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Week ending: 30th January: Barns Ness, Dunbar Harbour
With wild, wet and windy weather approaching from the West, we
headed East as my WeatherPro app was telling me that there was a decent
chance of sunny intervals in the Dunbar area specifically, Barns Ness.
Needless to say, as our regular readers will attest, we first stopped
off at Dalkeith Morrisons for small breakfasts (9.5/10: excellent but
-0.5 for small plates).
A Buzzard was circling high overhead when we parked at Barns Ness. We made the short walk to
the bay where we found that the tide was almost fully in. The wind was strong and gusty but the
Mallards just about coped as waves broke around them. Of course the gulls, such as the
Common Gull, shown below, were lapping it up.
| Buzzard |
Female Mallard |
 |
 |
| Drake Mallard |
Common Gull |
 |
 |
Huge piles of seaweed lay decomposing on the shore, which was manna from heaven for the
gulls and also for the wee brown Rock Pipits. These were hunting the very many invertebrates that
lived on the seaweed. We could see a line of Cormorants at the far edges of the bay, the giant
waves thundering behind them. I noticed a few Grey Plovers and Oystercatchers sheltering amid
the large boulders on the shore.
| Rock Pipit |
Cormorant |
 |
 |
| Grey Plover |
Oystercatcher |
 |
 |
It was only when I got home and was examining my shots that I noticed a small creature lurking
just beyond the Oystercatchers. It was an Otter. One is tempted to say it was a Sea Otter, but in
the UK the Otters that occupy the coastal sites are the same species that live inland, the Eurasian
Otter, Lutra lutra .
At the other side of the lighthouse we looked along the long stretch of beach to the East. There
were many patches of seaweed washed up on the sand. That meant more birds. We decided to
take the path that runs parallel to the beach and to view the shore from the dunes using the many
paths of convenience. We came across a male Stonechat sitting high on a small bush - a good
sign of more birds to come. Our first look over a dune produced a pair of Turnstones sharing a
rock, and not far from them was a group of very pretty Wigeons. A nippy wee Pied Wagtail sped
onto the scene. Looking further along the beach was a view that warmed our hearts - loads of
little waders scurrying about in time with the waves breaking along the shore.
| Stonechat |
Turnstone |
 |
 |
| Wigeon |
Pied Wagtail |
 |
 |
Below is a panoramic picture of the view from the dunes looking back towards the car park. Barns
Ness Lighthouse is to the right while to the left the Tarmac Cement Plant can be seen spewing out
it acrid fumes.
We managed to find a great vantage point at a gap in the dunes where we could see the coming
and goings of the waders. There were mainly Dunlins and Sanderlings with a fair number of
Redshanks and Turnstones.
The Wigeon we saw earlier flew past some 50m offshore. They, and most other birds, were
inadvertently disturbed by the few walkers and their dogs, but usually they returned to the
seaweed piles after a few minutes.
We loved watching Sanderlings scurrying along the shoreline, dodging the breaking waves as they
looked for food. They were competing with Dunlins, who seemed to be in the majority. Their jerky,
unpredictable movements made them difficult to follow with the camera lens.
For once, I was pleased that walkers sent the Dunlin flock into the air, since it allowed me to
photograph the flock as it passed above the foaming sea.
The Redshanks too were very restless and took off at the slightest threat, but returned fairly
quickly. I snapped a nice shot of an Oystercatcher getting a bit of a soaking from an unexpectedly
high wave. There were a few Carrion Crows flying over looking for feeding opportunities. John
spotted a group of courting Goldeneyes about 50m offshore. And of course there were the
ubiquitous Herring Gulls (or are they?).
| Redshank... |
|
 |
 |
| Oystercatcher |
Carrion Crow |
 |
 |
| Goldeneye |
Herring Gull |
 |
 |
Below is a shot of a few Turnstones flying away from passers-by. At a distance, they are easily
confused with Dunlins.
Just before we left the beach, the returning Wigeons paddled past only to be overwhelmed by a
wildly breaking wave.
