Linlithgow Loch, 24 February 2013

We made a visit to Linlithgow Loch on Sunday morning, 24 February 2013.  Unfortunately we picked the poorest part of the day weatherise as it got better and better as the day wore on.  There was limited activity on the water.  We got some 'firsts' though - Goosanders (Common Merganisers), male and female.  There were several pairs at the west end of the loch.

We also saw the usual 'watery' suspects of Mallards, Moorhens, Coots, Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks and Black-headed Gulls all in relatively high numbers.  Magpies and Rooks were in abundance in the trees surrounding the loch.

Here are the Goosanders:

Goosander (F)

Goosander (M)

Goosander Pair

Goosander (F)

Caerlaverock Wetland Centre, Dumfries, 17 February 2013

Susan and I took a run to Caerlaverock Wetland Centre on Sunday 17 February 2013.  The weather was terrific, particularly for the time of year.  Warm sunshine all day, just lovely.  It was our first visit to Caerlaverock and we thoroughly enjoyed it.  We should have made the trip long before we did.  There was plenty bird activity in and around the Whooper Pond.  We arrived in time for the 11am feeding of the swans - what a blast that is!

There was not much to see from Avenue Tower or Saltcoat Merse Observatory, unless that is, you had a huge lens or powerful binoculars!  We enjoyed the walk out to these places though.  We contented ourselves with the activity in the Whooper Pond and the hedgerows close it to.

We met Bob Fitzsimmons, a local photographer and very much enjoyed the chat we had with him.  We also 'borrowed' his prime location for some of the shots we took - thanks Bob! (Link here: www.bobfitzsimmonsphotography.co.uk).

We spent 4 hours at the Centre and then headed home, promising ourselves we would visit again.

Here are some of the shots we came home with:

Yellowhammer

Reed Bunting

Barnacle Goose

Whooper Swan

For more images see here:
www.davidleaskphotography.co.uk