On a busy day spent rushing around different sites, the highlights were: Little Egret and Common Tern at Montrose Basin; an Osprey, 150+ Pink-footed Geese and a singing Yellowhammer at The Lurgies; two Red-breasted Mergansers on the River South Esk at Bridge of Dun; Osprey, Marsh Harrier and Whooper Swan at Loch of Kinnordy and finally, three Yellow Wagtails and a Peregrine at East Haven.

An excellent visit to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg produced records of Common Crane (4), Spoonbill, Great Egret, Ruff (2), Wood Sandpiper (3 - 4) and Marsh Harrier. It was then on to Bullers of Buchan for a single Puffin and two Ravens. Later, Gight Wood held Treecreeper, Yellowhammer and Grey Wagtail (as well as Sweet Woodruff and Bugle).

After a busy day in coastal Aberdeenshire, the best birds were Dotterel, Great Skua, Little Tern and Grey Partridge.

A drake Gadwall at Lochwinnoch was my first for the site. Other good birds included three Oystercatchers, three Little Ringed Plovers and a Snipe (the latter feeding out in the open). A Water Rail called and Sedge Warblers were everywhere. 

At least one and possibly two Fulmars were occupying potential breeding ledges on Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh when I checked from Regent Road today.

Having noticed Chiffchaffs becoming commoner on Loch Lomondside and Strathspey last week, I found evidence today (albeit rather limited) of Willow Warbler doing better locally too. Putting in my birdtrack records for Queen's Park (today) and Pollok Roundabout (Sunday), I noticed that I was entering my first records ever for the species for these two sites.

A walk around Mugdock Park this morning found four Swallows near the Khyber gunsights, a Moorhen pair with two young on Craigend Pond and two or three singing Tree Pipits.