5th to 8th August
Passage waders have certainly dominated proceedings over the period with Gretchen Loch in particular attracting plenty of interest now water levels are more favourable. That site pulled in the highlight- a juvenile Spotted Redshank from 6th to 8th while maximum figures of commoner species have been 20 Whimbrel (5th), 88 Knots (6th), 53 Ruffs (7th) and 219 Dunlin, 66 Snipe, 23 Black-tailed Godwits 171 Redshanks and 5 Green Sandpipers (all 8th). There were also plenty of Gulls feeding in the newly cut silage fields on the latter date with 356 Common and 35 Lesser Black-backed among those recorded. A Kestrel (on 5th), had become 2 (7th to 8th) and Swifts have been recorded daily reaching 23 (by 8th). Singles of Garden Warbler (5th) and Willow Warbler (5th to 6th) plus a Fieldfare (8th) have been the most notable passerines, but there were also 3 juvenile Crossbills on the west coast (5th) and up to 14 Redpolls of various ages and guises throughout.
Ruffs (photos Mark Warren)
Spotted Redshank (photo George Gay)
Green Sandpiper (photo George Gay)
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