On our way back to the car I tried out the macro settings on my new Panasonic Lumic TZ70 by
photographing Teasel and Gorse flowers.
| Teasel |
Gorse |
 |
 |
We moved on to Dunbar Harbour for a final hour of discovery. The wind was getting
stronger and waves were occasionally managing to surmount the 5m harbour wall. The harbour
basin though was generally very sheltered from the wild winds. House Sparrows were active in
and around stacks of lobster creels. An adult Herring Gull and a pair of juveniles were perched on
top of hoist pillars looking down at the parked car, no doubt waiting for a chucked sandwich or
chip. We made a brief visit to the battery and were lucky enough to see a Grey Seal surfacing about 40m from the Battery wall, with a Cormorant battling the wind as it sped East.
| House Sparrow |
Herring Gull |
 |
 |
| Grey Seal |
Cormorant |
 |
 |
Back in the shelter of the harbour there were about 20 Eider circulating the calm water. Between
diving for food the drakes were giving the females a lot of attention by lifting back their heads and
uttering,“a-woo, a-woo”. They also did a lot of wing flapping. While I was observing the Eider,
John drew my attention to a wee Pied Wagtail that was standing right beside me. To crown a very
satisfactory outing another Grey Seal briefly surfaced a few metres from the pier, before vanishing
beneath the surface.
We finished the day with tea and delicious strawberry tarts. It had been a very enjoyable outing,
the highlights were the waders, the Otter and the Seals. Wintery weather is forecast for next week
- bring it on as it will add some drama to the pictures - not too much though.
Week ending: 23rd January 2022: Stevenston, Saltcoats and Irvine Harbour
After a gap of 6 weeks John and I were able to resume our Sunday adventures and we headed for
Stevenston. The weather was cold, windy and grey, but dry, so we appreciated the warm and
tasty breakfast we consumed at Stevenston Morrisons (9/10: very nice but -1 still for the small
plates). At Stevenston Point the conditions were very blustery and there were Redshanks
sheltering in the rocky shoreline. A large Hooded Crow was getting on with its foraging as
were the usual Herring Gulls. We could see another forager, a Curlew busy on the beach to the
north of the Point.
| Redshank |
Hooded Crow |
 |
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| Herring Gull |
Curlew |
 |
 |
A little further back on that beach were a large flock of Sanderlings scurrying about en
masse as they evaded the threat of waves and dog walkers.
There were also many Black-headed Gulls at the water’s edge. As we returned to the car, a large
Cormorant flew past over the heaving waves followed by a juvenile Herring Gull and then a large
Sanderling flock, probably the same birds we had just been watching. On the drive off of the
point, John photographed a pair of Magpies from the passenger seat. He also photographed
some close views of Oystercatchers when we paused at the pond on Moorpark Road W.
| Black-headed Gull |
Cormorant |
 |
 |
| 1st Cycle Herring Gull |
Sanderling |
 |
 |
| Magpie |
Oystercatcher |
We continued north for a mile to reach Saltcoats Harbour car park. We could see the Ardrossan to
Brodick ferry battling the wind on its way to Arran. As we trekked around the harbour to the
viewing tower, four juvenile Mute Swans passed overhead accompanied by the unmistakable
sound of their beating wings. Next I snapped a shot of a wee Rock Pipit that was cheeping from
the tallest part of the wall. John spotted a lone drake Red-breasted Merganser that was
diving in the choppy waters across the bay. Much nearer was a large Carrion Crow that was
scouring the road for the merest morsel. All we saw from the tower was a Shag repeatedly diving
in the heaving waters.
|
Juvenile Mute Swan |
 |
 |
| Rock Pipit |
Red-breasted Merganser |
 |
 |
| Carrion Crow |
Shag |
The light was poor but we could still make out a large flock of Dunlin flying over the large
rocky outcrop on the north side of the harbour.
