Three female Tufted Ducks had broods of ducklings (of ten, three and one) on Rouken Glen Park Boating Pond today. Mute Swan, Canada Goose and Mallard had clearly also bred successfully. All day, one or two Oystercatchers have been active around my building in Shawlands. At least one Swift appeared at the end of the day. The "predatory" Lesser Black-backed Gull has been at it again - flushing the feral pigeons from their roost on the building opposite and pursuing one at high speed. Presumably this strategy resulted in the catch I witnessed the aftermath of last week.

At last, the weather has broken1 Today was a lot drier so we headed to Callander for a walk. A few notable finds were Woodland Dor Beetle, German Scorpion-fly, Cucumber Spider, Common Cow-wheat, a dead shrew and (at Doune Ponds) two giant Amur Carp. 

On another damp and drizzly day (thank goodness this unseasonal weather is to break tomorrow), a Kingfisher was hiding under Shawbridge and a small black "moth" nearby turned out to be a  Caddis Fly (Mystacides azurea). Broad-leaved Helleborines are popping up everywhere including outside the garage on Riverbank Street.

Several juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gulls were calling from rooftops around Shawlands and Pollokshaws today. I suspect they have not been enjoying the very rainy weather of the past week.  

I walked to Snuffmill Bridge and back today, hoping to check if any Sand Martins were nesting at Cathcart Railway Station. The weather was against me (persistent, heavy rain) but there were six birds (including three flying in close formation - juveniles?) feeding over the river at Spean Street.

Marsh Orchids were flowering in their hundreds in "the orchard" in Queen's Park. Eight Stock Doves included a juvenile. 

A Pied Wagtail was carrying food next to my apartment block today. Late evening, two Oystercatchers called repeatedly (but unseen) and a Lesser Black-backed Gull flushed fifteen Feral Pigeons from the Primary School and chased them for over a minute.