Lots of common butterflies were around Crookston today: Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Red Admiral.

Fifteen Mallards were on the river at Shawbridge this lunchtime. Four Long-tailed Tits were nearby. 

There was little of special note during a walk through Queen's Park today although the bulk of the Mallards which had gathered on the Boating Pond now seem to have moved on. The two juvenile Tufted Ducks also appear to have gone with them. This movement coincided with the drake Mallards starting to acquire their breeding plumage, possibly indicating that the moult has been completed. 

Thursday, August 28, 2025

A walk around the scrubby land north east of the Phoenix Retail Park on the edge of Paisley revealed that another large area is being cleared for housing.  

A Fulmar was high on the cliffs of Salisbury Crags when I passed this evening - very late surely.

A Jay and a Grey Wagtail were nice finds along the White Cart at Clarkston today. Earlier, House Martins were feeding nestlings at Whitelee Wind Farm Visitor Centre and two Stonechats were beside the main access road.

Five Speckled Wood butterflies were along the path behind the allotments in Queen's Park today. A Red Admiral was on the edge of the boating pond. 

The two first-winter Tufted Ducks continue their stay on the boating pond in Queen's Park.  

Today I walked down the Water of Leith from Craiglockhart to Leith. Notable sightings included Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail and Greenfinch. I was disappointed not to find any Mistletoe at GOMA II. It looks like the recent windy weather has taken down the outer branches of the affected trees. 

A single Snipe showed well as it flew above the reeds during a very brief stop at RSPB Lochwinnoch this afternoon. 

Two Pied Wagtails were feeding on the bowling green this morning. This afternoon, single Tufted Duck and Little Grebe were on Queen's Park Pond. One of the drake Mallards on the small pond was well into acquiring its breeding plumage - the first I have seen this year.

A Common Blue Damselfly was the best find on a walk around the James Hamilton Heritage Loch today.

A Kingfisher was over the river at the end of Carmichael Place. 

Three Swallows swooped close to the front of our building this evening.

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Three Rooks (one of which possibly being a first year bird) were along Brockburn Road this morning. Later, begging juvenile Buzzards were heard near the Pollok Country Park ponds and in the wooded area behind Greenview Church.

I had time for a longer-than-usual walk today, so took the opportunity to explore some of the quieter paths in Pollok Park. Some highlights included Nuthatches at four sites, Treecreepers and Stock Doves at two, and Great Spotted Woodpecker at one. The wildflower meadow to the north of the path towards Corkerhill held amazing numbers of Western Honey Bees, Common Carder Bees, Buff-tailed Bumblebees, assorted hoverflies and a large Four-spot Orb-weaver spider. I heard no Swifts in Shawlands for the third day running. 

Swallows were again wittering over my corner of south Glasgow this afternoon. A Bullfinch called from the woods behind a tenement. 

A Nuthatch was calling in Maxwell Park this evening.

Hogganfield Loch produced some good sightings today including Pochard, Speckled Wood, Common Blue Damselfly and an Osprey catching a Rainbow Trout and flying off with it. 

A Coot was feeding two very young chicks on Town Dam, Greenock this morning. The Murdieston Dams Mute Swan broods of eight and four cygnets are nearly full grown but still retaining much juvenile plumage. A Raven was the best bird at Lunderston Bay. Later, a Gannet flew low past Kempock Point. 

A walk through Queens Park confirmed that the two Tufted Duck ducklings have now acquired first winter plumage.

Three of us went for quite a long walk this afternoon, well into the heart of Pollok Park before returning along the river. Few birds were showing, as is typical of the time of year. However Chiffchaffs were heard at two places and Swallow, Sand Martin, House Martin and Swift were all active overhead. An Ichnemid wasp with a long ovipositor sent me scurrying for my insect books. Found a good key at x. This evening, three Lesser Black-backed Gull fledglings from the roof of the building opposite crash-landed on the bowling green. They caused quite a stir among the local Magpies. I think they headed for cover when it began to get dark. We shall see what the morning brings.

Ardmore Point was wet, windy and cool this morning. Nevertheless, some good birds were encontered including Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Gannet, Red-breasted Merganser, Sandwich Tern and . A Speckled Wood was a nice find as was a mustelid (probably a Stoat) which ran across the path in front of me.  

Continuing what seems to have been an excellent summer for fruit locally, the apple trees and blackberry bushes on Crookston Castle Hill were heavily laden with fruit.

Notable findings from Queen's Park today were a Harlequin Ladybird, several Oak trees with Knopper galls, a Rabbit, two Tufted Duck and two Little Grebes.

Four Carrion Crows (possibly a pair and two immatures) were causing quite a racket, chasing eachother around the local bowling green this morning. Also present were House Sparrow and Pied Wagtail. This evening, at least two Swits were screaming high overhead. 

I went over to Balgray Reservoir this morning to see if yesterday's storm had deposited a scoter or a tern. No luck, I'm afraid (although lucky for the birds), I had to be content with a distant Great Crested Grebe and some common bumblebees.

Two Tufted Ducks were on the big pond in Queen's Park again today. So too was the single Little Grebe.

An interesting walk in Pollok Park today turned up an unfamiliar plants and a small wasp species, both of which will need further investigation (when I have time). The person who takes his blue macaw for walks around the area was mobbed by the gulls from the block of flats opposite my house. I noticed they had young ones out on the roof and that presumably explains their behaviour. 

People vastly outnumbered the wildlife today in a sunny Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Back home, a single Swift was high above Shawlands Cross. 

A female Bullfinch was piping softly as it fed on seed heads in Eastwood Park this morning.