A cloudless sky and an early morning visit to my local Dalmadilly Ponds failed to produce any overnight arrivals and I still await my first spring Blackcap and Willow Warbler, normally the next two passerines to arrive after Chiffchaffs! As is the norm up here in the northeast of Scotland we are probably around two or three weeks behind my old birding grounds of Warwickshire.
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| Oystercatcher |
After breakfast, I headed off to the coast with stops along the Ythan and at Bullers of Buchan. The tide was out with a stiff offshore breeze and there were plenty of waders feeding which included the hoards of Redshank, along with Curlew, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit and a small group of summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits. A single drake Long-tailed Duck was also noted from Inch Point.
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| Just a single Puffin seen at Bullers of Buchan |
Finally, I went for a quick walk along the cliffs at Bullers of Buchan, would you believe in shirtsleeves, to see if any Puffins had arrived yet. None along the cliffs but I did manage a single bird on the water mixed in with the Guillemots and Razorbills. Both Kittiwakes and Fulmars were already on nests and it was the usual wonderful cacophony of noise.
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| Bullers of Buchan |
