| I returned from New Zealand at the end of the first week of December and spent the next 10 days recovering from the jet-lag and starting the long job of editing the photos, so it wasn't until near the end of the month that I got out birding again.
The week before Christmas, an Arctic Redpoll was found in a small mixed flock of Lesser and Mealy Redpolls at Aberlady Bay (only the 3rd record for Lothian). That was all the enticement I needed to drag myself away from the computer. Since it was just 10 miles from my flat, I spent every sunny day down there between Christmas and the end of the month.
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Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni exilpes)
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| They were not particularly visible most of the time, feeding on seeds in the long grass, but with a lot of patience and by positioning myself ahead of their direction of feeding, they eventually approached to within 10m of me. |
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| The characteristic pure-white rump of the Arctic Redpoll was usually only visible in flight. |
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Arctic Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni exilpes)
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| A few Roe Deer were also on the saltmarsh at Aberlady... |
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Roe Deer (Notiomystis cincta)
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| Back at Musselburgh, it was just the usual common stuff... |
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Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
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Curlew (Numenius arquata)
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| ...and a small flock of Greylag Geese. Not sure how wild the geese were, but the golden early morning light of Christmas day was perfect for a good portrait... |
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Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
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