Seaducks!

Seaducks!

We set off at 2.30am and arrived at Cocklawburn Beach at 6:30am in hopes of seeing the recently reported Black Scoter. When we arrived, we stood on some elevated rocks and scanned the sea. A few guillemots were close in, as well as a Red-throated Diver. I then spotted a raft of Common Scoters in the distance and scanned through them, yet we couldn't find the Black Scoter. We kept scanning and saw a stunning flock of Turnstones. Then, a skein of geese flew overhead, making a barking sound. I then saw their face to confirm it, they were Barnacle Geese! These were the first confirmed wild ones I had ever seen, as I've only encountered feral ones. More skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew over, as well as four Whooper Swans! We then went over to the Seahouse Cottage for a better vantage point. We scanned, yet we couldn't find anything. Then finally another birder showed up, with a better scope and more knowledge! He came at around 9:00am (this was the same time the bird was last reported yesterday) and within minutes, he managed to find it! He kindly let me look through his scope and, although I was puzzled about which one it was, he told me it was the front bird, and so it was a tick! He then let me look through his scope a couple more times, letting me know if it was the middle, back or front bird. The Black Scoter was in amongst the Common Scoter and could be distinguished by its heavily marked, orangie yellow bill. 

The birder then left, and we headed over to Musselburgh, in Lothian, Scotland, in hopes of seeing the long-staying King Eider. When we arrived, we made our way to the river mouth, seeing Common Eider, a few Pale-bellied Brent Geese (which are more common in Scotland), and some Whooper Swans on the way. We scanned the sea, yet we saw nothing. We then met a birder, who visited the area frequently, and he told us that it wasn't the right conditions for the King Eider, and he said that it can be really hard to spot. He also showed us a flock of Velvet Scoter, which in the distance looked like unidentifiable black dots, but when they were in flight, the white in the wing was very obvious. Suddenly, a flock of around 25 to 30 Greater Scaup flew right past the Velvet Scoters, leaving me with a quick glimpse of another lifer. We then continued scanning for the King Eider, but we had no luck. We left at around 3.30pm and arrived home at about 8.30pm. Overall, a brilliant day with 3 lifers!

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(Time and location when duck was seen is deliberately withheld)

We arrived at the undisclosed site in hopes of seeing a Ruddy Duck. When we arrived, we scanned the waters. A flock of Canada Geese were flying about, as well as Great Crested and Little Grebes, a few Tufted Ducks and some Dunlin. We then spotted a small duck repeatedly diving. I looked at it through my binoculars and identified it as the stunning male Ruddy Duck, our target bird. We managed to get a digiscoped image of it. Unfortunately, I can't say much more about it, as it would probably lead to an early grave for this bird. They were culled years ago as people feared that they would fly to other parts of Europe and hybridise with the rare White-headed Duck, causing its extinction. Although I understand the reasoning behind the government wanting to shoot this bird, it is still sad. They have stronger genetics than White-headed Ducks, leading them to outbreed with them. Overall, a lifer for me that I hope will survive!