We peered over the harbour wall as we walked back to the opposite side of the harbour. John
drew my attention to a pair of Eiders that were paddling closer to the wall. He also noticed a
female Goosander a bit further out. The more I looked at the harbour floor, the more birds I
noticed. I photographed a 1st winter Herring Gull standing on the seaweed-strewn harbour floor.
| Drake Eider |
Female Eider |
 |
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| Female Goosander |
1st Cycle Herring Gull |
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 |
I continued with photos of a foraging Oystercatcher, Turnstone and Redshank, while, on the sea
wall, three metres to the right of me, two large Herring Gulls were sitting, probably expecting
chips.
| Oystercatcher |
Turnstone |
 |
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| Redshank |
Herring Gull |
 |
 |
We were keen to find out if the Dunlins we spotted earlier were still in the harbour. They were. The
birds could still have been in an excited state so we moved carefully and calmly around the
harbour trying hard not to put them up (Note the difference in size between the Dunlins and
Redshank).
Most of the Dunlins were roosting on the very large rocks close to the shore, but there were quite a few
moving about, trying to get the best stance. There were also some Dunlins feeding along the
shallow edges.
Our last stop was at Irvine Harbour. When we arrived the light had deteriorated and the wind had
strengthened. When we left the car and approached the promenade barriers we watched a group
of Mute Swans flying down the River Irvine.
As more Swans arrived near us we slowly realised that they were flying to us thinking that we
were feeders. We weren’t. There were a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers diving mid-channel.
Also diving were a line of Shags that stretched from the Scientist’s Bridge to the mouth of the
estuary. Sadly we didn’t see any catching fish. Our final sighting was of a Great Black-backed Gull
that was sitting on top of one of the large posts that line the estuary.
| Mute Swan.... |
|
 |
 |
|
Red-breasted Merganser |
 |
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| Shag |
Great Black-backed gull |
 |
 |
We had a look around the viewing point beyond the beach car park, but I think the squally
conditions were too much for our feathered friends. But it was an impressive sight nevertheless.
Photographically speaking it wasn’t the perfect day out but we were happy with our sightings. The
Dunlin and Sanderlings were exciting to watch and definitely the highlights of the trip. Hopefully
we’ll manage another one next week. Let’s hope we get better light
Week ending: 16th January 2022: Musselburgh
I managed a Sunday mini-outing this week - an hour at Musselburgh Scrapes. The weather was
delightfully bright and dry as I parked at Levenhall Links and then walked West towards the
Scrapes. I passed a cheeky Blue Tit high in the bushes and a Carrion Crow fleeing from the gaze
of my camera. Once in the middle hide I was pleased to see flocks of Lapwings and Bar-tailed
Godwits in the rear scrapes with a sprinkling of preening Teal and restless Curlew.
| Blue Tit |
Carrion Crow |
 |
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| Lapwing |
Bar-tailed Godwit |
 |
 |
I relocated to the left-most hide where the birds were more plentiful and closer. A few beautiful
Wigeon were feeding some 20m from the hide.
The pictures below contrast the plumages of the male and female wigeons. As I took these, a
Redshank and an Oystercatcher were probing the grass even closer to the hide.
| Wigeon |
Female Wigeon |
 |
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| Redshank |
Oystercatcher |
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 |
A few Dunlin were at work along the left edge of the scrape that is right of the hide. A handsome
drake Shelduck was dabbling in the middle of the left hand scrape. On the near edge I
captured shots of Lapwings that were standing alone from the main flock. I then noticed about a
dozen Grey Plovers standing in a line at the left side of the scrape (Note the distinguishing
black “armpits”).
| Dunlin |
Shelduck |
 |
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| Lapwing |
Grey Plover |
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The Grey Plovers stood nervously and were very wary of the movement of the neighbouring birds.
A large Grey Heron stood menacingly at at the back edge of the left scrape and a Common Snipe
could just be seen hiding in the long grass. At the near edge, a pair of Carrion Crows were, for
reasons unknown, harrying a group of Redshanks and Dunlin. They were not happy. I then noticed
a single drake Shoveler with a Teal feeding with other ducks on the grass some 50m left of
the hide.
