Lothian Birding (1 Viewer)

[Morg]

As I've just posted on twitter, there is a kingfisher on the Braidburn right now. It's on Craigmillar Golfcourse infront of the bridge that takes the burn under the houses and main road.

Cheers James - great news and thanks for the tip-off. More hopeful now of getting it on the local patch list even if I seem to have walked past it maybe twice this morning!

On the other hand saw my first Treecreeper of the year at Agassiz Rock and a couple of Nuthatches in separate locations in the Hermitage. Singing Dippers and point-blank views of Long-tailed Tits also provided entertainment.

 

[Morg]

Popped down to Musselburgh late afternoon. Lots of gulls on the foreshore with the falling tide - only ones of note were single Lesser black-backed and Mediterranean bathing in the Esk. Wader numbers seemed quite low and sea ducks were not abundant either - and could only find single GC and Slavonian Grebes. The sea was slightly rough so I did not look too hard for the Surfer - I'm assuming that it is hanging around to the W of the river mouth - anyone know?

 

[Morg]

Highlight at Musselburgh this afternoon was this Peregrine that repeatedly stooped ineffectively on the gulls and waders on the foreshore.

However, after reviewing the photos I see that it has features of the mediterranean race brookei - an extensive cap and rufous chest. Closer examinatio of some of the pics reveals dark ring(s)/jesses. So, either someone is actively flying this bird - or it is an escape? Anyone know more?

 

[bongofury]

Popped down to Musselburgh late afternoon. Lots of gulls on the foreshore with the falling tide - only ones of note were single Lesser black-backed and Mediterranean bathing in the Esk. Wader numbers seemed quite low and sea ducks were not abundant either - and could only find single GC and Slavonian Grebes. The sea was slightly rough so I did not look too hard for the Surfer - I'm assuming that it is hanging around to the W of the river mouth - anyone know?

The Surf was showing well mid Sunday morning off the sea wall - not Filey-close by any means, but certainly the best views I've had. There were a few Long-tailed Ducks on Sunday and Slavs, but not many sea ducks at all. Gullane was similarly disappointing but there were 2 Guillemots on the water and 11 Gannets past East.

 

[Morg]

Gladhouse/Moorfoots

The Surf was showing well mid Sunday morning off the sea wall - not Filey-close by any means, but certainly the best views I've had. There were a few Long-tailed Ducks on Sunday and Slavs, but not many sea ducks at all. Gullane was similarly disappointing but there were 2 Guillemots on the water and 11 Gannets past East.

Glad to hear the Surf was relatively close in - may pop back down to have another go soon.

I headed towards Gladhouse again today. Bumped into a birder at Mount Lothian - nice to meet you Gerry. Not much in that general area - a growing flock of Chaffinches was devoid of Bramblings. The Linnet/Twite/Skylark flock was still W of Gadhouse - once again I counted 40 Twite - but I am fairly sure there are more there...

Another (or the same) Mediterranean Gull at Middleton was loafing with small gulls on the bulldozed ground over the road from Middleton Pond. Up the road towards the hills from there a swirling flock of 50 Yellowhammers was in amongst the sheep feeding troughs.

 

[Morg]

Moorfoots/Gladhouse

A quick trip this morning started with 2 male Black Grouse feeding in the distance. Red Grouse were very obvious in the same general area with lots of calling and flying - presumably territorial behaviour gearing up for the year.

Several species seemed to be on the increase, as they move back toward the higher ground again - Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Starlings and Skylarks. There were also a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in with the commoner winter species - another sign that the year is creeping forward. The finch flock at Gladhouse has been bulked up with around 50 Chaffinches and I am pretty sure there are more Twite than previously but the birds did not cooperate for any counting.

 

[Morg]

Moorfoots/Gladhouse

A trip around the usual sites on Saturday while listening to the rugby on the radio was enlivened only by a flock of cardueline finches in the tall spruces to the W of Gladhouse res. Like many trees locally these trees are festooned with cones at the moment and I usually give them a quick scan for crossbills. Saturday's swirling flock was of about 50 birds and the majority seemed to be Redpolls but there were also Goldfinches and Siskins in there as well. I don't bother trying too hard with the Common vs Lesser distinction (lump em) but wanted to check them for Arctic. No such luck on the latter though there were a couple of Common types in there. Most were 'clear' Lessers if that means anything! After about 10mins of scoping the flock a couple of Common Buzzards spooked them and they were gone.

I made another visit this morning and was pleased to pick up a distant male Black Grouse, which even spread its lyre for a few minutes as I watched. The highlight was once again a Mediterranean Gull - this time a 1st winter bird at the side of the the Temple-Gladhouse road - bathing in a flooded field and drop-catching with a pine cone in amongst a flock of Black-headed and Common Gulls. A couple of Lesser Black-backs, a couple of Shelduck and new in for this weekend a couple of groups of Curlew all heralding the first day of spring!

 

[GusHawk]

Nice wee report, I saw the Shelducks in a field near Temple last weekend and I was hoping that it was pointing towards spring arriving! Also nice to know the Curlews are moving back, looking forward to seeing them next weekend. Also, the number of hours I've spent sifting through the gulls around the Midlothian reservoirs you would've thought I would have found a Med already! Nice find

 

[Morg]

Braidburn & Blackford Pond

I managed to walk to work today for the first time in several weeks. I'm lucky in that my route takes me along the Braid Burn at Blackford Glen Road and then a slight deviation can let me take in Blackford Pond as well. Today was one of those commutes that makes me think that I should walk every day.

