The rain that had continued throughout yesterday abated around 8.30 this morning and I was out pretty much all day with fairly high expectations. It was very good in many ways but also a bit frustrating in others. There were lots of migrants and a few very high counts but the diversity of migrants was relatively low. Nothing rare was found - well, not quite anyway.
Perhaps the most conspicuous migrants through the morning were Barnacle Geese. I counted 630 in several flocks but that was certainly an underestimate, as there were a few more distant flocks that I didn't see well enough to be certain of the species. Ducks were also moving and this included a quite freakish flock of around 20 Pintail that headed over the golf course. 12 Wigeon also went through.
Landbird migrants were the main things I was hoping for and there were plenty of some species around. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the same area of the north bank as on Friday and four Redstarts were dotted about. Other totals included 11 Chiffchaffs, 16 Blackcaps, 18 Goldcrests, 12 Redwing, two Brambling, one Swallow, one House Martin, one Siskin, two Grey Wagtails, 22 Chaffinches and an impressive 79 Song Thrushes. That was about it though and there was a strange lack of diversity.
The big frustration came relatively early on when I was walking along the bottom of the north bank below the allotments. A small bird flitted up and perched on a rose bush in front of me. Once I got my bins on it, I saw what looked like a very pale buff Stonechat. I tried to get a picture but it moved off and landed briefly on the rocks, showing what seemed like a pale buff rump, before flitting off into the willowherb. I could see where it was but it didn't pop up again so I walked closer. I couldn't find it and, weirdly, never saw it again despite searching. I'm pretty sure it was a Siberian Stonechat, but I've no idea where it got to. Birds were moving through pretty quickly this morning, so perhaps it flitted off unseen and moved on.
Other birds included two normal Stonechats, a Golden Plover, a Snipe and a couple of Sanderling. I looked around Nigg Bay late in the afternoon but it had gone fairly quiet by then.
Perhaps the most conspicuous migrants through the morning were Barnacle Geese. I counted 630 in several flocks but that was certainly an underestimate, as there were a few more distant flocks that I didn't see well enough to be certain of the species. Ducks were also moving and this included a quite freakish flock of around 20 Pintail that headed over the golf course. 12 Wigeon also went through.
Landbird migrants were the main things I was hoping for and there were plenty of some species around. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the same area of the north bank as on Friday and four Redstarts were dotted about. Other totals included 11 Chiffchaffs, 16 Blackcaps, 18 Goldcrests, 12 Redwing, two Brambling, one Swallow, one House Martin, one Siskin, two Grey Wagtails, 22 Chaffinches and an impressive 79 Song Thrushes. That was about it though and there was a strange lack of diversity.
The big frustration came relatively early on when I was walking along the bottom of the north bank below the allotments. A small bird flitted up and perched on a rose bush in front of me. Once I got my bins on it, I saw what looked like a very pale buff Stonechat. I tried to get a picture but it moved off and landed briefly on the rocks, showing what seemed like a pale buff rump, before flitting off into the willowherb. I could see where it was but it didn't pop up again so I walked closer. I couldn't find it and, weirdly, never saw it again despite searching. I'm pretty sure it was a Siberian Stonechat, but I've no idea where it got to. Birds were moving through pretty quickly this morning, so perhaps it flitted off unseen and moved on.
Other birds included two normal Stonechats, a Golden Plover, a Snipe and a couple of Sanderling. I looked around Nigg Bay late in the afternoon but it had gone fairly quiet by then.
