A busy day of hospital visiting meant few natural connections. However I was distracted by the amazing wildflower meadows created next to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Govan. Later, a (flightless) juvenile Woodpigeon was in a garden in Woodfarm and an Oystercatcher called over Shawlands after dark. 

Seven Swifts over my road this evening was the highest number this year.

Few notable birds were around Glasgow Cathedral today (apart from a calling Oystercatcher) although I found the wildflower plantings around the University of Strathclyde very welcome. A Swift was over Pollokshaws this evening. 

Some of the highlights of a walk from the centre of Edinburgh to Musselburgh today were sparring Three-spined Sticklebacks in the Niddrie Burn, a single Swift over Dundas Street, some interesting insects in  Bingham Park and a lovely selection of coastal plants at "The Big Mussel".

An enforced trip to Prestwick provided me with the opportunity to walk along the dunes adjacent to the golf course and as far as the mouth of the Pow Burn. The undoubted highlight of the walk was watching two Stoats flushing Rabbits and chasing Magpies. Typical birds included Stonechat, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit. Notable insects included Common Blue Butterflies and Common Red Soldier Beetles. Interesting plants were everywhere with Hare's-foot Clover and Spiny Restharrow being the best.

Three female Tufted Ducks had broods of ducklings (of ten, three and one) on Rouken Glen Park Boating Pond today. Mute Swan, Canada Goose and Mallard had clearly also bred successfully. All day, one or two Oystercatchers have been active around my building in Shawlands. At least one Swift appeared at the end of the day. The "predatory" Lesser Black-backed Gull has been at it again - flushing the feral pigeons from their roost on the building opposite and pursuing one at high speed. Presumably this strategy resulted in the catch I witnessed the aftermath of last week.

At last, the weather has broken1 Today was a lot drier so we headed to Callander for a walk. A few notable finds were Woodland Dor Beetle, German Scorpion-fly, Cucumber Spider, Common Cow-wheat, a dead shrew and (at Doune Ponds) two giant Amur Carp.