|
The Darkling
Thrush I leant upon a
coppice gate The land's sharp
features seemed to be At once a voice arose
among So little cause for
carolings |
 |
| Our
Expeditions |
Archive |
6th February Kilspindie (Aberlady) and Musselburgh. There was no Sunday trip this week due to an unfortunate accident I had that left me with an injured arm and temporarily unable to drive or hold my big camera. So I’ve decided to report on a trip I made on the previous Wednesday. Regular followers of our blogs will recall my failed attempts in December to locate the pair of Shore Larks at Kilspindie, Aberlady. I had read in Twitter that they were still there, so I determined that I should have another attempt to see them (I should mention that, in the interim, I had at least half a dozen unsuccessful tries). Kilspindie (Aberlady): It was a bright, sunny morning as I parked in the Kilspindie Golf Club overflow car park. The birds had been sited very close to there but they had been moving between the shore and the far end of the golf course. So it was with an air of negativity I plodded onto the sandy shore and began my search. All I could see initially were a Redshank and a pair of Mallards. I soon met a fellow birder who was sitting with a spotting scope. I asked him, “Any sign of the Shore Larks ?” . “Yes, there they are there”, he answered with obvious delight. And so they were, working their way across the sparse vegetation in the sandy area adjacent to the car park. I managed a few shots before they took off over the golf course, spooked by some noisy golfers.
With the tide at its lowest and the sea and associated birds over half a mile away I decided to relocate west to Musselburgh. As I drove out of the car park I noticed that there were House Sparrows in the bushes. With them were a few Tree Sparrows . As I left the Kilspindie Golf club approach road there was a Curlew feeding in the grassy triangle. I snapped a quick shot from the car before leaving Aberlady heading for Musselburgh.
Musselburgh: I parked on Goose Green Place by the mouth of the River Esk. I could see there was a rain shower looming on the Pentland Hills. The sun was shining though, so I ventured forth along the Esk mouth and took some close shots of the birds that were feeding on the east bank. These were mainly Redshanks and Wigeon but a lot of Turnstones were flying in from areas being reclaimed by the incoming tide. (See also “Pictures of the Week”.)
As the inevitable rain moved in I rushed back to the car for shelter. The shower pelted the car as I sat cozily inside sipping tea. When it had passed I re-emerged from the car and was treated to the beautiful sight of a wonderful rainbow over the Cadet halls.
I set off along the sea wall, scanning the shore for anything of interest. My first capture was of a Little Grebe searching the Esk for little fish. The rainbow was moving out over the Firth of Forth, inspiring me to photograph a Carrion Crow with a spectral background. Goldeneye were flying back from the sea, in up the Esk to shelter in much calmer surroundings. A juvenile male passed close to the sea wall allowing me to get quite a nice flight shot. The birds I expected to see at the edge of the sea were not there. The strong winds had probably moved them on. I decided to drive a mile east to the Levenhall Links where I could visit the Scrapes and maybe see sheltering birds. Just as I returned to the car I grabbed some shots of a bold Carrion Crow sitting on a fence.
As I scanned the sea at Levenhall Links it was still wild and very choppy. I moved into the RSPB Nature Reserve to the middle hide where I found Teal close to the hide. There was a big flock of Bar-tailed Godwits resting beside a huge flock of Oystercatchers. Also in good numbers were Lapwings. Flighty at the best times they seemed very edgy, taking to the air at the slightest threat. Perhaps a raptor was about. (See also “Pictures of the Week”). A solitary Magpie was wandering the grass in front of the hide, probing every now and again searching for invertebrates.
The Oystercatchers were also restless and squabbling, but not so the Redshanks. Things settled down after a bit - until a large flock of Wigeon appeared on the scene. They circled the reserve several times before flying east.
As I retraced my steps back to the car I met a bold wee Meadow Pipit flitting along the sea wall. In the distance I could see a Kestrel hovering in the air, hunting small rodents. I realised then what was worrying the Lapwings. I hoped to get closer as I neared my car. Meanwhile I spotted a drake Long-tailed Duck bobbing 50m off the sea wall. It wasn’t diving and the sun was shining so I managed a decent record shot. I carefully tracked the movements of the male Kestrel and I got lots of pictures of it as it hung in the breeze. (See also “Pictures of the Week”).
