Scott Black

8 Russian whitefronts in a mixed group of c220 geese predominantly greylag opp Coventry Fencing yard near Carstairs today. Group included 2 well marked adults and 1 first winter bird @clydesoc-grapevine.bsky.social #Clydebirds #Scottishbirding

Started the month with 2 Russian whitefront now finished month with same. Again distant but good enough images to show belly patterns are different despite only c800m from first birds, with 700 pinks at The Meetings Carnwath today. @clydesoc-grapevine.bsky.social #Scottishbirding #Clydebirding

Red head smew showing a bit closer today, seems to enjoy it's own company keeping well clear of all the other ducks frequenting the loch @clydesoc-grapevine.bsky.social #Scottishbirding #Clydebirding

Another of these distant photos this time red head smew, after many years looking a site first for me on the East Pond in Douglas Estate today. @clydesoc-grapevine.bsky.social #Scottishbirding #Clydebirding

Below Eastfield Farm Pettinain today site best count of 6 little egrets sheltering from the stiff easterly and a great white braving conditions further down the bank #Scottishbirding #Clydebirding @clydesoc-grapevine.bsky.social

Update, flock of 101 birds a bit closer today, confirmed white 61U & 57X both ringed in Iceland Aug '24 and seen at Bavelaw Lothian Dec '25 also in flock yellow TUP seen at Bavelaw at the same time. #Clydebirding #Lothianbirding #Scottishbirding

@waterbirdcm.bsky.social

Frustrated trying to nail these 2 in a flock of 57+ at Pettinain today, at full zoom on my P1000. Sure they are a pair. One has white darvic on right the other on left, could be 55&56 horizontal, hopefully help out there #KaneBrides #WaterbirdCM #Scottishbirding #Clydebirding

But further south but 1st back on the Clyde at Lamington on the 14th Jan, 4 back on the Clyde at Carstairs this morning at least 3 weeks later than they normally appear at that site.

Female long tailed duck upsetting the locals today on the east pond in Douglas Estate. #Scottishbirding #Clydebirding

The Broadwood Loch smew trying it's luck with the local goldeneye this morning #Scottishbirding #Clydebirding

My first inland oystercatcher of the spring 🙂on the Clyde at Lamington today, the last few years the first birds have been on the Clyde at Carstairs around the last 2 weeks of Dec but none so far there this year. 1st winter female scaup again at Carstairs #Clydebirding #Scottishirding

@david-burt.bsky.social hi David yes I looked into Briadwood,did you see me ?

The Clyde in the Carstairs area more or less ice free this morning for the first time this year. Nice to find what looks like a 1st winter female scaup through the gloom #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

Caught up with the Slamannan bean geese yesterday, 70+ birds but most difficult to view due to terrain, 2 marked birds darvic V7 and grey collar V6 also 174 pinks in the same area. #Scottishbirding

Managed to steal an hour between dinner preparation and cooking and got lucky with 2 Russian Whitefronts with 11 greylags and 8 whoopers below Eastfield Farm Pettinain early afternoon. always a bit distant but decent scope views. #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

Checked and failed to find anything with orange legs lurking with my local pinks today, 500+ at Carstairs and c1200 in the Dunsyre area, only thing of note was this aberrant plumaged bird, one I've previously seen a while back #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

Belgian Med gull metal E905357 again at carpark 4 Strathclyde Country Park today, an old timer, ringed as a chick Antwerp June 2002 lost it's green darvic long time ago. #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

Four little egrets in turnip field above the Clyde floodplains near Carstairs today, #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

Always nice to see an inland med Gull, 2nd winter again today from in the gull roost from CP 4 at Strathclyde Country Park, photo from Monday when first picked it up. #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

3 little egrets and my 2nd great white egret in 48 hrs (different location from the one I had on Tuesday) all in deepest
South Lanarkshire,feeding along the Clyde floodplains in the Carstairs area. Just needing a cattle for the set #Clydebirding # Scottishbirding

How times change, my 2nd great white egret this month on my patch, this time on Loudon Pond Douglas Water #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

Good chance Med will be Dutch 30VA,been seen in the same area in the last 2 years

Distant Jack snipe on the Clyde at Carstairs Bridge today, nice to see one in the open for a change. #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding

Managed to knuckle in on the Glossy Ibis fest yesterday, very brief 5 min appearance at Medwin Pools Dunsyre.Dropped down a bit of hassle from the locals before heading off high NE. 1st record for Clyde was 7 at Barons Haugh 09/10/25 now single birds been in 3 other locations since #Scottishbirding

Had c1500 on the deck near Dunsyre yesterday and there seemed to be a good ratio of juvs so hopefully been a good breeding season

Received the history of Little gull y-74 seen at Musselburgh on 24/07/25, Swedish ring, first re-sight since ringing 5 years ago
@birdinglothian.bsky.social

My first pink feet of the autumn today with 62 at Medwin pools Dunsyre expect there will be many more in the next few days. Clyde at Carstairs Bridge had 15 ruff and 145 curlew #clydebirding

Back for seconds at Musselburgh scrapes today, marsh sand showing well with wood sand ruff and spotted redshank, nearby up to 14 curlew sands, 1 little stint and Pec sand on the new lagoons @birdinglothian.bsky.social

Loudon Pond Douglas Water was a bit busier today, highlight was my first GW egret in the area since the end of April, with supporting cast of 2 juv blackwits,1 green sandpiper and a very showy water rail @clydesoc-grapevine.bsky.social #Clydebirding #Scottishbirding