17th September

A pleasant enough day with a light northerly breeze saw a significant arrival and welcome return of some popular visitors from the north. With just 13 logged the previous day, a significant influx of some 250 Snow Buntings took place, with three sizable flocks in typical locations at Bewan, Torness and Nouster and smaller groups spread about elsewhere. There wasn't too much change by the way of arrivals with other passerines but at least one of the single Yellow-browed Warblers at Holland gardens and Gretchen were new while 4 Rock Pipits may by indicator that their passage was about to begin. Non-passerines were more prominent with 12 Red-throated Divers off the coasts, 3 Sooty Shearwaters during a sea-watch, 5 Grey Herons and a small increase in numbers of most wildfowl species with an additional 2 Pintails seen. Raptors were well represented again with a ring-tail Hen Harrier, 4 Kestrels, 2 Sparrowhawks and at least 2 Peregrines with the most notable waders being the 2 Little Stints, 49 Knot, 22 Ruff, the first Whimbrel for weeks and the lingering Wood Sandpiper.   

 

 Snow Bunting (photo Stephen Rutt)

Yellow-browed Warbler (photo Espen Quinto-Ashman)