End of Year Update

 As suggested in my last post, the east coast was the place to be in late October.

I joined a RSPB Group outing to Barns Ness in Lothian on 22 October and we were rewarded with Red-flanked Bluetail, Pallas's Warbler, Brambling and some common migrants. I didn't manage a photo of the Bluetail so have included my only photo of this species which was taken in China a few years ago!

Red-flanked Bluetail

Record shot of Pallas's Warbler (centre)

Blackcap

A few days later (25th) we headed east again, with Stephen, to Forfar Loch and then Crail. At the loch we found the Whiskered Tern that had been reported and had great views as it flew over our heads! We then headed to Crail in Fife and again were lucky. This time the bird was a Stejneger's Stonechat, a life tick for all 3 of us, a bird whose ID has only been recently confirmed by DNA analysis!

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

Stejneger's Stonechat

After the east coast excitement it was back to birding locally. 

On 13 November 2022, the drake Ring-necked Duck made a welcome return to Bingham's Pond in the west end of Glasgow although it did 'disappear' for a while due to many ponds freezing over. Following the thaw, it was reported yesterday from its other favoured pond at Victoria Park.

Ring-necked Duck

Since then, birding has been limited partly due to a a bird flu outbreak among the Mute Swans at Hogganfield Loch and a 14 day holiday in the sun.

On our return I did manage to see a Chiffchaff in our garden (10 December) and a Greylag Goose at Bingham's Pond on the 13th. The goose was my first record at the pond for 2022.

Chiffchaff

Greylag Goose

Finally, on 14 December 2022, I travelled through to Haddington with Stephen and after some time our patience was rewarded with a sighting of a Black-throated Thrush (another life tick for both of us).

Black-throated Thrush

Black-throated Thrush

Since then we've both been affected by a 'virus', not to mention awful weather, and birding has been limited to watching our garden birds.

I'll finish by wishing you all a Happy New Year, when it comes.