Aberlady

The idea of another visit to the patch did not particularly appeal today so I decided to venture east where the weather looked the most promising.

Whilst it was dry, it was windy although not at all cold for January.

A deserted beach - not a Sanderling in sight

Off Gullane Point I had 3 Red Throated Divers, 3 Razorbill, Eiders, Common Scoters & the odd Velvet Scoter.

The tide was out & I scanned hundreds of Knot & Dunlin out in the bay.

Coming back over the salt marsh I had at least 1 Twite & a Sparrowhawk was playing havoc with the 100+ Fieldfare in the Buckthorn.

The Buckthorn certainly adds colour to a January day.

A Water Rail called from the Marl Loch & I spent a while scanning for the Long Eared Owl without success. I see this evening it was reported at 2pm.

By the time I got back to the wooden bridge the tide was right in & had pushed some of the birds including female Pintail quite close.

South Cathkin

Another visit to the patch allowed me to add Common Gull to the year list but aside from that it was dead. Heritage was largely frozen, Tufted Ducks had risen to 5. There were 31 Lapwing, 55 Greylag Geese & 1 Snipe.

Cathkin Marsh has 2 Buzzards and a few Yellowhammer. The SEO's appear to have moved on.

By the time I left it was snowing steadily & the first significant snow fall of the winter was upon us.

More Patch

Proper winter has finally arrived with 2 inches of snow & freezing temperatures. Furthermore there is now 1 Tufted Duck on Heritage.

Other signs of winter were approximately 5 Fieldfare feeding on berries on the island. Most notable today however were 4 confiding Redpolls feeding on Rosebay Willowherb.

By the time I got round to Cathkin Marsh the fog had closed in and it was snowing again. I managed 2 Stonechats through the gloom.

Confiding Redpolls:

 

No Little Auks

In the wake of thousands of Little Auk on the Scottish East coast over the past few days I was hoping that one might have 'wrecked' on my local patch. It was wildly optimistic & it also proved to be unfounded.

There had however, been 5 Little Auks on Strathclyde Loch yesterday & it was to there I headed next. Again no joy. The likelihood of birds surviving the Gulls on the Loch for more than a few hours are probably not very high, Lets hope they got off in time.

Duck Shortage

The mild dull drizzly weather continues unabated. Normally at this time of year 50+ Tufties on Heritage Loch. If it freezes closer to 100. Today Nil !

However, there was a single Goldeneye which at this site is considerably scarcer.

Musselburgh Shorties

Up to 5 birds present.

Stopped off on the way home at Cathkin Marsh & had another one.

Patchwork Challenge Day 1

Was out bright & early on my 'South Cathkin' patch. How long will it last ? I am reasonably confident in my ability to visit regularly until late Spring after that who knows.

Best from the Heritage Loch : 1 Treecreeper, 30 Lapwing, 6 Snipe & 6 Little Grebe. The fields between here & Cathkin Marsh held a small gathering of Redwing, Fieldfare & Mistle Thrush.

Cathkin Marsh did not produce the expected SEO's. Perhaps the recent appalling weather has moved them on or maybe my late morning timing was off. The appearance of a fly through Peregrine was an unexpected bonus.

Finished on 39 species. My goal is 75 plus by 31 Dec 16.