Late arrivals

A little flurry of migrants in today, the pick of which was a Black Redstart perched on the guttering of our house as I arrived home this afternoon. Other arrivals included at least two Blackcaps munching the apples in our garden, a Chiffchaff in the sycamores, and a scatter of Redwings, Blackbirds and Robins.

Meanwhile, the Cotehill Loch Whooper Swan flock peaked at an impressive 130 birds on Tuesday, including a pair with six cygnets - well done the parents!

Migrants large and small

I'm aware it's been yonks since I posted anything on here. Far too much adventuring and not enough time on my beloved patch. Still, I intend to put things right during what remains of the autumn.

Today saw a nice 'fall' of Whooper Swans on Cotehill Loch. They seemed to come and go throughout the day, but numbered 54 when I counted them at lunchtime. A magic sound as they burbled away to themselves on the loch.

Whoop-whoop-whoop...

At the other end of the size spectrum are the continuing trickle of passerine migrants. This Blackcap has spent two days in our garden scoffing apples, while today also saw ones and twos of Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Redwing and Song Thrush in the area. The wind remains in the east, and hopes remain high of some more interest before the week's out.

Just look at yourself, you've got that all over your face, y'know.

The Fall

Great conditions following the SE gales and torrential rain brought some good rarities into the region especially yesterday.
Collieston seemed to miss out on this occasion, though a Red-breasted Flycatcher on the back road found on the 7th was still there yesterday (AK). In terms of commoner species numbers of migrants were very good, with notable numbers of Song Thrush, Robin, Meadow Pipit,  Siskin and Goldcrest roving around the village. Blackcaps also were present in good numbers.
On the reserve this evening there was a possible Siberian type Chiff-Chaff in the Rockend track bushes, though it wasn't heard to call.
Further north there was a Bluethroat in the Whinnyfold roadside bushes yesterday (Cotehill birder), with him also scoring a Little Bunting at the Bullars of Buchan.

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.