0046 : Manic(ish) Monday (21/4/14)

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Little Ringed Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Grey Wagtail

Tree Sparrow

Tawny Owl

Red Throated Diver

Shag

Day 4 of blue skies and birding. The plan was for a wee trip round southern Fife with my birding pal Jacqui Herrington, and Fife birder Willie Irvine and his wife, Anne. Jacqui wanted to see the Glossy Ibis at Loch Leven, and I was hoping for better photos than my original views. After that we would play things by ear and do a bit of exploring, hopefully finding some good birds en route.

I left home at 8am to meet Jacqui at the bus station. Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Herring Gull were picked up within a minute or so, with a House Sparrow a little further on. Woodpigeon was seen on Dens Road and Feral Pigeons were seen as I neared the bus station. A Lesser Black Backed Gull was seen as we crossed the Tay roadbridge. Starling and Buzzard were seen en route to Letham Pools, our first stop of the day, with Oystercatchers and Rook too, as we got closer.

There was plenty to see at a rather windy Letham Pools, with my attention being drawn initially to a small brown bird in the grass, which turned out to be a Meadow Pipit. A couple of Black Headed Gulls out on the water alongside Mute Swans, Gadwall, Mallard and Coots. A few Teal dozed around the edges, and I managed to find a Redshank, then a pair of Little Ringed Plovers. Lapwings flew around displaying over the grass and the water, and Oystercatchers piped loudly from various points. We moved a little further along the road, finding another pair of Little Ringed Plovers and a single Ringed Plover on the other pool. A pair of Shoveler were out on the pool with Tufted Ducks diving below the choppy waters. Carrion Crows and Woodpigeons were around, flying over with one or two in the fields. One or two Pied Wagatils scurried around the edges. There was also a Shelduck swimming around, and a few Swallows swept over. Before we moved on again, a drake Wigeon was spotted sleeping on the shoreline.

The reserve formerly known as Vane Farm was the next stop, now known as RSPB Loch Leven. A few Jackdaws were the only new birds seen on our way through. Willie and Anne arrived a minute or so behind us, and we walked through past the feeders to head under the road to reach the hides. Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blackbird and a Magpie were noted down. We headed into the Gilman Hide to scan the pool out front to look for the Glossy Ibis which had been reported the previous day here. There was no sign at first so we scanned around for other birds, while hoping the Ibis would put in an appearance. 2 Greylags were quite close to the hide while a Moorhen wandered around the edges disappearing behind the bank and grass at times. A skein of Pink Footed Geese flew in and settled rather distantly near the Loch. A Kestrel was mobbed by Carrion Crows and Herring Gulls as it flew along the shoreline struggling to make headway in the wind.

Further away, Mallard, Goldeneye, Teal and Tufted Duck were on the Loch itself, while Lapwings displayed above the pool in front of us. We were joined in the hide by Aberdeenshire birder, Iain Hastie and his wife. Within a few minutes, the Ibis was spotted flying in to the pool from our left. There was a lot of clicking of camera shutters and a lot of unintentional noise as chairs were shifted and windows were fumbled with to get better views. Thankfully the bird was unfazed and actually flew a little closer. We were treated to very good views though the sun remained elusive. Grey Heron went on the list next and a Reed Bunting flew past. Checking the feeders next to the hide I saw Blue Tit, Greenfinch and Great Tit, while Jacqui also managed a Coal Tit that I missed. Out across the loch there were lots of Lesser Black Backed Gulls and a few Great Black Backeds on a grassy bank. Further round from the hide we found a sleeping Shelduck by a Mallard and a couple of Greylags while a small vociferous flock of Oystercatchers flew in. A Willow Warbler was spotted high in a small tree when we left the hide, its song helping greatly in the search.

We decided to head along to the next hide but apart from Meadow Pipit and Lapwings there wasn't a huge amount to see, so after 5 minutes or so, we moved on again to hopefully see Little Ringed Plover from the third hide. On our way along the path, a Skylark lifted from the adjacent field flying upwards full of song.We were rather lucky when we arrived to find one of the diminutive  Little Ringed Plovers wandering around on the grassy islet near us, allowing plenty photos as it wandered closer, before being joined by its partner and wandering away from us again. Out on the water, there was a pair of Gadwall and a few Coots, and a single drake Pochard was a nice surprise. A female Goosander was also slightly unexpected. A small group of Wigeon were feeding on the vegetation on the bank over to the left and a Pied Wagtail landed very close to where I was sat, giving me very good photo opportunities. The Little Ringed Plovers flew over onto the pebble island in the middle of the pool where they proceeded to mate. As the hide was getting busier we decided to make our way back to the car park. Three Sand Martins found the going difficult as they tried to make headway into the rather strong wind following the line of the path we were on. A Robin and a couple of House Sparrows were at the feeders, with a dozing Woodpigeon asleep in a tree and from the car park, myself and Willie picked up at least 4 rather distant Ravens above the ridge line.

