There have been a few highlights on the migration front over the past week or so.
 At the end of October there were Woodcock and Sparrowhawk flying in off the sea along the East coast, and even a Dusky Warbler found. The numbers of geese have been climbing, although there has been little good weather to photograph them at dawn or dusk. The Whooper Swans have started arriving, and just a couple of days ago a Firecrest took up residence in a coastal garden (see opposite). 
Amazingly there are still Red Admirals flying around.
Will we be getting Waxwings this year?

The coast has been exciting lately with wader numbers increasing. Both Bar and Black tailed Godwits are congregating as well as flocks of Redshank with some much rarer Spotted Redshanks joining them. 

The poor weather of late might not be good for humans but it has resulted in good number of Curlew Sandpipers adding to the variety now, with some of the youngsters being very tolerant of humans!  See picture. Warblers are also moving along the coast just now, with Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Sedge Warblers all gathering in coastal bushes.

The Barry Buddon Open Day was held last weekend. At least 70 people attended this one opportunity to fully explore this interesting MOD site.

I opted to go with the birders group. Could I get a useful photo? Well yes; the answer was to ignore bird photography for the day and concentrate on macro work. I was pleased with the picture opposite. Despite being common enough I find Small White Butterfly to be difficult to get near. Furthermore, in bright conditions the white is not easy to control so I was pleased with this result.

Our first decent day of the week, so despite not feeling that fit we braved the  high ground on the Perthshire & Angus border with three friends to look for some mountain birds. As we ascended there were Wheatears, Meadow Pipits, Ravens and Red Grouse as well as plenty Mountain Hares now in their summer brown coats. 
Up on the high top it was pretty windy, but our quarry was tracked down - Dotterel - a trip of 3 and a pair busy feeding. We also saw Golden Plovers and Dunlin up there, but no sign of Ptarmigan. A very satisfying trip.

There are certain birds that are extra difficult - Hawfinch is one due to its rarity in Britain and general secretiveness. So it was a great pleasure to have got a photo at last. 
With waders, for years my bogey bird has been Woodcock. I am delighted to have, as it were, broken my duck. An early morning trip up an Angus Glen and there was the bird at the roadside. A fenceline hampered the photography but I am pleased with the result.