As contributors to the BirdTrack website, the BWWC was very interested to receive a report about the patterns of migration seen by other observatories in the area.
The main trend thus far appears to be a large influx of Goldcrests into Central and Northern Scotland, something which we have certainly noticed on the guided walks in the past week. The smallest bird in Europe is actually relatively easy to spot, being one of the more vocal of the calling woodland birds in the Autumn Caledonian pine forest.
On the Spey, large parties of Wigeon and Goosander seem to have taken up residence, whilst the Redwings are just starting to re-appear.
The Aberdeenshire coast is also really hotting up - over 50,000 Pink-footed Geese have now arrived at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg which over the winter period hosts approximately 20% of the world's population!

Meanwhile the Red Deer rut is in full flow - guests who have joined in the Land Rover safari are reporting sightings of herds of over 150 Red Deer at a time, as rival stags try and round up their own 'parcel' of hinds. The diversity of other wildlife seen during the tour has been quite remarkable and includes Red and Black Grouse, Brown and Mountain Hare, and even the dreaded Mink!