Hi,

In a week that brought high temperatures and a couple of impressive thunderstorms to the reserve, a real highlight for me was watching three recently fledged dippers make their maiden voyage from the Mill Lade to the Clyde. The chicks belonged to the Visitor Centre pair’s second brood of the year.

Common crossbill sightings included a couple of birds around the Peregrine Watchpoint (30^th and 1^st) and 14 at Bonnington Powerstation (2^nd). This is a good start to the beginning of a typical movement period for this species in which family parties roam around in search of ripe cones.

If we are lucky enough to get a dry spell search for Common Crossbill around track side puddles, eating conifer seeds is thirsty work! (C) Margaret Holland.

A badger watch on the 4^th produced good views of four badgers emerging from the sett with an extra bonus badger at the boardwalk on the groups return walk.

Muggy nightime conditions produced some good moth catches which included, barred red, spectacle and large yellow underwing. Butterfly sightings included, ringlet (Bonnington Pavilion), orange-tip and green-veined white.

Other interesting sightings included, 1x oystercatcher (over Peregrine Watchpoint, occasional), peregrine falcon (Peregrine Watchpoint, regular), swift (Visitor Centre, occasional), chiffchaff (Mid Lodge, daily), long-tailed tit (Woodland Trail, regular), siskin (Peregrine Watchpoint, regular), common frog (tree nursery, daily), large red damselfly (tree nursery, occasional), foxglove (in full bloom, reserve wide) and hedge woundwort (in full bloom, Mid Lodge).

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

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