17th September

A slightly more eventful day began with both long-staying American Golden Plovers being seen together near the observatory. A protracted period of year-list stagnation was finally ended by a Goosander, a very uncommon duck here, flying in to Gretchen Loch and later reappearing on the sea near the old beacon. The highlight of the day, though, waited until the afternoon, when an unprecedented group of 4 Pectoral Sandpipers arrived on the golf course.

The Barred WarblerBlack Redstart and Garden Warbler were all still present, while other passerines included 7 Rock Pipits, 248 Meadow Pipits, 120 Wheatears, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Redpolls, 11 Lapland Buntings and 17 Snow Buntings. A few geese were on the move again, with 67 Pink-footed Geese and 52 Greylag Geese recorded.

Goosander

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