Ring-necked Duck still about

The Ring-necked Duck is showing occasionally on Meikle Loch, with it being present here mid-morning (HEM) and also seen last weekend. A single Long-tailed Duck remains more regular on the Loch. Scattered small flocks of Yellowhammers, and rather larger numbers of Tree Sparrows are in various locations, and there have been some small flocks of Twite in the area, with 14 at Cransdale last weekend, and another 20 in the Cotehill area. Looking further back there have been records of Snow Bunting and 2 Lapland Bunting 2 weeks ago now (Forvie), but no movement of those species noted more recently.
A single Green Sandpiper was a late record for the region , also 2 weeks ago, at Waulkmill hide (MS). There has been a roving flock (s) of Golden Plover in the area for at least a week now, with a maximum of about 1000 birds counted.
A shame to see the wildfowler's  at the Snub today, taking aim at passing wildfowl flying round the corner of the Ythan. Not sure they would have been able to distinguish protected from non-protected species shooting at such a location.

Twite, Cransdale Head, Collieston

Golden Plover, Ythan Estuary

Cransdale Views

A Black Redstart was at the Inches road in Newburgh yesterday (CNG). Today perhaps the same Great Spotted Woodpecker as a few days ago was in the main back road plantation today. There are a few Long-tailed Duck in the area with 2 on Meikle Loch- in fact there for sometime now.
Otherwise it was the fine day that starred, with calm seas and some striking cloud formations.

Once there were more of us...Corn Buntings, Slains

Clouds and Bonfire, Cransdale Head

Poms and Great Spot

Two Pomarine Skuas reported off Cransdale today, one an adult.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen at the Sandloch end of the village yesterday and flew towards Kirkton (Craig, Ruth and Murray)
6 Snow Bunting's flew over Kirkton yesterday afternoon. Relatively good wildfowl numbers on Meikle and the Slains pool's area, with the Teal and Wigeon count being in the few hundreds.
Feels like winter has more or less  arrived.

Late highlights

A short burst of easterly winds yesterday followed by a North-westerly gale today resulted in big groups of thrushes in the area. This was particularly spectacular over and by Newburgh this evening with hundreds of mostly Fieldfare and Redwing ranging over the estuary in the fading light.
Had to discern other movement at times it was difficult to stand straight, though Robin and Blackbird numbers seem particularly high.

Elsewhere a variable number of Whooper swans are frequenting Meikle and Cotehill Lochs. Teal and Wigeon are scattered now over the many re-flooded areas through Slains following the large amount of rain falling in the last few days.
There was a single Snow Bunting seen on the road coming into Collieston last night.

Whooper Swans, Slains Pools