12th-13th November

Its a bit late for the strong south-easterlies of the last few days to bring masses of birds but newcomers are still arriving and the birding is good given it's mid-November. Another wave of thrushes late in the afternoon on 13th saw Blackbirds treble from recent numbers to 173-the majority on the sheltered west coast. There were also 80 Redwings, 3 Black Redstarts (including an adult male), 8 Blackcaps, 5 new Chiffchaffs while 2 Goldfinches were likely the birds from the 11th. Increased numbers of Gulls are also typical during such winds and 589 Herring Gulls and 321 Great black-backed Gulls were present. The following day 632 of the former and 453 of the latter were counted and there was also a Great Skua, 3 Whooper Swans, 59 lingering Pink-footed Geese, the Pale bellied Brent Goose again and 12 Pintail.  The drake Green-winged Teal was on Gretchen Loch on both dates while 2 Short eared Owls at Torness were new on 13th. Robin numbers were up on that date to 24, Fieldfares up to 107, at least half of the 171 Blackbirds were likely different from the 12th as were 2 of the 3 Black Redstarts. There were also 12 Song Thrushes, a handful each of new Dunnock's, Goldcrests, Finches and 71 Snow Buntings.