Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th and Monday 9th

As was to be expected, no bird records were submitted on Saturday after Storm Darragh had deposited just over an inch of rain on Friday night (all right, 26 mm if you insist), and then blew from the north at force 8 throughout the day with frequent gusts reaching over 60 mph. We were fortunate to be north of the centre of the low pressure system judging by the reports of 90+ mph in north and south Wales. Sunday was a lot better, if still breezy, then today was sunny and wonderfully calm after a sharp overnight frost.

On Sunday, Clive McKay reported that, during the northerly wind of the day before, a total of 398 Kittiwakes flew N back out of the loch in 3.5 hours of observation, after U-turning/sheltering at the head of the loch. No other reports were received on Sunday, but things picked up on Monday morning, with Clive seeing 37 Fieldfares heading N over Creag Mhor, Gruinart, and wondered if this was a cold weather movement. Gary T had his first Reed Buntings and a Yellowhammer at his bird table a little north of Ballygrant, before he headed out and saw Common Scoter, Long tailed Duck and Red breasted Merganser close in to the layby at Blackrock. The Cackling Goose was seen again by Ed, this time at Ballivicar. I was out with Morven Laurie (NatureScot) this morning ageing geese near Bridgend, and she read a Whitefront neck collar, V8Z, which was caught near Port Ellen in February 2024. It wasn't seen again that winter so it's very good to get a sighting in a new area.