3rd September

Drizzly showers in the morning gave way to a much brighter, and more pleasant afternoon. There were plenty of waders on the move again with the highlight being a moulting adult American Golden Plover which came in off the sea in the afternoon at the Links Golf course. Searches for it this evening drew a blank but hopefully it'll be tracked down tomorrow. A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was at Ancum Loch in the morning and with one seen in the usual spot at Gretchen in the evening, it seems likely there are now 2 birds present. There has been an impressive passage of Black-tailed Godwits this year and at least 49 were present today along with 10 Ruff. Wildfowl included 14 Pintails, 10 Shovelers, 187 Wigeon, 213 Teal and a couple of Gadwall. There were also still plenty of Meadow Pipits around with 1025 counted, plus 177 Wheatears, a Whinchat and 3 Lapland Buntings. Meanwhile, 3 Hours of sea-watching saw 39 Sooty Shearwaters, 31 Manx Shearwaters, 12 Storm Petrels and 1415 Fulmars pass the hide.