6th May

There were plenty of new arrivals today, do doubt forced down by the constant rain and a light north-westerly wind which had increased by the late afternoon. There was no outstanding rarity as was the case this time last year but a good days birding produced 3 Garganey at Hooking Loch, a drake Scaup at Bridesness and a Wood Sandpiper on the scrape at Scottigar among the highlights. Passerine migrants were slightly more numerous than yesterday with 3 Sand Martins, 19 Swallows, 3 Tree Pipits, 2 Robins, a Black Redstart, 9 Redstarts, 4 Whinchats, 5 Song Thrush, a Mistle Thrush at mid-park, a Grasshopper Warbler at Sangar ditch, 4 Lesser Whitethroats,2 Whitethroats, a Garden Warbler, 3 Blackcaps, 8 Chiffchaffs, 7 Willow Warblers, Pied Flycatcher and 2 Mealy Redpolls logged. There was also a Cuckoo and 2 female Sparrowhawks while wader numbers are now building too. 141 Ringed Plovers represented their highest count of the year, with 107 Sanderlings, 48 Dunlins, 408 Turnstones, 7 Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit also counted. Hangers-on from winter included the Greenland White-fronted Goose and 7 Barnacle Geese while on the other foot, returning Arctic Terns have already started to set up colonies at traditional sit

Wood Sandpiper (Molly Laban)

Cuckoo

Garden Warbler

 

 

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