Wknd 2-3 February

A view of Craigleith above, briefly bright but pretty blustery on Sunday afternoon; 50+ Fulmars on ledges, with many more over the sea; the only new bird was a Greylag Goose on a rock in Milsey Bay, tetrad tick for NT58S; no geese inland where seen last week but Rooks (125) also finally added to NT58R

The Whoopers had moved en masse to a new food source with some potatoes dumped in field S of Drem pools, 184 there plus 29 still at the landfill (one metal ringed shown) so 214 still in the area.

At dusk at Seton, one ad Med Gull, lower edge of hood well developed, among a better gathering of gulls flushed onto the sea, c. 4k of which c. 75% were Common Gull

Saturday - still calm early evening so went in search of owls, just 4 weekends to go to plug those gaps in atlas maps! First went to east end of Tyninghame Links and down to Little Binning Wood in search of Tawny, but negative, same at some other spots in NT58K/Q but wind was getting up late evening. Did get two Barn Owls, one by Dirleton Castle Mains by A198, another by B1345 near the kitchens place south of Fenton Barns, both perched on fences. Then went over to Falside Hill, New Winton, etc, no more owls seen but one recovered off A1 Dolphingstone, below, a particularly well-marked bird, spots also indicate it is a female.

The previous Wednesday had come cross our old friend the Nordic Jackdaw, on the same patch of grass on verge of Niddrie Mains Road where seen on previous occasions, presumed same seen by Geoff at Craigmillar about 500m SW. Following Tuesday, one Waxwing on Tranent A1 junction south roundabout.