As the Christmas lights are being packed away for another year, I'm just reflecting on how much I've enjoyed the three wonderful #NewNaturalist books I was given.

I enjoyed taking part in the #NewYearPlantHunt organised by @bsbibotany.bsky.social over the past two days. Here are the results of my wanderings in south Glasgow - although half of these had to be disregarded because they had been deliberately planted.

Hazel trees have burst into life in Pollokshaws, Glasgow with both male catkins and female flowers showing well today (also a Harlequin Ladybird). An old fence near Langside railway station had a good growth of (probable) Common Jelly Spot and two Fieldfares (no photo) were in Auldhouse Park.

Found my first female Hazel flowers of the "spring" in scrubby woodland along the edge of the M77 motorway in Glasgow yesterday. A few other finds also attached.

A rather tatty looking Apple tree on a motorway verge in Craigton, Glasgow today nevertheless seemed to have produced a good crop.

Some scenes from a walk in Glasgow today. Birds encountered included Kingfisher, Cormorant and Goosander.

Some finds from a visit to Pollok Country Park, Glasgow today (details in alt text). Good birds included three Jays, three Nuthatches, five Stock Doves and single Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

A rainy walk around the Priesthill area of Glasgow this morning produced 22 bird species including four in song (Robin. Starling, Wren and Song Thrush). Non-birds encountered consisted of Jelly Ear fungus and epiphytic Polypody.

A nice drake Ring-necked Duck cheered up a damp walk through Queen's Park, Glasgow today.

More local colour in south Glasgow this week...

A midweek trip up to Aviemore produced some colourful botanical finds... (1/2)

Sunset on the first day of Samhain, the Gaelic winter, Irvine, Ayrshire.

Some grassland fungi from Haggs Castle, Glasgow today... (1/2).

Some autumn colour in and around Shawlands, south Glasgow...

Some scenery from today's walk in Devilla Forest, West Fife.

I found plenty of fungi and lichens in Devilla Forest today, as well as a Palmate Newt and a possible Pine Marten scat. Plenty of birds but none were close enough for phone photos (1/3).

Some interesting fungi in Pollok Park today...

I was delighted to re-find a troop of Ballerina Waxcaps growing on a front lawn in Woodfarm, East Renfrewshire today.

Some finds from a wander around Battlefield and Newlands today (1/3).

I have been keeping an eye on the Tufted Duck family in Queen's Park, Glasgow. This is their story... The brood of eight newly-hatched ducklings first appeared (on the main pond) on 23rd June (1/5).

Some hardy pollinators braving the wind and rain at Balgray Reservoir, Barrhead: Red-tailed, White-tailed and Buff/White-tailed Bumblebees, and an Eristalis sp. hoverfly.

Storm Floris was presumably responsible for the Pear tree in my local park dropping most of its fruit.

Some botanical highlights from a very brief trip up to Strathspey: Creeping Lady's-tresses and Yellow Bird's-nest, the latter and bit past it's best.

Two juvenile Tufted Ducks (one pictured) remained on Maxwell Park Pond, Glasgow today, the adults apparently having left the site. This may be typical behaviour as I noted two juveniles (both pictured) on Queen's Park Pond yesterday, again apparently left behind by departing adults.

I came across two unfamiliar plants at a drizzly Lunderston Bay this morning. The first, I think, is Sand Leek (Allium scorodoprasum), a member of the onion family... although I am happy to be corrected (1/2).

Very poor video of a Humming-bird Hawk-moth I came across in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh on Thursday.

After finding only ones or twos in my local park previously, I stumbled across Common Red Soldier Beetle city this morning ... nearly thirty on these three umbels alone.

A bit late for the #wildflowerhour #helleborinechallenge but here is a Broad-leaved Helleborine photographed in Auldhouse Park, Glasgow earlier this week.

Typing up my review for the @slowwaysuk.bsky.social route from Galston to Kilmarnock, I am struck by the number of placenames containing the word "holm" (not one I come across too often on my travels): Greenholm; Mason's Holm; Crookedholm; St Mary's Holm (1/2)

I managed to pioneer three @slowwaysuk.bsky.social routes in East Ayrshire yesterday. Nice paths, interesting scenery and lots of friendly locals to say 'Hello' to. Only slightly hampered by non-stop rain.

Some sights from the Uplawmoor area today...

Some highlights from Cathkin Marsh SWT reserve today (1/2).

Sunrise @ 04:32 from the flagpole in Queen's Park; sunset @ 22:06 from Pollokshaws Road, both Glasgow. Not the best weather for either, but a suitable way to bookend an important day.

An unexpected visitor to my house in the suburbs of Glasgow last night - possibly Dark Arches.

A bit late to the #Wildflowerhour #OrchidChallenge party, but here are some photos of what I think is Dactylorhiza purpurella popping up in East Kilbride this week

Bittersweet or Woody Nightshade is in flower in my area of southwest Glasgow - both the normal purple-flowered form and the white-flowered variant.

An evening visitor to the house in the form of a White-shouldered House Moth.

Some of the beautiful trees growing in Rosshall Park, Glasgow today...

Following a series of sightings of one or both adults throughout the spring, this female Goosander appeared on my local river today with six ducklings in tow.

Some insects life from the last day or two:

More plant highlights from my recent trip to Northumbria...(1/4)

Some flowering plants in Northumbria today .... (1/2).

It was well worth the early start to be up in the Kilpatrick hills at sunrise this morning. The Clyde between Dumbarton and Greenock was like the proverbial mill pond and Ben Lomond was lit up with its own version of "alpenglow".

Some flowering plants in southwest Cardonald, Glasgow over the weekend: Angel's-tears, Oregon-grape, Blue-eyed-Mary and a Viburnum cultivar (1/3)

A lone Tufted Duck was with the Mallards on the White Cart in south Cardonald, Glasgow today - only my third record of the species in my "home" 1km square in 17 years.

Lovely, calm weather down the Clyde today. Two Sandwich Terns and two Gannets were fishing off Irvine harbour mouth. So great to hear those "Kirrrick" calls again.

Some spring colour during a very wet walk in north Glasgow today:

Driving around southwest Glasgow at this time of year, it is easy to get distracted by the blossom of Cherry Plum and Japanese Flowering Cherry trees. This one (of the latter) was near Shawbridge.

Some botanical finds from the last few days around Glasgow...

Ospreys are starting to arrive in the British Isles with birds back at Rutland Water, Leics (13th March), Loch of the Lowes, Tayside (17th) and Threave, D&G (today).