Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Linnet were all good sightings at Irvine harbour mouth this morning. Later, two Black Guillemots were off the esplanade in Greenock.

A wander around Strathclyde Loch this afternoon failed to produce any early hirundines (probably too windy). Earlier, I found a new Chiffchaff territory about 300m east of the one nearest my house which has been occupied for the past 20 years. The other territory I know of locally is about 300m to the southwest. Another good local record was of a Sparrowhawk calling from a section of Pollok Wood.

A walk through Holyrood Park, Edinburgh this morning failed to produce any of the Fulmars (albeit small numbers of late) that nest on inland crags there. I could see no sign on Salisbury Crags, although I have still to check the Gutted Haddie and the Lion's Haunch. 

Three pairs of Shoveler and a single male (which flew off and circled overhead giving great views) were on Buckley Pool this afternoon. A long walk along the Kelvin and back via Millichen Road and Bearsden produced plenty of Goosanders and Mallards plus single Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher but frustratingly no Dippers.

Five Goosanders (two drakes and three ducks) were on the river at Shawbridge this lunchtime. The two males had a standoff during which two of the females appeared to swap parteners, ending up swimming away with different males from the ones they arrived with.

I could see no activity when I visited the Leverndale Raven nest site this morning, but an adult croaking as it circled the tower was probably a sign of occupation. A Kingfisher was down on the river and a single Stock Dove sang in the woods.

Two male Chiffchaffs are now singing consistenty from two sites in my home 1lm square, precisely where birds have sung for the past ten years or more. A Nuthatch singing near the old coach house was slightly unusual.

Two Long-tailed Tits were gathering spiders webs from the frame of the wooden pergola in the back garden this morning (possibly the same pair I saw scolding Mapgies near a possible nest site behind the garden shed). Later, a Raven was calling over Barshaw Park, Paisley.

Pairs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were displaying on the rooftops in Pollok this morning where a singing Greenfinch was slightly unusual. The recently-established rookery on Brockburn Road is stuck at a single nest withs no sign of any activity in the area.

At least three male Blackbirds and one male Song Thrush were singing within earshot of my front door this evening. 

The birds in Glasgow Botanic Garden today were unremarkable and try as I might, I couldn't turn any of the many Woodpigeons into Stock Doves.

An errand to run in Rosyth gave me a good excuse to drop in on Portmoak Moss near Loch Leven.  At least two Green Woodpeckers were active in the woods surrounding the moss with plenty of yaffling and one bird giving brief views. The walk down to the loch shore produced singing Skylark, mating Goldeneye (the reserve staff have been providing nestboxes for them) and literally hundreds of Tufted Ducks. Back at the moss, the songs of Siskin and Treecreeper were slightly out of the ordinary for me.

My weekly walk in Pollokshaws was moved to Wednesday this week. A single drake Goosander was at his usual place near the confluence of the White Cart and the Auldhouse Burn. Later, two Oystercatchers were prospecting for a nest site among the buildings between Kilmarnock Road and Pollokshaws Road.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2025

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I decided to take a break from working on the house and instead spent most of the day checking for some of the rarities that had been present around the area in recent weeks. The Black-necked Grebe at Ardmore Point, the Smew on Broadwood Loch and the Red-necked Grebe on Hogganfied Loch were the main targets and were all duly found. However some other highlights included displaying Ravens at Ardmore, displaying Smew and two singing Willow Warblers at Broadwood and displaying Great Crested Grebes and two Whooper Swans at Hogganfield.

A male Chaffinch was singing strongly from the trees opposite the house today. I rarely record them around here, although they sing regularly just half a kilometer away.

My WeBS count in Greenock today failed to produce anything unusual. However two pairs of Mute Swans had occupied nests, at least two pairs of Coot were nest-building, all but one female Mallard had disappeared  (presumably sitting on eggs) and the Tufted Duck flock had divided into discrete pairs. 

Saturday, March 15, 2025

An errand in Paisley afforded me the opportunity to check the rookery in Fountain Gardens. I counted 25 nests at the west end of the park and seven at the east (frustratingly in a different 1km square). There was plenty of activity and lots of calling, which made me wonder what the residents in the adjacent tenements thought about it all. I suspect they don't enjoy the various Rook calls as much as I do.