The decision was taken to head for Lochore Meadows, a place neither myself or Jacqui had been before. Mute Swan and Mallard were seen by the shore as we pulled into the car park. There was lots of birdsong to be heard, despite there being a lot of people around. Siskin, Goldfinch and Chaffinch were first up, and Woodpigeon and Blackbird just around the corner. We wandered further along through the trees, birdsong all around us. It didn't take long to hear and then see Chiffchaff with 2 birds relatively close together. While we watched these warblers a Song Thrush was spotted in the trees behind. A Sparrowhawk glided over. I had close views of a Goldcrest by the path, and a little further on we found a Dunnock on the path with Blue Tits and Great Tits in the trees.

We scanned across a slope behind the park, finding a male Pheasant in a field and Jackdaws and Carrion Crows in small numbers. Feral Pigeons flew over and a few more Woodpigeons were in the trees. Willow Warbler was next, singing in a tree top, but we were distracted by a singing Blackcap which we managed to spot in the upper branches of a tree just coming into bud. We had decent views before it flew deeper into the woods. We wandered down through the play park to check the Loch, where the Mallards and Mute swans lingered by the shoreline with a single Greylag. Jacqui and Anne stopped for a rest and myself and Williw wandered off to check further round. A couple of Magpies hopped about, but were relatively unbothered by us being nearby. A Cormorant flew over, then back again a minute later. I heard a Whitethroat singing in a bush, but it proved to be very elusive and I didn't manage to see it, despite it sounding very close. A Common Gull flew in off the loch before we headed back to the women and lunch at the car park.

As time was wearing on a bit, we decided to miss out Loch Gelly from our planned route, choosing to head for Balcarres estate, near Colinsburgh instead. There wasn't too much to see from the road, although there were a few flyover Crows and Pigeons as well as one or two gulls. The best bird en route was a new bird for my yearlist as we passed through Lundin Links. A House Martin swooping around over the houses. My 150th species of the year.

Arriving at Balcarres estate we drove up the main drive way, stopping to photograph the folly on the clifftop. The grounds of the estate looked fantastic for birds with lots of open areas as well as woodland of various ages, plus a pond and a small burn. Unfortunately the birds proved to be very elusive with hardly any seen. A Stock Dove was the highlight, with Buzzard, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blackbird and Carrion Crow the others seen. In a few weeks time when all the summer visitors are back, the site would probably be worthwhile spending a long day exploring. We headed back out to the main road to head for our next stop at Kilrenny. A brief stop en route added Yellowhammer to the day list.

The target species at Kilrenny was Tawny Owl, with Anne and Willie having got nice photos of a roosting bird earlier in the week. As I don't have much luck with owls generally, any help to see an owl is always very welcome. Jacqui spotted a Corn Bunting as we wound our way along a narrow road to the outskirts of Kilrenny but I missed it as Jacqui realised rather late that Willie had stopped to see the same bird and we nearly got closer to his vehicle than necessary. After parking the cars we wandered up to the wood, hearing a singing Corn Bunting, but failing to see it. A Tree Sparrow perched low in a mature tree allowed a few quick photos. In the wood we saw a few birds - Blackbird, Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Great Tit, but it wasn't long till we reached the roosting tree of the Tawny Owl. Willie scanned upwards with his binoculars. Nothing. No Owl. It wasn't in its tree. This wasn't in the script. Fortunately, the bird hadn't gone far and Willie found it perched high in another tall tree nearby. Unfortunately there were branches in the way, so a clear shot was pretty much impossible. Still, Tawny Owl was on my 2014 year list. Robin, Coal Tit and Willow Warbler were added as we walked back to the cars, with Kestrel being seen at the entrance to one of Willie's nest boxes on the outskirts of the village. A Swallow swept around the rooftops. With the day list looking rather healthy and it not being too late myself and Jacqui decided to spent a wee while at Fife Ness to see if we could get Gannet on Jacqui's year list and maybe something for mine too.

We said thanks to Willie and Anne for the tour, and the owl, and headed for Crail. As it was rather windy we headed into the FBC hide to watch from the relative comfort. Unlike Friday the passage of birds was much stronger with birds almost constantly on view. Gannets passed northwards in good numbers. There were a few Eiders on the sea with pairs zipping by from time to time. Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Sandwich Terns, all with their different flight styles, were seen easily. Herring Gull and Great Black Backed Gull glided past the front of the hide, over the rocks. Auks whirred by, some much further out going unidentified, those closer in being either Razorbills or the slightly more numerous Guillemots. There were surprisingly few Shags passing, and only a single Cormorant was seen. We did manage to see three separate Red Throated Divers, one of which was in full breeding plumage. I managed to spot a Shelduck out on the rocks, but there wasn't to much else except a few Oystercatchers and a single Common Gull.

We stopped in Crail and finally managed to add Collared Dove to the list for the day. A few Jackdaws and Woodpigeons were also in the trees by the entrance to the church but there were no Ring Necked Parakeets which are sometimes seen here. With my list for the day sitting at 78 we debated where we could easily add another few species to take the list to 80. We decided Guardbridge offered the best chance, and was handy as a drop off point for me catching the bus back to Dundee as well. Once again, there wasn't too much to see en route.

