Lammermuir Hills

Nothing much has happened in the garden this week; we have had a new garden tick but it was only a lost homing Pigeon so I didn't feel it was worthy of a whole new post! I wonder if I can class it as a Feral Pigeon for the BTO survey?

Anyhoo, I thought I'd post some images from last weekend which I took on the short journey back from St Abb's Head on Sunday. This is the scenic route!The Lammermuir Hills form a natural border between East Lothian and the Scottish Borders with Meikle Says Law being the highest point at 535m.

Red Grouse are common on the heather moorland, with Ring Ouzel (apparently!) breeding in the valleys (one would be a lifer for me!). Birds of Prey to be found here include Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Common Buzzard. While we were driving through last weekend I had a nice view of a single male Stonechat resting on a fence (no photo!).

You may be able to make out a body of water in the following photo; it is Whiteadder Reservoir. Mallard, Wigeon and Teal are very common there in the winter along with a few Goosander and Greylag & Pink-footed Geese. Just behind the reservoir is The Bell Wood which is home to Tree Pipit and Redstart in the spring, and Brambling and Redpoll in the winter months.

The photo below shows one of the many streams which run throughout the hills. These attract Grey Wagtail and Dipper (one of my favourite birds) and Common Sandpiper in the summer.

This is the Longformacus Millennium Viewpoint. It shows everything you can see on a clear day. Unfortunately we were there on a gloomy day! I am quite surprised that this has survived so long without being vandalised with graffiti.

We haven't quite decided on where to go tomorrow, but Musselburgh Lagoons near Edinburgh and the Whiteadder Reservoir are looking likely at the moment.