Another great day in East Lothian, spent mainly at Fisherrow and Musselburgh,
but also including a short dash to Gullane Point to see three drake (two
adult) surf scoters. Four species of scoter seen today including the American
white-winged scoter which has been a bit hit and miss recently. Also at least 40 drake long-tailed ducks, two Slavonian
grebes, red-throated diver plus eiders and variety of waders. An adult
Mediterranean gull was surprisingly a Scottish tick for me!
The white-winged scoter has been distant recently but it's still identifiable given good light and no more than a gentle breeze. It's one of those birds which when you're looking for it seems almost impossible at distance, you'd think it's only subtly different to velvet, yet when you see it it stands out as being obviously different. It has a different jizz, it often holds it's head forward unlike velvet and it's more bull necked. It's head profile is more like an eider whereas velvet has a concave bill, it's blacker than velvet, with a pink bill not orange, with much less colour on the bill and a much more distinct white tick behind the eye. Imagine how easy it is to pick out a drake surf scoter in good light, likewise that white tick really stands out on a white-winged scoter, but you need good light. If it's dull and windy it's a struggle unless it's closer in.
Bar-tailed godwit.
Musselburgh at sunset.
Wigeon.
Three drake surf scoters with common scoter at Gullane Point.
Gullane Point.
Aberlady Bay.
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