Wknd 6-7 November

A brief look out to sea from Seton harbour on Friday afternoon produced a Little Auk W past, which in characteristic fashion almost stalled and fell down onto the surface of the sea.

Saturday did tetrad NT47J, mainly offshore NW from Ferny Ness but with a strip of beach at low tide (hence a "low priority" tetrad); but worthwhile with 21 species logged, 300+ waders (115 Barwit, 90+ Knot, 40 Sanderling, 30 Grey Plover, etc.), 100 gulls and 100 sea duck, crow the only passerine. Just after concluding a dark skua appeared, Pom or Arctic, but departed rapidly NE before it could be confirmed! Returned after lunch when sea flat calm, totals visible then included one Black-throated Diver, 5 Red-throated Diver, 32 Slavonian Grebe, 330+ Velvet Scoter. Michael (age 4 yrs) disappeared into buckthorn and emerged to report a dead bird, a metal-ringed Shag #1416986 [chick banded 20/6/2009 on Fidra], probably dead since last winter.

Afternoon ventured to New Winton where plugged last gap in NT47 for Wren; 65 Linnets were feeding on larch cones. A Dipper showed well nearby on the Tyne at Spilmersford.

Sunday saw Tree Sparrows whirring around again and also 6 more Waxwing SW over house at 11:30hrs. On grey goose survey, Kingfisher @Gosford ponds (flew into boathouse), plus the usuals, Nutch, Jay, Redpoll, Treep, Goldcrest, Bullfinch, etc; 96 Whoopers (23 juv, including b5, b3, b2, b2, darvics file now updated) in stubble north of Chapel farm; 2 sawbills W over Fenton Barns and 2 redhead Goosander at Chapel resr; at East Fortune, 277 Greylags including an all-white domestic bird and 3 grey hybrids (above), plus f/imm Scaup on the resr. Greylags flew to Redside at dusk.