Larking Around in East Lothian

My 2nd last day of freedom before returning to work on Thursday saw me at Tyninghame for c10am. Weather was dull with a brisk South West wind making it cold.

The 5 Shorelarks were eventually found. Its amazing how well camouflaged they are. I basically blundered into them, only realising their presence by their call.

Shorelark - 1 of 5 present

Apart from the Shorelarks & c40 Twite Tyninghame was pretty birdless.

By lunchtime I moved round to Aberlady and spent a good time without success searching for the drake Green Winged Teal that has been present since around Christmas. The tide was high and the creek was well filled with water and many birds were present including large numbers of Shelduck, Wigeon and Teal together with 6 Pintail and a few Eider. Large numbers of waders included Oystercatcher, Bar Tailed Godwit and Grey Plover.

In fading light, Longniddry Bents provided my first Long Tailed Duck, Velvet Scotter and Red Breasted Merganser of 2011. The rocks below the car park held a large roosting flock of Knot, 1 Golden Plover and a few Turnstone.