Page 8 - Out Birding Feb 2025

The usual Wood Pigeon, Crow and Magpie took our count to 27, not bad with the weather and the wind. One significant sigh􏰀ng that we missed was a Humpback Whale in Liverpool Bay in the morning!
Thanks Steve and Dan for your good company and be􏰁er eyesight! Pat Blundell
Largo Bay, Fife 26/10/2024
We started the day at Leven, where we found a vantage point at the top of the beach. The sun was shining (!) which made looking south tricky but a few distant Common Scoter and Velvet Scoter were picked out. Jules spo􏰁ed a couple of Slavonian Grebe in with the ducks, which was a nice bonus. Close at hand there were plenty of Sander- ling, which must have been regre􏰂ng se􏰁ling on a beach with so many dog walkers
We jumped into one car and headed to Lower Largo where we walked a way along the coastal path. Birds on the sea included Red-breasted Merganser, a few Razorbill and a Red-throated Diver. On the rocks were roos􏰀ng Shag and Cormorant plus a few waders including Turnstone, Curlew and Oystercatcher. Over land we watched a Kes- trel and a large flock of Linnet.
Back to the car and another short drive took us to Kincraig at the east end of the bay. It was a nice spot and we sat on a bench to eat our lunch. There were lots of Eider offshore and distantly a few Gannet passed by. We decided to walk out to the point which provided a nice view but not many birds. Stonechat and Rock Pipit added some variety though. A sleeping wader with its most obvious features concealed provided a good ID test: Bar-tailed Godwit was the conclusion.
On our way back we took a short detour to look for a Spo􏰁ed Sandpiper that was re- siding on nearby Cameron Reservoir. Unfortunately, the rising breeze and orienta􏰀on of the reservoir meant it was like being in a wind tunnel and, although the bird was there somewhere, it was tucked out of view.
Returning to Leven we stopped by the river mouth, just downwind of the football sta- dium where East Fife FC were being knocked out of the Sco􏰂sh Cup. Despite the background noise of raucous jeering, the birds seemed unfazed and the sea duck were closer in here, allowing be􏰁er views of the scoter. A gull roost on the beach produced an adult Mediterranean Gull amongst the more usual species. Back where we started, a final scan produced a nice group of male Long-tailed Duck. And with that it was 􏰀me to head for home.
Graeme
Fingringhoe Wick 03/11/2024
The unrelen􏰀ng sheet of washed-out grey cloud over the Essex marshes did not dampen our spirits as we gathered, over steaming cups of coffee, for a day’s birding at Fingringhoe Wick. From the cafe windows we had already listed Li􏰁le Egret, Moor- hen, Pheasant, Great Tit, Robin, Blue Tit and from the lake we added Mallard, Wood
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