I had a lovely sighting of a family of treecreepers while leading a Badger Watch on Saturday night. Normally when I see these quiet, unassuming birds I will only see one or sometimes a pair. However, we were treated to a whole family that were flitting through the trees, feeding on insects on the oak and silver birch. They make a very high pitched ‘seee’ call and because their were juveniles in the group they were making quite a lot of noise, pestering mum and dad for food!

Other birds that have been spotted this week include – sand martins, swift and swallows, dipper, grey wagtail, mallard, raven, chiff chaff, robin, willow warbler, yellowhammer, great tit, wren, robin, wood pigeon, blackbird and treecreeper.

For mammals we had another successful badger watch seeing 4 badgers, we also had a rabbit drop by for a time as well. I am pleased to say I saw no grey squirrels, I’m not overly fond of them because of the damage they do to our trees, stealing birds eggs and of course the effect the have on our native red squirrel populations throughout Scotland.

For our flowering wildflowers we have hedge woundwort, marsh woundwort, dog rose, yellow flag iris, common spotted orchid, tormentil, oxeye daisy, black knapweed, yellow rattle, creeping buttercup, common hogweed, broad-leaved willowherb, marsh hawk’s-beard, fox glove, daisy, dandelion, herb robert, pink purslane, water avens, wood avens, yellow pimpernel, germander speedwell, thyme-leaved speedwell, bramble, meadowsweet, ragged robin, heath bedstraw, common cow wheat, slender St John’s wort, bush vetch, honeysuckle, valerian and dog rose. We also have flowering elder on the reserve so it’s time to make elderflower cordial or if you’re feeling adventurous, some elderflower wine!

Mike did his weekly moth trap and caught a few lovely species this week – Peppered moth, Tawny barred angle, Greater yellow underwing, Mottled beauty, Beautiful golden y. I also saw a day flying moth, the clouded border.

Please send in your local sightings to fallsofclyde@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk.

Laura Preston, Falls of Clyde Ranger
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