In spite of weather forecasts to the contrary, the sunny weather of yesterday lasted into today. The change to better weather has been accompanied by an increase in the number and variety of plants coming into flower. I found my first two Lesser Celendine plants in flower, and there are significantly more flowering Daffodils and Cherry Plums around. Several resident bird species continue to sing strongly. However I also found a single Redwing singing the warbling, slightly gruff sub-song that I associate with spring birds. I have heard flocks singing like this on several occasions in recent springs. They are sometimes joined by Starlings (possibly also preparing for migration) and the volume of sound produced can be quite substantial. I am surprised that it is not reported more often by other observers. 

Today's walk from Shawlands to Cathcart Cemetery took place in bright spring sunshine. Notable bird species included Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Goosanderand two pairs of Stock Doves. The main botanical highlight was a flowering Cherry Plum tree along the river in Battlefield. Snowdrops are now "going over" with Daffodil flowers still not fully open. Plants already in flower consisted of a few each of Dandelion and Common Chickweed and lots of Gorse and Crocus spp.

A walk around Queen's Park this morning produced a total of 34 bird species with the highlights being jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. At least four Common Frogs were in the "nature pond", two of which in amplexus.  

A lunchtime visit to the Neuer See at the west end of the Tiergarten produced sightings of Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, bibbed Mallard, Coot and Moorhen and the calls of Nuthatch and Great Spotted (or similar) and Green Woodpeckers. The only plant in flower was a Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum), a new species for me.

Our guided walk around the sights of Central Berlin this morning left little time for birdwatching. However lots of House Sparrows were chirruping around the (so-called) luxury flats that used to house East Germany's elite athletes. Hooded Crows were a constant presence and I heard a Peregrine calling while we visited what was left of the Berlin Wall. I was disappointed to find that the Linden trees along the Unter den Linden were still in their winter dormancy. In the afternoon, a very short walk through one edge of the Tiergarten produced Blue Tit, Great Tit and a calling woodpecker (possibly Great Spotted).

A male Blackbird was singing in the Shawlands darkness as we headed out for our flight to Berlin. Once settled into our hotel, we headed out for a walk along the River Spree. Birds on or beside the river consisted of a Great Crested Grebe, two Cormarants, two Coot, a Hooded Crow and about 20-30 Black-headed Gulls.

Lochwinnoch was wet and windy this morning but a walk around produced all the common village birds. I checked on the patch of Rustyback Fern on the gable end of a building in Calderhaugh Lane. Unfortunately it is now quite small and may not last much longer, especially as the building itself seems to be crumbling away. I checked lots of suitable-looking walls around the village but was unable to find any other sites supporting the species. Back home, I found my first frogspawn of the year in the nature pond in Queen's Park.