The Broad-leaved Helleborines in Pollok Wood were in full flower when I looked in on them this afternoon. At least two Chiffchaffs were giving their jaunty, "hoo-weet", late-summer call.

A mewing Buzzard in Stamperland this lunchtime was upsetting two Swallows which may have been nesting nearby. On Rouken Glen Park pond, two female Tufted Ducks had broods of three tiny ducklings and two small ducklings respectively. 

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Monday July 29, 2024

There were lots of Cinnabar caterpillars in the dunes on today's walk from Kilwinning to Troon. 

A pleasant walk from Lunderston Bay to Inverkip and back was notable for several groups of non-breeding/post-breeding/returning waders, specifically 25 Oystercatchers, 15 Ringed Plover, 29 Curlew and eight Redshank. Also notable were flocks of Common and Black-headed Gulls (both containing juveniles), two adult Great Black-backed Gulls with two juveniles in tow and a pair of Grey Wagtails with a fledged brood of three.

With the summer doldrums now in control, birds around my local patch were fairly uninspiring. Only two calling Chiffchaffs (possibly juveniles) and a small flock of nine Black-headed Gulls on the playing field were in any way notable.

I spent most of today walking with family members around the NTS St Abb's Head reserve. I hadn't visited properly for many years, and was pleasantly surprised by the botanical and entomological diversity on show. It was a little late in the year for the best birdwatching (although plenty of Kittiwakes and a few Guillemots, Shags and Fulmars were attending cliff nests). Gannets were also on the cliffs but I was unable to make out any unfledged young. Large flocks of Linnets and Starlings suggested that those two species had had good breeding seasons. Three juvenile Kestrels were also presumably locally-raised. House Martins appeared to be visiting nests on the cliffs and other interesting birds included Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, Raven and Great Black-backed Gull. Lepidoptera I was able to identify consisted of Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Skipper. A few whites and a single Burnet-moth were "ones that got away". Flowering plants of note were Common Restharrow and Common Rock-rose.

An Oystercatcher calling and flying over Morrison's car park was the highlight of my afternoon walk around Pollokshaws. A pair looked like they were preparing to breed on one of the buildings in the Auldhouse Retail Park earlier in the year - so maybe they summered in the area after all.

Much of this afternoon was spent walking the Slow Way between Wemyss Bay and Largs. Botanical and  and entomological finds were fairly limited, the latter presumably becacuse of the cool, overcast conditions. In fact the only insects encountered were a few Common Red Soldier Beetles and the odd bee, fly and hoverfly. Birds were slightly more fothcoming, with a Spotted Flycatcher hunting from the roof of a shed being the highlight. Single Gannets off Wemyss Bay and Newark Castle were also of note.

Some of the highlights of today's visit to Irvine Beach Park included two Cinnabar moths and a single caterpillar (I normally just see the latter), Linnet at several sites and a single Common Sandpiper near the river mouth.

A brood of newly-fledged Wrens (with down still on their heads) was the highlight of today's walk around my local square. A small amount of sunshine brought more Common Red Soldier Beetles to the Ragwort flowers with at least fourteen present in the "wildflower strips" in Rosshall Park. Two male Blackbirds (at different sites) were carrying earthworms back to (presumed third) broods. 

Up to four House Martins were flying around buildings at the foot of Margaret Street in Greenock this morning. A raptor was upsetting the resident gulls nearby.

A few juvenile Chiffchaffs have started to call from a few spots around my home square. Other singers today included Goldfinch and Greenfinch. The most notable sighting of the day however wasn't a bird at all but a person - a canoist on the river. I have lived along the White Cart for thirty years and I could count the number of people I have seen afloat on the river on the fingers of one hand. 

A Moorhen pair on the Forth and Clyde Canal had three tiny chicks when I passed today. Another pair nearby had two large juveniles.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

A midnight trip to Loch Ard forest was unsuccessful in terms of the main target species (Glow-worm) but provided some compensation in the form of a Common Toad, a small bat sp. and a calling Tawny Owl.

Today started with a quick run up to check out the farm pond north of Duthil. Four each of Teal and Wigeon were present, possibly a female and three juveniles of each. After that I headed to Rothiemurchus churchyard where a day-flying bat and a family of Kestrels were the highlights. The Osprey nest opposite the Swan chapel was empty except for a single bird which brought in a fish,waited a while, then flew off with it. Loch Insh at the underpass held a pair of Mute Swans with five cygnets. Finally, Dunkeld had its usual Fallow Deer along with several of this year's calves, and plenty of juvenile Common Gulls which presumably fledged from the colony (now deserted) on shingle just east of the bridge over the Tay. 

