Monday 13th...
Major surprise while undertaking an ecological survey , a  Spotted Crake calling from a linear wetland by the Firth of Clyde at 16:30 in the afternoon. The sound was right a 'whit' not unlike a dripping tip but I was slightly concerned by the speed of the delivery of the call. On xeno canto recordings of the males song have a slower tempo, bit i did come across a recording labeled as female that sounded like mine. This species mostly calls at night, but  any species of bird can behave unpredictably and this call could have been given in an alternative context to the classic territorial call, some sort of alarm call perhaps?
I've got a recording which I ripped off a video I took on my camera (I can't show the Vid as the picture gives away the location and I wouldn't mind staying employed). Only problem is as i have Luddite tendencies I haven't figured out how to upload the audio only version to my Blog yet.
The habitat was great for Spot Crake too-mix of grass, sedge and rush (Breeding Sedge Warbler).

Otherwise this weekend...
More bloody rain and  a visit to Letham when it brightened up this evening showed there was still still just enough edge for waders (Common Sand and Snipe present) but any  more rain and it's going to be a poor autumn for waders here. An eclipse drake Pintail was new on the duck front.