Wknd 22-23 September

A few Bonxies heading in Forth on Friday afternoon and Saturday. All heading up mid-channel purposefully. Amazing to think these probably following a route followed for many generations, i.e. the Forth then overland to the west - though there is no apparent "way out" when entering perhaps they had taken the same route when younger or with other skuas and thus "know the way"? Also a steady stream of Red Admirals coming "in off" from Fife direction. Seen 99% of the summer's butterflies in the last 10 days - one small patch at The Dean, Longniddry, had 5 Small Torts, 5 Red Admiral, a Peacock and a Comma last weekend, also found a Small Tort in the house!

Also on Friday, 95 Canada Geese around East Fenton, no Whoopers back there. Passing Aberlady, one SEO hunting the salt marsh (reported here also 21/22 August). Later one road casualty SEO collected off A1 Blindwells (another tip off from Colin); tail feathers sufficient to identify as ad female (ad based on solid tip to central, female based on 3 good bars on both webs of upperside of outermost feather, see earlier male); also in moult with P7 less than half grown (see second last). En route had seen a meteor streaking down over Hoprig, apparently part of a wider influx. Wonder if the owl was too?

Sunday at Ferny Ness again but still no wind so no hope for seabird/vismig passage; nevertheless the glassy sea did enable a count of duck etc, at least 33 Red-necked Grebe in range (could not spot any Slavs or LTD) and initially perhaps a dozen Red-throated Diver but the latter were moving west and on next complete scan added up 25 on sea plus 3 W. Velvets went out to limits of visibility where clear water became shimmer but at least 380 in that range. A Bonxie went W but soon after presumed same E so perhaps milling around. 2 Barnacles tagged on behind Pinks passing W offshore, also a single f/imm Goldeneye SE and a f/imm Scaup NE past, latter not that common here over the sea.