A very short walk at a very rainy Gartmorn Dam produced a single Goldeneye and LOTS of Canada Geese.

Today I stayed local and surveyed two squares near home: NS5762 (Queen's Park) and NS5662 (Crossmyloof to Maxwell Park), yielding 28 and 27 species respectively.Best bird was a confiding Treecreeper in a corner of Pollok Park. Waxcaps and earthtongues were at Haggs Castle, Common Wasps were feeding on Ivy flowers in Titwood Park and beutiful autumn colous wer showing all over Pollokshields, Strathbungo and Crossmyloof. 

Much of the walk up to Jaw Reservoir from Faifley took place in drizzle, and few birds were showing as a result. However Kestrel, Raven, Stonechat, Cormorant and Goosander were all good records. Three large waders feeding with Common Gulls on distant upland pasture caused an identification challenge but eventually proved to be Curlews.

A local walk around Pollokshaws this afternoon coincided with a big southwest movement of Jackdaws, presumably birds going to roost in Pollok Park. 

I walked around the Catkin Braes for a couple of hours this morning. most notable birds encountered were three each of  Jay and Sklark (One of the latter breaking, briefly into song). Fungi were on the whole disappointing, I suspect due to heavy overnight rain and the attentions of the many Grey Squirrels at that site.

Only common birds were in the area around Crookston Castle when I walked through there this morning. However I did notice a marked increase in Starlings since my last visit. 

A Grey Heron and a Moorhen were the only notable birds in the south east corner of Pollok Park this morning (possibly because the dry weather had brought out more than the usual number of people). Interesting fungi included Lemon Disco and possible Rosy Bonnet.

I had a good walk around the west end of Paisley today. Only common birds were present. The Starlings singing from the treetops in Fountain Gardens were the highlight.

Interesting wildlife around Devilla Forest, West Fife this morning included various waterbirds on the four lochs, up to three Ravens, up to seven Jays, occasional Skylarks, a Water Rail, a Palmate Newt and numerous fungi. The neighbouring farmland around Gallows Loan held Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer, Pheasant (but not Grey Partidge), three species of goose (Canada, Greylag and Pink-footed) and Pied Wagtail. 

The Bent Cemetery in Hamilton was full of Thrushes today with Redwings and Mistle Thrushes particularly prominent. The birds seemed to be feeding on Ivy berries while Honey Bbes, Hoverflies and a Painted Lady butterfly were feeding on Ivy flowers.

A Jay was showing well in Pollok Park this afternoon, taking acorns and burying them in pasture fields. Great SpottedWoodpecker, Nuthatch and Sparrowhawk were other good local birds. Fungi were very well represented with some nice growth of Porcelain Fungus.

A walk around Langside this morning produced a Nuthatch calling from Camphill Woods and a Goosander on the river.  A little later, a Raven was over Queen's Park Recreation Ground and up to eight Pied Wagtails were on top of the maisonettes along Pollokshaws Road.

Hogganfield Loch was largely deserted due to heavy rain today. However plenty of birds were on show including five breeding-plumaged Gadwall and a single drake Goldeneye. Most unexpected, however, was a single Shelduck. I have never recorded one here before. CORRECTION: I checked my birdtrack records and I have seen one at Hogganfield before - on 12th March 1987. It was not long after I moved to Glasgow, over 38 years ago. No wonder I forgot! 

A Nuthatch and a Redwing were the highlights of a walk through Pollok Park this afternoon. Maxwell Park Pond held two Mute Swans and five Tufted Duck. 

.

Friday, October 17, 2025

The two Tufted Ducks that appear to have spent the autumn on the large pond in Queen's Park were moulting into breeding plumage today. It looks like they are both drakes. 

A Grey Heron was at the waterfall next to Shaw Bridge again this lunchtime. I wonder if it will stay there for the winter. Also, a Kingfisher zoomed by.

There were lots of good birds in the Pentland Hills today including Jay, Raven, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, Redpoll and Skylark.

Plenty of waxcaps and other fungi were popping up on the mown lawns around south Woodfarm and Eastwood Park today. Four Redwings at the latter site were my first of the "winter". 

Robins continue to dominate the soundscape in Shawlands.  

Birds at Lunderston Bay today included Raven (a configing bird on the beach), Stonechat (at two sites) and Eider (an unusually large flock near the marina). 

I found Dipper at two sites and Kingfisher at one during today's walk around Livingston. Also notable were a couple of Red Admiral butterflies and a Crab Apple tree. 

Today's walk was quite a long one, from Tyndrum to Crianlarich. Birds were quite good with Dippers at two sites and Stonechat at one. Best of all was a Red Squirrel which gave excellent views a it ran across the path. 

A Grey Heron was at the weir in Shawbridge today. A Broad-leaved Helliborine was fruiting nearby. A newly-fledged Woodpigeon was in Auldhouse Park.

A hunting Sparrowhawk and a calling Great Spotted Woodpecker were the highlights of a walk in the Cunnigar Loop this lunchtime. 

Lots of Harlequin Ladybirds and a single Birch Shieldbug were enjoying the unusually mild (if very damp) weather in Renfrew today. Also unseasonal were newly-fledged Woodpigeons at two sites. I noticed that both were being closely escorted by a Magpie, the latter possibly watching for signs of weakness. Lots of Teal and Mallards were on the Cart and two Skylarks could be heard singing from the far bank. 

Various fungi, a few minibeasts and a Red Fox were all encountered during today's wander around Battlefield and Newlands.  

A Buzzard was soaring over Pollok Wood this morning. 

The first named storm of the season (Storm Amy) began to gather force this morning and intensified as the day wore on. Birds at the Hurlet mid-afternoon were mostly under cover but four Mallards and two Woodpigeons were among those being blown sideways past the venue.

The Robin that has taken up residence at the southeast corner of the bowling green has spent virtually the whole day in song.

The mown grass at Braehead Shopping Centre is often good for autumn fungi and today was no exception. With the help of online apps I managed to (prvisionally) identify Shaggy Inkcap, Sulphur Tuft, Brown Mottlegill, Blackening Waxcap, Meadow Waxcap and Brown Rollrim.