Wknd 14-15 January

Old faithful Med red-7P8 aka "Cherry Blossom" back on Seton shore Friday afternoon - after deserting us for Edinburgh (Seton Oct, Muss Nov, Seafield Dec) - welcome back! Initially by Seton Burn with another (presumed) old faithful, ad graellsii LBB "Lucy". No other hoped for species of gull :(

Not much offshore either, 21 Goldeneye on the sea was noteworthy, though hundreds can be seen off Edinburgh.

Another look on Saturday, decent numbers of large gulls on calm sea round fishing boat off Seton harbour, and several hundred small gulls on Seton Sands opposite caravan park entrance, only "white-winger" visible was an adult Med Gull amongst latter, unringed.

Sunday - quick look off Ferny Ness, tide out but fairly calm, min 27 Slavs and 1/2 RNG. Then went to complete E Fenton and Chapel WeBS, found the Whoopers in cereal at latter, 95, then flew to join mates at Prora (above). At E Fortune geese were in stubble south, c. 150 Pinks, 1 Euro Whitefront and the Barnacle Goose with the Greylags, no Beans detected.

Back down at Seton 2 ad Meds on shore opposite caravan park entrance, neither was Cherry Blossom. A boat brought in a good couple of hundred large gulls at dusk, 10+ GBB but again no white wings in there. Best came last, out in the gloom well offshore the unmistakable profile of a solid skua in rapid flapping/glide progress SW past, no doubt the same Pom that was seen before Christmas. Tracked it past Inchkeith, showed brief interest in a few Herring Gulls, then continued in towards bay off Musselburgh where finally lost to sight (bang goes the roosting further east theory, the only thing I can deduce from most recent obs of what is presumed same resident bird is it hunts till late so must still be hungry!).

Wknd 7-8 January

Whilst driving down Eskside on Saturday spotted the tundra Bean Goose nibbling grass just a few feet from the pavement, ignoring passers-by. Others have much better photos, it was after sunset, but proof of food source here! Any other year and the temptation would be to quickly write off any other rare goose amongst tame "feral" Greylags and Canadas (37)!

Sunday made a quick trip round WeBS sites (week early by accident!), Whoopers still on Prora, c. 226, then at East Fortune large Greylag flock was unusually twitchy, first west of ponds, flew to ponds, flushed to fields south, finally settled NW of Waughton cottages (NT560805); breakdown was 652 Greylags plus usual white domestic goose and grey presumed Greylag x domestic Swan Goose hybrid, 4+ Tundra Beans, one ad Whitefront, one Barnacle, 1 Pinkfoot, my first 5 species flock here where Greylags are the standard fare; might have been 5 Tundra Beans, certainly not as many as 10 as reported earlier.

Monday - one Little Auk W past Seton harbour and 1k+ small gulls feeding down middle of Firth of Forth; ad graellsii LBB on Seton Burn, presumed "Lucy".

Early evening an eared owl giving a great display hunting under the Raceland floodlights at Gladsmuir, surprisingly tough to nail the ID though! Concentrated on wing tips but could not get conclusive details in the difficult light; given nocturnal hunting suspected LEO was more likely, assuming owl does not perceive the artificial light as anything more than an assistance to nocturnal hunting, but on consulting texts SEO is not unlikely as a nocturnal hunter, moreover is said to hover more than LEO, which his bird certainly was doing. Lack of ear tufts when perched may also be indicative but probably not conclusive either!

Post mortem back on 3 recent A1 owl casualties:

* SEO, Blindwells, 13/12/11, imm m, weight 318g, body score 3/5, gastrointestinal tract empty; all signs of a young bird in poor condition

* Barn Owl, Abbey Mains, Haddington, 9/11/11, juv f, weight 320g, body score 4.5/5, well filled intestines, gizzard contained common shrew

* Barn Owl, Monksmuir, Haddington, 4/1/12, young ad f, weight 326g, body score 5/5, well filled intestines, gizzard containing common shrew, bank vole and short-tailed field vole

Latter two as per many previous are young female owls in excellent condition, the running total is 77% female - reflecting presumably not that female owls are more susceptible to collisions but that they disperse more and further from natal areas.

