allanpcameron
Wednesday 11th November 2009, 22:03
I took my passport and travelled east to the Lothian coast. First bird at Aberlady is a Yellowlegs, which isn't in my British birds book, which thankfully somebody pointed out to me otherwise I'd have been confused.
Big flocks of lapwings, goodly numbers of redshanks, a pair of widgeon as well as mallards at the car park. Some stonechats and huge skeins of geese (pink footed I'm told) on the way up to the beach and a kestrel.
The tide was out so tried to spot ducks at extreme range, but positively got long tailed ducks which is a new one for me. There was a grebe, but I'd be lying if I could positively identify it as anything other than a grebe, except it wasn't a little one.
The were some black ducks which I guess were probably scooters, but again just too far away to be completely sure. On the way back got some good views of peregrine falcon.
Headed then to the sea wall at the river Esk in Musselborough, though the light was starting to fade at this point. However got definite views of velvet scooters, again a new one for me. There were a pair of goldeneyes on the river with some mallards and mute swans, and a canada goose. There were huge numbers of black headed gulls, and at least one greater black backed gull. There were another couple of grebes, again not too sure which type.
Some cormorants, eiders, redshanks, turnstones and a black tailed godwit.
A wee flock of reed buntings finished the day pretty well. Then spent the best part of 2 hours on the parking garage that is the M8!
Big flocks of lapwings, goodly numbers of redshanks, a pair of widgeon as well as mallards at the car park. Some stonechats and huge skeins of geese (pink footed I'm told) on the way up to the beach and a kestrel.
The tide was out so tried to spot ducks at extreme range, but positively got long tailed ducks which is a new one for me. There was a grebe, but I'd be lying if I could positively identify it as anything other than a grebe, except it wasn't a little one.
The were some black ducks which I guess were probably scooters, but again just too far away to be completely sure. On the way back got some good views of peregrine falcon.
Headed then to the sea wall at the river Esk in Musselborough, though the light was starting to fade at this point. However got definite views of velvet scooters, again a new one for me. There were a pair of goldeneyes on the river with some mallards and mute swans, and a canada goose. There were huge numbers of black headed gulls, and at least one greater black backed gull. There were another couple of grebes, again not too sure which type.
Some cormorants, eiders, redshanks, turnstones and a black tailed godwit.
A wee flock of reed buntings finished the day pretty well. Then spent the best part of 2 hours on the parking garage that is the M8!