Only two Lesser Black-backed Gulls were still around the site of the breeding colony in Nether Auldhouse Retail Park today.  The Cherry trees in Morrison's Car Park were glowing scarlet in the autumn sunshine. A grey Heron was patiently watching the weir beside Riverford Road but neither it or I saw any jumping fish. I discovered a small group of Collared Earthstars in Nether Auldhouse Park and up to thirty Harlequin Ladybirds were on railings both here and at Shaw Bridge. 

The only birds seen in Northfield today were Woodpigeon, Magpie, Goldfinch, Black-headed Gull and Carrion Crow. 

With a very strong wind blowing in from Ayr Bay, plenty of waders were sheltering on the rocks at the north end of Troon South Beach, the most interesting being twelve Golden Plover. At one point, the entire flock (also including Turnstone, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank and Oystercather) took flight. The culprit was a Peregrine soaring overhead. 

My belated WeBS count in Greenock today threw up nothing remarkable. Similarly, my usual walk from Lunderston Bay to Inverkip detected relatively few birds due to the wild weather. A few distant Gannets and a mixed flock of Oystercatchers and Curlews in a sheep field were the highlights. 

While I was in the Killearn area today, I took the opportunity to visit the waterfalls on the Endrick Water known as the Pots of Gartness. Up to ten fish (most if not all Atlantic Salmon) leapt the falls during the half hour I was there. Also present were Grey and Pied Wagtails.  

Five Tufted Ducks were on Queen's Park Boating Pond this afternoon.

A good walk to Maxwell Park and then back via Pollok Park produced three Tufted Ducks, a single Goosander and two Jays.