Wknd 15-16 September

These Canadas (and Curlew!) came out of Gosford Bay at dawn on Saturday, but pitched up on Longniddry beach and later flew back - the white-headed hybrid tells us they are the locals from Musselburgh. A Bonxie was amongst the Kittiwakes offshore and a few hirundines passing - absolutely no comparison with the hordes passing along the Fife coast opposite - proving again that Mipits etc prefer coasting especially if there is a bit of windy up and some haze offshore as per today.

162 Barwits and 41 Sanderling on shore amongst the throng of gulls. "Best" came last with a young Peregrine flushing the feeding Barwits off the shore then driving one into the sea - with each swoop the terrified Barwit splashed a few flaps along the surface of the water but never got airborne - after 5 attempts the Peregrine gave up and drifted off, the Barwit briefly remained swimming out on the sea like a strange brown gull then promptly flew back to the shore apparently unharmed.

Not much moving at Ferny Ness on Sunday morning, always worth it though to see the hirundine battling across Gosford Bay in the wind. Presumably same imm f Peregrine flushed off the point by a Kestrel as I arrived 07:30hrs, later spotted Mediterranean Gulls 3rd-win white-32A4 and an unringed 2nd-win amongst the feeding flock along the shore of Gosford Sands. House Martins are still in the nest on next-door neighbours!

WeBS in the afternoon produced very little, just a few wildfowl back, no waders! Wheatears were at Chapel (2) and Brownrigg (3), one shown here.

On way back a large gathering of geese was seen feeding in stubble near Lochhill farm, perhaps 3k+ in the area; amongst them a leucistic Pinkfoot first spotted by Abbie earlier in the day, perhaps a returning bird as we seem to get a few of them.