Responding to a threat I couldn’t see from the hide, perhaps a fox, all of the ducks moved rather
hastily into the water. A pair of Wigeon and a Mallard led the way, followed by the Shoveler, Teal
and the rest of the Wigeon.
I decided to return to the car via the route that followed the sea wall. A group of Bar-tailed
Godwits passed overhead as they flew towards the Scrapes. Looking further to the West I spotted
a large flock of Lapwings flying past the Esk mouth. I moved close to the sea wall to photograph
them and also caught sight, just below the wall, of a Redshank sitting looking up at me. I also saw a
small gathering of Goldeneyes diving for food as they fraternised with the opposite sex.
Another well-lit Redshank sped past, providing a nice photo-opportunity.
| Bar-tailed Godwit |
Lapwing |
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| Turnstone |
Redshank |
 |
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| Goldeneye |
Redshank |
 |
 |
As I passed the Scrapes I could see a drake Long-tailed Duck diving about 60m from the
wall. As luck would have it, just as I started snapping the duck, a Shag surfaced just behind it. Not
a bad shot considering the range. I passed a bold Carrion Crow sitting atop one of the tall fence
posts recently erected as part of the renovation work. I think it winked at me as I passed. I turned
off the coastal path onto the path beyond the eastern boundary of the Scrapes. As I neared the
car park I was just congratulating myself on my captures on such a short visit, when a Kestrel flew in and started hovering 40m from me. It hung around for a few minutes, long enough for
some decent shots, before it fluttered into the Scrapes.
The Kestrel was a great ending to my whistle stop visit. Short and sweet. The weather was perfect
and the birds were accommodating. My favourites were the Redshanks, the Shoveler and, of
course, the Kestrel. Once again though, as John and I often say, “Musselburgh delivered”.
Week ending: 9th January 2022 Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell and Victoria Park,
Glasgow.
On Tuesday I heard that the reported Ring-billed Gull was showing well next to Car Park 4
in Strathclyde Park. On parking there, my heart fell a bit when I saw how many gulls were next to
the car park. However, and I kid you not, the first bird I checked turned out to be the Ring-billed
Gull. It sat in the water some 50m from the shore. After a patient wait, people emerged from their
car with several loaves and the Gull took to the air and joined the melee of very noisy birds
scrapping for every crumb of bread. The Gull made repeated close passes enabling me to get
some satisfying flight shots.
I next turned my attention to the Greylag Geese and hybrids that were mobbing the feeders. As
well as pure breed Greylags there was a wee group of what are probably escapees, consisting of
a couple of Greylag X Swan Goose and a white-morph (probably domestic) Greylag hybrid.
 |
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| Greylag x Swan Goose |
Greylag Goose Domestic |
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I also noticed a group of nicely-lit Goosanders about 40m from the shore.
Also well-illuminated were some Mallards. The drakes were pursuing the females, but they were
playing hard to get.
| Drake Mallard |
Female Mallard |
 |
 |
My next attempt at photographing a “rare” visitor was at Victoria Park in Glasgow. Despite its
relatively small size it has a good variety of regular species, and it has also attracted a few rarities,
which includes a colony of Ring-necked Parakeets. Time was limited and rain was
threatening so I limited my search to the pond and it’s surrounds. My first capture was of a
Jackdaw with a beakful of grass. Next to it were a few perambulating Coots. Of course my main
target was to find the Ring-billed Duck, which has similar markings to the drake Tufted Duck, of
which there were at least 30 gathered at the West side of the pond. The light was poor and many
of the ducks were sleeping, beaks tucked under wings.
| Jackdaw |
Coot |
 |
 |
| Male Tufted Duck |
Female Tufted Duck |
 |
 |
After a circuit of the pond I failed to spot the duck in question. I
did though snap a few Blackheaded Gulls and, surprisingly, a very
accommodating Little Grebe , a bird that usually
shuns people. I also noticed a suspected leucistic female Mallard with very light-brown plumage. I
passed a few Mallards which were busily feeding on the grass along-side a few Mute Swans. I
photographed, though, a regal Mute Swan that drifted past me with an air of self-importance.
