Ferryhills the last few days..

Some excellent visible migration recently, the first half of October is an excellent time for variety with summer migrants mixing with winter visitors. (Today 1,722 birds of 37 species recorded see here http://www.trektellen.nl/count/view/1563/20171008 )

The stand out species has been Mistle Thrush. A count of 97 birds on Friday was impressive enough and a Site record. But then totally eclipsed today by an amazing 309 birds -a UK record count as listed on Trektellen. At one point I had a loose flock of 144 in a long chain making their way out of the valley from Inverkeithing/Rosyth which was an amazing sight.
Mistles don't necessarily spring to mind as an obvious migrant but it makes sense for populations in the Highlands to escape the harsh winter weather and there are hints in the Birds of Scotland that some may travel a long way e.g. three ringing recoveries of birds from Scotland in France.

Although not on the same scale, it has been a good autumn for Song Thrush movement with today producing a site record of 47. The first half of October is a classic time for Barnacle Geese moving through Fife on route from Svalbard to the Solway and I've had a couple of small flocks so far  (22 on Sat, 45 Sunday ) while a very big movement of Pinkfeet has continued all week.

Another species regular in October in small numbers is Great Northern Diver with 3 birds on overland migration W up the Forth (1 yesterday, 2 today).

Bird of the moment, Mistle Thrush with an amazing 309 birds logged on Sunday

Small numbers of Great Northern Diver migrate overland along the Forth in October often in the company of Red-throated Diver as below.