Spring

Was really looking forward to Spring this year as last year I went on an early weeks holiday and had started a job as well so missed out on a lot of days birding. So I was hoping to start off this with concentrating more getting about more. January started off well then February was just a lost month weather wise.
March was a bit quiet as March tends to be so with April now I was thinking ok, the migrants are coming and things will look up. But the weather is just being nasty again.

I am trying to go round the whole of Scotlands coasts. Done most as I could when in Aberdeenshire and beyond in January.
Went to Perthshire last week and will be up there again in June but a bit farther.

Went to Musselborough last week and Aberlady Bay, Longniddry. The weather was just awful though. Only nice in the morning when I was at Loch of the Lowes to see the Osprey, affectionately known as Lady, and my luck was in, her mate had turned up that day. Started clouding over and rain came pelting down so headed to Lothian way and smartly decided to stay in the car for a minute before setting off. The rain just came pelting down in a very heavy shower.

When it stopped, I braved crossing the bridge at Aberlady and thought "what the heck am I doing here?" I was almost getting blown off it.
But I bravely marched on and when I got to the other side it wasn't much better and I thought of just heading back.
But the sun came out, the wind died down and a Swallow shot over my head having ccome from the trees behind me.
So that was my first Swallow of the year.

The wind picked up again as I headed to the path through the trees as at least there would be shelter there. Goose got a fright hearing me coming and honked like crazy then flew off scaring me witless.

As I left the shelter of the tree path I then heard all this chattering as I walked towards the meadow.
I knew the sound but just couldn't recall what it was.
Turned out to be Skylarks marking out their territory. Seen them in Aberdeenshire near troup head but it was too early for the displays that this lot were doing.

The wind died down again and I sat at the edge of the field watching the larks.
It was great watching them bounce up from the field and do their display.
They didn't go too high which was also great. And one came near me which surprised me. I was expecting it to take flight soon as it spotted me. But it didn't.
Saw my first Painted Lady butterfly too
Two Meadow Pipits showed up but didn't stay long.
The weather was not kind that day and as I sat in the car at Longniddry, too windy to stand outside, it was just not happening. Only gulls, one Curlew, and a few Oyster Catchers, then a fly by of some Rock Pipits.
Compared to what you usually see there, this was not much at all.
There will be other days.

Going to Isle of May soon. I was going on the 1st of April but weather put paid to that.

Then I will head South to Dumfries and Galloway and back to the isle of Bute and Mull again.

"My" Sand Martins arrived on the 26th of March but only 3 arrived. Then 5 then 8. Now there is 10 regualrs.

A big flock of them turned up on Saturday, said hello to the regular Martins and were off again.

Despite the weather and my car, getting myself about and learning more about the birds.
I have also been trying to learnt he Latin names for them.

Only got about 10 masterded just now LOL But it's a start.