A Raven calling over the Waverley Park estate was the highlight of the day, being a new species for me for that 1km square ("Crossmyloof and Maxwell Park"). Only two or three Tufted Ducks were on Maxwell Park Pond. The Pear and Apple trees in a garden near Haggs Castle seem to having a particularly productive year.

Quite a long walk from Malletsheugh to Darnley Mill allowed me to explore some of the fragments of countryside still left following the recent expansion of the western suburbs of Newton Mearns. I was surprised to find lots of farmland and hedgerow plants including Field Scabious, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bush Vetch and Yarrow. Blackthorn, Beech and Oak trees in the retained hedgerows carried some interesting larval mines and galls.

Around 70 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were coming to bread in Queen's Park Recreation Ground this morning. They were arriving at top speed from all directions, making me think that this is a daily occurrence. 

A single Stock Dove and two Grey Wagtails were the avian highlights of a walk around Langside this afternoon. Plant highlight was Crimson Clover found in the Queen's Park Poetry Rose garden. 

Birds were few and far between in Pollokshaws today. Late summer flowers included Redshank and Confused Michaelmas Daisy. 

There was little time for birding during today's trip to Edinburgh. Interesting plants included Smooth Sow Thistle.

A quick check of Queen's Park boating pond today found the female Tufted Duck (and a companion) now with four large young and the Little Grebe pair escorting two small chicks.