Yes the wind has stayed in the north - and the rain has come on today, giving a distinctly wintry feel to the day. However, the birds are at least a bit more spring like. There are at least five Dotterel still in the fields at the North End (two fields south of the Tufted Duck hotel in the recently sown crop). The weather has meant they have evaded our cameras so far, but here's a picture of one of the females from last year taken by Kenny Buchan to give you an idea of just how fantastic these montane waders are. Nice.
Other passage waders today have included our first Spotted Redshank of the year (a smart adult on the Low Ground) along with a Greenshank, nine Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Ringed Plover and four Dunlin in the same area. Several Whimbrel are on the beach as well, so despite a slow start to wader passage, things are starting to pick up.
There is a bit of competition for 'bird of the day' today though as an Osprey taking a large fish from the Loch this morning was a pretty special sight especially as it was in the air with a female Marsh Harrier at times. The Loch has also been covered in low feeding hirundines - with about 1,200 mixed Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins along with at least 20 Swifts. Amongst the lingering birds, it appears that the Great White Egret may now have left but the Snow Goose is hanging on with the last few hundred Pink-feet.
The wind is forecast to switch to the east by the weekend, so things could be set to get even more exciting soon.
All eight Dotterel were still present this evening - it seems to be four males and four females. I've posted a picture of a pair of them on my page (let me know whether you think it's better than Kenny's picture or not!).