Pinks return

Out in East Lothian doing WeBS on Sunday small groups of Pinkfeet were flying in all directions, many coming up the Forth. A group of 670 near Coates included grey collar PCN.

Various others en route: a f/imm Wheatear at Drem; a Herring Gull in Gullane Bents c/p with metal ring GG82491 [ringed as a nestling on the Isle of May, visible 25km ENE, 6633 days previously on 24/7/91], and on the sea there a Red-necked Grebe, RTD (+ 2W) and 4 Wigeon W; a dead juv Tawny Owl on the road by the entrance to Luffness Links clubhouse (sadly, probably one of those heard in the summer).

Towards dusk over 800 Pinkfeet were at Aberlady for the roost, presumably with many others still to come.

Monday evening update - a red-ringed Med on shore NE of Longniddry c/p2 at dusk was clearly not Cherry Blossom, having a bigger and angled ear patch, which means it was probably the new Polish-ringed bird PJU6; flew onto sea for the roost before I could check. A young male Peregrine also dashed along the shore in both directions giving brief alarm to assembled gulls and waders.

Hard work on gulls all week due to high tide corresponding with dusk, and no opportunity to scrutinise birds on the shore, hence no great surprise the YLG was not relocated (also an adult reported at Hogganfield today, just possibly the same). One adult Med (unringed) was standing in the Seton burn on Wednesday morning, one new Shag darvic Thursday, and a 1st-win Med (unringed) on the Longniddry beach at dusk on Friday, amongst just a handful of small gulls on the exposed sand. Offshore large gulls were literally hurtling past in strong SW winds in their evening roost movement, and a single Sandwich Tern was battling up into the Forth.