An early morning walk around Cellardyke revealed an amazing number of (mostly common) birds including Starling, House Sparrow, Blackbird and Woodpigeon. Notable, less-common species consisted of Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Skylark and Collared Dove. Later in the morning, a brief stop at Crail Airfield added Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting and Whitethroat to the 24 hour bird list while the cliffs at Crail Harbour held at least eleven nesting Fulmar.

The Puffin season was in full swing when I visited the Isle of May today, with the sky full of birds coming and going. Swallows were nesting in a building near the loch, Rock Pipits were singing and parachuting at various locations, Eider ducks had creches on the loch and in Kirkhaven and at least two pairs of Oystercatcher appeared to be on territory. Birds seen carrying food consisted of Puffin, Rock Pipit and Pied Wagtail. 

There were plenty of signs of successful breeding at a windy James Hamilton Heritage Park today. Mute Swan, Greylag Goose and Canada Goose were all escorting young. 

At least two of the Blackbirds hunting around my home square today were carrying food for nestlings. 

A Dipper and a pair of Grey Wagtails were at the flood-relief pool beside Old Inverkip Road, Greenock this evening. All were seen carrying food, suggesting hatched broods nearby.The Mute Swan pairs on Cowdenknowes and Town Dams had nine and six cygnets respectively, while there were two Mallard broods (of two and three) and one of Moorhen (two juveniles). A little earlier, a Gannet was fishing off Lunderston Bay and a Sailor Beetle was among the Hogweed.

A Kingfisher and a Grey Heron were on the pond in Rosshall Park when I checked there this evening. Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit all had fledged young nearby.

Two Sand Martins feeding low over the Brock Burn in cool, windy and showery weather were an unexpected find during my walk around Crookston Castle this lunchtime (my first record for the square). Also notable were two Goosanders (an adult female and a large juvenile) fishing the burn.

A Collared Dove was again over the railway bridge on Cardonald Place Road.

Two Swallows were flying over the model railway track in Barshaw Park today. One swooped down and took a drink of water from the surface of the pond.

A sunny evening in Pollokshaws unfortunately failed to produce any Swift sightings. 

A walk in the grounds of Erskine Hospital this afternoon produced four warbler species (Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden Warbler) in song plus several Blackbirds and Rabbits feeding on the grass verges.

A Grey Heron and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were the avian highlights of a late afternoon walk around my home square. However the most notable sighting concerned at least two Nomad bees (probably Marsham's) on Raspberry flowers.

The sunny weather and Raspberry blossom brought plenty of pollinators to the path alongside Rosshall School including Tree Bumble Bee, Common Carder Bee and Western Honey Bee. Two Whitethroats were singing at Rosshall Farm with a Small Heath butterly there as well. A Kingfisher flew along the river.

A Grey Heron on the river was part of a recent trend towards increasing numbers of sightings. A Common Red Damselfy on the river bank opposite the house was a rare find. 

I popped out before dawn this morning to do my annual warbler count on Loch Lomondside. On the basis of a very quick look back over my records, today's total of fourteen singing Wood Warblers was the best since the seventeen I had in 2019. Other totals were: Chiffchaff (5); Willow Warbler (39); Blackcap (23); Garden Warbler (2); Spotted Flycatcher (4); Redstart (5); Nuthatch (4); Cuckoo (2); Common Sandpiper (8); Pied Flycatcher (0); Tree Pipit (0).

A female Goosander leading six very small ducklings upriver was the undoubted highlight of today's local walk.

A single Collared Dove on the railway bridge was the first I'd seen locally this year.

A Moorhen on the river at Moulin was feeding at least two chicks in vegetation near the far bank. A Grey Heron was on the weir below Rosshall Park. A second bird called as it arrived from the south east.

I varied my normal route today to have a good look around one of my neighbouring squares: Cardonald. A 45 minute walk produced 25 species. Nothing spectacular but good to hear Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap in what is predominantly an urban square.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Rosshall Park pond held a single Moorhen chick (just past the Lesser Black-backed Gull-snack stage so feeding out on the water on its own) when I passed there this evening.

