April 10th

I did see a sand martin today after my dip yesterday. A single bird flew over Kilminning this morning making no. 113 for the Crail year list. I was out looking for willow warblers – still only chiff-chaffs though. There is a newly built magpie nest in Kilminning, one in Denburn too that I noticed last week. They continue to do well. That said I found a magpie wing chewed by a fox at Kilminning so not perfectly well. At sea I had velvet scoters passing again; after the famine, the feast – that’s three consecutive days – they must be on passage now. And after yesterday’s puffin passage today it was back to normal – lots and lots of razorbills and only the occasional puffin passing out of the Forth. I don’t understand it at all; better keep watching.

Sand martin on Balcomie Beach two years ago – they are an early migrant, but even so a bit early for nest building. Nice photo though of this subtle swallow (no. 113 for the Crail year list).