5th February

A stunning morning, bright and sunny with not a breath of wind; a few flocks of Skylarks and a couple of Meadow Pipits were seen flying very high and calling like they were tempted into doing something migratory but I don’t think they followed through in the end.   Totals through the day from walks round Westness and the north end as well as a drive round some lochs included 6 Herons, 7 Gadwall, 138 Teal, the Green-winged Teal back on Gretchen, 6 Pintail, 11 Shoveler, 5 Goldeneye, the drake Smew still on Bewan, 70 Oystercatchers, 75 Ringed Plovers, 464 Golden Plover, 215 Purple Sandpipers, 64 Dunlin, 3 Ruff at Claypows, 25 Bar-tailed Godwits and 138 Redshank.

                Landbirds of note comprised 17 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipits, 18 Rock Pipits, a Robin, 18 Fieldfare, 40 Redwing, 2 Song Thrushes (Obs and Longar), 9 Hooded Crows, the 5 Chaffinches and the flock of 80+ Snow Buntings in East Loch Park.

Tysties are beginning to turn black again