Category Archives: Coast

Christmas birding and the year of the Snow Goose

Nothing like a couple of weeks off to plan to get out and see some wildlife after a busy few months with work. And I thought I would just share what I have been seeing over the Christmas and New Year break. Taking a walk from my house in Menstrie and I see the KestrelContinue reading “Christmas birding and the year of the Snow Goose”

Aberlady Bay & Esk Mouth

It is often a rare Scoter (small black duck) that takes me east of Edinburgh. Previously I have been out this way looking for the over-wintering White-Winged Scoter. But this week it was its very close relative (until recently the same species in fact), the Stejneger’s Scoter that peeked my interest. I haven’t been outContinue reading “Aberlady Bay & Esk Mouth”

Birding on North Ronaldsay, Orkney

Over the last few years we have used the October break to get away for a bit of birding and hopefully find some new rarer migrant birds. That has taken us south to Norfolk the last few years (and outside the scope of this blog) but this year we headed North, took the ferry acrossContinue reading “Birding on North Ronaldsay, Orkney”

A wildlife visit to Harris and Lewis

At the end of March into early April 2022, we had one week on Harris and Lewis and it was a great opportunity to catchup with the wildlife of the Outer Hebrides. We stayed in Uig on Skye the night before our ferry and were pleased to see a Great Northern Diver still in winterContinue reading “A wildlife visit to Harris and Lewis”

A drive along the Lothian Coast

We recently took a drive along the Lothian coast from Musselburgh to Gullane. There are several good spots to stop and look out to sea and along the coast itself. At Port Seton, a large flock on Ringed Plover flew down the coast but didn’t stop. But then an even larger flock of Golden PloverContinue reading “A drive along the Lothian Coast”

Birdwatching at Musselburgh Lagoons

As Autumn is kicking in I decided to take a trip out to Musselburgh in the hope of adding a few birds to my year list. The east coast obviously attracts a range of seabirds we don’t get in Clackmannanshire and can also have migrants travelling through. A Ruff, Little Stint or Curlew Sandpiper wouldContinue reading “Birdwatching at Musselburgh Lagoons”

Boat trip to Bass Rock

Bass Rock is the world’s largest Northern Gannet colony. I have been wanting to visit it for ages and finally made it at the weekend. We booked on a fast RIB boat trip organised by the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick. This “Three Island Seafari” trip also visited the Lamb and Craigleith but itContinue reading “Boat trip to Bass Rock”