 

Friday, March 14, 2025

A Grey Wagtail was slightly unusual for my home square. At least two pairs of Long-tailed Tits are nesting within a few hundred metres of my home.  

A quick check of the small pond in Queens Park failed to produce aby spawning Common Frogs, although plenty of spawn was present. A Nuthatch sang nearby and a pair of Stock Doves (the female shier than the male) were feeding by the path.

A Wren singing strongly in the retail park behind Anniesland Cross was the only natural connection of a frustratingly busy day.

Various Daffodil cultivars including Narcissus 'tete-a-tete', N. 'February Gold', N. ''Ice Folies' and N. "Golden Harvest' were in flower in the Cairnhill Estate today. Both House Sparrow and Starling were showing signs of breeding in the houses there. 

For the second day running I found a pair of Long-tailed Tits building a nest, this time in the Hawthorn bush in front of my house. 

The Rookery on Brockburn Road consisted of one nest nearly completed and one barely started when I checked today. One bird flew in with a stick to add to the first nest. At least seven others were either in the adjacent trees or nearby. Some other good birds in the Crookston Castle monad included Nuthatch and Kingfisher. Many more Daffodils are now in flower than was the case a week ago.

Satuurday, March 08, 2025

My first Chiffchaff of the year was singing near Bonnyholm Bridge with another bird calling nearby. At least three Chaffinches were also singing in that area with another next to my house. Two pairs of Stock Doves (feeding together) plus two males in song were along the river path. Later, a Greater Black-backed Gull called loudly as it flew low over the estate.

I was helping out at an event in Govanhill today so only had time for a short walk around Govanhill Park. This tiny oasis in one of the most densely-populated parst of Glasgow has hosted flocks of Waxwings in the past. However, today the highlights were singing Coal Tit and Greenfinch.

My usual walk around Pollokshaws produced only the regular birds but was more notable for spring flowers including Dandelion sp, Lesser Celandine (my first of the year), Common Whitlowgrass, Primula sp, Golden Crocus, Spring Crocus and Narcissus sp. 

Some minor car trouble necessitated a trip to Inverclyde this morning. A good walk along the shore at Port Glasgow produced a Red-breasted Merganser in summer plumgae, courting Eiders, both Cormorant and Shag, Redshanks and Dunlins roosting on rocks and evidence of a good population of House Sparrows among the scrap yards along Anderson Street and Mirren's Shore.

I took a day away from doing  home improvements to go walking around Aviemore. Highlights of the trip north were a glorious, pink sunrise in Glasgow, a Red Kite near Dunblane and a single Lapwing in a flooded field near House of Bruar. Apart from the latter, roadside Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and farmland waders were virtually non-existent. The windy weather reduced the number of birds I was able to detect in Aviemore, but Greenfinch was a notable singer and seven Herring Gulls were resting on floodwater in a field at the old waterworks. A Grey Wagtail on the Spey was notable. Rooks were either absent or very quiet, although one over the coach at Dunachtonmore was carrying a stick. Most obvious singing birds during the walk to Whitewell and back were Chaffinch and Robin. Slightly less common species were hard to find but included Great Spotted Woodpecker and Pheasant. Juniper was widespread in the forest and up to ten spikes of Yellow Bird’s-nest (long gone over) were a nice surprise near Coylumbridge. Single Common Toad and Common Frog crossed the path in front of me, and a Wood Ant was active at the entrance to its nest. A Peregrine on a well-known crag was also exciting. Heading home, four Greylag Geese near the new waterworks and a Red Kite just before Stirling were the highlights.

A busy day working on the house meant that natural connections were limited to the songs and calls coming from birds in my local housing estate. A male Coal Tit continues to hold territory nearvy, as do male Song Thrush and Blue Tit. I am looking forward to the first Chiffchaff song which should come in the next week or two. 

Today's walk around Crookston castle produced several interesting sightings including five Rooks at a new site for a potential rookery, a single Jay flying from the castle grounds into the glen below, ten Redwings moving through the treetops and a group of Greenfinches singing excitedly.

A pair of Coal Tits continue to frequent the back garden, raising the possibility that they may be planning to nest nearby. Mammal count for today was three (Roe Dee, Brown Rat and Grey Squirrel). Best birds were four Stock Doves and my first local singing Chaffinch of the spring.