First Lothian trip of the year..... 18/04/2021
First big day out after lockdown lifted, headed East, much later in the season than usual. Targeted visits to Torness power station, Dunbar Harbour, then Musselburgh seawall and Levenhall Links scrapes.
Torness is a place I've had reasonable success before, with the mix of habitats lending itself to a broad selection of species. Immediately upon parking I heard skylark singing merrily, not only a year tick, but a sign of spring that's guaranteed to cheer me up. A walk down to the sea wall path got very little in terms of ticks. The gorse on the right hand side was devoid of birds, but I've had yellowhammer there before, and was hopeful of getting them again. I was also hopeful of redshank over the sea wall, given the tide was favourable and a lot of rocks were exposed. The 'rocks' include the concrete bollards designed to defend against amphibious assault- quite a sobering thought that they're needed when I have nieces and nephews in Dunbar. Surprisingly, no redshank, nor was there any sign of a purple sandpiper (a once- time only tick there, but a man can hope) Out to sea was quiet with cormorants and herring gulls, no gannets, which was a surprise. The skylark were putting on a fantastic audio- visual show by now, but for sheer charm the 2 pairs of pied wagtails chasing each other along the wall were a highlight. Got some half- decent photos of them as well. A single male eider went to sleep on the rocks, and a pair of great black- backed gulls mated. A cormorant watched- it would have been perfect if it had been a shag, but sadly, a cormorant it was.
Reached the end of the wall, and climbed the steps to reach the upper deck. From here, the area EDF cultivate for wildlife showed itself to be skylark- heaven. Plenty of individuals singing and showing. It was worthwhile just stopping and absorbing it. Back on the path, I ventured over to the gorse bushes on the left. No curlew in the 'curlew field' which was a surprise. Nothing in the gorse at the junction of the path, a couple of hundred yards further along, though, one yammer stood silently. I was hoping for a little bit of bread and no cheese, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose. A few wee brown jobs landed in the trees, but at distance and silhouetted against the sky, I.D was impossible. Rest of the walk back to the car was uneventful.
Dunbar Harbour allowed me decent photos of the kittiwakes. They were a banker, though, and it was shag that I had hoped to get. Across the harbour and up onto the wall offered great viewing opportunities. I quickly got quite distant shag in the water, on the rocks, and latterly close in to the old sea wall on the way back. Other than this, relatively quiet bird- wise.
Musselburgh didn't let me down, despite not getting some of the ticks I thought were bankers. Starting at the Eskmouth, looking onto the water just past the cadet hut, I got redshank in good numbers, among the common species of gulls. By sheer chance, a ringed plover flew onto the mud, but quickly became camouflaged. Complete bonus bird, so was quite happy. Lots of movement on the water with eider (awake this time), curlew, and good numbers of wigeon. A pair of turnstone sat on the rocks, which was a relief- normally there are plenty, but I've usually been to Musselburgh a few times by April, so I'm really out of synch. Plenty of oystercatchers flying towards the scrapes, and skylark sang from behind me. No sign of bar- tailed Godwit anywhere at the seawall, similarly, no sign of stock dove at my lucky spot at the path to the scrapes. Scrapes themselves were quite quiet, apart from the left- most one. Shelduck, redshank a- plenty, a large roost of oystercatchers, and a smaller one of curlew. Complete bonus bird were two female wheatear on the mud between two pools. Got chatting to Dave Allan, which was very enjoyable. Dave put me onto the grey plover which had just flown in, and pointed out the snipe and white wagtail that I had missed.
As time was pushing on, I retraced my steps back to the seawall for the long walk back to Goose Green Avenue. Within a few yards, though, I heard the screech of terns, and a pair of common tern showed themselves obligingly, before feeding and heading North East. (I'm a Scout leader, and finally carrying a compass everywhere came in handy!!)
A longish day, but very enjoyable. A good spread of birds, but there are still a good number which are reliable and can still be seen over the next few visits. For I shall return!
John
