21st and 22nd March

A dreadful day with a strong SW wind and plenty of rain on the 21^st but it did brighten up from mid-afternoon giving us at least a couple of hours of birding time; the only new birds noted were 3 Black-tailed Godwits on Gretchen and a bit of an influx of 145 Skylarks (including 80+ in East Loch Park).   Other birds included the Whooper Swan still, a Hen Harrier, 7 Meadow Pipits, 2 Pied Wagtails, the Black Redstart still, 4 Song Thrushes, 5 Mistle Thrushes, a Chaffinch, a Linnet, 7 Twite and 16 Snow Buntings.

                Once the morning mist and murk had cleared up on the 22^nd, it was a decent day, overcast with much lighter winds; the first Slavonian Grebe of the year was on the sea off Brides along with a Black-throated Diver in Nouster while wildfowl counts included 8 Shelduck (a few new birds in), 168 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 115 Teal, 44 Mallard, 12 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 32 Tufted Ducks, 9 Long-tailed Ducks, 8 Goldeneye and the Smew.

                Waders of note comprised single Knot and Ruff with 76 Golden Plover and 40 Bar-tailed Godwits while a selection of typical early spring migrants included 2 Woodpigeons, 2 Pied Wagtails, 3 Dunnocks, 81 Fieldfares, 6 Song Thrushes, 28 Redwings, 5 Mistle Thrushes, a Rook, a Chaffinch and a Linnet.

Typical early spring migrants - Black-tailed Godwit and Rook