In message , Malcolm
writes


Could this explain why I thought I heard geese flying high overhead
last Thursday? Not seen any yet. The swallows were still with us
yesterday and there were a couple of house martins amongst them but I
haven't seen any so far this morning. I'll watch with interest to see
when the first arrival of geese here on Arran appear.

The Greylags which are the species which winters on Arran usually
arrive from Iceland a few weeks after the Pinkfeet (October rather than
November) which is most likely what Trevor saw over the Dundee area and
which could also have been flying over Arran on their way to the
Solway. The first few Barnacles and Whitefronts have been seen on Islay
in the last week and it could perhaps have been the latter you heard,
which winter on Kintyre and in Galloway.

Thanks Malcolm. There's no sign at all of swallows or martins today.
They've finally gone within 24hours of the same day last year. Wonder
when they'll be back next year? This year the first recording I have for
swallows is 22nd April. Greylags were back in the valley near me during
the third week in October, although I think they were seen elsewhere on
the Island before that.
Susie
Arran
--
Susie Thompson, Isle of Arran
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