Sat 15th
I couldn't get to Ferry Hills until late morning but clearly good numbers of birds were moving with meadow pipits steady for the hour and half i was there. Pink-footed geese were also taking advantage of the calmer conditions to leave Iceland with several flocks flying very high to the south-west. The highlight was a Short-eared Owl that arrived in off the Forth and pitched down the other side of the underground reservoir from where I was standing. I couldn't find it on the ground but it had probably gone to roost in the long grass or scrub.

Monday 17th
Had the day off and following a wet and windy Sunday, today there was predicted to be a brief loll before the next wave of Atlantic depressions. Hopefully encouraging birds to get moving and Clive and I were not disappointed with a busy watch. Highlight was a lovely intermediate Juv Long-tailed Skua (Site first) heading inland with an  Arctic  Skua and a Bonxie. Nice comparison with the Arctic in terms of shape and flight action. The LTS had much more buoyant tern like flight and was struggling to keep up with the efficient falcon like Arctic Skua.
It was a good skua day in general with 18 Arctic Skua and 16 Bonxie heading inland. Adding to the variety were best day counts of the autumn for Meadow Pipit (1,600) and Siskin (260). Waders on the move included a site first Ruff, 2 Golden Plover and 3 Snipe. 

Later I went to see the Juv Pectoral Sandpiper at the Wilderness at typical range for this locality