Spring's arrived... reluctantly!

A nice flurry of early migrants today were headed up by a Black Redstart in our garden in the High Town this evening. In filthy weather conditions it was great to see it from the comfort of the house! The cheeky chat was joined in the garden by a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest, while the Reserve also boasted two of the latter plus a Willow Warbler earlier in the day.

A quality bird seen without having to move away from the wood-burner!

Haven't seen any hirundines since the first two Sand Martins at Ingram's Quarry last Thursday, but nearby on the estuary the Sandwich Tern flock now numbers 90 birds; the first ones returned on 25th March.

Winter is clinging on in the form of the long-staying Scaup on the Sand Loch and a first-winter Iceland Gull on Forvie beach on Friday 1st, but it seems the seasons are turning now!