January 3rd, Girdle ness

The most notable bird today was an intermediate type juv arctic skua that was lingering offshore at the foghorn - also here were 6 red-throated diver and a long-tailed duck. The goldcrests were still in Nigg bay, and nearby I flushed a male pheasant - a potentially tricky one to get so nice to have under the belt this early. Several other expected year ticks were added too, including sparrowhawk, putting me on to 47 spp for the year.

On the north bank, the seal carcass had attracted a brutal looking GBBG as well as a herring gull and a few crows.