Shelduck	Redshank	Oystercatcher	Brent Goose

	Ringed Plover		Feral Pigeon

Rock Pipit	Gannet	Shag	Eider

Just as we left after a very pleasant hour of observations a 1st cycle Herring Gull passed overhead. As we moved along the path across the golf course a couple of Song Thrushes were seemingly going through what we guessed might be a courtship ritual with the male pretending it was feeding as the female sat on the grass with its wings spread out. We drove back to Maidens for our tea and bun, pleased with another successful trip – well not quite! As I drank my tea I noticed an extensive yellow patch of Coltsfoot flowers – which of course I got a few pictures before driving back home to watch the fitba’. 

1st Cycle Herring Gull	Song	Thrush	Coltsfoot

19th March 2017

Dunbar

I was on my own again as John had family commitments. As I ate my Dalkeith Morrisons’ brekky (excellent 10/10) I checked Twitter for anything that was going on - the Glaucous Gull was reported to still be present at Dunbar Harbour - and, as the weather was clearing from the east, it was a nobrainer where my destination was to be. Once at the harbour, now brightly lit in Spring sunshine, my heart sank a little as there seemed to be no birds there, but I went for a walk around it anyway. I’m glad I did because the Glaucous Gull suddenly flew in from the east side and circled around the harbour over and over again before abruptly diving into the water and just sat there looking, with attitude, at me and other interested photographers.

	Glaucous	Gull

It floated there long enough for me to actually get fed up snapping it, so I moved round to the seawall and spotted a pair of Shags seeming to set up a nest on the rocks. Many gulls were coming and going around them - mostly Herring Gulls and Kittiwakes.

Glaucous Gull	Shag	Herring Gull	Kittiwake

Kittiwake	Feral	Pigeon	Kittiwake

Back at the car I had a wee cuppa and a chocolate biscuit to celebrate an successful trip. It was my first sighting of the
Glaucous Gull so I was well pleased.

Turnstone	Goldeneye	Female Goldeneye	Eider

Meantime, Mallards seemed more involved with courting behaviour. We moved eastwards along the sea wall and spotted Velvet Scoters which were similarly very active. As we studied the shenanigans of the Scoters a few Twite landed on the sea wall, their beaks caked in mud. Nearby a Male Reed Bunting was feeding in the same mud.

Mallard	Velvet Scoter	Twite	Reed Bunting

Further along the wall we spotted a solitary Long-tailed Duck as overhead a soaring Skylark was singing it's head off. Not far from the duck a pair of Slavonian Grebes were also diving for food. The light now, at 1.30pm, was as dim as twilight. A small flock of Wigeon passed eastwards, probably heading, like us, for the Scrapes.

Long Tailed Duck	Skylark	Slavonian Grebe		Wigeon

Given that it was high tide, it was unsurprising that there were many birds in parts of the Scrapes. Bar-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers and Redshank (not shown) were most numerous. A male and female Shelduck were canoodling at the far side of the west-most scrape. From time to time the male took to the air probably showing off his flying skills to his intended mate.

Bar-tailed Godwit	Oystercatcher	Shelduck	Shelduck

As we left the Scrapes a Grey Heron flew in from the north and landed at the side of the boating pond – only to be spooked by yet another loose dog. It then started to rain so we decided to move to Port Seton for some tea. By the time we arrived there the rocks were completely submerged and the only birds we could see were Herring Gulls, Common Gulls and a few Eider

Grey Heron	Herring Gull	1st Cycle Common Gull	Eider Drake

Given the poor light levels we had experienced, it was “fingers crossed” that Photoshop could extract half-decent images from the pictures I had taken.

On my way back home from a shopping trip to Glasgow I made a brief stop at Hogganfield Loch, one of my favourite haunts. It was very sunny so I thought I’d take a couple of shots of Lesser Black-backed Gulls as they were reaching their full breeding plumage. The large colony of Mute Swans were also ready for breeding and were quite mobile.

Lesser Black-	Backed Gulls	Mute Swan

The following morning I travelled east in search of good light and after a promising-looking bright blue sky over Dalkeith Morrisons (where I consumed another fantastic breakfast: 10/10!!)  I was disappointed to see heavy grey clouds moving in from the west. Undeterred, I made my way to Musselburgh where I saw a Long-tailed Duck and a Velvet Scoter at the sea wall but as the gloom descended further I noticed that the coast further east was basking in bright light. I decided then to relocate to Barn’s Ness.

Long-tailed	Ducks	Velvet Scoter

At the Pay and Display Car Park at Barn’s Ness I got my first chance to use my newly-purchased Parking Permit (after getting fined at East Links a few days earlier!). A short walk along the shore lead me to a Stonechat sitting on tall vegetation as it kept a wary eye on my movements. On the beach to the east of the lighthouse Rock Pipits and Pied Wagtails were feasting on the many flies that were active over piles of seaweed. Unfortunately though the tide was very low and most of the usual birds were a hundred metres away beyond the rocks. Also the cloud had followed me from Musselburgh so I decided to move to Seafield Pond, Belhaven where I usually find interesting stuff. All I saw though in ever-dimming light were a few Teal sifting through small sandy pools.

Stonechat	Rock Pipit	Pied Wagtail	Teal

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