5th April 2024. For a number of reasons I'd missed previous recent UK Buffleheads, so decided to make a bit of a long journey to Loch Leven after a bird that had relocated from Ireland had been seen at a few sites in Scotland. After moving north-east to Aberdeenshire, it had relocated further south in Perth and Kinross, and had been present for two days.
After an overnight drive through heavy rain I stopped east of Glasgow for a short sleep, and woke up to heavy snow! Luckily I had less than an hour to get to Lock Leven, so continued onwards and arrived at Loch Leven for dawn.
It seemed difficult to view the loch in the area the bird was reported, but after a while I found a spot to get to the shoreline and began scanning the water birds through the mist. I soon picked out the Bufflehead with a small group of Goldeneye, and it showed really well for an hour. Although initially quite distant, it gradually drifted a little closer, allowing for a few distant pics.
It was a relief to find the Bufflehead as it hadn't stayed long at any of the site in Scotland, and a couple of days later it was gone from Loch Leven.
Although not really on the way home, it seemed sensible to visit the Myrtle Warbler in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, west of Glasgow. It was a 90 minute drive but certainly worth it. I've seen two other Myrtle Warblers in the UK so wouldn't usually have made the diversion. However, after spending the winter being fed in the garden of a local birder, it was transforming into its spectacular summer plumage. Chasing other birds away, and calling constantly, it was showing really well and certainly worth the effort.
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The nearctic warbler departed on 17th April after 58 days.
Thanks for looking.
