Aberlady Bay |
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Aberlady Bay is arguably best known for its ornithological interest. In the winter months, important populations of several species of wader and duck roost or feed in the area, while at dusk, up to 15,000 thousand Pink-footed Geese fly in from the surrounding farmland. In October 1993, 26,000 were counted. Spring sees the arrival of summer migrants and the start of the breeding season. Several birds whose numbers are in serious decline nationally, are abundant here, with, for example about 45 pairs each of Skylark and Reed Bunting nesting annually. Other breeding species include Eider, Shelduck, Lapwing, Lesser Whitethroat & Redshank in small numbers, while Willow and Sedge Warblers are common in most years. Summer is often a quiet time for birds, but the returning winter birds as well as passage waders may begin to appear in late July. By the autumn, up to 10,000 waders may be present, with Lapwing and Golden Plover the most numerous. Several hundred Widgeon feed in the bay, while one or two Short-eared Owls may be hunting over the marsh. Aberlady Bay has a reputation for attracting rare birds, like Ospreys in the spring and a female King Eider which has been attracted to the bay for the past seven summers. Other rare birds that have made flying visits over the years are the Caspian Plower and the Western Sandpiper (a small American wader). Link: http://www.aberlady.org/Nature reserve.html |
