8th - 9th November

A windy day on the 8th produced few highlights although the Little Bunting in Kirbest crop soldiers on where there was also three Mealy Redpolls, three Chaffinches, a Chiffchaff and 5 Reed Buntings in amongst the 100 or so Twite and Linnets; two Woodcock were also seen while two Little Auks and 14 Red-breasted Mergansers offshore were notable and 11 Whooper Swans were seen.   The wind dropped off on the 9th to leave a nice day until showers moved in late afternoon; a look at the sea in the morning produced three Sooty Shearwaters and a Bonxie while wildfowl totals in the calm conditions included 9 Whooper Swans (all different birds to the previous day), the lingering White-fronted Goose, 24 Tufted Duck, the long staying Scaup, 12 Long-tailed Ducks and 4 Goldeneye.   There was a scattering of migrants on the land as well with a late Wheatear on the shore at Scottigar, a Black Redstart at Senness and two Goldfinches most note worthy; other birds included 13 Robins, 3 Chiffchaffs, single Mealy and Lesser Redpolls and 85 Snow Buntings while two Hen Harriers and a Merlin still floated and zoomed around.