4th February

Nice and bright again with an increasing NW wind and a few light showers; birds around the Obs and in the middle of the island (Westness, Torness and Ancum) included 4 Great-northern Divers, 6 Herons, a Pink-footed Goose, 2 Shelduck, the drake Green-winged Teal still in East Loch Park, 7 Shoveler, a Hen Harrier, a Merlin, 60 Oystercatchers, 310 Golden Plovers, 2 Knot and 35 Bar-tailed Godwits in wet fields around Phisligar, 155 Purple Sandpipers, 37 Dunlin, 69 Redshank and a Black-headed Gull on Ancum (only the second of the year).

                On the land, totals included 2 Skylarks, a Meadow Pipit, 11 Rock Pipits, 8 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 2 Song Thrushes (at Nether Linnay, so possibly new birds), the 5 Chaffinches, 30 Twite and 80+ Snow Buntings in East Loch Park.

Bar-tailed Godwits