02 April 10 Cathkin

Winter weather had returned with a vengeance during the week and although the Glasgow area missed most of it, there had been a sharp frost overnight and temperatures were only 1 degree at 9 am. There was little or no wind and it was quite bright.

The walk down the hill from the car park yielded a female Kestrel. There were 4 Kestrels present this morning, this being one of the males:

Up to 3 Buzzards were also present.

Several singing Skylarks were over the braes and a few Meadow Pipit and Reed Buntings. The feeding area at the Carmunock end yieled no Yellowhammers, but 12 Tree Sparrows was a good showing.

5 Snipe and 1 Jack Snipe were flushed from the edges of Windlaw Marsh. The bubbling call of a Curlew was heard, a new species for me for this site.

Up to 15 Linnets were in the area around the stubble field. 2 Stock Doves flew out of the Big Wood and a Redpoll flew over. There was a single Long Tailed Tit close to the car park.