Since the sighting of 2 Common Tern chicks last week all eyes have been turned onto the tern raft. Now spending more time away from the protection of the bricks they are much easier to see, and 5 chicks were seen today.

A more unusual sighting at Montrose has been a species you would normally see while taking a walk along the Seaton Cliffs. This is the Kittiwake, with 70 seen at the Rossie Spit today during low tide along with 52 Black-tailed Godwits, around 300 Redshank, and 150 Oystercatchers.

The Lurgies continues to be a good spot to see waders, with a Spotted Redshank, a Green Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, and 17 Greenshank sighted there on the 31^st July, and 9 Common Sandpiper today. The Little Egret continues to be seen there on a regular basis, with official sightings on the 31^st July and today.

Other sightings this week include the regular view of the adult Moorhens and 2 chicks at the Salt Pans, a Water Rail seen at the Bank of Scotland Hide on the 31^st July and the Salt Pans on the 2^nd August, and 16 Grey Heron on the 2^nd. 49 Goosanders were also seen at high tide on the 30^th July fishing in front of the Tern Raft, 8 Swallows flying around the Visitor Centre on the 28^th, and 15 Canada Geese in the centre of the Basin on the 28^th.

Georgina Bowie, Visitor Centre Assistant