| 2nd Cycle Black-headed Gull |
Black-headed Guill |
 |
 |
| Little Grebe |
Female Mallard |
 |
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| Mallard Drake |
Mute Swan |
 |
 |
The light had improved when I completed my first lap of the pond. I had another check of the
birds in the Tufted duck flock and I soon noticed, on one particular snoozing duck, silver side
panels that distinguished it from the rest. It was the Ring-necked Duck . I waited and watched for
the bird to waken. It stirred a few times, disturbed by diving Tufties and Coots and this enabled
the shots below. But after about an hour I had to leave sleepy-head in order to return to my
“domestic duties”.
On Sunday afternoon I took advantage of an unexpected spell of sunshine to explore the wooded
area at the North-East edge of Strathclyde Loch. As I parked beside the Bothwellhaugh football
pitches I noticed a Mistle Thrush feeding on the grass pitch. As I photographed it, a flock of
Lapwings flew over on their way to the Loch.
| Mistle Thrush |
Lapwing |
 |
 |
I located the Lapwings gather at the starting bays at the north end of the Loch.
I walked towards the site of the Roman Fort. I passed a Blackbird feeding amongst leaf litter
below pathside bushes. In trees by the park road there were about a dozen Redwings gathered,
and nearby, pairs of Magpies and Woodpigeons were in the high branches of a Birch tree. On the
water, near where the South Calder joins the Loch, a large flock of about 40 Goldeneyes were
gathered. I next walked along the paths around the site of the Roman Fort but only saw a singing
Robin and a Carrion Crow.
Back on the Loch there were Cormorants drying their wings on a long raft in the heart of the Loch.
I returned to the car via the paths through the woods to the east of the Fairground. I decided to
watch out for fungi as I walked. My first discovery, Oakmoss Lichen, isn’t a fungus, but is pretty
nonetheless. My first fungus was a patch of Glistening Inkcaps growing out of a mosscovered log. I followed this with another log dweller, the aptly-named, Turkeytail . Growing
on a fallen Silver Birch, near the bench that overlooks the Funfair, was a bracket fungi that is
probably a Red-belted Bracket. Not far from there I found another fungus-covered rotting
log. The orange-coloured fungus, which looks a bit like potato crisps, was Stereum rameale . My final, and favourite find was the very pretty Scarlet Elf Cup fungus growing on rotting
logs.
| Oakmoss Lichen |
Glistening Inkcap |
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| Turkeytail |
Red-belted Bracket |
 |
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| Stereum rameale |
Scarlet Elf Cup |
 |
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That was a nice conclusion to a successful few days. I was chuffed that I’d managed to
photograph the Ring-billed Gull and the Ring-necked Duck. (It’s a pity I hadn’t time to look for
third “ringed” bird, the Victoria Park Ring-necked Parakeets, although I’ve already photographed
them 4 years ago). I would like to get further afield though, so hopefully John and I will
soon be able to start back our regular Sunday visits. Hear Hear (Ed.)
Week ending: 2nd January 2022: Hogganfield Park LNR
I was on my own for another weekend and I managed a couple of short visits to Hogganfield Park
LNR, one of my favourite haunts. As you’ll see below there is a large variety of bird life to observe
there, if you know where to look.
The weather was similar on Saturday and Sunday: quite sunny with a threat of the odd shower. At
the car park there are usually people feeding the Mute Swans and, in the winter months, Whooper
Swans. Annoyingly for some, other birds join in, such as the hordes of Black-headed Gulls and
Goosanders , while Feral Pigeons “hoover up” the crumbs. You might also see Pied
Wagtails feeding on the scraps.
| Mute Swan |
Whooper Swan |
 |
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| Black-headed Gull |
Goosander |
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 |
Less interested in bread are the Coots and Moorhens . I think they must feel safer in
the crowd. There were also Goldeneyes on the Loch diving for food as well as doing a bit of
courting.
