The 11th was another sunny day, but with no sign of yesterdays Eagle (and a report of one over Wick) it seems likely to have slipped away undetected last evening. There were some new birds though and it was a marked arrival of passerines particularly Thrushes which were most noteworthy. Totals of 155 Redwings, 8 Fieldfares and 2 Song Thrushes were recorded on the former date with gradual reductions over the next 2 days and there was also a widespread arrival of some 67 Wheatears too, with 39 still present on 12th. Other new birds on 11th were 2 Pochards (with 1 to 13th), a Sparrowhawk in off the sea at the north end, 2 Merlins (including a new adult male), singles of Woodcock, Black-tailed Godwit, Collared Dove and 2 Woodpigeons. The next 2 days very much saw a return to winter but 24 Pied and a White Wagtail were of note on 12th with a Dunnock, 8 Knot and a Kestrel the best the 13th could offer. Winter birds, seemingly in no rush to leave were the 2 juvenile
Glaucous Gulls, 3
Greenland White-fronted Geese, the
Tundra Bean Goose although various numbers of Pink-footed Geese such, as the 9 on 11th will have featured some northbound migrants.
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| Glaucous Gull (photo Stephen Rutt) |
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| Pink-footed Geese (photo Stephen Rutt) |
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| Redwing (photo Stephen Rutt) |
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