Hi,

If you were to ask folk the question, “do you know what a kingfisher looks like?” then I’d expect most would reply, “yes”. If you were then to add an additional question, “have you ever seen a wild kingfisher?” then the more common answer would most likely be, “no”.  It’s not surprising giving how well a strikingly coloured bird can hide away in bank side vegetation. However this week I was very lucky to have not one but two sightings of kingfisher on the reserve. The first admittedly was the typical lightening blue flash and piping call as a bird flew downstream from the Dyeworks. The second bird, at Bonnington Weir, showed rather well in evening sunshine whilst perched up in a willow.

Kingfisher was spotted at New Lanark and Bonnington Weir this week (C) Jon Hawkins

A badger watch on the 25^th provided the group with views of a badger, browsing roe deer, tawny owl and lots of soprano pipistrelle bats.

Moth trapping produced a few goodies in the form of map-winged swift, common lutestring, sandy carpet, pale prominent and Eulia ministrana.

Other interesting sightings included, mallard with three newly hatched young (Visitor Centre, 25^th), 2x grey heron (Visitor Centre, daily), 2x common buzzard (Bonnington Pavilion, daily), peregrine falcon (Peregrine Watchpoint, occasional), 2x dipper (1 adult and 1 recently fledged juvenile, Visitor Centre, 28th), garden warbler (singing, Clyde Walkway near way leave, daily), jay (Corehouse Trail, 27^th) and yellowhammer (Bonnington Pavilion, daily).

Adam Jones – Scottish Wildlife Trust, Falls of Clyde Seasonal Ranger

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