With over 250 species on its list, Aberlady is undoubtedly one of Scotland's and Britain’s finest birding sites. The area has been declared a Grade One Site of Special Scientific Interest on ornithological, geological and botanical grounds. The habitats consist of extensive mudflats of the Peffer Burn estuary, an adjoining saltmarsh, freshwater marsh, freshwater pools, dunes, woodland and extensive Sea Buckthorn. 

Duck’s at Kilspindie House is a great place to stay for bird watchers; great food in Duck’s restaurant or Donald’s or simply B&B. 

Here at Duck's we work closely with Aberlady Bird Sanctuary, the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick and the SOC, and will make sure that your bird watching holiday is a promised fantastic adventure. We can organise guided walks and lectures for parties (min 4 people)

Packages can be tailored to suit your needs. Call 01875 870682 to enquire or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bird Watching in Aberlady Bay 

Spring, summer, autumn and winter – Aberlady Bay and nearby has much to offer visitors.  If you are interested in wildlife, this place has everything – all in a beautiful setting with stunning sunsets. 

From the photogenic wooden footbridge, which leads across to the nature reserve, you will see and hear Curlews, Redshanks, Dunlin, Oystercatchers, Bar-tailed Godwits, Mallard, Wigeon and others.  As you walk up the path you reach an area of dense sea buckthorn bushes  surrounding a pond, where in Spring time  displaying Lapwings can be observed  on the saltings, while Reed Buntings, Sedge and Grasshopper Warblers are likely to be heard singing from the dense vegetation.  Skylarks always seem to be singing overhead, and they nest at high densities in the flowery turf by the golf course.   

The path will eventually bring you to the dunes and the extensive sand spit on the shore, but on the way look out for wheatears and stonechats with a possible Ring Ouzel on migration.  At the sand spit small numbers of Common Terns occasionally nest, as well as Ringed Plovers while there is always the chance of a Little Tern.  Go along the beach to the east, where a rocky point juts out into the sea, and you can watch Eiders, Common and Velvet Scoters, and the occasional late Long-Tailed Duck and a chance of passing Red-Throated Diver.  Turnstones and Oystercatchers will be on the rocks, and from here you can watch the large ships waiting to pass further up the Firth of Forth. 

By Summer, things are quieter but look out for the lovely starry white grass of parnassus flowers in the damp areas as well as several species of orchids.  Meadow Brown and Common Blue butterflies are common on the dry grasslands if the weather is warm. 

Autumn sees wader numbers building up in the Bay and bird watching can be exciting. Sandwich and Common Terns in the bay attract Arctic Skuas, which can often be seen chasing them in the hope of getting them to disgorge a meal of Sandeels.  The Firth of Forth is one of the best places in the UK to see the rare Red-Necked and Slavonian Grebes and though they can be seen off the point, the best place is a short way to the west near Longniddry.  September is a good time for the rarer waders such as Little Stint, Curlew and Sandpiper and there is always the chance of a very rare bird turning up.   

A good place for information is the SOC Bird-watching centre just west of Aberlady, which is worth visiting.  Staff offer helpful information and exhibitions are often held.  The highlight of the autumn, from late September onwards is the arrival of the Pink-footed geese from Iceland.  Tens of thousands of these wonderful birds roost in the Bay so join others by the wooden bridge to watch and listen for them in the evening.  The sound of all these geese is just stunning.  However, the geese are going about the Bay during the day and many fly to inland stubble fields.  There are also sometimes hundreds of the smart black, grey and white Barnacle Geese as well, stopping over before they head down to the Solway. 

In Winter there is still lots of interest.  In the hedgerows the wintering Fieldfares and Redwings are to be found along with Finches and Tree Sparrows.  Sparrowhawks also work these hedges for a meal.  If you are watching the Bay and all the birds get up suddenly wheeling about in the sky, check the skies for the anchor shape of a dashing Peregrine Falcon which quite frequently hunt the bay for a tasty bite, while Short-Eared Owls can sometimes be seen hunting over the grasslands, even during the day.  Don’t neglect the rocky point as there is a good chance of roosting purple sandpipers amongst the turnstones. 

So Aberlady is a wonderful area to visit at any time of the year, and the beautiful bay and skyscape make this a special place to enjoy the fresh air, bird calls and a hearty walk. 

Only 5 mins walk from Ducks is the HQ of the Scottish Ornithologists Club. Open to the public this is a good place to get advice on sightings and on a wet day study one of the largest collection of bird books in the world. 

Another nearby destination is the award winning Scottish Seabird Centre, at North Berwick, where you can get up close and personal with the Bass Rock gannets via close circuit television cameras. The centre has pioneered remote viewing of seabird colonies on offshore islands.