First bird of the day was a male Whitethroat singing strongly from the "nature reserve" over the back garden fence. The species has summered most years since we arrived here (although less often in recent years), and has bred at least once. 

Beecraigs Country Park was bathed in sunshine today. Best birds were Kestrel and three Tree Pipits. the Greylag Geese on the loch had at least three sets of goslings between them. Butterflies were everywhere with Orange Tip the commonest. I also saw one each of Peacock and Speckled Wood. Two Banded Longhorn beetles were also notable.

At least one Swift was over Pollokshaws when I was there this lunchtime. 

First bird of the day was a Whitethroat singing necxt to Hillington Roundabout. This was followed by a Swift over the car park at Hogganfield Loch. The area around Torness Nuclear Power Station held Pergrine, Grey Partridge, Whinchat, Stonechat and Wheatear. Nearby, Skateraw produced Red-legged Partridge, Kestrel and at least three Yellow Wagtails. Finally, Tyninghame held Whimbrel, Little Egret, Great Egret, Ringed Plover and Dunlin.

Today started with a Lapwing chick being knocked about by a couple of Jackdaws (and another Lapwing) while (presumably) its parents tried (fairly successfully) to chase off the potetial assailants. The chick, which was in a field just south of braemar, was nearly flying so hopefully another day or two will see it safe. This afternoon's walk in the hills above Glenshee Ski Centre produced some predictable birds (Ring Ouzel, Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse) and some unpredictable ones (Dipper and Kestrel). Stars of the show however were around a dozen Mountain Hares. Plants included Trailing Azalea, Cloudberry and Nordic Moonwort.

There was plenty of evidence of breeding among today's records of birds on Deeside. However there were several highlights which involved other taxa. Two Red Squirrels were coming to feeders in the woods north of Braemar first thing. Then Ballatar provided some new birds for the trip: Collared Dove; Common Sandpiper and Swift. Several House Martins there were taking mud from a puddle to make their nests. The birch woods at Muir of Dinnet were alive with the songs of Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler and Chaffinch. Loch Kinnord had at least three pairs of Goldeneye and other good birds included Cuckoo and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Invertebrate highlights consisted of Two-banded Longhorn Beetle and Speckled Wood butterfly while the woodland floor was studded with the blue, violet, yellow and cerise of flowering plants. The Dee at Banchory held a single Dipper. Breeding birds there included Rook (feeding chicks in the nest) and Oystercatcher (a pair with two mobile young which I had to rescue after they became trapped  between a busy road and a high wall). As we headed back down the road, a Red Squirrel ran across the road at Haugh of Sluie, a Red Kite was over the Aboyne airstrip and two Lapwings were in a field at Tomidhu.

Marr Lodge

A

A

Two resplendent drake Goosanders were cruising on the White Cart from Shaw Bridge to Auldhouse Park this lunchtime. Swifts have been reported from Milngavie, Hyndland and Clarkston today, although I heard none when I was out.

Some of the highlights of a walk around Mugdock Park today were singing Tree Pipit (2) and Skylark (1). Three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were bickering in the treetops, eight Swallows seemed to be attending nests in derelict buildings and an agitated Pied Wagtail near the castle probably had a nest or chicks nearby. Totals of singing birds included fifteen Willow Warblers, seven Blackcaps and a single Chiffchaff.

Tuesday, May 07, 2024

A singing Willow Warbler next to Auldhouse Retail Park was probably the most notable find during a walk around Pollokshaws and Langside today. Three Red Fox cubs were out playing on the lawn in front of one of the 80's apartment blocks.

The Rhododendrons around Balloch Castle were coming into their own today, although some had "gone over" and some still had buds to open. Notable birds included good numbers of singing Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap and my first Magpie anywhere north of the castle.

Three singing Stock Doves provided one of the highlights of this morning's International Dawn Chorus Day Walk in Queen's Park. In the afternoon, four Blackcaps and four Chiffchaffs were singing around Crookston Castle. A single Swallow was over Brockburn Road while the three nests in the small rookery there seem to still be active. 

The Moorhens on the park pond were feeding two chicks this evening. Two Stock Doves posed nicely on a low branch. 

Four Common Terns were feeding off Greenock esplanade first thing. At Locherwood, a singing Grasshopper Warbler was in the field in front of the car park. Up at the reservoir, a Tree Pipit was song-fighting from the treetops while a Cuckoo sang in the distance. Back at the carpark, three Linnets flew over.

A

Orange Tip and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies were on the wing in a sunny Kelvingrove Park when I passed through today. Annual Honesty (the purple form) was adding a splash of colour.