Birding in November - the darkest, dreariest month of the year!

It's almost two weeks since my last post, so for a change I'll start with some up-to-date trips and work my way back.

Today we met up with Judith and Mike for our regular weekly coffee, scone and birds AND what a nice day it was.

We headed off to a farm near Bishopton and almost right away had distant views of the reported Cattle Egret, only the second time I've seen one in Scotland. We all, in the end, had good views and we also bumped into a few other birders, it was a popular bird!

Cattle Egret - 15/11/18

After watching the egret we headed off to near Croftamie and managed to see 24 of the Greenland White-fronted Goose flock …..

Greenland White-fronted Geese - 15/11/18

From here we headed for some fields just north of Drymen and added Pink-footed Geese and Greylag Geese to our day list …

Pink-footed Geese and Greylag Geese - 15/11/18

We finished at the RSPB Loch Lomond hub by which time it was getting dark even though it was only c3pm - a bat species was a pleasant surprise.

On the 11th we headed east, with Stephen, to the Lammermuirs hoping to see a Rough-legged Buzzard. Sadly, we failed, although it is still around, but we did see one juvenile White-tailed Eagle, one Buzzard, one Kestrel and one Snow Bunting ..

Snow Bunting - 11/11/18

The only other birds we saw in the Lammermuirs were Red Grouse, although Lynda did see a Wren! So 6 species of birds with five of them being individual birds!!! Who said driven grouse moors were bad for wildlife and the environment?

Red Grouse - 11/11/18

We also saw a few Mountain Hare one of which successfully escaped from a 'hunting party' of 3 men with 2 birds of prey (one a Harris's Hawk) and a dog. This plus the various 'traps' we saw and the general lack of birds left us pretty depressed.

One of a few traps seen in the Lammermuirs - 11/11/18

We decided to pay a late visit to Aberlady Bay LNR and we were rewarded by lots of birds and a nice sunset ….

Aberlady Bay LNR - 11/11/18

On the 6th I travelled to Hogganfield Park LNR and spent an enjoyable few hours there until the rain arrived. A few images ..

Hogganfield Loch - 6/11/18

Redwing - 6/11/18

Great Spotted Woodpecker - 6/11/18

Whooper Swans - 6/11/18

Ringed Black-headed Gull - 6/11/18

And I'm pleased to report the Black-headed Gull was ringed as a 'pullus' in June 2018 in Norway!

Why not pop along to the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs wildfowl feeding event on Saturday 17th from 11am at Hogganfeld Loch and see if any more ringed birds can be found!