Meall an Fhudair, started bright, drizzle later. Cool breeze. The higher munroes had some snow. A few Cuckoos.Greenshank & Golden Plover on the higher ground. Frogs spawning in a pool in a burn, not in the hill pools yet. Little growth of heather or grass. Few flowers. Primrose lower down. Violets, wood anemones & purple mountain saxifrage (I think).
Greenside, lots of birdsong, mostly goldfinch, chiffchaff & willow warblers; Reed bunting by the water. Butterflies: peacock, green veined white & orange tip. Heard FIRST CUCKOO of the year.
The week of very fine weather broke today. Some rain & hail. Went for a short walk along the River Kelvin. Plenty to see despite the rain.
Glen Douglas trio. Hills very dry. A few flowers, wood anemone , lousewort, lesser celandine. Most on the south slope of Ben Reoch & among tree planting on Tullich hill. Larks, pipets & ravens on the hill. Only 3 deer, stags with newish antlers. Some nice new sundew & a wheatear by the road. First Tormentil (one flower).
A walk this afternoon around the old building in Gartnavel & Bingham pond.
Yesterday: Wandering around the Kilpatrick Braes, out to Duncolm & Fynloch hill. Cold start but warmed up. Flowers beginning to blossom, lots of bird song in the trees. A nuthatch piping. Raven croaking in the hills. A few peacock & orange tip butterflies.
Walking round the loop above Finlas Water yesterday. Another blue sky day. Tops still brown but dry. Deer & skylarks around most of the day, a few ravens. Some bumble bees looking for nests. Green veined whites flying around between the reservoir & the car.
Read The Last Days of Kira Mullan by Nicci French ★★★☆☆ 📚
Tricksy whodunit, lots going on. A long story even though I raced through it. Side trip to asylum, with very unpleasant staff. Plenty of detail & red herrings. Gaslighting, mental health& murder turn out to be a good holiday read.
Although I’ve not listened to much of Amadou & Mariam’s music, I have liked this for a long time. Sad to read Amadou Bagayoko of music duo Amadou & Mariam dies aged 70
Greenside, warn and clear. Lots of birdsong, goldfinches, lots of chiffchaff. Stonechat, wrens, tits, and more. Butterflies, peacocks, small tortoiseshell & orange tips. Primroses are out.
