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Highlight of a short visit to Balloch Castle today was a sighting of a "squirrel" which turned out to be a Stoat. We were able to watch it running through the grass and diving into a hole at the base of a tree. Singing birds included Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Also good were Nuthatch and Treecreeper. 

I ventured a little further afield today - to the 1km square containing Crosshill and Govanhill. Highlights consisted of singing Treecreeper and successful breeding by Ravens (the latter confirmed by the presence of three well-grown chicks in a nest on a church spire).

Today's walk around Pollokshaws took place in light showers so the birds on offer were fewer than yesterday. Nevertheless I saw my first two local Swallows of the year - a pair interacting over the car park behind the Shawlands Arcade. 

Interesting birds encountered in Pollokshaws this afternoon consisted of a Dipper flying upriver near Coustonholm Bridge, an Oystercatcher flying over Morrisons Car Park near Riverford Bridge and a pair of Grey Wagtails under Shaw Bridge. Birds I failed to see consisted of Swallow and Swift. Neither appear to have returned to the area so far this year.

Coot pairs had chicks at three sites in Queen's Park today. Other good birds included Stock Dove, Treecreeper, Collared Dove and Little Grebe. 

On a busy day spent rushing around different sites, the highlights were: Little Egret and Common Tern at Montrose Basin; an Osprey, 150+ Pink-footed Geese and a singing Yellowhammer at The Lurgies; two Red-breasted Mergansers on the River South Esk at Bridge of Dun; Osprey, Marsh Harrier and Whooper Swan at Loch of Kinnordy and finally, three Yellow Wagtails and a Peregrine at East Haven.