13 September 09 Aberlady Bay

The long staying Lesser Yellowlegs was showing distantly upstream from the wooden bridge and at least 100 Pink Footed Geese yelped overhead signaling that winter is not far.

The walk from the wooden bridge out to the beach is often boring and today was only brightened by flocks of Goldfinch & Linnet and the occasional Stonechat & Reed Bunting.

The sea was like a millpond and at 2 dark phase Arctic Skua were seen, one on the sea quite close in and a second rather falcon like over the sea. Several distant Red Throated Diver lines of Common Scoter. Lots of passing Gannets and occasional Sandwich Terns.

At the point there was a single Wheatear and a small flock of Knot flew past.

Late afternon 2 large skiens of Pink Footed Geese flew over the saltmarsh & a single Bar Tailed Godwit probed the mud quite close to the wooden bridge allowing some photographs.

Various images from today:

Mallard on the Marl Loch.

Distant Stonechat.

Reed Bunting

Moorhen.

Curlew at low tide.

"Oik" at Gullane Point

Distant Common Scoters

Barwit from the toilet block