Review of year 2011

No time for any great analysis - fairly static on year list at 159 (assuming descriptions accepted, cf 157 in 2010, 160 in 2009), all about 50 species off the pace of best local year listers, i.e. consistently poor! But all were self-found, only extras beyond that being Aberlady Little Egrets and Dunsapie Iceland Gull seen in passing, and all were local, Firth of Forth and local haunts, one exception being an adult LTS on a rare trip to Dunbar. Notable omissions are Red-legged Partridge (how could I have missed them?!) and Shoveler, and found by others in my areas, Brent Goose around East Fenton/Brownrigg and Twite at Blindwells both missed, and BTD another bad omission given hours scanning Forth :(

Most memorable feature for me must be the best skua passage I've seen in the Forth, trek tells me this was 48 Arctic, 17 Great, 9 Pom and 35 skua sp (nearly all Arctic/Pom, most the latter), not including resident birds in the Forth which persisted into 2012. The massive influx of formerly very scarce geese, viz Tundra Beans and Euro Whitefronts, will long be remembered and I was also lucky to get in on the Curlew Sand influx, pick up a single Black Tern and also to get a tiny share of the Mealy Redpoll influx early in the year. Other obvious highlights were the juv Sabine's Gull on local patch off Cockenzie, a fortuitous Turtle Dove at Auldhame during atlas trawl for Collared Dove fledged young, and returning Mandarin at East Fortune.

83 species logged on "passage" via trektellen, taking overall total here to 110 species (full list, 23 non-migrants are subtracted). Particularly pleasing to add Sooty Shearwater off Cockenzie, having let a couple slip throo my fingers the previous year, not to mention adding Sabs!

A "good" year for road casualty owls, record low of only 3 Barn Owls logged Oct/Nov, BUT, this probably means there are less of them around, though perhaps also that it's been mild and they have not needed to move. Fewer other raptor casualties too though results are awaited from the first SEO casualty.

In the garden, 71 species logged, back to more typical after the bumper 77 in 2010, particularly pleasing to add both Woodcock and Short-eared Owl; omissions include Kestrel, less than annual previously though, and surprisingly Lapwing. A decent passage of Crossbill was logged, 38 in total including some in the mid-summer movement along with Siskins, and the single flock of 10k Pinkfooted Geese is also a new record for peak counts (of any species).

Christmas to New Year

Happy New Year to all - have had a blog holiday though tried to disseminate a few bits of stuff via LBN and birdinglothian, so this post just a few reflections on the last couple of weeks.

Contrary a year ago when we were in the grip of the snow, with a Woodcock influx and hard weather movements, what a difference with the ongoing goose bonanza and unseasonable seabirds. The latter have not been apparent in abundance but right up to the year end Pom and Arctic Skuas were logged in the Forth, and Bonxies in the North Sea. Only the Pom seen by me, a dark presumed juv proceeding into the Forth again soon after dawn on 27/12, heading for the distant concentration of feeding small gulls off Edinburgh. Given a very similar looking bird went E after sunset on 18/12 led me to speculate may be roosting on sea towards mouth of the Forth, but who knows? The Arctic was logged off Kinghorn on 30/12 (another today S off Girdleness), which was interesting as on 1/1 a huge feeding flock of small gulls (3k+) off Kinghorn were repeatedly flushed, presumably by a skua but at the range (10 miles, they were behind Inchkeith) simply impossible to see the dark skua, at least with my scope! Those same small gulls I presume responsible for the continued presence of these skuas, surely there must be some unusual food source out there? [Postscript: birdinglothian now tells us a dark Pom was off Seton again on 2/1 for 15 mins, whilst I was off reading swan darvics, typical!]

Also of interest at sea, 5 Great Northern Divers W in just 10hrs watching in December, with others reported in same period off Muss and Gullane, this seems rather more than usual. How many would have been logged in dedicated watching like some of the east coast sites enjoy? Again without any proof I speculate that some of these had got into the North Sea and were heading back W, where the vast majority of GND overwinter in Britain & Eire, though perhaps some would end up inland?

