01 May 10 Inversnaid

Between Aberfoyle and Inversnaid, 2 Goldeneye were present on one of the lochs. I previously thought that breeding was confined to Speyside, but this looked good for breeding much further south !

It was dry but dull just East of Inversnaid when I stopped at the side of the roadside overlooking the moor at 7:30am. The sky was threatening and within 1/2 an hour it was raining quite steadily and it remained much like that for the remainder of the morning. It was cold for the time of year with a light to moderate Northerly wind.

A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling fairly close to the road and despite my best efforts to see it, it remained hidden during the time I was there. The strange almost demonic calls of Black Grouse were also coming from the moor and at least 4 Blackcock were lecking fairly close to the road. This lot were showing a whole lot closer than the ones I had seen in Speyside a fortnight previously. A single Greyhen was also seen in flight. A record shot of one of the males:

A distant Cuckoo could be heard calling as well as Wheatears and several Common Sandpipers. A Hooded/Carrion Crow was at the side of the road..

With no sign of the rain ceasing, I made my way along to the Inversnaid car park. A Blackcap was singing close to the toilet block. The expected oak wood specialties with the exception of Redstart were all seen from the RSPB trail. Several Wood Warbers were "trilling" and at least 2 were seen well. Tree Pipits were frequently seen and several were performing their parachute display flight. The simple call of Pied Flycatcher was frequently heard and both males and females were seen well. One of the males at one of the many nest boxes that have been provided:

It is not always Pied Flycatchers that use the nestboxes:

The rain continued to fall, so I descended back towards the loch where a Dipper was seen catching a small fish. 2 Goosander were on the loch and 2 more Common Sandpiper were seen. Great Spotted Woodpecker could be heard drumming.

I moved round to the upland trail and despite the rain there was still much to see and hear. Many Wheatears were on the moor, some of which performed song flights. A Cuckoo called frequently, but despite scanning I could not locate the bird(s). My first House Martins of the year fed low over the rough grassland accompanied by a few Swallows. Black Grouse could again be heard from the moor and a single male was seen fairly well.