A wheatear perched on a neighbours roof was surprise during lunch today!!

There was a yellow wagtail and a common sandpiper at the Watermill this morning. Portobello was quiet.

At high tide this morning 3 dunlin, 10 redshank, 4 oystercatcher, 4 curlew, 12 shellduck, 11 goldeneye, and 2 little grebe of note.

On the lane up to Norton Farm was a mixed flock, definitely 6 yellowhammer but I suspect a dozen.

There was a female black redstart on the roof of the old store shed west of Nash Point and a couple of small tortoiseshell butterflies were enjoying the spring sunshine this morning.

What a pleasant 20 minutes on Beach Road on the incoming tide this afternoon.

Purple sandpiper 16, grey plover 8, ringed plover 18 (probably more hidden amongst the pebbles) dunlin 8 and at least 19 turnstones.

Late afternoon after the dog walkers had gone.

Goosander 2, goldeneye 19, redshank 8, curlew 22(flying over going to roost) little grebe 2, oystercatcher 5 and a single common sandpiper.

6 purple sandpiper on the rocks just after high tide. My thanks to the birder in Watermill who told me of two. I had not intended going there but when I found his two 4 more flew in. The usual suspects at the Watermill and Portobello

One red throated diver down channel this morning while doing a cetacean survey

A very pleasant 1/2 hour on Newton Point near high tide this afternoon. Sanderling 74, ringed plover 34, dunlin 8, turnstone 28, redshank 2, and 2 adult med gull.

Fieldfare 1, snipe 2, and 100+ lapwing flying over the fields

Goshawk near the Ford this afternoon

Goldeneye 14, Goosander 3, 8 Redshank. 3 Shellduck and a Common Sandpiper on Ploran Mawr this afternoon.

Winter bird numbers picking up. Goldeneye 4, goosander 7, little grebe 9, turnstone 6 and a flock of about 20 linnet.

Bittern flew into reeds near South Hide 10.45 this morning

2 bullfinch, a goldcrest and a raven of note on a pleasant walk. However the main reason for the post was a new fence and gate at the corner of Pant Quarry and the removal and chipping of well over an acre of gorse. Preparations for another quarry extension?

There were 8 common scoter in Pink Bay at high tide this morning

An unusual sight while doing a cetacean survey was 2 mute swans flying down channel and staying about a mile offshore. Otherwise very quiet.

For Andy Burns: ‘ I will see your corncrake and raise you one’

North Uist the week before last.

About 20 sandmartin at the river bank, 1 goosander, 2 sedge warbler, and a few whitethroat. The highlight was a male Beautiful demoiselle that was really beautiful.

Egyptian goose near Portobello House and 3 whimbrel over were the highlights this morning.