Friday started with recovery of 3 more Barn Owls off A1/A720, including a pristine specimen from near Sheriffhall - seemed to be in crouching position and perhaps died after first hit (above) - and another BTO-ringed individual (GC73815) from the A1 by Macmerry Satellite Park (almost a year to the day since the Beltonford bird (GF81584) which had been ringed as an adult in Highland, near Drumnadrochit (192km distant) two summers previously). Have already confirmed the new ring is not from Lothian or Borders so this may be another similar case [confirmed ringed as a chick near Largo Bay, Fife, July 09 - presumably came over the Forth when the hard weather hit, or maybe during its initial dispersal?].
Confirmation of 270 Whoopers in the Drem area, with at least 89 still near Lochhouses on Friday (latter per Allan & Lyndesay Brown), suggests a new influx of wintering swans and there should be new darvics to read this wknd.
Saturday - in murky conditions only found 210 Whoopers in Drem area, including rings J3P and PL5, both regulars which were present in December (histories). Oystercatchers back inland in same area.
Sunday - TTV at Waughton (NT58Q) produced most of the hoped for species, including a Woodcock seen at nearly touching distance, but of course flew before I could reach for camera. A Heron, dead a few weeks, had perhaps succumbed to hard weather. Disappointingly not a single snipe along 2km of ideal ditch/burn habitat, rather a surprise. A female Reed Bunting below:
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