10th - 11th February


A bit of a switch in observers on the 10th with George Gay off to do some fire training for two weeks and the extremely rocking and rolling boat bringing Simon Davies back for the season; limited coverage in the afternoon produced the regular drake Green-winged Teal on Gretchen and counts of 283 Golden Plover and 32 Dunlin in Loch Park.

                A pretty nice day on the 11th with some sunshine and a moderate (but increasing) westerly wind had us out in the field for some good coverage and a good selection of birds; highlights included the juvenile Kumlien’s Gull which reappeared in Nouster, a juvenile Glaucous Gull at the north end, the drake Smew still at Bewan and a Black-throated Diver in Nouster with 7 Great-northern and 2 Red-throated Divers.

                Some good counts of waders and wildfowl comprised 176 Wigeon, 86 Teal, 5 Pintail, 15 Long-tailed Ducks, 10 Goldeneye, 13 Red-breasted Mergansers, 205 Lapwing, 2 Knot (the first of the year), 166 Sanderling, 264 Purple Sandpiper, 111 Dunlin and 16 Bar-tailed Godwits while a ringtail Hen Harrier and a young male Peregrine floated around.

                Wintering Passerines were more obvious in the sunny conditions with the Black Redstart still at Howar, 8 Skylarks, 11 Meadow Pipits, 15 Rock Pipits, 2 Robins, 44 Fieldfare, 34 Redwings, a Song Thrush (surprisingly, also the first of the year), 7 Reed Buntings and an excellent flock of 103 Snow Buntings around Nouster.


Snipe

Fulmar sweeping round the sheep dyke

Long-tailed Duck

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