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Wildlife Around and About East LothianSo, winter is upon us and the weather is inevitably going to get a bit grim. However, it could be worse – our winters are relatively mild compared to those of similar latitudes in mainland Europe. This fact means that we are visited by many migratory birds moving from areas where food resources are becoming increasingly scarce. Some of these are birds that are very familiar all year round – for example, our “native” blackbird population is boosted by large numbers of winter migrants from Europe. Others are species that we don’t usually see over the summer, making them worth looking out for this month.

Fieldfares are members of the thrush family. They breed in woodlands and scrub in northern Europe and visit the UK during the winter months, sometimes in huge numbers. In size and shape the fieldfare resembles a stocky blackbird, although its plumage is very different. It has the speckled breast associated with other thrushes, but the head and rump are a slate-grey. This, combined with

a chestnut brown back, makes for a very handsome and distinctive bird. Fieldfares are omnivorous, but during the winter they tend to feed mainly on berries and other fruits. The Pencaitland and Haddington-Longniddry Railway Walks are good places to spot them, as both of these sites feature plenty of hawthorn. However, for the real fieldfare experience get yourself to Gullane Bents. The swathes of berry-bearing sea buckthorn can host flocks of fieldfare numbering in the

hundreds. In very harsh winters fieldfare will visit gardens, especially those which provide fruit-based refreshments on their bird table.

Swans are a common sight in our countryside. Most of those that we see are mute swans, which despite their name are far from silent. During winter we also have the opportunity of seeing migrants such as whooper swans, which breed mainly in Iceland but head in our direction when it gets too chilly up there. Whoopers are similar in appearance to mute swans, although there are subtle differences. The best thing to look for is the contrast between the head and bill of the two species. Mute swans have rounded heads and their bills are orange-red with a large black lump (or knob, if you’ll pardon the term) on the upper side. Whoopers, by contrast, have a longer, straighter profile and their bill is yellow with a black tip (and no knob). They also have shorter tails than mute swans, which may be helpful in identifying a feeding bird that’s got its head underwater and its rear end in the air (but then again, maybe not). They are worth looking out for in coastal and estuarine habitats, or feeding in fields – the area around Fenton Barns is usually a good bet.

Finally, I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in nominating and voting for the Countryside Ranger Service in this year’s East Lothian Council Star Awards. Winning the East Lothian Courier Award meant a great deal to all of us – thanks very much.

COUNTRYSIDE NEWS December 2015

Fieldfare

Whoopers on ice