,_Etangs_de_Stavelot,_Belgien_(38631119665) Frank Vassen.jpg)
,_Etangs_de_Stavelot,_Belgien_(38631119665) Frank Vassen.jpg)
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Description
You arrive at an open area looking out to sea and to the rocky shoreline if the tide is out. At low tide large numbers of gulls and waders can be seen roosting whilst large numbers of birds can be seen on the sea.
During the winter large numbers of Scoters can be seen. Mainly Common Scoter and Velvet Scoter. Other species often seen are Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider, Eurasian Wigeon, Red-throated Diver, and Slavonian Grebe. Rarities on the sea at this time of the year include White-winged Scoter, Stejneger's Scoter, Surf Scoter, King Eider, Little Auk and Black-throated Diver. On the coastline a large full roost can occur predominantly consisting of Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull with the occasional wintering Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mediterranean Gull and Iceland Gull. Wader species often seen include Dunlin, Common Redshank, Eurasian Curlew, Ruddy Turnstone, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Bar-tailed Godwit. Rarer gulls and waders seen on the shoreline have been Ring-billed Gull and Red Knot.
During spring and summer months lots of new birds can be seen including Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and the occasional Roseate Tern, Common Guillemot, Razorbill and Atlantic Puffin.
Autumn migration brings passage seabirds and waders with the chance of all four skua species, Manx Shearwater and divers. Scarcer waders that could be seen are Black-tailed Godwit and Common Greenshank.
This site gives a nice variety of species from a single point and gives you a great chance to learn the identifications of British shorebirds.
Details
Access
From the centre of Edinburgh you can drive, take the bus or cycle. When cycling you can go all the way along the innocent railway path and you will then reach the A199. Then turn towards Musselburgh and take your first left. Parking is available in the housing estate where a short walk is needed to get to the viewpoint. Press P on the map for directions to the parking spot.