Snow Buntings

After yesterday's distraction with the Siberian Chiffchaff at Dalgety Bay. we made it without distraction today to Musselburgh & East Lothian. First stop was East Fortune area, goose hunting. We found a large flock, but the views were distant and into the sun and with the scope at the menders the best we could say was it was a flock of geese.

Next stop was Barns Ness, one of our favourite haunts and it didn't disappoint today. We settled down on the sand out of the wind and the tide brought the birds towards us. Nothing unusual but just good birdwatching. Redshank, Dunlin & Grey Plover at the shore line, with Rock Pipit & Pied Wagtail hunting among the seaweed debris.

Onto Musselburgh and no sign of the Iceland Gull on the Esk but a wander round the seawall and we found the Musselburgh Three - three Snow Buntings that have chosen to winter there, two of which are pictured above.

Heading home, Mrs L remarked that as we'd had a successful day and ticked all our birds today she fancied a quiet day tomorrow. What? I said - we didn't get the Bean Geese at East Fortune, we didn't get the Water Pipit at Barns Ness and we didn't get the Iceland Gull at Musselburgh. Of course even with all those dips, it definitely had been a successful day. Yup a quiet day is in order for tomorrow.