common Seal and a Mute Swan with a cygnet at St Mary’s, two Little Terns overhead at Churchill Barrier 4 (with a distant view of Copinsay Lighthouse) and a good selection of cliff-nesting species at Windwick Bay including Fulmar, Razorbill, Guillemot, Raven, Jackdaw, Shag and Rock Dove with a couple of Gannets offshore. Perhaps the most remarkable sighting was of a “blonde” Rabbit near Cleat – its fur was golden-yellow with lighter yellow ears. This evening, a Raven and Grey Heron caused consternation in the meadows down by the Loch of Kirbister.

Today started with a Hen Harrier on the way to Kirkwall and ended with a probable Snipe near the Ring of Brodgar. In between, a trip to Mill Dam, Shapinsay produced records of Tufted Duck, Mallard, Teal, Greylag Goose and Coot all with young, as well as Gadwall, Shoveler and Little Grebe. Back on Mainland, an Arctic Skua put on a fantastic display over the west harbour as it attempted to rob an Arctic Tern of its catch. Later in the afternoon, I headed to Birsay Moor where two Great Skuas and four Ravens were present around Lowrie’s Water together with around 200 Greylag Geese and a single pair of Red-throated Divers. A brief stop near the top of Hillside Road found Bog Asphodel flowering profusely and a single Greater Yellow Bumble Bee flying through. In the evening, our visit to the Ring of Brodgar coincided with a glorious sunset.

Tuesday, July 04, 2023

Today started with a Stoat running across the road near Cott (Reported to the Orkney Native Wildlife Project). In Stromness, a Sparrowhawk flew overhead, sending the local Starlings into a panic. Other notable birds were Linnet and Collared Dove. A walk over the back of the town led to amazing views over to Hoy. In the afternoon, the RSPB reserve at Cottascarth produced a female Merlin feeding at least two young in the heather. An evening visit to the RSPB reserve at Hobbister produced a great bird list, the highlights of which were Great Skua; Stonechat; Linnet; Lesser Redpoll; Willow Warbler; Sedge Warbler; Hen Harrier; Ringed Plover (one in a turning area for peat extraction vehicles); Reed Bunting; Gannet; Black Guillemot; Cuckoo (one repeatedly singing) and; Pheasant. Non-birds consisted of Magpie Moth; Silver Y Moth and Grey Seal (plus four Brown Hares back at base).

As a gentle introduction to the Orkneys, I decided to explore the area around the Peedie Sea in Kirkwall today. Mute Swans had bred successfully with dependednt cygnets in tow. Numerous Mallards were present but with the breeding season over, all were in eclipse plumage. Hiding among them were two Teal and a surprise in the form of a Goosander. A handful of juvenile Black-headed Gulls were present and I wondered if some pairs were breeding in an industrial compound nearby. A pair of Pied Wagtails were certainly breeding there, taking food to their chicks. An afternoon visit to the Italian Chapel produced the first of numerous broods of Eider ducklings as well as singing Skylark and meadow Pipit. Later, a Kestrel was near Finstown.

The crossing from Scrabster to Stromness was extremely rough but a few birds showed quite well including a Bonxie which flew along beside the boat before powering away ahead. While settling into our accommodation, I caught sight of a female Hen Harrier flying low over nearby fields, scattering everything before it. Later, a very wet walk along the back roads next to Loch of Kirbister found evidence of breeding for Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Redshank. Also present were Red-throated Diver, Common Sandpiper and Arctic Tern. Swallows and Sand Martins were a pitiful sight as they desperately searched for insects in the pouring rain.