Cuckoo; Common Sandpiper; Raven; Redstart; Tiger Beetle  

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A short walk around Queen's Park this afternoon turned up all the regular species plus two each of Chiffchaff and Blackcap (all in song). Prior to all this, an Oystercatcher called a few times in the wee small hours (about 02:00).

With tomorrow taken up with other things, I headed down to Inverclyde to do my WeBS count a day early. Relatively few birds were present (typical of this time of year) but two pairs of Coot and one of Mute Swan were attending more-or-less completed nests. Female Mallards were virtually absent, suggesting they are away incubating. More female Tufted Ducks were around, suggesting they have not started incubation yet. Less typical species present included one each of Sand Martin and Goosander. After the WeBS count I headed to Lunderston Bay to see what was around. A blustery wind and very high tide made finding birds quite difficult. However three Wheatears were on one of the small sections of beach still exposed and more than fifty Turnstones (a few acquiring breeding plumage) were on exposed rocks. Later, up to two Common Terns were close to the shore opposite Port Glasgow's Tesco extra and two Gannets were fishing mid-channel. 

A walk around the centre of Edinburgh produced several common species in song including Chiffchaff, Wren and Chaffinch. Earlier, a Kestrel was at Newbridge. Later, a Grey Wagtail, two Goosanders, a Comma butterfly and singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap were beside the Water of Leith in Slateford. Unfortunately, the Moschatel reported from there seems to have been swallowed up by huge patches of Few-flowered Leek. 

Two Little Ringed Plovers were on the scrape at Lochwinnoch when I arrived there this morning but they took off shortly afterwards and circled over the site before heading off south. Back at the scrape, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing and Redshank were all either courting, displaying, copulating or singing (in the case of Redshank). 

A busy day spent visiting sites on the River Forth including Cambus, Kinneil and the Pools of Bothkennar.

A search for Moschatel said to be present along the Capelrig Burn in Newton Mearns proved successful (in spite of the rain) with a nice colony located including many plants in flower. 

A busy day limited natural connections. However a local walk in the direction of Queen's Park confirmed the continued presence of both Pied and Grey Wagtails on Pollokshaws Road.  

Dipper and Grey Wagtail were among the birds in Linn Park today. Flowering plants included my first Ramsons and Bluebell of the year.

It was wet and windy in Biggar this afternoon - not very conducive to good birdwatching. Most interesting records concerned a Grey Heron on the river through the golf course and over 20 Sand Martins hawking over the loch. 

A walk around Auchineden estate this morning produced a Green Woodpecker (eventually) and my first Tree Pipit (a singing bird) of the spring. Earlier, Dawsholm Park had five Ring-necked Parakeets. 

A summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe, a "drop in" by fifteen Black-tailed Godwits and a singing Redshank were the highlights of an hour at RSPB Lochwinnoch this morning. 

I spent fifteen minutes waiting for a meeting in St George's Cross first thing this morning. During that time I heard or saw fifteen bird species - a reasonable total for a tiny handkerchief of green space surrounded by tenements. Two Grey Squirrels were also present plus some Fritillary flowers (another two sites in the west end (Kelvingrove Park and Thornwood Drive) were to produce records of this species by the end of the morning). Goosander and Dipper were on the Kelvin but I failed to spot any Sand Martins. 

A Sparrowhawk was displaying high over the eastern edge of Pollok Park this lunchtime. The Tufted Duck pairs on Maxwell Park Pond were staying close to eachother (unlike the Mallards which have mostly separated with the females presumably on eggs). In the afternoon, Kingfisher and Grey Heron were notable records for Auldhouse Park while a Grey Wagtail was singing above the traffic noise at Shawlands Cross. 

I managed to get away to take quite a long walk along the River Irvine below Darvel and Newmilns today. Highlight was a botanical one - Rustyback growing on an old wall on the edge of Darvel. Birds along the river included Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Nuthatch. Plants included Wood Anenome, Dog's Mercury, Opposite-leaved Golden-Saxifrage and Water Avens.

Sunday, April 05, 2026

Arriving at Gowanbank first thing, Song Thrush, Robin and Greenfinch were in song with Blackbird, Chaffinch and Goldfinch calling.

I spent a busy day in a wet and windy Darvel, East Ayrshire today. Bird highlight was a singing Treecreeper. Plants were Primrose and Coltsfoot. Mammals were Rabbit and bat sp. 

A busy day today meant natural connections were few.  A quick check of Moira's garden found only the original two plants in flower. A Nuthatch was singing near the Victoria Road gate.

The sun broke through this morning as I was paying a brief visit to RSPB Lochwinnoch. The Redshanks I had hoped to see were absent but at least four pairs of Shoveler plus the pre-breeding antics of Lapwings, Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls and Canada Geese all made for an interesting time. In the afternoon I took my usual Thursday walk around one of my home squares of Pollokshaws. Highlights were botanical in the form of Fritillary, Cowslip, Wild Daffodil and Coltsfoot all flowering on a wide, grassy verge. Newly-flowering Cuckooflower and Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrage were nearby.

Queen's Park was wet and miserable (but actually quite mild) when I wandered through today. Most of the usual birds were present with Stock Doves (as usual) one of the highlights. Some of the Fritillaries in the garden dedicated to the memory of Moira Jones are now fully open and created a lovely scene in spite of the weather.