3rd March

Generally bright and sunny with a strong SW wind making it uncomfortable out in the field; birds seen during brief looks at likely spots around high tide included 7 Herons at Westness, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 8 Gadwall, 6 Pintail, 17 Shoveler, 5 Goldeneye, the drake Smew still on Bewan, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers (the highest count of the year so far), 270 Golden Plover, 211 Purple Sandpipers, a notable influx of 72+ Black-headed Gulls, 225 Common Gulls, 97+ Great Black-backed Gulls, 200+ Skylarks and 4 Chaffinches.