Aberfeldy and Achran

A walk along the Birks of Aberfeldy drew a blank on Dipper but a pair of Grey Wagtails were cavorting in the stream and a Treecreeper was seen. The Falls of Achran was also visited, where there were 39 Curlews, three Mistle Thrushes, a Siskin and a couple of Oystercatchers. Red Squirrels were seen at both sites.

male Grey Wagtail along Birks of Aberfeldy

Musselburgh Lagoons and Kenmore

Up in Scotland for a do with Ingrid's family, I couldn't resist nipping out first thing this morning to Musselburgh Lagoons despite the wet and windy forecast. I realised that my hopes of finding scarce/rare ducks etc on the sea was rather fanciful given the conditions, and spent most of my limited time enjoying the birds on the scrapes. These included 191 Bar-tailed Godwits, two Black-tailed Godwits, perhaps 1,500 Oystercatchers and over 150 Lapwings. In a hurried look at the Firth of Forth I picked up a drake Long-tailed Duck and a Goosander, small numbers of Velvet Scoters, Eiders, Goldeneyes and Red-breasted Mergansers, while a Rock Pipit was along the sea wall.

The lunch party was in Kenmore, where we spotted three Bramblings, a smart drake Goosander and a couple of Goldeneyes, two Mistle Thrushes, as well as a handful of Siskins, Treecreepers, Coal Tits and Goldcrests.

Pitlochry, 8th January 2017

The only birding done today was a pitstop at The Cuilic at Pitlochry as a slight detour en route to Ingrid's grandma's house in Aberfeldy. On this small lake, the smart but sleepy drake Ring-necked Duck bobbed around without concern.

adult ♂ Ring-necked Duck