We arrived at Guardbridge around 1755 and headed to the hide, which as expected was locked. Out on the mud we could see Redshanks, a few Curlews (new), some distant Shelduck and not a lot else. A small flock flew in to join the waders opposite. Among them were a few Black tailed Godwits (also new). That took my list to 80. My best day total since I started using the BirdJournal app on my phone was 80, strangely enough the day I saw the Glossy Ibis earlier in the year with Gus Guthrie. To beat that total I needed one more bird. Way out on in the estuary there are two large wooden poles. Over the summer months, these are a good place to look for perched Ospreys. With it being still quite early in the year for these birds there was no guarantee one would be present. On the first post, there was no sign of any bird shaped blob. There was a shape on the second but the strong wind in my face made it tricky to be sure. I took a couple of photos and zoomed in, revealing a brown and white Osprey shaped bird. Number 81 for the day! Or so I thought. I had for some reason already recorded Osprey in error at Loch Leven earlier in the day. Still 80 species was a very good day total without really trying for a big total. I knew there was a bus due fairly soon, so I thanked Jacqui for the day out and crossed the road to wait for the bus, happy with the day's birds, but slightly disappointed that I'd missed out on a new daylist record total.

There were a few Herring Gulls, Feral Pigeons and Woodpigeons flying around above the former paper mill grounds. Suddenly I spotted a familiar shape, relatively low and travelling along quite purposefully but at a steady pace. A male Peregrine. Number 81 for the day! I sent Jacqui a quick text as the bus turned off the bridge at the end of the village, and gave her a wave as she turned out of the car park as she headed for home. Rook, Woodpigeon, Herring Gull and a singing Song Thrush as I walked up Arklay Street were the birds seen before I got home.

A very good day out (although with the cumulative total of the previous 3 day's birding on top, I was pretty much exhausted) with 81 species seen. (New year birds in bold).
Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Fulmar, Gadwall, Gannet, Glossy Ibis, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Magpie, Mallard,  Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Pochard, Raven, Razorbill, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Shelduck, Shoveler, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tawny Owl, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.

0045 : Easter Excursion (20/4/14)

Osprey

Oystercatcher

Coal Tit

Coot

Little Grebe

Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Mallard

Red Squirrel

Small Tortoiseshell

Collared Dove

Meadow Pipit

Grey Heron

More blue skies forecast for the third day of my four day birding spree, so once again I was up and out of the door quite early. As it was also Easter Sunday I wanted to avoid the family groups out rolling eggs if at all possible. I decided to try for better photos/views of the Green Sandpiper at Morton Lochs that I had seen on Friday afternoon before the morning haar had burned off and heat haze had formed.

I left the house at around 0830. Unusually a Blue Tit was the first species seen, rather than the more usual Herring Gulls. I didn't have to wait long however to get Herring Gull on the list, with Blackbird, Feral Pigeon  and Woodpigeon also seen almost simultaneously. As I reached the waste ground on Dens Road opposite the Alexander Street junction I heard the loud blast of a Blackcap singing from the trees at the rear. I walked closer and picked out the bird perched on a bare branch. I didn't have much time to stand and watch, so continued on my way towards the bus station. A Collared Dove flew into a Rowan by the path, and a Goldfinch flitted across the road, its tinkling call drawing attention to its presence overhead. A Carrion Crow glided across Victoria Road.

There wasn't much to see between Dundee bus station and Tayport, with a few Woodpigeons and a pair of Oystercatchers the sum total. walking across the golf course, a few singing Yellowhammers were seen and Chiffchaff was heard. On reaching the house just through the gate, a pair of Swallows were perched on the wires and a Blackbird flew off into the trees. Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Siskin were also around the garden edges, and a singing Song Thrush was perched at the top of an evergreen. On reaching the nature reserve itself I headed straight for the access road to try and see the Green Sandpiper before the temperature rose enough to produce a bit of shimmer. Chiffchaffs and Blackcap were both heard en route but I decided to come back and look for those properly after checking the pool. Passing between the two lochs gave distant views of Mallard, Mute Swan and Little Grebe. I did spot a Chiffchaff with its tail flicking downwards as it fed among the branches of a low tree before I reached the fields, and a Robin perched on a fencepost for a moment. Wren, Blue Tit and Coal Tit all put in an appearance

There was no sign of the Green Sandpiper around the edges of the pool despite scanning the mud every few minutes. There were a pair of Mute Swans though. Scanning over the fields produced a nice mix of birds, Woodpigeons, Stock Dove, Feral Pigeon, Starlings, Mistle Thrush, Curlew, Lapwing and Carrion Crow. The harsh call of a Jay made me turn around and I was fortunate enough to catch sight of the culprit as it flew out over the field before turning back towards the trees again. A male Pheasant called loudly from the edge of the field near the wood and a Pied Wagtail dropped in, tail wagging up and down rapidly as it ran over the dusty ground looking for insects. A singing Skylark lifted from the grassy field and was initially tricky to pick out against the cluttered backdrop of landscape behind. However once it reached a backkdrop of blue sky it appeared as if by magic. I watched it climbing higher until the mewing of a Buzzard distracted me. I found the bird circling above the trees by the northern loch, where it was soon joined by a second.

