2013 - December BTO waterbird count, Linlithgow - Philpstoun

My monthly BTO WeBS count along the Union Canal, Linlithgow to Philpstoun.

Tuesday 17th December 2013 

Start time 9am

End time 11.50am

approaching Philpstoun, the lovely Shirvalee at berth

Weather fine after heavy rain on preceding days. The flood field does now have a small pool in it but nothing like in previous winters, pre-draining.

The count:

- waterbirds were pretty scarce but lack of quantity was made up for in quality - nine beautiful crisp goosanders and a kingfisher kingfisher kingfisher! There on the canal behind my house and studio when I set out at 9am, there again or still when I returned around noon. Sometimes difficult to spot, rust-red chest blending into dead winter undergrowth when it perched. Then when it flew its metallic blue back flashed like a jewel.

spot the kingfisher.

Actually, that's a crisp packet. It was almost immediately after I'd taken this photo that I spotted the real kingfisher. 

- Fieldfares and redwings all around, as last month. Larger flocks now, at least 100 fieldfares and 50 redwings, taking full advantage of the red berries of canalside hawthorn hedgerows. 

N.B. If you haven't tried hawthorn berries you should. They have a nice nutty creamy texture and taste. Take care not to crunch on the big stone in the middle. Don't eat them all though, the thrushes need some.

fieldfare and black ash buds

hawthorn heaven for fieldfares (and maybe you too)

fieldfares and Forth Bridge (rail)

All water birds eligible for count:

moorhen - 2

goosander - 9

kingfisher - 1

black headed gulls present, not very many

Nothing on the flood field

All birds seen:

Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Goldcrest
Goldfinch
Goosander
Great Tit
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Jackdaw
Kingfisher
Magpie
Moorhen
Redwing
Robin
Rook
Wren
Yellowhammer
Unidentified geese flying over

24 - species

In the woods, heavy flow:

  

A Very Happy Sprouty Christmas To You All