January 2nd

Back to gales and big seas today. The first bird I saw this morning was of course a fulmar that had eluded me all day yesterday, and there were lots more all day. There were also little auks passing by Fife Ness all morning in both directions. The wind pushed them close in and they were unusually seen better with binoculars rather than a telescope. Balcomie Beach was windswept but with a large flock of ringed plover, a few sanderling, a grey wagtail and a grey plover to add to the year list. I retreated from the bad weather at lunchtime with the year list up to 84. My target now, 100 before the end of January.

Grey Plover on Balcomie Beach taking my Crail year list up to 84 this lunchtime