Surf's up

Surfie joined the list today and then, to bring up the ton, six stunning Canada Geese winged their way north. First here in three years and the stuff that winning patch year lists are made of.

Statto

Royal Duck Celebrates Jubilee at Blackdog

Visits have been periodic recently (been away again, mapping Mipits for some reason or other) but a few highlights to report since last update. Best was two Tree Pipits a few weeks back - a full fat patch tick and was,  indeed, one of the three most gaping gaps on my patch list.

More recently, the Ythan King Eider has pitched up. Despite three springs now on the Ythan, it had only been at Blackdog on one previous date, in 2010. Less anticipated were seven northbound pale-bellied Brents on Saturday. Also a Mute Swan, second of the year, pretending to belnd in among the Eiders.

Now on 98 species (=77.78%) which I was suprised to work out is two species ahead of this time last year. Well off the leadership pace though,

Statto.

summer lull...

It feels like spring has petered out into summer at the ness. Everything that moves is a bloody linnet. Despite hitting patch every day almost, I've had very little of note apart from spotted fly and a tree spuggie, which was a bit of a surprise, having never had a spring'un before. Some good conditions later in the week so maybe spring will have one last throw of the dice.

 

Collieston Springtime score

Finally got round to adding up...added Bushvelds Cuckoo...nice one, and finally got the Garganey on patch. Also caught up with a lively Collared Dove.

Worth noting the continued local Little Gull "influx" with a count of 9 1st years in front of the Waulkmill hide and 2 on Meikle at the weekend. Some late evenings at Meikle there has been the spectacular sight of up to 8 Little Gulls mixed in with many BH Gulls hawking over the loch.

Total 122, or 77.05%

Reg

Ton up in Wanstead

Although the patch has been largely torpid, a few of final 'expecteds' have made themselves known - a Common Sandpiper, almost mega again. We should have had a few in the spring, but this is the first. Then a returning Reed Warbler, they bred in the same spot last year, but are extremely late back, and then this morning two Common Terns fishing in the Park. I'm no mathmo, but that takes me to 100, and I believe just scrapes me into pole position.

Have been getting ominous sounding tweets from Seppy though, giving it large. Given some of the outrageous recent interpretation of getting birds on the patch list at vast range, surely it's time for some patch-line technology? I can see Seppy being more than willing....

onwards and upwards...slowly

A few more fine species since my last posting, with a fine long-eared owl perched at a base of a pine, a drake garganey from the house and a couple of sightings of a cuckoo.  Although long-eared owls and garganey are more-or-less predictable, cuckoos are a lot more tricky so a fine one for the year.

With the weather still looking good for a while longer yet and still a good number of regulars to be found, hopefully there'll be a late spring surge to carry us over 'til the autumn.

117

75.81%

Happy days

no sign of the usual May slump

Still bangin them in here regular as clockwork! Over de weekend I managed a heard-only off-patch water rail i.e. i heard it from me patch plus some shenanagins with scoping (very) distant doves netted me a fine brace of turtles, while just yesterday mistle thrush did the decent thing and gave itself up without a struggle. Never been this high before so early in da year - approx 2 months ahead of where I should be! Golden Mallard you'll be heading home I'd say!