Aberlady Bay Produces a Lifer!
We decided to go over to Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve in East Lothian today. The weather has been a bit mixed: mainly sunny but overcast at times with a constant light wind.
After an initial false start to the day (drove fifteen miles, window jammed in the fully opened position, drove back home, Birdman fixed window, headed out again), things started looking up with a sighting of a couple of Roe Deer just south of Swintonmill in Berwickshire. They were too far away to photograph, but I'm never after the perfect photo - I just like to have a record of the things I see. I've had to crop the pictures very heavily, but here they are ...
(all of today's photos were taken by Birdman)
We were soon back in the Lammermuir Hills again, with slightly better skies than last weekend. We pulled over above the Whiteadder Reservoir at a place called Hungry Snout (!) and I had a scan with my bins. There didn't seem to be much going on down there: Canada Goose, Lapwing, Skylark, Oystercatcher, Partridge, Pheasant and rabbits were all in the area.
A view of Bass Rock, home to nesting Gannets
Cropped photo to show the lighthouse (and bird poo!)
And finally we reach Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve
Butterflies present: Peacock, Small White and Orange Tip.
And now for the lifer - A stunning Whitethroat! Certainly not a lifer for most birders, but a lifer for me. Also, the best photos of the day too, so a double bonus! There were lots showing really well, so they're a bit like buses ... there's none when you want one .... etc., etc., etc.,
Oystercatchers on the shore, early evening
After an initial false start to the day (drove fifteen miles, window jammed in the fully opened position, drove back home, Birdman fixed window, headed out again), things started looking up with a sighting of a couple of Roe Deer just south of Swintonmill in Berwickshire. They were too far away to photograph, but I'm never after the perfect photo - I just like to have a record of the things I see. I've had to crop the pictures very heavily, but here they are ...
(all of today's photos were taken by Birdman)
Roe Deer
We were soon back in the Lammermuir Hills again, with slightly better skies than last weekend. We pulled over above the Whiteadder Reservoir at a place called Hungry Snout (!) and I had a scan with my bins. There didn't seem to be much going on down there: Canada Goose, Lapwing, Skylark, Oystercatcher, Partridge, Pheasant and rabbits were all in the area.
Lammermuir Hills, looking towards the coast
Above the Whiteadder Reservoir at Hungry Snout
A mile off the mainland of North Berwick is Bass Rock which rises to 313 feet. This small island has around 80,000 seabirds' nests on it, and a whole heap of poo. I don't know who counted all the nests, but I'll take that person's word for it! It holds 10% of the world population of Northern Gannet and the Gannet's scientific name Morus Bassanus is taken from the Rock's name.
A view of Bass Rock, home to nesting Gannets
Cropped photo to show the lighthouse (and bird poo!)
And finally we reach Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve
The bridge takes us over the mud flats: Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Shelduck, Wigeon, Redshank, Curlew, Black-headed, Herring & Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Mallard were all present
The mud flats
Skylark, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Swallow, Sand Martin, Carrion Crow and Herring Gull were present along the track towards the bay, along with two more Roe Deer. Plus there was evidence, in the way of pellets, of Tawny Owl.
Skylark, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Swallow, Sand Martin, Carrion Crow and Herring Gull were present along the track towards the bay, along with two more Roe Deer. Plus there was evidence, in the way of pellets, of Tawny Owl.Taken on the track which leads you to the bay
Butterflies present: Peacock, Small White and Orange Tip.
Peacock, a little rough around the edges, but still pretty
And now for the lifer - A stunning Whitethroat! Certainly not a lifer for most birders, but a lifer for me. Also, the best photos of the day too, so a double bonus! There were lots showing really well, so they're a bit like buses ... there's none when you want one .... etc., etc., etc.,
Whitethroat
And so on to the bay itself. We decided not to go down to the bay, but to walk up to Gullane Point instead, and look down on the bay. We sat on the cliff face, only about 8 meters above the sea, and watched male and female Eider (my favourite duck!), Common Scoter, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Shag and Gannet (which were flying brilliantly close!)
And so on to the bay itself. We decided not to go down to the bay, but to walk up to Gullane Point instead, and look down on the bay. We sat on the cliff face, only about 8 meters above the sea, and watched male and female Eider (my favourite duck!), Common Scoter, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Shag and Gannet (which were flying brilliantly close!)Gannet
Eider
Oystercatchers on the shore, early evening
And, finally, a misty view over to the Forth Bridges
Other in-car obs for today (whilst driving from place to place): Rook, Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Starling, Grey Partridge, Blue Tit, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush and Common Buzzard.
Total walking distance at Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve was 4 miles.
When we arrived home it was time for a curry and a beer!
Total walking distance at Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve was 4 miles.
When we arrived home it was time for a curry and a beer!
posted by The Bird Woman at 7:30 PM
3 Comments:
Congratulations on the Whitethroat. Good photo too!
I was in Duns one winter day for work and as I was driving back, there was a deer in the road. It had been hit by a car and had a broken back. Cars in both directions had stopped and everyone was just looking. I wanted to go home so I asked the person in the car behind me to help and she and I (I was in full work dress with high heals, earrings, the lot) moved the poor beast under the hedge. The rest of them in wellies and flat caps, playing at being country folk just looked on. Your deer photo reminded me.
Stunning pics. We must go ourselves. The wife for the birds, me for the scenery, and the beer
Sounds like a great day looked good too, I especially liked the way you rounded off the day!
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