Blustery, but just good to be out.

The recent dreary weather got me looking at weather forecasts for somewhere reasonably close to home that might be dry and bright. The only place that appeared okay was East Lothian and so that is where I headed.

At Barns Ness, I quickly found the Water Pipit but digiscoping it successfully in a very stong wind proved beyond my limited capabilities:



Dodgy photo 1

Flaring Supercillium & Wingbars just about visible.

A Meadow Pipit - keeping low in the gale.

After this I concentrated my efforts on the lighthouse:

The only other birds of note were a single Stonechat and a few Linnet.

 

I moved on to Aberlady by which time the wind had intensified.



Wooden Bridge at Aberlady
 

Aberlady Beach looking West



Sanderling on Beach

 



Gullane Point

 

Rounding Gullane Point I took shelter from a heavy shower. On a very rough sea I picked out c10 Common Scoter, 1 Velvet Scoter, 2 Shag and 1 Red Throated Diver. 

Heritage Loch - still quiet

Nothing of real interest yet this winter so far. I guess it's just been too mild.

This morning only 45 Tufted Duck were present along with 1 drake Pochard and 1 drake Goosander.

30 Lapwings still present. 1 adult Great Black Backed was the only Gull of interest.

I thought I heard Crossbill calling and 2 distant flying birds may have been them.

Local Waxwings

At least 12 birds coming to berries in the hedges at Tesco in Burnside this morning.

Wet Wet Wet

Almost continuous rain for 3 days now. When will it stop ? The rain coupled with the short days make it hardly worth going out and as regards a camera you can forget it. And with no camera there was a missed opportunity today at Tesco in Burnside when I discovered c40 Waxwing present.

Heritage Loch earlier had produced 65 Tufted Duck, 20 Lapwing, 2 Greater Black Backed Gulls and at least 1 Argentatus Herring Gull. Siskin, Reed Bunting & Grey Wagtail were also of note along with iced ginger bread & cappuccino.

Tufted Duck in better weather

Weekend in Fife

We were at the Craw's Nest Hotel in Fife this weekend for a party night, something I had organised as part of Patricia's big five O.

Stopped at Lower Largo on the way home today for a quick look. Small numbers of Velvet Scoter, 1 Long Tailed Duck, 1 Slav Grebe, 1 Red Throated Diver and c30 Knot were notable.

Anstruther Harbour in the winter sunshine:

In the Deep Midwinter

Short days and few birds:

Aberfoyle - mid afternoon - all is silent

River Forth at Aberfoyle - short cold days

More Scenery & A Few Birds

December is one of these 'nothing' kind of months. Nothing much new on the bird front and the days are short making it hardly worth travelling any distance. It will be different in January ofcourse when the year list kicks off again.

It was however another bright crisp morning and I wanted to get out and make the most of it. The kind of morning that is infinitely better than the dreary ones that are inevitably still to come. As such I headed down to Newshot Island just North of Erskine on the Clyde Estuary.

The marked paths at Newshot just take you down to a viewing platform overlooking the Clyde. From here any birds on Newshot are at best distant and I spent most of my time just looking at scenery.

Cormorants on the river

Looking East upriver towards Glasgow




The opposite direction towards The Erskine Bridge

There was nothing else for it, in order to see birds I had to get on to Newshot Island itself. Actually fairly easy but involving crossing a barbed wire fence. Never easy for an out of shape 50 year old and I didn't find it easy either.

Once over it is a short walk to the teaming wildlife on the river. Good numbers of Wigeon & Teal, a big flock of Grey Lag Geese. Lapwings, Redshank, Dunlin & Snipe, calling Water Rail and a marauding Sparrowhawk.

Small numbers of Redwing & Fieldfare and Yellowhammer.










A Sunny Day in Glasgow

Maryhill via Bridgeton on a cold crisp day in Glasgow. A very pleasant 2-3 hours prior to the football. Pity the Jags didn't complete a perfect day.

Queen Victoria at Glasgow Green

Bridgeton Rowing Club

The Brewery in the Gorbals

Clyde Footbridge between Glasgow Green & The Gorbals

River Clyde at Glasgow Green

People's Palace & Winter Gardens

Waxwings in Maryhill

Part of a flock of c80 birds

A single bird against a blue sky

..... and finally