Firth of Forth, Nov' 24th-25th 2012

An overnight stay with Andrew Bates near Aberlady Bay, produced some
some reasonably close views of a range of Seaduck. Velvet and Common
Scoters were seen well and in their hundreds, along with Long-tailed Duck,
Red-throated Divers and up to 40 Slavonian Grebes. Thousands of Geese
and Waders and with the weather just about holding out, we had an enjoyable,
weekends birding.

Goldeneye, around 200 were off Musselburgh

Red-throated Diver

Velvet Scoter

Guillemot

Long-tailed Duck

Red-throated Diver

Slavonian Grebes

Donna Nook Seals, 18th Nov' 2012

A day out with Bob Rawlinson to the Grey Seal colony at Donna Nook
in Lincolnshire. A superb day, with bright, sunny conditions and as always,
lots of obliging Seals.

Waxwings at Barrow, 10th-11th Nov' 2012

After an absence last winter the Waxwings have returned, with up to twenty four
seen at Barrow this week. I saw a max' of fifteen and the birds were as charming
and as popular as ever.

Willow Warbler and Long-tailed Duck

November 3rd, 2012, by far the latest Willow Warbler i've seen in the UK
and present for some time in the car park at Stocks Reservoir. The bird
seemed to have some kind of problem with it's throat and was constantly
gaping, possibly explaining it's prolonged stay.
The Long-tailed Duck showed quite well from the old hide and only my
second record for East Lancs. A small skein of Pink-feet flew over and
and the afternoon was rounded off nicely with a ringtail Hen Harrier on
surrounding moorland.

Willow Warbler

Pink-footed Geese

Long-tailed Duck

Hen Harrier