Thursday 20th Sept

After some proper Atlantic storms I was hoping a visit to the Eden Estuary might turn up an american wader. Not to be, but still some good birds to be seen: 2 Juv Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Ruff, 14 Greenshank and 6 Little Egret. The latter two records the highest counts of these species I've had in Fife. In the case of the egrets its taken a long time for this species to move out of the rare and scarce category in Fife, but its status has certainly changed dramatically this year.

Phone scoped Curlew Sandpiper on the Eden

Ferry Hills Visible Migration Watches Sept 22nd and 23rd

A lively weekend at the patch with the main movers including Pink-footed Geese taking advantage of calmer conditions to leave Iceland (1,058 on Sat and a site record 1,469 today). Divers were also prominent with three species on Sat (20 Red-throated and single Black-throat, Great Northern). Another two Great Northern Diver today.
Of the smaller birds prominent movers were Meadow Pipits (699 followed by 668), Skylark (42 today), pied/alba wagtail (132 today) and Siskin (222 today).

This Juv Gannet was U-turning over the watch point after starting to fly inland, common behaviour by this species which appears to be more reluctant to migrate overland in comparison to some species e.g. divers and skuas. 

It was a big weekend for Pink-foot passage

A quieter weekend for skuas than the previous one, but these three Bonxie flew inland.