I was hoping to relocate James' Kingfisher but the first good bird was a singing Dipper in the river. As always I checked its belly - plenty of chestnut as usual... Then in the tiny cut near the pond in the golf course - I always have a quick look down this as I pass as I once had a brief view of what may have been a water shrew there - a shape was lurking. Yes! a Water Rail! And out in the open... it climbed out of the cut and then slinked slowly into tangled vegetation. The ones I have seen along the Braid Burn in the past have been like lightening - 1-2 second views only - but today's bird lingered a little and I was able to watch it through a monocular I'd popped into my pocket and take a couple of useless pics through the iphone. Moving on quickly the only birds of note were a male Bullfinch and a female Sparrowhawk.

On the way home it was getting dark by the time I had reached Blackford Pond. The highlight here was a male Pochard - what a stunning bird and what a shame they are becoming so uncommon. That is only the second I've seen in Edinburgh in the last 2-3 years I think, though they may be more common than that?

Finally it was too dark to check for the Water Rail again, bt there was a final strange sighting - an all-white small mammal zipping across Blackford Glen Road in the gloom. A small white rabbit is the most likely, but could it have been an ermine stoat? I can't be sure as it was out of the corner of my eye in near dark but the former is perhaps more likely here even thought I have seen a stoat in the area already this year.

 

[Morg]

Moorfoots/Gladhouse

A quick tour of the sites this morning started with a surprise - a flyover Barnacle Goose at Middleton Pond *punches air*. Was not really on my radar as a possible species for my self-imposed inland exile birding... On Middleton Pond itself 30 Teal, 4 Mallards and 2 Coots.

The big flock of Linnets/Twite at Gladhouse was still going strong though they were at the far side of the field today so no chance of a count. A Merlin nearby in hunting mode should go and have a look. The two Shelduck are still around and while I looked at a fair few gulls there was nothing of note - other than some variation in LBBGs - maybe we have intermedius and graellsii coming through at the moment? The flock of Chaffinches at Mount Lothian seems to have swelled a little more. One female with a leucistic crown didn't look anything like a White-crowned Sparrow but hey its good to dream...

Little new to report although the Curlew, Lapwing, Skylark and Meadow Pipit numbers are up a bit more and a single chipping Snipe was somewhere in the moor at Cockmuir Bridge - they'll be drumming again soon! One displaying Black Grouse at one site as well was very nice.

 

[Morg]

Finally managed to find time to look at pics from Sunday... Barnacle Goose and white-crowned Chaffinch

 

[Morg]

Duddingston Loch

A pre-work trip to the dentist had me passing Duddingston Loch so I pulled into the layby at the East end and had a 5 minute squint through the trees. Highlights were a male Pochard, a couple of sharming Water Rails and a trilling Little Grebe. Canada Geese, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and Coot also at that end. No optics with me though, so didn't really stand any chance looking for the non-existant Bittern...

 

[Morg]

Hermitage of Braid

Walked to work along the Braid Burn and past Blackford Pond. Could not find the Water Rail this morning but Kris Gibb tells me that it was seen by another observer this afternoon. I did see Gus' herd of 4 Roe Deer - the most I've seen in the area and nice to see a stag with antlers in velvet. Only notable sightings were a drumming GSW, Grey Wagtail and a male Teal on Blackford Pond. No sign of the Pochard - its probably the one that's on Duddingston now...

 

[Stonefaction]

Heading through this way tomorrow and wondering if anyone has any decent sites for seeing Nuthatch? Had one at Gosford estate a few years ago but can't remember how to access the site. Any other suggestions gratefully received. Will probably try for Surfie etc at Musselburgh and Water Pipit further down the coast.

 

[James22]

Fairly easy in the Hermitage of Braid at the moment, especially if you get there early.

 

[Stonefaction]

Thanks, James. While looking for info on how to access the site I found a website that seems to suggest the site is not open on a Saturday. Any ideas if this is the case?

 

[GusHawk]

Definitely not the case, otherwise I've been breaking and entering for a long time!

 

[Stonefaction]

Thanks, Gus. Route for tomorrow is starting to take shape.

 

[GusHawk]

I was in the Hermitage late afternoon today (13/3/15), and unfortunately didn't see much. Pretty sure there are 4 Dippers along the burn starting from Craigmiller Golf Course and going to the other end of the Hermitage. Saw the melanistic Pheasant on the golf course, no Water Rail or Kingfisher for me. Only other sighting of note was a Buzzard over the field by Blackford Glen Road.

Edit: Also heard some high pitched mammalian squeaking by the Braid Burn alongside Blackford Glen Road but gave up looking after 15mins. And saw a Blue Tit going into a wall, presumably to roost, near the Doocot (think that's how it's spelt).

 

[GusHawk]

Got back home just now, had a wee look at the Magpies collecting twigs for their nest by the field and spotted 2 Grey Partridges with the scope. Not really cooperating and keeping low in the grass but definitely two of them there.