Wednesday 30 November 2016

November Update

November had its good bits but it also had its frustrations. The biggest frustration was the failed trip to Avoch for the Siberian Accentor. Being in the wrong place first light caused me not to see this bird & it now looks like I'm not going to see this species unless an over wintering one is found.

I also struggled to see Waxwings despite hundreds turning up on the east coast. I failed to see any of the 100ish flock at Gullane. The aforementioned Avoch trip did yield about 15 Waxwings but was hardly compensation for the Siberian Accentor dip.

I also failed to see any Taiga Bean Geese at Slamannen & stooped so low as to twitch a Scaup on the Heritage Loch for a year tick.

Highlight of November was undoubtedly the 20 strong flock of Shore Lark at Tyninghame along with 100 Twite & 3 flyover Snow Bunting. However, I failed to see the Lapland Bunting at Aberlady.

Finally saw Purple Sandpiper for the year with 4 at Torness.

Shore Larks - part of a flock of 20 at Tyninghame