5th May
Another day of cold northerlies and occasional hail showers nevertheless brought a few good birds. The pick of the bunch, and a bit of a surprise, was a Pectoral Sandpiper in a muddy scrape near Hooking Loch. Although now fairly regular in autumn, this is only the fifth spring record of the species for the observatory. A summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe in Linklet Bay was also notable, and only the second May record here; and a female Garganey was seen at Hooking Loch.
An increase in Wheatears resulted in a count of 84, and other small birds included 4 Lapland Buntings, 6 White Wagtails and a Ring Ouzel. A couple of Sparrowhawks and a Whimbrel were also seen. The long-staying, probably nesting, Canada x Greylag Goose hybrid was still around, and 2 more geese of the same hybrid combination appeared from who-knows-where among the local Greylags.
An increase in Wheatears resulted in a count of 84, and other small birds included 4 Lapland Buntings, 6 White Wagtails and a Ring Ouzel. A couple of Sparrowhawks and a Whimbrel were also seen. The long-staying, probably nesting, Canada x Greylag Goose hybrid was still around, and 2 more geese of the same hybrid combination appeared from who-knows-where among the local Greylags.
Pectoral Sandpiper
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Julian