BIRDING LOTHIAN
www.birdinglothian.co.uk
birdinglothian@hotmail.co.uk
JANUARY 2010 was a better than average start to the year, with several notable birds remaining from 2009. Highlight of the month was the continued presence of the juv / 1st winter Baird’s Sandpiper in White Sands Bay, first found in November at Belhaven before moving here, which stayed through most of the bad weather until finally departing soon after the 11th.
A Firecrest in Gosford Estate was a really good find on the 10th, and despite being generally elusive provided many with a far from certain year tick staying to at least the months end.
Also staying into the new year were the adult female Smew on Linlithgow Loch which with the very cold weather was left on a tiny patch of unfrozen water resulting in some fantastic close views, the Black-necked Grebe was again off Ferny Ness from the 19th and 2 Water Pipits were on the beach at Barns Ness (south of the Lighthouse) throughout the month.
Other notable birds included a 1st winter Glaucous Gull at Broxmouth (Dunbar) on the 9th & 31st, 14 Bean Geese briefly at Musselburgh on the 9th, a Green Sandpiper at Tyninghame from the 17th, and a high count of 30+ Brent Geese past Dunbar on the 24th with 7 also past there on the 14th, 10 over Musselburgh on the 27th and singles at Yellow Craig on the 24th & 28th.
A Lapland Bunting near the seawall at Musselburgh from the 23rd - 28th was very popular and showed really well during it’s stay, pleasing a surprising amount of visiting birders and the counties photographers. In a really poor winter for the species, 4 Waxwings in Edinburgh on the 7th were the only ones reported during the month.
Juv / 1st winter BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - White Sands Bay.
Originally found in Belhaven Bay (Nov 2009), this bird finally settled at White Sands Bay where it showed extremely well for the most part at times coming within just a few feet. It remained into 2010 and gave year listers the chance to kick start 2010 with a good bird.
Picture by Dennis Morrison.
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