Page 6 - Out Birding Issue 111 Summer 2023

farmyard-Mallard mixes. Not everyone saw every bird, but between us we saw more than we would have alone. Thanks again to those that came and made it the lovely day it was
Eirwen
Aberlady Bay, Lothian 04/02/2023
We were back on the Lothian coast for the first Sco􏰀sh event of 2023. Four us met up at the nature reserve car park on a fine but windy day. Bad planning on my part meant the 􏰁de was about as far out as it could go and most of the birds were specks in the distance! There were, however, some obliging Wigeon grazing just below the car park.
We crossed the rickety bridge and slowly made our way north across the reserve. There was a flock of Curlew on the golf course and Reed Bun􏰁ng in the bushes but it started mostly quiet. Things improved with a pair of showy Stonechat and some early singing Skylark. Small groups of Pink-footed Geese also passed over us regularly during the walk.
We climbed the large dunes and scanned the beach. There was a distant flock of Gold- en Plover with a few Ringed Plover and Dunlin but it was too windy to set the scopes. We turned our collars up and walked along the sandy bay to reach Gullane Point. A couple of Purple Sandpiper were on the very end with a few Turnstone and Red- shank.
Scanning the sea, the highlight was a group of Long-tailed Duck close in. For such a graceful looking bird their behaviour seemed unexpectedly rowdy, as the males chased each other around for the a􏰂en􏰁on of a female. Other sea ducks included Ei- der and a handful of Common Scoter but there weren’t the large ra􏰃s we’d hoped for.
We made our way back and sat on a bench overlooking Aberlady Bay to eat our lunch, the 􏰁de now being a wee bit higher. Waders included a flock of Lapwing, a sca􏰂ering of Bar-tailed Godwit, plus a single Black-tailed Godwit; whilst in the channel were lots of Teal and a few Goldeneye and Li􏰂le Grebe.
We then moved round to Ferny Ness, which is usually a reliable spot for wintering grebes. Unfortunately, the highlight was the coffee van, as the sea was pre􏰂y birdless (from what we could see amongst the waves).
We decided to make one last stop and headed the short distance west to Seton Sands. It was a bit more sheltered here and birds on the water included a couple of Mute Swan and a male Gadwall; a species you don’t o􏰃en spot si􏰀ng on the sea. On the rocks was a large gull roost and some careful scanning picked out a single adult Medi- terranean Gull. Another year 􏰁ck for us all and a nice way to finish the day.
Thanks to those that joined me - always appreciated on these winter events. Graeme
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