Another day off, so away before dawn again. Arrived in Maidens just as it got fully light. Two big flocks of passerines (one mostly of Skylarks and one mostly of Greenfinches) were on the weedy patch next to the harbour. Other birds on view included 5 Brent Geese, a few Shelduck, plenty of Goldeneye (including males, which I haven't seen on freshwater so far this winter), a couple of Great black backed Gulls and mixed flocks of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. South of the harbour, the strandline was full of feeding birds including Starlings, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Blackbirds, a Redwing, Rock and Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Redshanks and Turnstones.
Saltcoats Harbour held more of the same, but also five Golden Plovers and a Little Grebe. Around 10 Purple Sandpipers were on the furthest rocks. Finally, there were lots of Eider and a male Red breasted Merganser off Largs.
Best sighting of the day (in spite of three new birds for the year) was of two Otters playing for 15 minutes just 50 yards offshore [129+3=132/136].