29th January 2017
Haddington, Belhaven Bay
The weather was predicted to be best in the east side of Scotland so we headed
for Belhaven Bay where we always seem to find interesting things to photograph.
We stopped off at Dalkeith Morrisons for a spot of breakfast (9/10) and while
waiting I noticed on Twitter that there were Waxwings seen that morning in
Haddington. As it was on the road to Belhaven it seemed an opportunity too good
to miss. I’m glad we went as the Waxwings were on view as soon as we arrived.
The light wasn't great but I managed some half-decent shots.
The Waxwings fed on the red berries for a few minutes at a time and then
retreated to a safer place high in nearby trees. As we waited for their return
the sun came out in all its glory and Redwing and Blackbirds got stuck in to
the berries, watched throughout by a lazy-looking Wood Pigeon.
| Redwing
|
Redwing
|
Blackbird
|
Wood Pigeon
|
|
|
|
|
Suddenly we were treated to an exciting fly-past of a Sparrow Hawk moving
through a flock of Feral Pigeons. It circled a few time before disappearing far
into the distance.
A brief visit turned into nearly 2 hours! It was with some misgivings that
we stuck to our plan and headed for Dunbar. At Belhaven Bay we passed a flock
of Wigeon dabbling in the tidal marsh and as we reached Seafield Pond a Curlew
flew overhead. On the Pond was a gorgeous Little Egret beautifully silhouetted
by the low winter sun. It flew past my viewpoint allowing me to get a shot of
the sunlight penetrating its pearl white wings.
| Wigeon
|
Curlew
|
Little
|
Egret
|
|
|
|
|
As we returned to the car John spotted a Black-headed Gull taking what
looked like a Water Vole from the salt marsh. It carried it off pursued by the
rest of its flock. At the car a Rock Pipit kept an eye on us as we finally
surveyed the scene for one last shot – a female Reed Bunting sitting in the
hedges soaking up the setting sun.
| Black Headed Gull
|
Black Headed Gull
|
Rock Pipit
|
Female Reed Bunting
|
|
|
|
|
A belter of a trip I think – we certainly earned our tea and bun!
22nd January 2017
Doonfoot
As we arrived at Doonfoot the weather was very dull, but at
least it was fairly mild and calm. We had just eaten an excellent breakfast at
Kilmarnock ASDA (9/10) and we were raring to go. We started our observations by
the footbridge at the mouth of the River Doon. A beautiful Twente Landrace
Goose was regally gliding downstream while a diving Little Grebe surfaced in
front of me. After spotting my interest the Grebe hastily dived away from view.
Nearby some Teal were circling and making their familiar high pitched calls. We
stalked a handsome Redshank further downstream taking us nearer to the shore.
| Twente Landrace Goose
|
Littlle Grebe
|
Teal
|
Redshank
|
|
|
|
|
|
As we reached the seashore we spotted a small flock of courting Goldeneye. The
black and white males were enthusiastically throwing back their heads with
romantic fervour while the grey females were playing hard to get. A
Black-headed Gull watched on before a Great Black-backed Gull passed
threateningly overhead.
|
| Female Goldeneye
|
Goldeneye
|
Great Black-backed Gull
|
Black-headed Gull
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
A solitary Curlew sat in the shallows as we realised that the incoming tide
might block our return so we returned to the car and drove to the Greenan Shore
carpark. As we entered, another Curlew was on the grass verge considerably
closer than the one we’d seen on the sea. It had unusual white markings on its
head and this, along with its seeming lack of energy lead us to suspect it may
be ill. Unfortunately our walk along the beach around Greenan Castle produced
nothing more than a Feral Pigeon and a Goldfinch although I nearly got a
picture of a Greenfinch at the carpark.
|
| Curlew
|
Curlew
|
Feral Pigeon
|
Goldfinch
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
It had been a quiet but satisfying day overall, brought to a still more
satisfying end with our customary tea and Danish pastry
15th January 2017
Saltcoats and, briefly, Irvine
Harbour
We were glad we had filled our stomachs with a hearty breakfast in the
ASDA cafe at Kilmarnock (9/10) as Saltcoats was gloomy and dull with a raging
gale blowing in from the sea. Luckily for the wading birds the harbour area had
some sheltered spots which, for we nature watchers were near the promenade
surrounding the harbour, so good photographs were likely even in the poor
light.
