Bird Watching (UK)

CENTRAL REGION

- Neil Bielby HIGHLIGHTS:

HIGHLIGHTS: A Spotted Redshank was at Kinneil (3rd). A White-tailed Eagle flew over Edinample (5th). A Ring Ouzel was in a Dunblane garden (12th-27th). Taiga Bean Geese on the Slamannan Plateau peaked at 187 (26th).

CLACKMANNA­NSHIRE: A Long-tailed Duck and Scaup were on Gartmorn Dam (5th). A Jack Snipe and 28 Snipe were at Craigrie Pond (6th). A Mediterran­ean Gull was on the Alva Floods (12th). Two Black-tailed Godwits and two Whimbrels were at Cambus Village Pool (13th). There were 599 Wigeon and 1,265 Teal around Tullibody Inch (14th). A Red-throated Diver was off the Blackdevon Wetlands (19th), with a Hen Harrier and Peregrine there (24th). The first Brambling was by Menstrie (28th).

FALKIRK DISTRICT: Kincardine Bridge had eight Guillemots (2nd) and a Short-eared Owl (19th). Blackness had a Red-throated Diver, Razorbill, Turnstone and Rock Pipit (6th), when 78 Whooper Swans were at Brackenlee­s. Twenty-seven Red-throated Divers flew over New Carron, Falkirk (12th), with two Chiffchaff­s there (13th). A Merlin was at Powfoulis (12th). A Common Scoter was on the Forth (19th). Some 180 Twite fed on the Airth shore (27th). Kinneil had 1,173 Shelducks (3rd) and 16 Scaup (20th). Skinflats Pools had a Barnacle Goose (1st), 127 Whooper Swans (8th), 5,000 Starlings (20th), a Ruff (12th) and Little Egret (27th).

STIRLING DISTRICT: There were 34 Whooper Swans at Bridge of Allan (11th). A Green Sandpiper was at the Allan Water, Kinbuck (13th), when three Jack Snipe were at Ashfield Pools. Blairdrumm­ond Ponds had 22 Whooper Swans and two Pochards (13th). A Little Egret was at Kildean (14th), when four Mandarins were on Marl Loch, Argaty. Five Pochards were on Carron Valley Reservoir (19th). A Little Egret flew over Cambuskenn­eth (26th).

UPPER FORTH ESTUARY: A co-ordinated count (19th) produced seven Red-throated Divers, 15 Great Crested Grebes, 793 Shelducks, 583 Wigeon, 1,626 Teal, 277 Pintails, six Pochards, 18 Scaup, 30 Red-breasted Mergansers, 627 Oystercatc­hers, 575 Golden Plovers, 1,038 Lapwings, 81 Knot, 3,861 Dunlin, a Ruff, 1,665 Black-tailed Godwits, 199 Bar-tailed Godwits, 632 Curlews, 2,070 Redshanks, six Greenshank­s, 10 Turnstones and 113 Great Black-backed Gulls.

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