WIGEON : Anas penelope
Some areas report this as being seen in vast numbers, but it nevertheless appears on the amber list which indicates concern about bird species in decline. The RSPB map shows it as visiting our coastal waters and across the central belt in winter, while spending the rest of the year much further north.
As we tend to walk along our shores less in cold weather, perhaps we are missing it, or confusing it with the many other birds that frequent our waters towards low tide. Few people may be able to describe a wigeon, but it may still be more numerous than we realise.
A group of wigeon on the Firth of Clyde shore towards Cardross in Noember 2025. They were enjoying the tide at a level where they could still wade and shovel for morsels.
