LOTHIAN Highlights - January 2010

January 2010 Sightings from Birding Lothian - January 2010 was a better than average start to the year, with several notable birds remaining from 2009.

Highlight of the month was the continued presence of the juv / 1st winter Baird's Sandpiper in White Sands Bay, first found in November at Belhaven before moving here, which stayed through most of the bad weather until finally departing soon after the 11th. A Firecrest in Gosford Estate was a really good find on the 17th, and despite being generally elusive provided many with a far from certain year tick staying to at least the months end.Also staying into the new year were the adult female Smew on Linlithgow Loch which with the very cold weather was left on a tiny patch of unfrozen water resulting in some fantastic close views, Black-necked Grebe off Ferny Ness again from the 19th and 2 Water Pipits on the beach at Barns Ness south of the Lighthouse throughout the month.Other notable birds included a 1st winter Glaucous Gull at Broxmouth (Dunbar) on the 9th & 31st, 14 Bean Geese briefly at Musselburgh on the 9th, a Green Sandpiper at Tyninghame from the 17th, and a high count of 30+ Brent Geese past Dunbar on the 24th with 7 also past there on the 14th, 10 over Musselburgh on the 27th and singles at Yellow Craig on the 24th & 28th. A Lapland Bunting near the seawall at Musselburgh from the 23rd - 28th was very popular and showed really well during it's stay pleasing both visiting birders and the counties photographers. In a really poor winter for the species, 4 Waxwings in Edinburgh on the 7th were the only ones reported during the month.

A possible Audouin's Gull west past Musselburgh on the 26th couldn't be ignored, but despite a following search there was no further sign of the bird or any reported candidates.

link for pictures from January - http://www.birdinglothian.co.uk/#/home/4537173209

Kris Gibb www.birdinglothian.co.uk