Wknd 22-23 January

Dusk on Saturday a Barn Owl hunting a favoured area at Yellow Craigs in Garleton Hills, unfortunately just 100m from the boundary of the obvious remaining atlas gap in this area. Another recent report of one by A1 at Blindwells. Never ceases to amaze me, how did they survive weeks of snow cover? Perhaps some day in future technology attached to birds will reveal their secrets, but for now we have to be content with glimpses in the night.

Sunday was the Rocky Shore count (Lothian & Borders) - we had the first stretch Gullane Point to Black Rocks. Tedious work counting sea duck - made it 363 Eider, 270 Common Scoter, 71 Velvets, 18 LTD, 3 RBM, 3 RTD. Lovely views of 23 Sanderling and 45 Dunlin on the shore. Also as we arrived at the Bents c/p 430+ Fieldfare flew over and shortly after 2 Waxwings alighted by the path to the beach and seemed to have a nibble at buckthorn berries. Even though some buckthorn has been removed and there may have been hundreds of thrushes there all winter I'd be surprised if they've eaten more than one percent of the available berries!