A Kingfisher flew along the river in the early evening when Song Thrushes and Blackbirds were gathering to roost on the island in Rosshall Park Pond.

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Sunday, September 29, 2024

A Raven called over the house first thing.

Birds were fairly scarce in a rainy Kelvingrove Park today. However a large number of  Common Carder Bees and a single White-tailed Bumblebee were exploiting the last flowers in the herbaceous borders.

The Swallows which usually hunt for insects in Elder Park, Govan were absent today, presumably having departed on their southwards migration. The wildflower borders there continue to provide some late colour. With few other plants still flowering, quite a few hoverflies were taking advantage of them.

The drake Mandarin Duck was on Rouken Glen pond this morning when I popped in while passing. 

A Raven was calling while I was doing some gardening in south Woodfarm this morning.

A Nuthatch was calling outside the house first thing today. Later, three more were calling in the eastern part of Bellahouston Park. Nearby, a big patch of autumn crocuses (Bieberstein's Crocus, I think) had attraccted at least 35 Western Honey Bees.

A calling Raven overhead was an unexpected record during my WeBS count in Greenock today. Also notable were two Little Grebes, one in breeding plumage and one in either winter or first winter plumage.

Around a dozen House Martins were feeding over the mature trees at the entrance to my housing estate when I ventured out this morning. For the next hour, small flocks of Woodpigeons streamed overhead (mostly heading east). A Chiffchaff was singing strongly near the river. A partially-leucistic Rook was along Braidcraft Road.

After coming across numerous singing Chiffchaffs in Dumfries and Galloway over the past week, I was still surpised to hear one over my garden fence this morning. 

Today's final leg of our Cumnock to Dumfries walk was the gap between Auldgirth and Thornhill. The weather was cooler today and perfectly calm, making finding birds a little easier that previously. The varied landscape also contributed to quite a respectable bird list which included Red Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel, Nuthatch, Meadow Pipit, Jay, Magpie and Siskin (the latter two species rarely encountered this week). Less welcome were a single Grey Squirrel and the sight of a dead Hedgehog beside the A76.

Highlights of today's walk between Dumfries and Auldgirth were Sparrowhawk, Wheatear, Slow Worm (sadly dead), Scarlet Pimpernel and Spindle.

The highlights of today's walk between Sanquhar and Thornhill were three Red Kites in the air together, free-range Turkey's on the Drumlanrig Estate and a good range of waterbirds on the Nith (and Sanquhar Loch) consisting of Goosander, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Teal, Coot, Moorhen, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Dipper and Grey Wagtail.

The walk from New Cumnock to Sanquhar produced Red Kite, Raven, Skylark, Stonechat, Great Spotted Woodpecker,  Jay, Common Toad and Grass of Parnassus. For the second evening running, the International Space Station was clearly visible over Thornhill.

Relatively few birds were encountered during a walk from Cumnock to new Cumnock today (partly because of the need to concentrate on staying safe from the heavy traffic). Pollinators were also rare, although a single Silver Y was on a roadside Honeysuckle and a patch of Goldenrod at Connelwood House held Common Carder Bee, a much biggger Bumblebee, numerous flies and hoverflies and both Peacock and Small Copper butterflies.

The single Moorhen chick on Rosshall Park Pond is well-grown but was still begging a parent for food when I visited this afternoon. An older juvenile, presumably from an earlier brood, was on the river nearby. 

A brief visit to Bellahouston Park in blustery weather only produced three species: Magpie, Woodpigeon and Robin.

A Roe Deer, Fly Agaric toadstools and a calling Nuthatch were the highlights of a windy day climbing Birnam Hill in Perth and Kinross.

On another blustery day, a walk up Creag Bheag produced a dozen Pink-footed Geese flying south overhead and a few upland birds including Meadow Pipit and Raven. 

An attempt to climb An Suidhe had to be abandoned due to our reluctance to walk through a farmyard without permission. Instead we walked up the Burma Road, almost as far as the saddle and the path to Carn Dearg Mor. The weather was blustery with frequent heavy soweres, so few insects or birds were venturaing out of cover.

Travelling north today, I saw an Osprey at Loch Leven, a Red Kite near Crathes and a Hen Harrier near Bridge of Brown. A Red Squirrel was on the feeders at Braemar.

As usual for the site, few birds were noted during a walk around north Cardonald today. Robin was the only passerine with several birds singing or calling from cover. 

Saturday, September 07, 2024

Six Ravens were swooping over the accommodation in Tamaragua as we prepared to leave this morning.

A Pied Wagtail flying over the house was an unusual record for my home square. A flock of at least fourteen Long-tailed Tits was more typical, particularly at this time of year.

The usual birds were around Tamaragua when we ventured out this lunchtime. Highlight was an African Grass Blue butterfly.

A big shearwater (possibly Cory's) was wheeling around the ferry between Fuerteventura and Lanzarote today. Three Bertholet's Pipits were along the front at Playa Blanca. Earlier in the day, two were feeding around the bus stop in Tamaragua. 

A few Common Sandpipers were among the waders on the two beaches I visited today (Corralejo at Paseo Maritimo Bristol and El Cotillo beach). I couldn't help but wonder if any of them were Scottish breeding birds.

About a dozen Collared Doves had taken over the tree usually favoured by the Spanish Sparrows when we passed this morning. Five Ravens (possibly a family group) were swirling in the air out over the desert. This evening, four Stone Curlews moved quietly across the landscape. 

Thirty or so Feral Pigeons were over Tamaragua first thing withg twelve Spanish Sparrows and two Ravens there later. Four Turnstones were on rocks at Corralejo.

Today was typically hot in the Urbanizaciòn Tamaragua, but a few common species braved the heat including Raven, Bertholet's Pipit, Spanish Sparrow, Linnet and Collared Dove.