I headed back along the access road checking both lochs as I did so. A pair of Tufted Ducks were on the southern loch, and Moorhen was added to the birds visible on the northern. I wandered under the old brideg along the track to the southern hide. Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Coal Tit and Robin were in the bushes and trees along the edges. As I reached the hide a Great Tit flew across my line of sight as a Pheasant darted into the undergrowth. The Loch was fairly quiet with a Grey Heron skulking around the edges. A pair of Coots called loudly in front of the reeds and the Tufted Ducks appeared from the other half of the loch. A few Stock Doves flew around above the loch, going from one set of trees to the other.

On leaving the hide and heading back to the track I had good views of a singing Blackcap in an Elder. A Robin with a grub in its bill flew on ahead of me, obviously on its way to a hidden nest nearby. Another Chiffchaff called from the top of a tree and a pair of Coal Tits showed well just a few feet above me. I caught up with the Robin by the bridge and yet another Chiffchaff disappeared into the foliage high in a conifer. There wasn't too much to see along the path which runs parallel to the hide paths by the northern loch, but a Wren caught my eye among the branches of a small bush about half way along. I popped into the first hide and scanned over the loch. Mallards, Mute Swan, 2 Greylags and Little Grebes were soon joined by a Moorhen and there were 2 pairs of Teal sleeping on the far shore. Another Blackcap sang from the trees to the right of the hide before flying into the bushes to the left.

Woodpigeon, a pair of Robins and a Blackbird in the bushes were all that was seen from the corner hide. Surprisingly there was no Blackcap in the Elders where they have been regular in the past. I spent a few minutes watching a male Red Squirrel with impressive ear tufts feeding on peanuts at the feeder in front of the new hide, which seems to be designed for watching the Squirrels but is in completely the wrong place for photos with the trees blocking most of the light. By bumping up the ISO on the camera a fair bit, I did manage some nice photos.

I wandered out the access road seeing much the same birds in the fields as I went. A Collared Dove landed in a tree by the caravan club site and a Yellowhammer and a Chaffinch were also seen here. A Buzzard missing a couple of tail feathers flew out and circled up over the main road before disappearing over the wood opposite. I crossed the main road and walked along the nearby road signposted for Kirkton Barns. A large piece of waste ground to one side looked like it should be good for birds but only a pair of Great Tits was seen here, though I did find a few butterflies (Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshell). A little further along the road I spotted a Reed Bunting singing in a conifer by the cattery garden. The same Buzzard from earlier flew out from another tree and flew away over the fields. A Meadow Pipit flew up calling from a field with three horses in it and a Swallow chittered from an overhead wire before flying off to circle over the gardens and fields. I made a short detour to explore an old graveyard just off the road. Here I found a few Tree Sparrows in among the overgrown areas as well as a small group of Jackdaws just over the drystane dyke in a ploughed field. One or two Woodpigeons clattered out from the trees when they spotted me. A little further on along the road a Kestrel flew off a telegraph pole and hovered before circling up high into the sky. A few more Meadow Pipits and Tree Sparrows as well as Robin, Feral Pigeon and a Dunnock were all seen before I reached the main road to Leuchars, where I managed to catch a bus to take me to Guardbridge within seconds of arriving. A nice piece of luck.

En route to Guardbridge we passed the rookery at St Michaels where the birds seemed to be busy. The hide at Guardbridge was empty and there wasn't a huge amount of birds to be seen initially. There were a number of Redshanks on the far shore and Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Blue Tit were around the feeders outside. A few Mallards were on the river, along with a Black Headed Gull. Further out there were small white dots which turned into Shelducks when seen through binoculars. Further scanning added Herring Gull and Oystercatcher as well as Carrion Crow. Among the Herring Gulls were a few Lesser Black Backeds and at least two Great Black Backeds also. A small flock of Starlings were in the horse field and there were a few Swallows hawking for insects nearby, with Sand Martins amongst them. Greast Tit and Tree Sparrow visited the feeders as did Woodpigeon. The local Feral Pigeons from the paper mill flew back and forth over the hide, their wings whooshing audibly as they went.

As it was so quiet I decided to head off to catch the bus, but I got sidetracked into checking the bushes and trees outside for small birds. While I did so I glanced up and spotted a raptor just above treetop height as it flew behind the bare top branches. I grabbed a quick photo which turned out rather well and confirmed my suspicion that the bird was an Osprey. Given that it was rather low above the river, I figured there was a good chance it might stop to hunt, so I hurried round to the hide to watch. The bird did indeed stop to hunt, a quick hover turning into a dive into the Eden, where it emerged a second or so later clutching a medium sized flatfish before flying off eastwards low over the mud. It settled down to eat its catch at the four small stumps that stick out of the mud at low tide. It didn't stay there for long as it drew the attention of the Herring Gulls and Carrion Crows nearby. I was joined by a couple and we chatted about the spectacle they had just missed and birds in general. As the wind was slightly chilly we headed into the hide. Greenfinches dropped into the feeders to the delight of the lady who had just mentioned that she hadn't seen one for a long time having been regular visitors to her garden previously.

