22nd and 23rd April


A light SE wind through the morning of the 22nd naturally led to thick fog by lunchtime but the wind had switched into the west by the afternoon with the fog clearing almost instantly; it was a bit disappointing out in the field with the interesting and changing conditions as highlights were confined to yesterday’s Dotterel relocating to Torness and the first Goldfinch of the year which flew south down the west coast.

                Migrants were reduced in numbers and included 2 Merlins, a Woodcock, a Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Doves, 2 Sand Martins, 7 Dunnocks, 12 Robins, 49 Wheatears, a Ring Ouzel, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Redwings, 2 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaffs, a Goldcrest, 2 Chaffinches and a Common Redpoll.   12 Great-northern Divers were offshore, waders included 6 Ruff, 8 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel and the Kumlien’s Gull was still present.

                A brisk and increasing SW wind turned the 23rd into a different kind of day with hardly anything new to mention across the island as birds of note comprised a Merlin, a Grey Plover, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, a bit of an increase to 387 Black-headed Gulls with Hooking Loch becoming noisier and noisier, 3 Sand Martins, 2 Dunnocks, a Ring Ouzel, 5 Chiffchaff, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Goldcrest, a Brambling, a Common Redpoll and 3 Carrion Crows.


Dotterel                                                        Simon Davies

Whooper Swan                                         Simon Davies

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