These and others all logged on trektellen, including a count for today 3/1 when above pics taken from Cockenzie - wind a steady storm force 10 at the time, occasionally must have been gusting to violent storm 11 and I was becoming concerned the car might be blown over the way it was bouncing around. Not expecting to see any real seabird passage, just curious what could cope with a force 10 wind, found that both GBB and Herring Gull were capable, even a Turnstone that was using the troughs of the waves; Shag, Cormorants, Oycs, Razorbill and even a Feral Pigeon all made valiant attempts but eventually either ditched in the sea or blew down wind. All birds ditching in the sea, even gulls, went in with a great splash! Pan tiles smashed all over Seton High Street, sadly my hat also blew away, soon exceeding the speed limit down the main road :(

Now to the geese; it would be tedious to list all the details but 21/12 was a memorable day with a chance encounter of 59+ Bean Geese at Harelaw in my home tetrad (NT47N) on a non-birding trip. Mixed feelings though, after making a careful count had to dash home to get camera and "put out the news", wasted a few minutes on that and on return every last Bean had gone, leaving only the Greylag hosts and 3 Pinks (presumed flushed by a chap going for walk round same field, never seen a living soul in same field previously, or since!). Writing the "description" presented a few challenges, but I have no doubts there were at least 59 Beans there, almost certainly 60 and perhaps one or two more hidden, if accepted this would currently be a record count for Lothian. A few other double figure counts elsewhere since so perhaps they subsequently fragmented? The same Greylags were in same area a little north towards Gosford saw mill on 2/1, no surprise to see the 2 ad Euro Whitefronts here amongst them. Geese at same spot on 3/1 but not checked.

Finally, brief comment on swans - the "western East Lothian" flock have all converged on dumped potatoes on Prora ex-landfill, counted 223 though a few flying around so definitely a minimum. Amusing to see them behaving like toddlers, a couple squabbling over the remains of a particular rotten potato, whilst standing next to a great mound of them! Got only one darvic from gate where view is very restricted, but site is alarmed and has CCTV, fortunately got to speak to site manager and able to approach a bit closer, getting 3 of 4 yellow darvics (PL5 shown, ringed as cygnet at Martin Mere 30/1/01, returning there till 2005 but regular here since 2006); frustratingly no sign of red-ASB (half read at Rattlebags earlier in year); may not have chance now to try again!


PS - with my recorder hat on it is of course record submission time of the year, and a few have arrived (many thanks); if still using the Excel s/s I have an updated version using current Scottish list names (common names, saves typing "Eurasian" all the time) and also what I find to be a handy weekday lookup (minimises date errors, certainly for me) if anyone wants one, indeed will link here shortly. I appreciate all correspondence received, I'm really struggling for time though, especially with a very busy teaching semester just starting, not to mention family duties etc, so please bear with me for replies to emails and don't be offended if they are rather brief and to the point!

Wknd 17-18 December

Not sure if anyone else has noticed but there are loads of Kittiwakes still in the Forth! Checking the Lothian database 1991-2010 there have been a total of 27 previous December records, only one in double figures though (15 Silverknowes, 3/12/06). Today in another brief look from Cockenzie again 20+ were easily visible, at least 50% were 1st-winters. Ystdy could only afford a 10 minute scan but in same period 32 went SW past, full counts. Most of these probably derive from feeding flocks well offshore, amongst even greater numbers of other gulls, mainly BHG, fewer Common Gull. Perhaps there is some unusual food source, or is it simply due to the relatively mild winter, with some contribution from stormy weather? Whatever, I suspect these would all be worth looking at more critically, and note the adult Sabine's Gull reported from Northumbs today (not to mention the Manx, skuas passing Flamborough today, and series of unseasonal Puffin records)!

On Wednesday doing just that, scanning a distant flock of feeding small gulls which were out towards Inchkeith, well offshore (at least a mile), picked up a medium-sized white-winged gull, brief excitement considering possibilities but as it was heading off SW towards Musselburgh, as all good birds ultimately do, it became apparent it was "just" a Med Gull, probably an adult. Nevertheless a sighting of great interest to me as I have long wondered if they feed offshore - we invariably see them on the shore, loafing or arriving for the roost (when direction seen most often from inland), and they are not that difficult to find amongst small gulls in fields near the coast up to a few miles inland, but clearly they may also feed offshore.

This is all part of the puzzle of explaining what it can be that attracts these birds to come over here from places like Poland and elsewhere on near continent, to spend perhaps 9 months of their year at a location some way north of their main breeding areas - and then when they're here spending 16 hours a day out on the sea in a roost at this time of the year. Clearly there is some decent benefit for them, relatively mild climate could be argued, though at present it's only the sea that provides that an environment marginally above freezing (for roost and otherwise), but presumably also good feeding of some sort?

Back to today and a 2nd-win Med was standing in the Seton Burn immediately afterwards. No sign of any arctic gulls, nor at Seton harbour, but a 1st-win Iceland reported from Musselburgh at evening roost gives some glimmer of hope!

