The walk down from Boarhills along the Kenly Water to the sea is guaranteed to turn up dippers. This morning there were 3-4 birds, with three having a small dispute involving chasing and calling suggesting that there are two territories now between the village and the sea. Last year I think there was only one. Working out dipper territories and densities is relatively easy. You just walk along the stream until any dipper flying away in front of you suddenly reverses direction, flying back past you, indicating the border has been reached. You are then in another territory if you see another dipper flying away from you again as you keep on walking. As well as fast flowing streams like the Kenly Water, dippers also need rocky overhangs so they can place their nests above the flowing water. This is one of the reasons they often nest under bridges. I spotted quite a few good natural nests sites along the burn this morning where slabs protruded from the steep, cliffy sides. Dippers are early nesters and will be starting to build in three or four weeks.
Dipper
There was the usual flock of wigeon down at the mouth of the burn. The Brandyburn, the Cambo burn and the Kenly Water all have their flock of wigeon at the mouth. The wigeon feed mostly on the shore but obviously like their peck of fresh water. There were a pair of mute swans in the pond just north of the burn mouth. I think this must be the nearest potential nest site to Crail.
Mute swan – probably a pair resident and potentially breeding at Boarhills
Wild Crail 
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