September Blog

August was a very busy month from enjoying The Edinburgh Festival Fringe and other activities. After what felt like a long time of Crows & Jackdaws eating all the bird food mainly for the small birds, they finally disappeared and the small birds came back to the feeders I really enjoyed looking out the window or sitting out in the garden watching them . They ranged from juvenile Blue Tits, Adult Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits and the occasional Dunnock and House Sparrows I’m glad they are back and the adult birds are looking great after growing new feathers after the breeding season.

I don’t usually go Birding in August because it’s still quiet birdwise but a very special rare bird was causing quite a stir at Aberlady Nature Reserve a Red Footed Falcon. It really belongs in Eastern Europe & Asia and winters in Africa so lots of twitchers had been going to see it and being successful and posting pictures on Facebook groups so I thought I’d go Twitching for it, I thought it be exciting to see it.

I arrived at 1.30pm and asked a Birder if there was a sighting he said it hasn’t been seen since 11am so I carried on walking scanning everywhere till I spotted at least 11 Twitchers so I decided to stick around because I was told it was seen nearby. I was there from 2.30pm there was a lot of Swallows flying about and a Pied Wagtail and Stonechat. Around 3.15 some birders decided to call it quits but I stayed on. After 2 in a half hours I decided to head back around 4.15pm sadly no sighting of the falcon for me an unsuccessful twitch but I did enjoy my day. I did see
Mallard, Swallow, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Pied Wagtail, Stonechat, Sand Martin, Heron, Black Headed Gull, Little Egret, Lapwing & Redshank.

Throughout the month I decided to re read my books I have in my collection by Bill Oddie. I only read books on birds and Birding I skipped the books on how to get into Birding. I really enjoyed reading them, the books I read were Bill Oddie’s Little Blackbird Book, Gone Birding, Follow That Bird, Gripping Yarns, One Flew Into The Cuckoo’s Egg, Bill Oddie Unplucked & Tales Of A Ludicrous Bird Gardener. As a tribute to Bill Oddie there was a Bill Oddie Night on BBC Four it was great it showed a Best Of Bill Oddie Goes Wild, Birding With Bill Oddie & Bill Oddie’s Top 10 Birds. If you missed it it’s on BBC IPlayer and even Series 2 Of Birding With Bill Oddie is also available and I enjoyed binge watching them.

After a few days from getting a cold I decided to go for a walk to Cramond Beach and do a bit of Birding. I enjoyed my walk along the River Almond Walkway and once I got to Cramond I sat and watched what was around. I saw Mute Swan, Wigeon, Mallard, Curlew, Black Tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Black Headed Crow, Herring Crow, Great Black Backed Gull, Jackdaw Crow & Grey Wagtail.

I am now looking forward getting back out Birding for the Autumn & Winter season I’m looking forward watching these winter arrivals arriving.