Wednesday 17th April

I abandoned my Scottish trip and returned home on Tuesday evening, if you can imagine the wind of the last two days and triple it, it will give you an idea of what it was like. We tried and failed to climb a lesser summit close to Perth but once we attained the ridge it was nearly impossible to walk. The forecast was for more of the same so well cried off.

I didn’t even see that many birds. On the way up we tried for Red-breasted Goose on the Solway but although we saw thousands of Barnacle Geese the above mentioned target remained frustratingly out of view throughout.

I did see a single Short-eared Owl in Glen Quaich along with Red Grouse. On Sunday we walked along the River Tay and there were good numbers of Sand Martin and Swallow which was a bit of a surprise considering how slow they have been down here.

I managed to get over the Reservoir last evening with the Captain were there were two Arctic Tern and around 12 Common Tern. The Kittiwake remains, looking less healthy by the day. Hirundines totalled over 100 split equally between Swallow and Sand Martin with three House Martin. Two Common Sandpiper were trying to find somewhere to feed and didn’t appear to settle. Passerine wise a couple of Chiffchaff and a flushed Pipit which flew up out of the long grass over the hedge which we never saw again were the only other birds of note.

Last Friday I had a Tern at the far end which I could not relocate but the next day there was Arctic and Common present. The 14th saw Arctic Tern and Yellow Wagtail. Whilst the 16th had a couple of Sandwich Tern in the evening.