📖 ❄Forvie NNR 10/01/24

Friday 10th January 2025 ☀️ 1C ~ NW @ 5MPH ~ Today, I embarked on a circular six-mile walk around Forvie NNR, starting at the Waterside car park. It was a beautiful day, though bitterly cold with a low and harsh sun to contend with.

Redwing

As I passed the noisy Rookery situated in the small woodland near the car park, I observed at least eleven Redwings feeding in the leaf litter, which was shaded from the snow by the trees. 

Golden Plover in the harsh low winter sunshine. 

Along the east bank of the estuary a few Meadow Pipits and a single Fieldfare taking advantage of a clear area of grassland. There was a good selection of waders feeding on the ebbing tide and these included Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Curlew, Oystercatcher and a single Grey Plover. Wildfowl included Teal, Eider, Wigeon and Red-breasted Mergansers. 

Twite at Forvie. 

At the southern end of the bank, I managed to locate a large flock of Twite that winter here, along with a few Linnet. I then walked back along a deserted beach, but due to the conditions, there was little movement, save for a few passing Cormorants and Herring Gulls.

Greenshank

Just as I got back to the car, news on WhatsApp of two Green-winged Teal on the estuary. When I reached the Snub car park a few minutes later, Mark Sullivan was onsite with one of the birds set up in his scope—an easy tick.!  Too far for a decent image but the two Greenshank just below were more photogenic. 

A few images of a beautiful day...