50 shades of grey

06-01-26 Absolute shit-fest weather. Yet another day of grim grey skies and I was feeling pretty low. I had a big event on the following day so I didn't think it wise to run. How about a cycle? The forecast was mixed with a slim chance of sunny spells. I decided to cycle along to Musselburgh and see what was about at the Esk estuary. Photos had been appearing of numerous ducks and migrants around there. And it was only a 6.5 mile retreat if it proved to be awful.

 
okay starter for 10 - what birds are these?
I'll come back to them further down the page.

One of the species I was hoping to see was goldeneyes. They are charming and comical but also, sadly, a little timid and will swim away from anyone trying to take their photo. I threw some bread and tried to hide behind available cover, but they weren't familiar with the exchange system of food bribes for photos and kept their distance. It was also pretty awful light. If anything the weather was deteriorating and along with the complete cloud cover there was an occasion squall of drizzle along with a bitterly cold East wind. On the upside the cycle home with tailwind would be easier than cycling to Musselburgh into the stiff breeze. And I was very glad I'd taken an extra woolly hat and duvet gloves. Which I swapped for the bike helmet and cycling mits. It was really cold standing around and I didn't even last an hour once off the bike.

2 male goldeneyes

female goldeneye

Slavonian grebe (or Horned grebe)

I recognised this one from photos posted on Lothian Birdwatch. It is Slavonian (or Horned) grebe. Apart from that distinctive red eye it is fairly plain in Winter plumage. However in Summer breeding plumage it sports golden yellow ear tufts which gives it the American name Horned grebe. Unfortunately there are only a few Eastern Highland Lochs in the UK where you'll find it breeding. In the Winter you'll find it as here: close to the shore in sheltered Scottish waters (and Northern English East coastal venues.) It was not keen to have its photo taken and would scoot across the mouth of the Esk or dive, when it saw me getting closer. About the same size as a Little grebe, one of which was also in the vicinity.

I noticed a small flock of 22 sparrow-sized birds near the weir. I wondered how close I could get before they flew off. The answer was surprisingly close. Although they were regularly moving about in close formation they were almost indifferent to my slow approach and when pecking seeds on the rectangle of scratchy replanted grass, they allowed me to get within 3 or 4m before hopping off (but only a little). Then they would all fly off and either land back in their favourite tree or on the fence.

21 of the 22  

They were greatly entertaining and if had not suspected them of being twite (again from Lothian Birdwatch posts) I might have thought they were linnets without the give-away red patches. They are related to linnets. They appeared to be very sociable and were chattering away the whole time. They'd all take off together and land together. Occasionally one or 2 might go astray but then regroup. It was the highlight of my day to spend a short while taking photos and video of them before they eventually relocated way across the river.

all 22

about 3~4m away from them, while they sat happily in their tree

There wasn't quite enough light to get decent in-flight shots
but what I did get, I was able to brighten up in post. 

unbelievably shit weather again
if it hadn't been for the twite I'd have cycled home unhappy

they seemed to enjoy visiting an area of thin grass which I suspect 
was being resown and might have had grass-seed as well as bugs and small insects

when gathered in a group they turn towards each other and twitter away 
and it is impossible not to mistake this for chit-chat and gossip

not all the photos were masterpieces but I liked some
for being heavier on atmosphere than, ahem, focus

back down onto the rectangle of scrappy grass

Well the twite interlude really cheered up my day and made the cycle there worthwhile. When they eventually flew off it seemed to be to somewhere quite far away (half a mile?) and like they may not return soon, although impossible to tell. I was getting cold from standing about and after taking a few more pics of reluctant ducks on the water (mainly r-b mergansers) I got back on my bike and warmed up cycling home with the wind behind me.

twite saved the day!
soundtrack: Hold Your Own by BPMoore

red-breasted merganser (m)

red-breasted merganser (f)

could it get any worse for photography?
weather not fit to walk the dog

merganser pair chase off unwanted female (centre)

(normal) little grebe
(trying to confuse me)

goldeneye pair

starlings

I had seen some starlings (a favourite bird) while cycling through Musselburgh on the way to the Esk. They were up a cul-de-sac and it felt too pushy trying to photo them, pointing my long lens at someone's back window up an almost private road. However I was feeling bolder (or more determined) on the way home and had another look. They were no longer in front of windows but on chimney pots and tv aerials. I could also hear a finch-like cheeping and tracked down some birds high in a nearby tree. I thought I heard a greenfinch call which sounds like a lemon being wrung out violently while wearing rubber gloves. But when I got there all I could see was goldfinches. It was too dark and gloomy to get any decent pics so I got back on the bike and was home very quickly.

just discernible, (lightened considerably in post), a goldfinch

13miles, 2hrs

if anyone is doing a rain dance, please stop