Sunday - did not get out till dusk and the Seton Burn held very few gathered gulls, just 350 on shore (including one black-headed Black-headed Gull) + 400 on sea, exceptionally small gathering. At Seton harbour a fishing boat was coming in trailing c. 200 large gulls, 5 Kittiwakes in their midst wheeling over the wake; gulls which had come down on sea behind boat flushed twice so I was on the look-out for a predator and sure enough a really solid looking dark Pom Skua went past W not too far offshore; harried an adult Kittiwake then went round in a great circuit off Prestonpans/Musselburgh and headed back east offshore, there harrying a Herring Gull. Probably a juv but could not exclude a dark adult.

Wknd 10-11 December

Spent some time looking at these Grey Partridge feeding in snow at Seggarsdean on Saturday, pecking at oil-seed rape leaves and weed seeds, covey of 8, 5 more nearby. Must admit I normally just count the flocks but careful examination allows appreciation of how distinctive are male (above) and female (below). 1st-win of each sex probably tough to distinguish in the field, post-juvenile moult fully complete at 16 wks, i.e. at least by late Nov, male retains outer two primaries, with bars on outer primaries less broken and not so reduced as adult, whilst female breast without chestnut, or on a few feathers only; in c. 15% patch as large as average adult female (all per BWP). Fascinating to see them all crouch flush down with snow seconds before a Sparrowhawk whizzed past the car. Both species new for tetrad (NT57G), also added a few at Tyne by Abbeymill where 32 Siskin accompanied by 2 Lesser Redpolls in waterside alders, Goosander on the river.

Sunday did WeBS circuit (a week early by accident!) - first stop East Fenton where c. 250 swans at usual muddy field south-west of the farm, probably still c. 210 Whoopers. With them 470 grey geese, knew there was a chance of interesting interlopers and though distant and in poor light soon got a view of orange legs on a couple. Some shooting started and they flew, departing mainly N 14:30hrs. Photos taken confirmed the dark tail band and narrow white tip on one, i.e. Bean Goose presumed tundra, a patch tick for me in the Drem area, though later found there had been 31 of them there with 140 Whitefronts NW over at same spot a little earlier in the afternoon - oh well, at least have seen various Whitefronts!

On geese well worth a look at this blog post on a bunch of neck-collared Greylags which came over from Scandinavia but have already gone back again, amazing!

Back to Friday had a skua rising up from sea off Ferny Ness, harrying gulls - lucky to catch up with same later off Port Seton harrying a Kittiwake, confirming as a gingerish juv Arctic; reports of individual off Musselburgh at wknd apparently a darker bird, perhaps a few still lingering in Forth in association with late departing Kittiwakes this year? Lucy (LBB) still resident in Seton harbour for 7th winter, also seen offshore, for comparison this typical argenteus Herring on a rock at Cockenzie harbour, a couple of dark flecks in pale iris.

Wknd 3-4 December

Joined the current goose fest seeing just one of the Tundras Bean currently at Luffness Mill House en route to grey goose survey circuit on Sunday. Same plus friends further east at West Fortune Tuesday morning, including two Barnacles, one above, and a very pale leucistic Pinkfoot. Missed the two European Whitefronts found later by Jim at the Luffness Mill House field.

Actually 4 tundras seen but only three together, in foreground above separate from main flock; note the distinctive appearance of mantle on sleeping bird immediately above (left, orange legs), much browner than Pinks, moreover tertials with more distinct pale fringes.

Also on Sunday another Bean Goose briefly in the stubble by East Fortune pond, then cereal east towards Waughton. Presumably also a tundra but view too brief to nail it, just possibly the returning taiga from last winter. 485 Greylag there were only ones found for the survey (also f Merlin like a small rocket over stubble at East Fenton). Looked for this Bean again in quick circuit round early Tuesday but no Pinks in area, though 340 reported early afternoon by Mark, including a pale-bellied Brent - pretty rare inland here and completing set of 6 species of geese East Fortune to West Fortune on Tuesday morning! All part of a remarkable east coast goose influx, with single flocks of 90+ Tundra Beans and 120+ (now 140+!) Whitefronts up in NE Scotland - if lucky we may get a few more later in the winter?

Saturday vismig off Ferny Ness gave great flyby views of GND, 4 ad Whoopers and a juv f Peregrine, full counts. Even better was an SEO past the previous morning, way offshore when picked up but black wing tips confirming species - tracked it NW towards Inchkeith, then veering slightly N towards Kinghorn - presumably an incoming migrant heading W?