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.

An excellent visit to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg produced records of Common Crane (4), Spoonbill, Great Egret, Ruff (2), Wood Sandpiper (3 - 4) and Marsh Harrier. It was then on to Bullers of Buchan for a single Puffin and two Ravens. Later, Gight Wood held Treecreeper, Yellowhammer and Grey Wagtail (as well as Sweet Woodruff and Bugle).

After a busy day in coastal Aberdeenshire, the best birds were Dotterel, Great Skua, Little Tern and Grey Partridge.

A drake Gadwall at Lochwinnoch was my first for the site. Other good birds included three Oystercatchers, three Little Ringed Plovers and a Snipe (the latter feeding out in the open). A Water Rail called and Sedge Warblers were everywhere.