Page 8 - Out Birding Winter 2024

quartering the fields around Old Portlethen, only my second sigh􏰀ng of this species in the village.
The next day we ventured south to the Montrose Basin which offers comfortable viewing over the fantas􏰀c mud flats in the Sco􏰁sh Wildlife Trust’s centre. Shame about the coffee, though. Here we saw a Great White Egret with seven Li􏰂le Egret, large numbers of Redshank, godwits and Dunlin. Two Osprey muscled in on the act, as did three Common Scoter which encroached from the sea. We travelled on to the ‘Lurgies’ and undeterred by the name, we got so far before horizontal rain almost knocked us from our feet. We retreated to the warmth of the visitor centre where we con􏰀nued to scour the wader flocks and watched different birds a􏰂racted to the feed- ers and trees in front of the viewing pla􏰃orm, including Bullfinch, Common White- throat and Sedge Warbler. My thanks to all for making it a fun weekend with lots of laughs and great birding.
Andy Webb
Mersey Ferry 31/08/2024
Three members boarded the Mersey dazzle ferry at the Pier Head in Liverpool with plenty of other birders for the RSPB-hosted trip out into Liverpool Bay. This was a good opportunity to brush up on iden􏰀fying gulls. We were treated to splendid fly pasts from mostly juveniles – Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Common Gulls. There were a few Black-headed and the odd Great Black-backed Gull.
The spo􏰂er on top on the ferry noted that a Great Crested Grebe had been seen on the water by the Royal Seaforth Docks. The nature reserve here is within the Port of Liverpool and access is by permission only, but it is a great place for terns and sea birds. We were treated to sights of Sandwich Tern and the occasional Common Tern, and plenty of Cormorant on the water or on the buoys in the Bay.
Porpoises had been seen in the river before the cruise started, and several Grey Seals were spo􏰂ed. The most curious sigh􏰀ng for me were Red Admiral Bu􏰂erflies, right out in the Bay, presumably blown out?
Not the best day for numbers, and not the best 􏰀me of the year, but a good day out with friends.
Pat Blundell
Musselburgh Lagoons, East Lothian 01/09/2024
The lagoons at Levenhall Links are a great place to see birds, and we started the event there. The concrete hides might be basic but they get you close to the birds. There were lots of waders about and the first bird in my bins was a Curlew Sandpiper. There were good numbers of Lapwing and Redshank, whilst a Snipe quietly poked around at the back of the pool.
The next hide brought us close to a flock of Dunlin. Associa􏰀ng with them was a lovely juvenile Li􏰂le S􏰀nt, and another couple of Curlew Sandpiper. There were also around
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