It had been a successful day’s nature watching. I had finally caught up with the elusive Kilspindie Shore Larks and Musselburgh, as usual, offered up a feast of photographic delights. Pictures of the Week:
2nd February Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow It was a solo trip for me this week as John had a big family birthday to see to. Also, I noticed that the weather for Sunday was to be miserable so since Saturday was very sunny, although cold, I decided to cancel the Sunday outing and go on Saturday instead. I made for Hogganfield Park, a personal favourite of mine (No cooked breakfast this week just a bowl of cornflakes and a banana). One of the “Seven Lochs” , Hogganfield Park is shining example of Glasgow City Council’s commitment to supporting the environment. The Park was created in the 1920s and incorporated a tearoom and boating facilities . The loch and its surrounding woodlands, marsh and grasslands were declared a Local Nature Reserve in 1998. It was a winter’s scene when I arrived at Hoggie, with most of the Loch frozen. Only the section by the car park was ice free, due to the hundreds of birds crammed in there. Very kind and caring humans regularly feed them so it was worth their while hanging about in the area of the car park.
I set out capturing some images of the many birds there, starting with a bird that birdwatchers rarely get close to in “wilder” locations, the Goosander (also see “Pictures of the Week 1”, below). Of course there were Mallards, some skating over the icy shelves. Next I captured images of Whooper Swans, regular winter visitors to the park and easily distinguished from the more common Mute Swans by their yellow bills and by their noisy honks (also see “Pictures of the Week 1”, below). A large flock of Feral Pigeons are permanent residents of the Loch throughout the year. The white plumage of a Piebald Feral Pigeon caught my eye as it scurried across the snow chasing the breadcrumbs.
Because the bird population of the Loch was crammed into such a small space the birds were understandably on edge. The feisty Coot was extra belligerent, threatening any birds that came close. The Tufted Ducks were pretty wary between dives. Even the few Goldeneye I could see seemed a bit anxious as they tried to feed (also see “Pictures of the Week 1”, below). This was another bird that had become accustomed to park life while in most other locations they are very hard to approach. I decided to trek around the Loch to check out the quieter east end of the park, between the Loch and Avenue End Road. On the way there I came across a pair of Moorhens on the grassy banks of the Loch.
Pictures of the Week1:
It was a Arctic scene before me at the east end of the Park. The wee pond, there, was of course, frozen over and seemed devoid of wildlife.
My expectations were raised when I spotted a Kestrel sitting atop a small Silver Birch tree, and to my amazement it actually flew towards me, settling on tree some 20m away. Then, a short time after, a Red Fox prowled by the west end of the pond. I think it heard the click of my camera as it shifted at pace when I started shooting. I next moved out of the Park briefly onto an old road that would take me to the footpath on the other side of the pond. As I walked along the old road I saw several small birds, including a Robin and a family of Bullfinches (see also “Pictures of the Week 2”, below for more shots of these birds).
As I re-entered the Park I came face-to-face with a Magpie roosting on a path-side tree. Behind it I could hear the twittering song of a Goldfinch. Soon I had located it and taken a couple pictures. Next I looked beyond the trees to the bushes on the hillock where I noticed a pair of Roe Deer, a buck (m) and doe (f), lurking in the long grass. They stood motionless as they checked me out before slowly disappearing into the undergrowth.
A Carrion Crow then flew overhead, clutching a chunk of bread in it’s beak, followed at a higher altitude by a juvenile Cormorant heading for the Loch. It probably got a shock when it found the water was solid and white! Just as I neared completion of my circuit of the park I came upon a small flock of Long-tailed Tits feeding on tree branches over the footpath where the many walkers pass unaware of one of the delights of nature above them. The wee acrobats flitted from branch to branch, sometimes hanging upside down as they searched for insects. As I snapped the Tits, a Magpie passed above them carrying a wee dod of bread to some safe area where it could eat it free from other birds.
Back at the car park I scanned the water for gulls. They were mainly Black- headed, Herring and Common Gulls. I didn’t see any Lesser Black-backed Gulls , a regular sighting in summer months, as they are migratory, wintering in West Africa. My final photos of the day were of a pair of mating Mute Swans. During their courtship the birds swimming side by side and dipping their heads alternately into the water. Then, after copulation, both rose high in the water face to face, giving passionate grunts before settling together, preening. I just about managed the iconic picture of love (see “Pictures of the Week 2”, below), just in time for St Valentine’s Day.
I hope I’ve conveyed an impression of the rich variety of wildlife in the Nature Reserve at Hogganfield Park. That richness is further enhanced from Spring to Autumn when flowers an insects appear - but I’ll keep that for a later blog. Pictures of the Week2:
|
