Hi,

We have reached a time of year when many bird species are foraging in family groups for example the common whitethroats and goosanders I spotted at Bonnington Weir. However mixed flocks are also starting to form in which families of a number of species gather in one big group. It was this sort of behaviour which led to my highlight of the week when a feeding frenzy of one hundred swallow, house martin, sand martin and swift could be seen at close quarters along the Woodland Trail, you could even hear their bills snap as they gobbled up a helpless midge!

Along the Clyde a nice selection of birds included, kingfisher (boardwalk, daily), common sandpiper (Bonnington Weir, 22^nd), 2 mute swan (Bonnington Weir, regular) and dipper (Visitor Centre, regular).

This Green sawfly Rhogogaster viridis was spotted near the Peregrine Watch, the species is common however the vivid green colour certainly made it stand out.

A Badger Watch on the 23^rd produced great views of five badger, a common buzzard, fragrant honeysuckle and soprano pipistrelle bats.

Other interesting sightings included, spotted flycatcher (Woodland Trail, 24^th), tree sparrow (New Lanark), crossbill (Corehouse Trail and Walled Garden, occasional), roe deer (Bonnington Pavilion, occasional), ringlet and meadow brown butterfly (Bonnington Pavilion, daily).

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

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