One of the local Buzzards was quite active changing its perch every 10 minutes or so, sometimes on the ground, sometimes in a tree and sometimes on the small box hide for the waterfowlers. A Pied Wagtail flew around above the pools opposite and a handful of Black Tailed Godwits dropped in to join the Redshanks. One bird showed a good bit of summer plumage, the orange showing really well in the sun. A Curlew dropped in before wandering around probing the soft mud with its long curved bill. Two Oystercatchers landed in front of the hide on the exposed mud and fed here for a while. A group of Pink Footed Geese were in the horse field and I found a few others on the salt marsh later on. A Cormorant flew upriver, returning almost immediately and following the Eden back past the hide and round the bend downstream. A Grey Heron announced its presence before flying by, low above the water and then landing for a spot of fishing mid-stream just to the right of the hide.

I spotted another osprey hunting, much further out, but without binoculars it was just too far away for the couple to pick out until it flew closer above RAF Leuchars before passing away to the west out of sight. A few distant Buzzards and Great Black Backed Gulls caused a false alarm or two as the heat shimmer threatened to convince me that they were Ospreys. We did have one other confirmed Osprey sighting while a holidaying family from Luxemburg were in the hide, but I'm not certain they managed to get on to the bird. Three Mute Swans flew upriver and as it was now around 5pm I decided to head for home. I did see a few Goldfinches as I crossed the park to the bus stop. The Rooks at St Michaels and a singing Song Thrush on Arklay Street were the only things of note seen before I made it home.

A decent enough day out with 58 species seen.
Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Little Grebe, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher,  Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.

0044 : Saturday In The Sun (19/4/14)

Wren

Red Grouse

Common Sandpiper

Meadow Pipit

Lapwing

Snipe

Black Grouse

Raven

Carrion Crow & Marsh Harrier

Osprey

Osprey

 

My birding pal, Steph Cowie hasn't managed to get out and about with her camera much this year owing to big happenings in her personal life, so she was champing at the bit to try and get out somewhere on Saturday. So much so, that she agreed to an earlier start than our normal Sunday start time for our outing on Saturday. With good weather forecast again, things were looking very promising for a good day out, so we decided that one of the Angus Glens might provide the best possibilities for some good birds and good photo opportunities.

A visit to the wee shop around the corner started my day list quite well with Blackbird, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon and a Pied Wagtail before the day had really started. When I did head out later to wait for Steph I managed to add Carrion Crow, Collared Dove and Starling too. We headed for Swannie Ponds in the hope of getting the Iceland Gull for Steph as she had so far managed to avoid seeing it. When we arrived there were plenty smaller birds around in the trees - Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch with a Willow Warbler being seen a short while after we arrived. On the water a single female Goosander joined the Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Mute Swan but gulls were in very short supply. A few Herring Gulls did drift over but they seemed reluctant to come down to the water. Lesser Black Backed Gulls were also overflying in smaller numbers but likewise stayed in the air rather than landing. Another birding pal, Darell Berthon showed up and all three of us made the most of the calm water to get some nice reflection shots of the birds in the sunshine. While lining up a photo of a Tufted Duck a Moorhen splashed down close by allowing some nice photos in good light. As there was no sign of the Iceland Gull showing up, we decided to head off up to the glens to make the best of our reasonably early start. As Steph got into the car, I scanned through the tree tops by the nearby crossroads and spotted a bird high up in one mature tree. It looked like a Wheatear, so I called to Steph and Darell and took a few photos. Steph managed to see it but it had gone before Darell got a look. Had I not seen a Wheatear up a tree the day before I'd have been a bit more surprised to see one in such an unexpected location.

We headed north up the A90 adding Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Skylark and a few more Woodpigeons to the list. We stopped off in a small village briefly which allowed us to get House Sparrow, Rook and a flyover Lapwing onto the list. Blackbird, Chaffinch, Starling and Woodpigeon were also seen here. As we left the village a couple of Yellowhammers were seen. Steph spotted movement along the edge of a field and we saw a Wheatear fly up to perch on top of a flowering Gorse bush. Unfortunately, as the car drew closer it flew off a short distance to another bush. It did this 3 times until it dropped into the field edge as we drove past. Pheasants were much in evidence as always, with mostly males, but a few females also, dotted around in the fields. Steph pulled up by a small stand of conifers where a striking male Goldcrest was flashing the bright orange feathers of his crown stripe to good effect just feet from the car window. Oystercatchers and Jackdaws shared the fields with the Woodpigeons and Pheasants before we headed into the main part of the glen.

At our first stop we quickly adjusted our plans when we heard Red Grouse calling from what sounded relatively close to the road. Normally we see these birds much further down the road so it was a pleasant surprise to hear them so early. A bit of scanning drew a blank, but I eventually found two males a bit further up the hillside than they sounded. There seemed to be a bit of a territorial dispute going on with one bird chasing the other off a short distance a few times. A Sand Martin and a Swallow sped over heading in the direction from which we'd arrived. A few Meadow Pipits lifted from among the grasses and heather as we watched the Grouse. Pairs of Curlews flew by and behind us on the hillsides opposite Lapwings, Jackdaws and Woodpigeons busied themselves. As we headed back to the car, a Wheatear flew away from us over the field. rather more expected here than at the Swannie Ponds in Dundee.

