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Notable sightings from Queen's Park today consisted of a Song Thrush carrying food (for chicks), a Coot shepherding three small young and a pair of Canada Geese bickering with the resident Mute Swans on the main pond. A patch of Snake's Head Fritillary has come into flower.

Two Ravens were low over Woodfarm in suburban East Renfrewshire today while a Chiffchaff sang nearby. Back home, a singing Collared Dove was the only notable record. 

I had some time to occupy in Bishopbriggs today so I squeezed in bird surveys of two ajoining 1km squares. This is a good time of year to count birds as many species are singing or carrying out other activities associated with the breeding cycle. Some interesting records included a single Oystercatcher flying low over houses near the sports centre, a Little Grebe "trilling" on the canal and at least four Rooks' nests in Bishopbriggs Park. A tatty Peacock butterfly was nearby and flowering plants included Slender Speedwell, Greater Stitchwort, Yellow Archangel and Garden Solomon's Seal.

Two each of Blackcock and Greyhen were at the Stirlingshire lek at 06:00. Sadly no Cuckoo turned up, unlike in previous years. Birds above Rowardennan included Wood Warler, Redstart and Tree Pipit. My first Peacock butterfly of the year was also there. Later, two Whimbrels and my first Orange Tip of the year were the highlights of a walk around Ardmore Point. 

An evening walk around my home square found lots of Blackbirds still in song and the first Hedge Garlic Parsley coming into flower.

Most surprising record from a very rainy RSPB Skinflats this afternoon concerened a single Tree Pipit singing from a treetop before flying off. Later, a Grey Seal was swimming off Bowling Harbour.

A flock of at least 200 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Barshaw park while I was there this morning. This evening, two Chiffchaffs and a Stock Dove were singing in Glasgow Botanic Gardens. 

Best birds on today's walk around the Greenock Cut were three Wheaters, four Oystercatchers, two Ravens and dozens of singing Willow Warblers. Largs seafront had two or three pairs of Guillemots and a fishing Sandwich Tern.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

A Greenfinch was singing in my neighbouring 1km square this afternoon.

Singing Willow Warbler and Collared Dove were the highlights of a walk around Renfrew in some welcome sunshine today.

All three common leaf warblers were singing in Springburn Park when I walked through this afternoon.

The cool, windy weather which has dominated lately persisted all day today. As a result, relatively few birds were singing late afternoon (although the dawn chorus was loud enough to wake me up at 05:20). The only notable sighting on my walk concerned three Collared Doves (two in song) along Hatton Gardens.

I went up to the Leverndale Tower today to see if the Ravens had nested again this year. There was no activity around the favoured ledge but the nest looked substantial so presumably there is an attempt in progress. Compensation was provided in the form of singing Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler, and two confiding Roe Deer.

A noisy Kingfisher was on the river at Bonnyholm this lunchtime. Yellow Archangel has come into flower.

Friday, April 12, 2024

Birds around Pollokshaws today were unremarkable, with the wind meaning that few birds (including no warblers) were in song. However a singing Blackcap was outside the house first thing.

I was in Peebles today so took the opportunity to walk along the Twwed as far as Neidpath Castle. Water birds consisted of Mallard, Grey Heron and Grey Wagtail. Plants along the river included several invasives and aliens including Many-flowered Leek and Balkan Anemone.

Two of the three reported Arctic Terns were still at Hogganfield Loch when I checked today. They were hawking for insects among Sand Martins and a single Swallow. The latter was my first of the year - as were two singing Willow Warblers. 

Back in my home square after a few days away, two singing Blackcaps were my first of the year. The number of sining Chiffchaffs has increased to three. Other notable singers consisted of Stock Dove; Nuthatch (2); Song Thrush; Starling (2), Dunnock (2) and Greenfinch (2). Ramsons is beginning to flower at various sites.

I was down in Inverclyde for my WeBS core count today, so I took the opportunity to check on some rookeries in Langbank. All three were occupied with one smaller and two larger than last year. Birds in Lunderston Bay included Red-breasted Merganser and Gannet. Only one notable passerine was present - a single Meadow Pipit. Heading home, a Lapwing was displaying over a field near the Bishopton on-ramp.

I had noticed some nests in trees behind Brockburn Road, Pollok when driving by a few days ago, so I walked up to have a look today. Two pairs of Rooks are attempting to nest in trees behind a row of houses. Two adul;ts were in the trees, together with around ten Jackdaws (I wonder what they are after). Another seven Rooks were feeding nearby. I'm unsure where they are nesting. It might be worth checking Haugh Hill Community Woodland which is less than 250 metres away. Other notable birds included a singing Chiffchaff and two Nuthatches (one singing) near the Brock Burn.

Two Chiffchaffs were singing at Hamilton Low Parks today. Two Oystercatchers were a little unusual on playing fields next to Strathclyde Loch.

Heavy rain in South Glasgow has raised the water level in the river and created puddles all over the playing fields and paths. Some of the local Mallards have given up their usual haunt on the riverbank and were splashing about in a huge puddle in the depression where the old canal used to run. Blackbirds (11) and Song Thrushes (3) were out in force, presumably exploiting the ready availability of earthworms. One Song Thrush with a beakfull of worms must have had a brood to feed.

A wander around Pollokshaws today produced the obligatory Chichaff (they seem to be everywhere just now) and up to five singing Greenfinches.

Having to go back to Blair Atholl to pick up my car, I took the opportunity to do some birdwatching around Dunkeld. Birds around the town centre included Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Oystercatcher (and a single Lesser Black-backed Gull) all looking like they were intending to nest on the shingle islands in the Tay, two pairs of Common Gulls incongruously perched in trees upstream from the bridge, at least 20 active nests in the rookery on Stanley Hill, and groups of 29 and six Fallow Deer in fields near Blairgowrie Road. At Loch of the Lowes, highlights consisted of Osprey, Red Squirrel, Yellowhammer, singing Chiffchaff, four Sand Martins attempting to feed over the loch in single-figure temperatures and a pair of Teal.

A brief check of the rookeries in the centre of Milton of Campsie today revealed the following numbers of nests: East of Birdston Road: 54 (52 in 2023); West of Birdston Road: 7 (9 in 2023); Total: 61 (61).

Two singing Chiffchaffs were the only migrants I could find in Mugdock Park today. At least two Nuthatches were also in song. Flowering Lesser Celandine and Dog's Mercury were good to see.