Seton again

Only new bird on Saturday (22/8) was an ad-f Scaup on Blindwells, diving actively for pond weed (sometimes appearing with strands in mouth). Also, Little Grebe and Coots successful again with large juvs, presumed family of 4 Kestrels and singing Chiffchaff.

Down at the shore in the evening, a single Med Gull in roost by the Seton Burn. Also a Sanderling on the shore with the Ringed Plovers following three a couple of wks back, but a big clear-out of terns, down from nearly 100 to just a handful of Sandwich Terns.

On Sunday evening (23/8), 2 adult Med Gulls in fields S of railway at east end of Blindwells, one was an unringed bird (obvious mask) and the other apparently Cherry Blossom (red darvic seen, very little mask). Feeding on insects in grass fields which had recently had muck spread with 1000+ small gulls, very few on coast just past high tide. No sign of Scaup on pool.

Shortly afterwards, a juv Med Gull on shore west of Ferny Ness; now 20 Mute Swans on Seton Burn, but clearly some turnover as white-BDJ present there last week was at East Fenton Farm resr today, remaining birds mainly unringed.

During the wk, further Shag darvics on Wrecked Craigs, taking the total for the last fortnight to 16 different individuals, details. A blue-ringed bird shown below.