We parked again a short distance along the road, and had another walk to see what else we could find. I could hear a Snipe calling but there were trees between me and where I suspected the bird to be. I did manage to find a Mistle Thrush while I searched with the binoculars. A Wren's song burst through the quiet air but we failed to spot the bird, suspecting that it was hidden below a fallen tree trunk among the vegetation. We wandered off in different directions, Steph heading further along the road, me clambering over a small fence to explore along by the steep edges of a burn. A few Chaffinches and a more visible Wren gave me good views, as did a pair of Great Tits. I headed back to the main road to catch up with Steph. Some Swallows were darting around near a farm steading and while walking back downhill to the car we came across two Robins eyeing each other, and us, warily in the roadside hedge. A few Siskins flew over calling and a Lesser Redpoll briefly dropped into a tree above the car. I heard and then spotted the fast moving blur that is a Dipper as it flew inches above the burn upstream.

The landscape opened out somewhat with much more heather moorland around where we stopped next, but birds were in shorter supply than usual here. Three Goosanders followed the line of the burn as they headed further into the glen. I heard a Raven quite distantly but drew a blank when trying to find it on the hillside. There were a few Carrion Crows around but in general it was a much quieter spot than usual. Red Grouse was seen again slightly further along the road and Meadow Pipits lifted and fell back from the roadsides as we drove slowly on. We found another parking space by the roadside and decided to explore a rather steep track up a scree and boulder strewn small hill. It turned out to be a larger and steeper hill than it appeared but the hoped for Ring Ouzel was nowhere to be seen. Peacock butterfly was a surprise, and a Curlew ran and then flew off from near the track, possibly from a nest site. Coming back down the hill, three Mistle Thrush flew in, with one singing loudly whilst in flight, something I hadn't seen or heard before. A Meadow Pipit gave Steph good photo opportunities and I wandered away to see if I could find Tree Pipit but again, I drew a blank. Possibly still a little early in the season for these summer visitors and quite a few others.

One or two more Red Grouse were seen as we progressed up the glen, with one showy mail standing in the sun with Steph around 20 feet away, half hidden behind a telegraph pole snapping away. I managed to find a male Pheasant across the other side of the burn and an Oystercatcher flew upstream calling loudly as it went. There was no sign of Black Grouse in their usual spot but we decided to stop to check the burn. A Pied Wagtail and Oystercatcher wandered around among the tussocks of spiky grasses on the boggier areas. Surprisingly there was no Dipper to be seen, with the burn being rather quiet in general. Steph found a Willow Warbler in a tree by the burn which it shared with a male Chaffinch. I heard a familiar summer call and turned back to check among the rocks in the burn. A small wader flew low over the water and bobbed up and down when it landed. My first Common Sandpiper of 2014, and a bird I hadn't even considered we might see. There turned out to be a pair and I managed a few photos from behind the small copse of trees on the bank. I spotted a Black Grouse male perched on a plastic tube which protected a sapling among a small plantation, but it soon dropped down out of sight. A few more Carrion Crows glided over, while a Swallow shot about chasing the early flies. A male Kestrel appeared from nowhere and hovered in the sun before flying away over the burn and out of our field of view. Another surprise was 2 Redshanks which appeared from beyond the crest of the hill as an estate Landrover drove by and landed on rocks in the burn near where we were. Not a bird that we have encountered too many times in the glen.

We decided to head on to the end of the road to have something to eat and to search for Ring Ouzels and to photograph displaying waders on our way back. En route we did finally manage to see a couple of Buzzards, one attracting the unwanted attentions of the local crows which chased it into the taller conifers. A few Woodpigeons and Lapwings fed in the fields, and a female Pheasant was spotted by Steph perched on the top of the roof of one of the estate buildings. There was no sign of any Ring Ouzels, though there were plenty Meadow Pipits to be seen as we walked a short distance further along the glen after parking the car. Lapwings swooped and called slightly further up the hillside, landing among the open areas from time to time before displaying again a short while later. A small group of Swallows sped over and I found a couple of raptors along the ridge line, but the heat haze made identifying them tricky, but as they gained a bit of altitude they showed well enough to decide that they were only Buzzards. Another Red Grouse was seen up near the top of the hill opposite, with another further down the slope among the heather. A large bird spiralled up in the distance, heavy winged. It turned out to be an unexpected Grey Heron gradually gaining altitude above the heather covered slopes.

After having something to eat we drove back down the glen to the boggy field favoured by the Lapwings, Curlews and Oystercatchers for nesting in. A pair of Meadow Pipits scurried away as we got out of the car, and a Curlew took flight low over the field. There were Lapwings already in the air, their wings beating the air audibly and their electronic sounding calls echoing around. Two male Mallards and a lone female flew upriver followed a short while later by a pair of Common Gulls. The female Mallard returned a few minutes later alone away from her potential suitors. Two Treecreepers chased around among the birches in one of the fields. A pair of Common Snipe broke cover and flew off low over the spiky vegetation before one of them gained height and proceeded to display, extended tail feathers producing the characteristic 'drumming' sound as it swopped down before climbing again to repeat the pattern. Oystercatchers piped loudly as they chased each other round, their loud shrill calls competing with the Lapwings to see who was the loudest.

