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Two male and two female Scaup, Kinneil
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Falkirk - Bo'ness and Kinneil
Two male Scaup (Aythya marila) on the left and two females (on the right), taken by Claudia Caporusso at Kinneil on the Firth of Forth. Scaup are a bit like Tufted ducks, but have no crest, and tend to inhabit the sea rather than fesh water. The male has a grey back and sides, and the female has a white patch at the base of its bill.
12 January 2020
Snow bunting on a boulder beach at Prestonpans, East Lothian
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Musselburgh and Prestonpans
Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) on a boulder beach at Prestonpans, East Lothian, taken by Claudia Caporusso. They breed in the high Arctic and on mountain tops in Scotland. In winter, some descend to the coasts while others remain in the mountains, often at a lower altitude, where they can find food, such as at the Cairngorm, Glenshee and the Lecht car parks which are good places to see them.
15 March 2020
Common tern, Musselburgh
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Musselburgh and Prestonpans
Common tern (Sterna hirundo), seen from Musselburgh sea wall flying against North Berwick Law, taken by Claudia Caporusso. Note the black tip to its beak, which distinguishes it from the Arctic tern, the beak of which is entirely red.
04 July 2020
Oystercatchers and Black-tailed godwits on Musselburgh lagoons
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Musselburgh and Prestonpans
Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) and Black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa) on Musselburgh lagoons, taken by Claudia Caporusso. The lagoons were formed from fly-ash produced by the former Cockenzie coal-fired power station, and now form a high-tide wader roost visible from three screens from which good views can be obtained, but which have concrete seats and no roof, so take a cushion and wrap up well in winter!
23 December 2019
Goldeneye pair, River Esk, Musselburgh
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Musselburgh and Prestonpans
Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) pair - male on the left with the green head, and female with brown head on the right, taken on the River Esk at Musselburgh by Claudia Caporusso. Both birds are displaying to each other by throwing their heads up.
23 December 2019
Hedgehog in a garden in Dalkeith, Midlothian
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Edinburgh
A Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) out in a private garden in Dalkeith, Midlothian, taken by Claudia Caporusso. Hedgehogs are normally nocturnal, and may be in trouble if they are seen out during the day.
24 June 2020
Robin, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
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Edinburgh
Robin (Erithacus rubecula), Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, taken by Claudia Caporusso. Robins hold territories even in the winter when, unlike most birds, you can still hear the males singing, and defending these territories quite fiercely. Males and females are alike in plumage, so singing is the main way to tell the sexes apart.
26 October 2019
Grey heron, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
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Edinburgh
Grey heron (Ardea cinerea), Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, taken by Claudia Caporusso. Grey herons feed on aquatic creatures such as fish and frogs, by stalking them in the shallows.
26 October 2019
Goldcrest, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
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Edinburgh
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, taken by Claudia Caporusso. The Goldcrest is one of Britain's smallest birds, together with its rarer relative, the Firecrest.
26 October 2019
Juvenile Razorbill, Craigleith, Firth of Forth
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Firth of Forth - Craigleith
Juvenile Razorbill (Alca torda) in the hand for ringing, Craigleith, Firth of Forth, taken by Claudia Caporusso.