A Great Spotted Woodpecker and two Mistle Thrushes were unusual finds on a walk around Langside this afternoon.

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Sunday, August 09, 2026

The Tufted Duck brood seems to have settled at four ducklings, although the little ones are still vulnerable to gull attack. A Little Grebe was still showing interest in the the secluded spot under overhanging water plants. 

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Saturday, August 08, 2026 

A Swift over Pollokshaws today may turn out to be my last of the year. 

A walk around the Tradeston area of Glasgow today failed to turn up any unusual birds but was quite good for plants. Grass verges held Bird's-foot Trefoil, Field Scabious, Wild Radish, Common Ragwort, Red Clover and Red Campion. Derelict land meanwhile supported Buddhlia (both purple and white forms) and Common Toadflax (with more of the latter at two sites in Finnieston this evening). 

I spent an hour at RSPB Lochwinnoch this morning trying to find the reported eclipse Garganey amongst thirty or so eclipse Teal. Needless to say I failed miserably. However in the process I enjoyed good views of feeding Snipe and sleeping Mandarins.  

The female Tufted Duck on Queen's Park Boating Pond was still "squatting" in the abandoned Coot nest when I passed this lunchtime. Later, I watched her lead her brood (currently numbering five ducklings) to the middle of the pond to feed.

Swifts we're active this evening over Darvel and then over two of my home squares, Queen's Park and Langside.

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Monday, August 03, 2026

Natural connections were impossible today due to volunteering at Gowanbank near Darvel. A lone Woodpigeon as I left the site was my only spot. 

A Rabbit was an early surprise at Gowanbank first thing. 

A busy day in Ayrshire meant no natural connections aside from a Woodpigeon as I left Darvel and Rosebay Willow-herb flowering in the evening sunshine.