Somehow among the wader calls I picked up the distant sound of Black Grouse lekking, and looking over to the spot where we have seen them in the past I was delighted to spot 8 black dots. We drove around to hopefully get a better view, the birds being back far enough from the road to ignore a car, but in just the wrong place to get particularly clear photos, a fence being between us and the birds for the vast majority of the time. We counted 13 males who were joined by a Mistle Thrush and a pair of Oystercatchers as they strutted and postured with one or two taking their efforts to be the main man a bit more seriously than most of the others. One in particular seemed more aggressive than the others, although we didn't see any obvious female audience (Steph excluded) to witness his actions.

As time was wearing on, we decided to head for Loch of Kinnordy to finish off the day, though we did manage to see a Grey Wagtail, a small group of Feral Pigeons and a Blackbird before we headed back out onto the 'main' road. Another good addition for the day was a calling Raven perched on a fence way up on the hill opposite the road. En route back to the dual carriageway we were briefly joined by a Stock Dove which matched our speed while gaining in height and distance from the car as we drove along. A Song Thrush flew off as we passed and Woodpigeons and Pheasants were around in good numbers as before.

The water levels at Loch of Kinnordy were still rather low and Redshanks waded up to their bellies in the water. Further out on the water, Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Mute Swans swam around in pairs and small groups. The Rooks called loudly from the rookery along to the west. Within a few minutes our first raptor showed up, a Carrion Crow in close pursuit. It was a female Marsh Harrier, and she glided on veed wings before dropping into the reeds to escape the attentions of the persistent corvid. An Osprey was next to show, making an unsuccessful stoop into the shallow water before circling round for a second attempt. This time with more success, lifting with a small pike clutched in its large hooked talons before flying off with a crow in close pursuit.

Scanning over the bogbean islands, a few waders could be seen - Lapwings, Oystercatchers and Redshanks mostly, though we did eventually find a pair of Common Snipe too. There were a few Greylags around and a skein of around 60 or so Pink Footed Geese dropped in beyond the reeds. The male Marsh Harrier put in a short appearance which was quickly noticed by the local corvids, and a Buzzard got similar treatment. Two Black Headed Gulls rested on the islands and a Redshank landed in the very soft mud a few feet in front of the hide resulting in the sound of camera shutters firing in concert. A few Coots were discovered half hidden among the vegetation to the left and a Moorhen appeared from the reeds on the right, from where the squeals of a 'sharming' Water Rail also sounded. Sadly this particular species went unseen though they have put on some very good shows of late to other birders and photographers. There were also a few pairs of Teal still around mostly asleep. Two Grey Herons skulked along the margins of the main reedbed opposite the gullery hide, but once again there was to be no Bittern putting in an appearance for us. A Reed Bunting fed low down to the left of the hide before flying off to the east. Along the eastern end of the Loch a large flock of Sand Martins swarmed around in the early evening sunshine. The female Marsh Harrier once again popped up from the reeds but stayed well away from our waiting cameras, although the usual distant shots were grabbed. As it was now after 6.30pm and we had been out for just over 10 hours we decided to head for home for some food. Not much seen on the way down the road except the usual gulls, pigeons and corvids.

62 species seen ( 2 new in bold). - Black Grouse, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Curlew, Dipper, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Raven, Red Grouse, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Siskin, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer

0043 : A Rather Good Friday (18/4/14)

Wren

Woodpigeon

Greenfinch

Buzzard

Pied Wagtail

Meadow Pipit

Sandwich Tern

Great Black Backed Gull

Coal Tit

Magpie

Skylark

Treecreeper

Green Sandpiper

Sparrowhawk

Mistle Thrush

A day off work with decent weather forecast, (although with still a bit of a chill in the air temperature wise), isn't something that happens too often, so I do try to make the most of it. Having debated with myself as to where to head for to maximise my chances of adding a few more year ticks and seeing lots of other birds in the process, I had more or less decided that Fife Ness would be my location of choice. The possibility of some migrants arriving afresh and a spot of seawatching thrown in sealed the deal.

So I was up early and out the door for 8am. Herring Gull and Lesser Black Backed Gull were seen from the bus stop and Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon were spotted from the bus down to the city centre. A few more Herring Gulls were seen around the bus station where they nest on the roofs of the bus garage sheds. I caught an earlier bus than my initial plan but knew that this would give me around 30 minutes of birding in St Andrews as a bonus.

A Carrion Crow passed over the bus near the Dundee end of the Tay bridge heading towards City Quay. A Song Thrush hopped around on the grass of the roundabout at the Fife end of the bridge looking for something to eat. As we turned off from the dual carriageway heading for Leuchars a male Pheasant was in the margins of a field on the right hand side of the road. Passing St Michaels a Blackbird flew across the road into a garden and further along a small flock of Sand Martins swooped around over the golf course. As we slowed down on arrival at Leuchars Rooks could be seen flitting around at the rookery on the edge of the village. Starlings and Jackdaws perched on chimneys, with a few smaller birds going unidentified as they flew by the bus windows.