A Kingfisher and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were the most notable sightings/hearings from today's local walk.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

A Willow Warbler and a Blackcap were singing at the Yoker ferry car park when we went over today. 

A Whitethroat, a Blackcap and three Chiffchaffs were singing from the scrubby vegetation on Calton Hill first thing. A pair of Long-tailed Tits had a fledged brood nearby and a Speckled Wood butterfly was an unexpected find. Linnet was the best bird of the walk from Silverknowes to Cramond. I was cheered to note that the River Almond from its mouth to the first waterfall held a good suite of riparian birds including Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Mallard (a female had a brood of four ducklings), Mute Swan, Mallard and Goosander. 

House Martins were visiting two  nests in the apex of the roof of the crematorium during a service I attended this morning. Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting were singing outside. Later, notable birds at Lochwinnoch RSPB reserve consisted of Canada Goose with goslings, Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe on nest, Lapwing with chicks, Redshank and Little Ringed Plover.

I popped in to Fountain Gardens, Paisley this afternoon to check on the rookery there. Plenty of nests were active (but mostly now hidden by foliage). A single nestling was wandering about on the ground, its parents frantically calling to it from low branches. It was able to flutter a few paces so will hopefully be able to find a high perch to roost overnight.

Plenty of Willow Warblers were singing along the river path to Paisley today. The Whitethroat at Bonnyholm was still present. One was also at Hawkhead where they used to summer 25 years ago. 

Today I walked between the Motherwell to Hamilton road where it crosses the Clyde and Windmillhill Street in Motherwell, including the Clyde Walkway to Easterbraes and circuits of both Dalzell Estate and Baron's Haugh RSPB reserve (taking just under three hours). Most notable sightings were the four summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits on the haugh and a singing Treecreeper along the Clyde. However the numbers of singing warblers were also interesting as follows: Blackcap - 23; Chiffchaff - 13; Willow Warbler - 12; Whitethroat - 5; Garden Warbler - 3 and Sedge Warbler - 2. Singing Stock Doves were also widespread with a total of ten counted.

My walk in Crookston today produced four Chiffchaffs, three Blackcaps and two Stock Doves, all in song, as well as a single Roe Deer. Moving over to south Cardonald, a Whitethroat singing beside Bonnyholm football pitches was my first of the year for that particular spot.

Plenty of common birds were in song when I visited Craigton Cemetery today, including the "Holy Trinity" of leaf warblers (Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff). No sooner had I remarked to myself that the scrubby wasteground next to the railway looked good for Whitethroat, when a single male started to sing.

A very early start was rewarded with the stirring sight of fourteen blackcaock and single hen at a moorland lek. The calls of the displaying males mingled with those of Curlew, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Willow Warbler, Redpoll and Chaffinch to create a memorable soundscape. Not long after, a walk through a large area of bog woodland produced several highlights including sightings of Greylag Goose, Teal, Goldeneye, Lapwing, Green Sandpiper and Sedge Warbler. The drier woodland and scrub nearby held Tree pipit, Whinchat, Stonechat Cuckoo, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush as well as the ubiquitous Willow Warbler and Chaffich. One small loch had nesting Grey Heron and a female Mallard with eight ducklings as well as several other potential breeders including Little Grebe, Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck and Mute Swan. Ospreys were at two sites (including a bathing bird at one) and supporting species included Wigeon, Goosander, Slavonian Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull, Sparrowhawk, Dipper, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Swallow and Reed Bunting.

An evening Badger-watching inStrathspey produced four animals appearing in broad daylight and pottering around the sett entrances before heading off into the fields to hunt. A little earlier, at least one pair of House Martins had begun nest building under the eaves of a cottage in the forest. At dusk, Woodcock were roding (and squeaking) high over the trees. A Brown Hare and two small bats were active as it got dark.