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Over the past month we have been entertained by the frantic activity of up to half a dozen Goosanders in the bay below the house. They spent hours in hot pursuit of trout which had moved up into the shallows to spawn. The local Mallard were much more sedate, resting up during the day before spending the hours of darkness gleaning the last of the fallen acorns from under the oaks, growing along the shore of the loch.
By November most duck have completed their annual moult and the drakes are once again sporting fine plumes. Teal and Pintail numbers reach a peak on the east coast firths at this time, however most will winter further south in the UK. The plumage of the drake Gadwall is rather subtle shades of grey, browns and black. Once uncommon it is a species that is appearing with increasing frequency here in the north.
Last month I sought to photograph the taiga race Bean Geese wintering in central Scotland. This month small parties of the tundra race, originating northern Russia and Siberia, have appeared amongst the flocks of Greylag and Pink-footed Geese. At the same time European White-fronted Geese in flocks of up to fifty birds have arrived around the north. Both of these eastern races of geese are unusual in Scotland. Some European White-fronts winter in England but the main wintering area for both is much further east in Europe.
November 2011
