Red-breasted Flycatchers

The easterlies over the last days have brought multiple Red-breasted Flycatchers into the region. There was 1 on the south end of Forvie yesterday, and on Sunday 1 was found, just out of the blog area, at the turn off to Whinnyfold village. The picture below shows that bird, apparently it is still present today.
Collieston has not hosted one yet perhaps, but today did see a good fall with 2 Pied Flycatchers, at least 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warblers, a number of Blackcaps and a handful of Willow Warblers. Robin and Meadow Pipit numbers are very high at present in addition.
Rarer fare must be possible in these conditions (Rattray Head hosted a Red-throated Pipit today-PAAB). On the estuary there was an Adult American Golden Plover (CG) on Sunday , though the rapid descent of fog meant it was not seen by many.

1st year Red-breasted Flycatcher, Whinnyfold 14.9.14

Barred Warbler and a Crane

A Common Crane has been around the upper Ythan yesterday and today ranging between Inchgeck island and up river from Waulkmill. The 3 Little Stint were seen again in the Waulkmill area on Wednesday 10th.
The very light SE winds have brought fog and a small number of migrants, with 2 Whinchats and a Pied Flycatcher being the highlights in Hightown yesterday. Today a Barred Warbler showed very well early on though was mobile ranging from the near corner of the Sandloch mire, into the gardens of Hightown.
Along with it was a small smattering of Willow Warblers, Goldcrest, Wheatears and Robins. Whether much more can be expected in the very light winds remains to be seen.
Swallows continue to move through the area in fairly large numbers.

Barred Warbler in the fog, Collieston

Ythan worth a look

There were 3 Little Stints yesterday morning at the Waulkmill hide, along with 10 Curlew Sandpipers. Later that day the Little Egret count currently for the Ythan rose to a new record of 5.
The estuary is packed in all directions with waders frantically feeding up just now and is well worth a look, as Ospreys continue to patrol overhead.
Winter has been suggested though by the first Pink-footed Geese arriving back in the area.
This morning a Spotted Flycatcher was feeding at Kirkton. The pictures are of some of the waders seen at the weekend.

Curlew Sandpiper, Ythan

Curlew and Crab, Ythan

Black-tailed Godwit, Ythan Sept 14

Migration news

Great end to last week with Cotehill, and colleagues, Blyth's Reed Warbler as per the last post.
This weekend started with a small build up of commoner migrants, with Willow Warbler's scattered around the Collieston area. The best bird was maybe a Wood Warbler in the back road plantation at Mains of Slains. There was also Spotted Flycatcher and a number of Whinchat, including 3 at Sandloch yesterday. Back a bit further, a Grasshopper Warbler showing unusually very well at Kirkton on Monday 1st was also a highlight.
On the Estuary there have been up to 3 Little Egrets in various locations including at the Snub today. Curlew Sandpipers have been in this area and Waulkmill, with 11 there on Tuesday, and 4 seen today.
A Slavonian Grebe has been seen on and off at Meikle Loch for the past 10 days or so.
A record count, for me at least, of Common Sandpipers, on Meikle Loch, with 19 there this morning.