With the weather much improved, I decided to take a walk through Portnauld and Old Mains Farms near Inchinnan.  Plenty of birds showed well including many hundreds of Pink-footed Geese (unfortunately disturbed by building activity on the edge of Inchinnan), a remarkable flock of at least 44 Tree Sparrows, my first Fieldfare of the winter and good views of Yellowhammer, Stonechat, Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit (including two of the latter on a cowshed roof with three Pied Wagtails). Mallard and Teal were very common on the nearby Black and White Carts but best ducks were three Goldeneye (a breeding-plumaged male, an immature/eclipse male and a female).

Highlights of a windy walk around Irvine Beach, Harbour and Beach Park (apart from the company of son #2) were around a dozen Turnstones, near breeding-plumaged Red-breasted Mergansers and Wigeons, a single Kestrel and at least Sonechats. Non-birds included five Rabbits and three waxcap species (Meadow, Snowy and Blackening).

A rainy walk around my old patch including Rosshall Park and south Cardonald reminded me just how common Nuthatches are there. The bright red-leaved Acer near "The Caves" was around its peak (although diminished a little by recent heavy rain).

A Raven flew quietly over the bowling green towards Camphill this morning.

Hogganfield Loch this morning was windswept and not particularly interesting. I had hoped to find some wind-blown strays, escaping from Storm Beolo, but (thankfully for them) there was nothing to report. Nevertheless, two Whooper Swans, two Gadwall and six Great Crested Grebes tucked in close to shore were of interest. Back at Queen's Park, two Mute Swans were driven off the pond by the dominant male and one was caught in a Hawthorn tree for a few seconds. 

With Storm Boelo ramping up across Scotland, I was not surprised to find some new arrivals on Queen's Park Boating Pond this afternoon, namely five Goosander. The stormy weather may also have been responsible for the increase in the Mute Swan population to thirteen.  

It was difficult to find many birds in Kelvingrove Park in today's heavy rain. However a Grey Heron was showing well on the duck pond where around 25 Mallard were courting in spite of the conditions.

Today turned out to be a brief, high pressure respite between days of low pressure and their associated wind and rain. As it happened, I was able to get a lift to RSPB Lochwinnoch, so set about searching for the five Scaup and single Jack Snipe that had been reported there. The Scaup were subsequently located among the Tufted Ducks and Goldeneye on Aird Meadow. However I could only find two Common Snipe on the scrape. A calling Water Rail was a bonus. 

Jays (at least two today) were still active and highly visible in Pollok Country Park today. As elsewhere, tit species are now noisier and easier to locate. 

With heavy rain in charge today, I only managed a short walk along the Clyde near Braehead Retail Park. Only a few gulls and Cormorants were braving the weather. 

A long walk from Woodfarm to Shawlands via Giffnock, Muirend and Newlands turned up some interesting finds including lots of colourful Acers, Snowy Waxcap and Collared Earthstar.

A walk through Pollok Country Park today produced nice records of Wolf's Milk slime mould and Black Bulgar fungus. A few Common Carder Bees, Western Honey Bees, White-tailed Bumblebees and a single Red Admiral were also present on the last few flowers.

Two walks through Queen's park at opposite ends of the day produced various birds (Robin, Wren, Song Thrush, Blue Tit and Great Tit) prompted to sing by the sunny weather and a single Ring-necked Parakeet seemingly going to roost in a Willow tree next to the small pond.

Only two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were still around the site of the breeding colony in Nether Auldhouse Retail Park today.  The Cherry trees in Morrison's Car Park were glowing scarlet in the autumn sunshine. A grey Heron was patiently watching the weir beside Riverford Road but neither it or I saw any jumping fish. I discovered a small group of Collared Earthstars in Nether Auldhouse Park and up to thirty Harlequin Ladybirds were on railings both here and at Shaw Bridge. 

The only birds seen in Northfield today were Woodpigeon, Magpie, Goldfinch, Black-headed Gull and Carrion Crow. 

With a very strong wind blowing in from Ayr Bay, plenty of waders were sheltering on the rocks at the north end of Troon South Beach, the most interesting being twelve Golden Plover. At one point, the entire flock (also including Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank and Oystercather) took flight. The culprit was a Peregrine soaring overhead. 

My belated WeBS count in Greenock today threw up nothing remarkable. Similarly, my usual walk from Lunderston Bay to Inverkip detected relatively few birds due to the wild weather. A few distant Gannets and a mixed flock of Oystercatchers and Curlews in a sheep field were the highlights. 

While I was in the Killearn area today, I took the opportunity to visit the waterfalls on the Endrick Water known as the Pots of Gartness. Up to ten fish (most if not all Atlantic Salmon) leapt the falls during the half hour I was there. Also present were Grey and Pied Wagtails.  

Five Tufted Ducks were on Queen's Park Boating Pond this afternoon.

A good walk to Maxwell Park and then back via Pollok Park produced three Tufted Ducks, a single Goosander and two Jays.  

I spent several hours in the West Fife village of Culross today. Sunny spells brought hoverflies, wasps, the odd bumblebee and one Red Admiral butterfly out to feed on Ivy flowers. Some interesting (so far unidentified) fungi were in the precincts of the long abandoned west Kirk. 

A short visit to Lochend Loch failed to produce yesterday's Grey Phalarope but single Shoveler and Goldeneye were reasonable compensation. A Redwing calling as it flew over was my first of the season.

A Dipper was singing from the Auldhouse Burn under the Thornliebank Road bridge this morning. A little later, Goldcrest, Song Thrush and singing Wren were the pick of the birds found in Auldburn Woods.  

Two Jays and a Common Buzzard were near the Hurlet Crematorium this lunchtime.  

A very rainy afternoon walking around (the open sections of) Balgray Reservoir Still managed to produce a nice selection of birds including Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Goldeneye, Goosander, Lapwing and Snipe. 

A rainy walk over to Pollokshaws produced only corvids, gulls and a few House Sparrows.  

Highlights of a brief stop at Loch of the Lowes today were Jay, Goldeneye, Wigeon and Cormorant.  

Fungi we're out in force along the banks of the River Tilt today but "no entry" signs blocked my attempt to check out the Blair Castle pond. The Cuilc only held Mallards and Moorhens. There were waxcaps on the golf course. No birds could be found at the Birks o' Aberfeldy due to torrential rain. 

A Kestrel was outside Crieff and two Red Kites were south of Amulree this afternoon. Earlier, a walk up to the Knock of Creiff produced numerous good fungi including Amythest Deceiver and Fly Agaric.