Quieter times?

Despite a good North-easterly breeze, migration seemed slow this weekend, with far less of the visible bird passage that has marked recent weeks. There was only a smattering of arrivals: a few Goldcrest, mixed Thrushes , the occasional Blackcap and Chiff-chaff being the most notable. The week coming look's far better for greater quantities with continuous easterlies and periodic rain.
The drake Ring-necked Duck remains on Meikle loch, whilst there were 11 Ruff there today also.
A Pintail and 2 Scaup were other notable wildfowl there. Just two Barnacle Geese amongst the Pink-foots up to now.
There were half a dozen Whooper Swans  today on Cotehill Loch.
There had been a Slavonian Grebe midweek, for at least one day, on Meikle Loch in addition.
Yesterday a few Sooty Shearwaters were seen off Cransdale (PS)

Weekending

Aside from the birds already reported around Cotehill yesterday, there was still a YB Warbler on the backroad yesterday, and one in the Kirkton area. There was a flava type Wagtail in the Churchyard on Friday night. The main movement seemed to be of Chiff-Chaffs and Blackcaps of which there were many in evidence of the former, especially on Saturday, around the village. At least one showed the possibility of being of more eastern origin.
Yesterday also there was a Hen Harrier seen a number of times in the Sand Loch area, and a Treecreeper, possibly of Scandinavian origin in Craig and Ruth's garden by Sand Loch. The pictures show this bird.
In the area there are at least 2 Merlin's harassing the starling flocks, and the same number of Sparrowhawks.
Meanwhile on Meikle there have been up to 5 Ruff, a Grey Plover on two occasions and the drake Ring-necked duck continues to show intermittently.

Treecreeper, Collieston Village

Cotehill Migs

Bits and pieces around Cotehill today included a tree pipit, yellow wagtail and a yellow browed warbler being very vocal in the front garden.

The loch is fairly quiet with the water levels having risen such that there is now no muddy edges and now no waders... Pity.

Late news

Yesterday there was a Yellow-browed warbler in the 1st plantation on the back road, so maybe a new bird. Also a Chiff-chaff and 2 Blackcaps were seen. (PS) . Blackbird and Robin numbers were increased, with small mobs of them scattered in various locations.
Expect more today and tomorrow as the wind drops and it becomes brighter.

And yet more...

Still at least one Yellow-browed Warbler in the roadside trees at Kirkton yesterday morning, along with a few Redwing and a Brambling. This morning there was a Yellow-browed Warbler calling in the second plantation along the back road, maybe the same one that was seen at the weekend, or maybe not...weather looks amazing for a fresh arrival of migrants over the next 2 days. High pressure firmly embedded over the continent and a low over the Atlantic, SE winds whistling away currently with rain.

Another Yellow-browed...

There was a lovely Yellow-browed Warbler in willows by the Heath Trail on North Forvie this morning, calling frequently when gently encouraged (a soft pssshhhhh pssshhhhh etc did the job!). Also my first Redwings of the autumn. Meanwhile, a lone Whooper Swan remains on Cotehill Loch.

Brown Shrike pictures

Negative news on the Brown Shrike today I believe. Harry Scott, one of the Editors of Scottish Birds  (Birding Scotland), has kindly passed some  shots to me, though we are saving the best for the SOCs and his publication. Also one shot from co-finder Pete S.
 Thanks due to HS for all the time he put in yesterday to make sure we had enough pictures of this extremely, at most times at least, elusive and flighty bird.

Brown Shrike, Collieston 28-29th September, ( Harry Scott)





 



Picture Pete S.