After a month off Birding I was looking forward getting back out there for the start of my favourite season Autumn & Winter season. I always look forward to this time of year when the wintering birds arrive and all the leaves are in amazing colours.
I started with a trip to my local patch Cammo Estate Nature Reserve. It was a lovely morning but also very quiet it felt like I was there just me and the birds. I came up with a quote which I think is absolutely true “It’s amazing if you stand still the birds will come to you”, I find that to be absolutely true because there is a part in the wood which is my favourite part were I stand perfectly still and the birds don’t take notice of me at all and some get really close. On this occasion I was surrounded by Robin, Nuthatch & Great Tit. Throughout the morning I saw Woodpigeon, Magpie, Crow, Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit & Chiffchaff.
I decided to attend my local SOC (Scottish Ornithologists Club) branch meeting for the first time and I’m glad I did because I found the first talk of the season it was very interesting. It was from Emily Burton from The Scottish Seabird Centre and it was about Seabird research from The Firth Of Forth and I enjoyed the talk infact I’ve decided to attend all meetings each month.
I had a full day Birding at Musselburgh at The River Esk & Musselburgh Lagoon, starting at The River Esk. After I had my lunch I watched a huge amount of birds from Canada & Greylag Geese, Mallards, Mute Swans, Black Headed Gull & Cormorant.
As I headed to the lagoons I was drawn to the sounds of Geese and over the wall there was thousands of Greylag Geese & Brent Geese it was a incredible sight especially when some of them flew onto the scrapes the sounds and sight was just amazing. I also saw what appeared my last Swallow of the year which was an added bonus. At the hides was pretty much a Goose fest there were lots of Graylag Geese around with neighbouring Mallards. I then headed to the other hides were you guessed it saw more Greylag Geese but also saw Snipe,Curlew, Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck, Coot, Pheasant & Lapwings.
I went to a brand new location which I never been or heard of before but after reading Wild Edinburgh by Keith Broomfield, the place got a mention and it looked like a great place to go. That place I’m talking about is Easter Crocklockhart Hill Nature Reserve. On arrival I started at a pond and before I even got started I was distracted by three Buzzards soaring above and flying near the trees, on the pond there were Mute Swans with cygnets, Little Grebe,Coot,Moorhen & Mallard. The wood trail is amazing but I decided to walk on top of the hill and that was worth it. On top if the hill I spotted a Kestrel hovering above the golf course until it disappeared but that was my highlight I also a Hooded Crow with Crows I will definitely come back in the future.
No rest for the birder, two days later I was at Figgate Park but it was the quest Birding I had this month. The pond was pretty deserted except the odd Mallard & Moorhen. Whilst having my lunch I watched a Blue Tit above me and Mute Swans with their cygnets then the rain started so I decided to head back.
I had another trip to my local patch, I enjoyed it but was rather noisy with people and dogs however I did see a Heron at the canal and a Robin singing to another Robin in the distance so all was not lost so despite the noise I still enjoyed it but it wasn’t as good at the start of the month. It has been a very busy month but I really enjoyed it.
