28th January

Not a bad day with a moderate NW wind decreasing through the day and a few snowy, haily showers drifting across the island; I got around a good part of the island today where the highlight consisted of two Black-tailed Godwits on Brides Loch (an unusual winter arrival).   Other totals included 6 Great-northern Divers, 6 Herons, 2 Pink-footed Geese with a total of 742 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 244 Wigeon, 5 Gadwall, 148 Teal, 5 Pintail, 15 Shoveler (the highest count of the year), 4 Goldeneye, the drake Smew still on Bewan, 2 Hen Harriers, 18 Skylark, the 5 Chaffinches and 87+ Snow Buntings.

Purple Sandpipers