First picture taken was of a nosey Herring Gull watching us alight from the
car. As we walked around the prom John spotted large flocks of waders –
Sanderling and Dunlin huddling a few metres beyond the roadside wall. It was so
blustery that even the usually busy Turnstone was also taking shelter there.
| Herring Gull
|
Sanderling
|
Dunlin
|
Turnstone
|
|
|
|
|
In the poor light we saw that what we thought were Redshanks but on more
careful inspection we realised that there were significant numbers of Purple
Sandpipers sheltering on the rocks behind the harbour wall. A Great
Black-backed Gull struck an imperious pose as it overlooked the sheltering
flocks. I leaned over the wall a bit too far for the Sanderling and set them
up. They took up residence beside the Redshanks, but we had our pictures by
then.
| Redshank
|
Purple Sandpiper
|
Great Black-backed Gull
|
Sanderling
|
|
|
|
|
|
We ambled further north beyond the harbour and came across another handsome
Herring Gull as a Rock Pipit took shelter from the gale on the sea wall. On our
way back to the car we noticed the Sanderling were still unsettled and were
circling around the area every few minutes. We left them though and headed for
the relative calm of Irvine Harbour, however a lonely but busy Cormorant was
all that was on show. Never mind there was always our customary tea and danish
pastry to help us reflect on what had been a better day than we’d expected
given the poor weather.
|
| Herring Gull
|
Rock Pipit
|
Sanderling
|
Cormorant
|
|
|
|
|
8th January 2017
Musselburgh
It was a disappointing cold, grey day in Musselburgh. In the hides at the
Scrapes there was quite a bit of activity as the tide was high. The
Oystercatchers were feeding on the grass close to the hide, with mud sticking
to their their beaks as they probed the ground for juicy morsels. On the
water’s edge the Redshanks, Bar-tailed Godwits and Dunlin were also probing
around.
| Oystercatcher
|
Redshank
|
Bar-tailed Godwit
|
Dunlin
|
|
|
|
|
After a short time in the chilly hides it was necessary to head for the sea
wall in order to get the circulation moving. Quite close in there were
Long-tailed Ducks of both sexes. A fly-past of Mallards caught the eye and as I
followed their path with the camera I spotted a Bullfinch on the trees by the
path.
| Male Long-tailed Duck
|
Female Long-tailed Duck
|
Mallard
|
Bullfinch
|
|
|
|
|
Further along the wall a busy Cormorant was working parallel to the
shoreline diving and re-appearing every couple of minutes. On rocks below the
wall a Carrion Crow was probing at a mollusc shell while close by a Curlew was
doing much the same. Some distance off shore a pair of Great Crested Grebes
paddled past.
| Cormorant
|
Carrion Crow
|
Curlew
|
Great Crested Grebe
|
|
|
|
|
On the return leg of the walk many Oystercatchers were leaving the Scrapes
heading for the receding tideline and richer pickings. A lonely Goldeneye sat
offshore. The plaintive call of a solitary Reed Bunting drew my attention to
its location as an energetic Pied Wagtail kept it's distance on the wall before
me as I tried to photograph it and the Bunting.
| Oystercatcher
|
Goldeneye
|
Reed Bunting
|
Pied Wagtail
|
|
|
|
|
As is usual at Musselburgh, hail, rain or shine, there are always birds!
New Years Day 2017
Hogganfield Loch
John, like most sensible people, was having a day at home with his family
celebrating the first day of the New Year. I had had a late night watching Hogmanay
TV sipping Bacardi and Coke and was in need of a wee walk to clear my head –
where better than the lovely Hogganfield Loch. The weather was bright and
breezy and as soon as I left the car I was literally surrounded by birds.
Black-headed Gulls were circling around the bread-laden parents and children as
they fed the Mute Swans and Greylag Geese.
The Goosanders were trying to get
their share.
Black-headed Gull
|
Greylag Goose
|
Mute Swan
|
Female Goosander
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seemingly disinterested in all this activity were the Tufted Ducks and
Goldeneye probably because their diets don't include bread!
|
| Tufted
|
Duck
|
Goldeneye
|
Goldeneye
|
|
|
|
|
Strathclyde Park
|
After a spot of lunch - my wife’s tasty home-made soup – I resumed my
birding activities with a short walk at Strathclyde Park. I’d heard the
Ring-billed Gull was still around and luckily I came across it almost
immediately at Car Park 4. One of the many Cormorants passed me as I took
pictures of the Gull.
|
|
Ring-Billed Gull
|
|
Cormorant
|
|
|
|
|
Not quite my usual Sunday outing but enjoyable nevertheless.
Back To Top
|