Today started with a Kingfisher under the Broomhll bridge and continued with  visit to a Black-headed Gull colony in the Cairngorms. Most of the gulls had already left but there were still two juveniles, two downy chicks and a handful of adults remaining. Other good birds included Tufted Duck with br8, Crested Tit and a White-tailed Eagle soaring in the sunshine. In the afternoon I visited Coire an Lochain, picking up Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Red Grouse and Grey Wagtail. Plants included Cloudberry in fruit. This evening I found some past-its-best Twinflower (peak flowering time is midsummer) and watched three Pine Martens raiding a garden feeding station.

A Kestrel and three Buzzards were beside the road through Glenshee when I stopped briefly today. Thirteen Hose Martins nests and one of Swallows were on the main building at the Lecht. Some highlights of a walk near Grantown-on-Spey included Goodyera repens at five sites, Ringlet butterfly and several species of moth (including Silver Y, Footman and Chimney sweeper), Chickweed Wintergreen and Cow Wheat in two colour forms - yellow and white.

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A singing Collared Dove (not so common around here) was probably the most notable sighting on today's local walk. For the first time since the beginning of the breeding season, my local Blackcap and Chiffchaff were both silent today.

Today's destination was Callander, specifically the crags to the north of the village. Some interesting records from the day included naturalised Fuchsia and Himalayan Honeysuckle; Wild Strawberry and Blaeberry in fruit (both delicious); family parties of Raven and Lesser Redpoll; interesting plants including Greater Butterfly-orchid, Heath Spotted-orchid, Cotton Grass, Bog Asphodel and Honeysuckle; a pair of Whinchats feeding young; Common Blue, Small Blue, Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Ringlet and Small Heath butterflies; numerous Dor Beetles.

Today's bird count took place in and around Fountain Gardens, Paisley. Stars of this site are the nesting Rooks. Several adults were feeding on the ground (views of the nests having long since been obscured by foliage) but I couldn't find any fledged young. Highlight was a Sparrowhawk (with white undertail coverts showing) which was soaring above the trees and climbing continuously while the local gulls kept up a racket and four House Martins and a Swallow took the responsibility for mobbing it. Later, a Buzzard was agin low over my housing estate. As usual, I was alerted to it's presence by the cries of the local summering Lesser Black-backs.

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Wednesday, July 10, 2024 

A look around Cardonald Cemetery this morning failed to find any Rooks, even though a few pairs nested there a few years ago.

On an extremely wet day, natural connections were virtually non-existent. But still the locacl Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Wrens, Dunnocks and Chiffchaffs sing.  The Black-headed Gull flock on the playing fields has begun to reassemble after its summer hiatus.

After bemoaning my failure to find any breeding evidence for my local Blackcaps or Chiffchaffs, this afternoon I heard a very clear juvenile Chiffchaff call from the scrubby area over the garden fence.

Chiffchaff and Blackcap continue to sing within earshot of the house, as they have done all spring and summer. I have seen no other breeding evidence for either species but I remain hopeful. 

Saturday, July 06, 2024

A single Swallow was hunting over a grass patch next to the City of Glasgow College around 9:15 this evening. It was then commuting up and down Montrose Street, presumably to/from a nest.

With a couple of hours to spare this afternoon, I decided to walk up into the Kilpatrick Hills from the Old Kilpatrick car park. Some interesting plants included Square-stalked St John's-wort and ZigZag Clover. Breeding birds included Kestrel (a pair with four juveniles), Whinchat (an adult feeding three young), Whitethroat (a pair feeding four young) and potentially Pheasant (an adult acting as if it had chicks in long grass). This evening, a non-birding trip to Mount Florida was brightened up by a single Swift feeding overhead. 

During a rainy walk in Pollokshaws this lunchtime, four Swifts and two Sand Martins were feeding low over Shaw Bridge. Nearby, three juvenile Grey Wagtails were at a spot on the river where I saw adults earlier in the spring.

A morning visit to the RSPB Lochwinnoch reserve produced two Black-tailed Godwits and two Dunlin, all four in various states of summer plumage.

Two singing Stock Doves were along the river path this morning. Later, a party of Long-tailed Tits moved along the back garden fenceline, as they often do.

Two adult Rooks were in the vicinity of the tiny rookery I found on Brockburn Road earlier in the year, although I didn't see them entering the nesting trees.

Sunday, June 30, 2024

While sitting at the dining table, writing, the angry calls of several gulls attracted me outside to find a Common Buzzard soaring over the house. A little later, I heard the "keek-keek-keek" call of a smaller raptor (Sparrowhawk or Kestrel) but was unable to locate it.

Saturday, June 29, 2024

A female Mallard on the river today had two half-grown young in tow.