A Blue Tit was singing lustily in the garden first thing. 

A singing Starling and two flyover Rooks were unusual for the time of year on my home patch. Two Tawny Owls outside the window this evening were a bonus.

A Treecreeper was calling loudly in Robertson Park, Renfrew this lunchtime. I have heard more over the last month or so than I can ever remember. I wonder if the calls are coming from adults shepherding fledged broods. The pair of Mute Swans on the park pond have managed to raise eight cygnets to almost adult size. When the sun came out, the Buddleja bushes along the northern edge of the park attracted Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies, the two hoverflies Eristalis pertinax and Volucella pellucens and a single Common Carder Bee.

Plenty of Grey Squirrels were active in the west end of Glasgow today, both in the Botanic Gardens and in Kelvingrove Park. 

A walk through Finnieston this lunchtime produced the expected city-centre species such as Feral Pigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Magpie but also a pair of Mute Swans on the river with seven cygnets.

A walk around the 1km square immediately to the north of mine produced only the expected suburban birds such as Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, the common corvids, Graet Tit and Goldfinch.

Another rainy day failed to deter a Great Spotted Woodpecker from "peep"ing from the woods opposite the house.

Back in my home square today, the sunshine prompted several species to be more active and therefore more visible. All three common tit species are starting to become more vocal after a month of being very quiet.

I checked the Hyndland area today to see if any Swifts were still lingering there but I neither heard nor saw any. In fact, birds were virtually non-existent with only a singing Coal Tit remotely notable.

Only common birds were showing around Pollokshaws when I checked today.

A tiny Moorhen chick was a surprise on Rosshall Park pond during today's local walk. A flash of blue confirmed that at least one of the Kingfishers had relocated there from the river.

Birds were few on Salisbury Crags this morning due to a very strong wind and intermittent squally showers. Insects were also scarce, although I managed to eke out one or two bees for iRecord. Plenty of plants were still in flower including a possible patch of  Sticky Catchfly (I'm still working on the identification).

An impressive forty-five Tufted Ducks were on thye Murdieston Dams in Greenock this morning. Interesting birds at Lunderston Bay included Sandwich Tern and Raven.

A Treecreeper calling from the regular spot near the old cookery school was the highlight of today's local walk.

Some of the highlights of a walk around Baron's Haugh and Dalziel Estate today were Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Gadwall, Black-tailed Godwit and Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker.

I managed to winkle out a few Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits in Cardonald today, but most birds were extremely quiet. A Common Carder Bee was nectarine on Ragwort in front of Moss Heights.

Another busy family day meant natural connections were limited to the few birds in and around the garden.

Today was spent on the island of Arran. Interesting mammals consisted of three Common Seals on rocks near Whitefarland, a tame Red Deer stag in Lochranza and a (sadly) dead Red Squirrel on the road at Sannox.Birds included Lesser Redpolls on Machrie Moor, three Turnstones at Blackwaterfoot and Hooded Crows at Lochranza. Butterflies consisted of Scotch Argus, Small Copper, Peacock and a few Whites. Some interesting insects were Common Darters and a colony of Mining Bees. Plants included naturalised Monbretia and Fuschia.

Up to two Little Egrets and a Grey Heron were fishing in the River Sark when I walked along the merse below Gretna today. Other interesting finds included Kestrel, Linnet, Spiny Restharrow and Parsley Water-droplet.

At least two Chiffchaffs were again calling along the river path - which reminds me that a Blackcap was alarm-calling from over the back garden fence yesterday. I have heard neither species in song here for nearly a month.

Some much needed sunshine brought bees, hoverflies and butterflies (a Peacock and a handful of whites) to the "wildflower strips" at Crookston Castle and Rosshall Park. A female Mallard on the river had four half-sized ducklings, a Nuthatch called by the confluence and both Buckthorn and Damsons were in fruit.

A busy day for family so little time for natural connections. The Swifts in the Willowbrae area of Edinburgh where nowhere to be seen (or heard).

Three Rabbits were at the Monkton roundabout when I passed there this afternoon.  This evening, a newly-fledged Woodpigeon was feeding in the estate.

Some highlights from today's walk around Pollokshaws included single Swift, Kingfisher and Holly Blue butterfly, and two Alder Spittalbugs.

Two Sand Martins were over the river near Shawbridge today. A Kingfisher called nearby and a Holly Blue butterfly was a surprise, resting on Rosebay Willow-herb. Two Robins were singing - the first "winter" song I have heard this year.

Thirty-three Mallards were on the pontoon at Braehead this morning. Two Sand Martins were feeding over the Clyde.

Birds were fairly unforthcoming in Springburn Park today. A Chiffchaff was keeping in touch using contact calls near the rock garden.

With heavy rain falling all day and the river swollen, few birds showed on my local walk. A single Chiffchaff broke the silence but little else.

At least ten House Martins and at least two Swallows were feeding over a silage field on the edge of Balfron. 

I was wakened at 04:30 this morning by two Tawny Owls calling outside my house. I record the species less than annually in my home 1km square, so this was quite an event. This morning, I had an appointment in Govan so took the opportunity to count the birds in Elder Park. Around 110 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the pond included around 60 juveniles (the five Black-headed Gulls present included one juvenile). Seven House Martins and three Swallows were feeding around the treetops (in cool weather) and another eight Swallows were feeding low over the mown lawns. 

I walked from Dunblane to Bridge of Allan first thing today. Interesting birds included Jay, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Dipper.  Later, a walk up Dumyat only produced Swallow, Meadow Pipit and Raven due to strong winds.

A flock of fourteen Woodpigeons in Auldhouse Park included four immatures. A Grey Heron was on the river at Shawbridge. Plenty of juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on rooftops around the retail park.