A

With the weather still very settled and bright, I decided to do a longer walk today, starting in Castlemilk and covering the Cathkin Braes, the edge of Carmunnock, the Netherton Braes, Linn Park and the White Cart Water back to Shawlands. Some highlights were four Dippers (including a singing bird), five Jays (including four mobbing an unseen predator - possibly a roosting Tawny Owl), a flyover Raven, literally dozens of Blackbirds (with smaller numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare), three Roe Deer, three Red Foxes, four Grey Squirrels, 54 Mallards on the river at Holmlea Park and twelve Goosanders (with another 25 Mallards) next to the footbridge over to Albert Park.

I carried out my second New Year Plant Hunt this moning this time around Pollokshields. I only managed to find four plants, but the very cold and frosty conditions probably didnt help. I did find two Apple trees along the railway line on Darnley Street and a calling rooster was an interesting record near Albert Drive.

Getting out extra early paid dividends this morning in the form of two Otters hunting and playing in the river behind Tantallon Road. Also present were Kingfisher, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Goosander and two Dippers. An attempt at a New Year Plant Hunt produced just five species. Best plant couldn't go on the list - Stinking Hellebore in the community garden on Old Castle Road.  

An early New Year's Day walk around my home monad of Pollokshaws produced a bird list of 29 species plus a new site for Hazelnut (in flower) and a Harlequin Ladybird. Slightly unusual bird species were Fieldfare (my first for the monad) and Greenfinch. A slightly later walk around one of my neighbouring monads (Langside) produced 22 bird species and more Hazelnut in flower. 

A Sparrowhak being mobbed by a corridor over Strathbungo was the highlight of my afternoon walk today. 

Two Great Black-backed Gulls sailing over the retail park car park was the highlight of a short trip to Irvine today.

Monday, December 29, 2025

Some highlights from a short walk in Newton Mearns this afternoon we're displaying Collared Doves, two Redwings and four Greenfinches.