Tufted Ducks can be seen sleeping and diving anywhere on the Loch. On Saturday they were
south of the car park. There was also an interesting infrequent visitor, a Red-headed Smew.
It was quite far out, but I include a closer picture I took a few weeks ago.
| Male Tufted Duck |
Female Tufted Duck |
 |
 |
| Male Red-headed Smew |
Female Red-headed Smew |
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There is a raft close to the car park where mainly Lesser Black-backed Gulls roost, but, are often
joined by very wet Cormorants keen to spread and dry their wings. Canada and Greylag
Geese often gathered at the area around the Sandy beach.
| Cormorant |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
 |
 |
| Greylag goose |
Canada Goose |
 |
 |
The Geese on Saturday were happily munching grass before the inevitable encounter with a dog
on the loose caused them to move into the water.
There is usually a steady stream of people treading around the road that circles the Loch. I like to
venture off the road and explore the much less busy area to the East of the Loch. At the centre of
this wilder spot is a pond that often hold water birds.
Sadly, on my visits, the pond was bereft of birds but, to my delight, I came upon a group of
Bullfinches feeding on the Hawthorns that line the gravel pathway. I also encountered a
singing Robin there. My delight continued when I heard the high-pitched peeps of a Goldcrest. With patience I waited until I saw it and was lucky enough to photograph it as is nipped
about deep in the bush.
| Male Bullfinch |
Female Bullfinch |
 |
 |
| Robin |
Goldcrest |
 |
 |
That pathway leads out the park to the main road but there is a route to the left along a disused
road that takes one to another entrance back into the park. I photographed a Woodpigeon and
Magpie that were rummaging in leaf litter at the edges of the old road.
| Wood Pigeon |
Magpie |
 |
 |
On re-entering the Park I was keen to explore the wooded area to the North side of the pond.
There is a rough, but often muddy path into the wood and, on Saturday, as I carefully moved
along the path I stood on a twig and put up some unseen Redwings . I did though get a
distant shot of one of them looking back at me and I also spotted a Song Thrush high in a
tall tree. I returned there on Sunday when I noticed some Siskins busy feeding on the shady
branches of an Alder tree.
Blue Tits are very common it the wood. On Sunday, a Buzzard flew above me, harried by a
determined Carrion Crow. It was frustrating trying to photograph them through the small gaps in
the wood, but I managed a decent snap. As I lingered even longer I heard the high-pitched trill of
a Treecreeper . I was fortunate enough to glimpse it landing on a fallen tree which was well
illuminated by sunlight. I snapped multiple shots as it crept up the tree trunk. My luck continued
when I was able to photograph a Wren picking its way through the undergrowth.
| Blue Tit |
Buzzard |
 |
 |
| Treecreeper |
Wren |
 |
 |
My walk along the road on the North side of the Loch was fairly fruitless on both days. There was
a strong West wind blowing along the Loch and most birds had relocated to more sheltered bits
of the Loch. I did though see a large flock of Jackdaws gathered on a large tree at the edge of the
Park. Also, as I neared the car park, I heard the familiar calls of a group of Long-tailed Tits
in the trees lining the side path out to the main road. I soon spotted them and managed a few
quick shots - no easy task as they don’t hang about too long.
| Jackdaw |
Long-tailed tit |
 |
 |
My first pictures of 2022 are pleasing and I’m still as keen as ever to get more. Watch this space.
Highlights - January 2022
We present this month’s gallery of my
favourite pictures I’ve taken during January 2022. They are
not listed in the order they have been taken, but according to a series
of themes. I’ve kept
commentary to a minimum, preferring to let each picture talk for itself.
WINGS
IN THE TREES
PORTRAIT
ON THE WATER
MORE IN THE TREES
MORE ON THE WATER
MORE WINGS
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