Down the road at Guardbridge a Mute Swan was on the Motray along with a few Mallards. A male House Sparrow was sitting on a garden wall chirping loudly as we stopped at a bus stop in the village. Heading out along the St Andrews road, one of the local Buzzards glided along above a field. A small group of Mute Swans were feeding in one of the fields by the road around halfway between Guardbridge and St Andrews, where they have been for a while now.

Arriving in St Andrews I wandered down to the car park in front of the golf museum to scan for birds. A few Eiders were on the water, with some Herring Gulls stood around among the seaweed covered rocky shore. A couple of Oystercatchers almost completed the picture, though a Curlew flew in as I was about to head back to the bus station. On the cliffs were numerous pairs of nesting Fulmars, noisily cackling to each other, or gliding around in front. A bird in flight caught my eye heading up over the Old Course. A quick look through the binoculars confirmed my suspicion as to the identity of the bird in question - a Peregrine. I next checked out the path down from the bus station to the University buildings with Blue Tit, Wren and Dunnock being the first few birds seen. A sudden burst of loud birdsong from among the trees stopped me in my tracks. It was a song I recognised but which I hadn't heard yet this Spring. A few more snatches of song and some careful searching yielded the culprit. A nice male Blackcap - my first of 2014, and a bird I was hoping to see around Crail. A Woodpigeon flew noisily out from the trees, its wings clapping together, as I made my way back to catch the bus to Crail. While waiting to get going I watched a Jackdaw on someone's garden feeders and a Blackbird chased a rival off from the same garden.

Siting upstairs on the bus at the front gives a good view ahead and to the sides, so on longer journeys on double deckers this is where I try to sit. The field by the caravan park as we left St Andrews had Woodpigeons and a few Oystercatchers and Curlews in it. As we passed the golf course further along the road, a bit of movement on a small pool caught my eye. Not the usual Mallard pair, but an unexpected Moorhen. A few more Woodpigeons and Oystercatchers were noted as the bus travelled southeast in the sunshine. At Kingsbarns, a Pied Wagtail went on the day list, and as we made our way between the junction into Wormiston and the last few bends into Crail a couple of Yellowhammers flew along beside the bus for a short distance.

I got off the bus at my usual stop in Crail, by the church, and headed along the track to Denburn Wood. Blue TIt, Chaffinch and Woodpigeon were seen before I reached the wood. There were plenty of birds around among the trees though they weren't always easy to ID as they flitted around. Great Tits and Blackbirds scolded me as I walked through the trees and after a bit of a search I found a singing Chiffchaff. A Stock Dove was spied high up in a tree, possbly one of the birds that nested in the owl box last year. As I emerged back into the sunlight at the bottom end of the small park, a Wren popped up and sang loudly from a small bush. I moved round so the sun was behind me and managed a few nice shots as he darted and stopped and darted and stopped before disappearing back into the undergrowth.

Leaving the wood, I decided to head out towards Kilminning rather than along the shoreline through the caravan park. Before I had left the village I had good views of House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Collared Dove and Woodpigeon. There was no sign of any Corn Buntings along the field edges but Skylarks and Meadow Pipits sang and displayed above the crop fields. Goldfinch and Chaffinches called from the trees along the road by the old airfield, with a Woodpigeon or two bursting out from the trees if I got a bit too close for their liking. A pair of Starlings glided over into the mess of derelict old buildings and I spotted a male Yellowhammer sat upon a wire, the yellow head glowing in the strong sunlight.

I turned in to the entrance road at Kilminning and scrambled over the new earth banking to walk into the top square. The local Woodpigeons noticed me immediately clattering out from numerous bushes and trees and flying off. Another bird that took flight was a Buzzard which circled up mewing loudly ad keeping a watchful eye on me as it did so. Scouting around the area, I heard another warbler singing. Another new one for the year which thankfully didn't take too much effort to find, a Willow Warbler. A few Goldfinches called from the small trees and I spotted a Magpie balanced precariously atop a conifer. Wandering further down the road into Kilminning, i spooked a male Pheasant who made his displeasure at being disturbed known by calling loudly as he flew off. A female Blackcap was found near where the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler was watched a few times in autumn 2012. A Wren skulked among the bushes by the grey shed near the bottom car park.

I headed down onto the coastal path to continue along to Fife Ness. On my way, I found a small flock of Linnets and a pair of Reed Buntings among the flowering gorse bushes. One of the buntings had been ringed (only 3 digits noted). Offshore very little movement was seen and disappointingly this was replicated when I reached the point itself. Before I reached Fife Ness itself I did encounter a few Pied Wagtails, though none appeared to be the hoped for continental White Wagtail race. A very showy Meadow Pipit allowed me to take a nice sequence of photos before I moved on again. A few Starlings and another small group of rather flighty Linnets were around the old coastguard building behind the hide. As the weather was nice I walked out onto the rocks to scan, rather than go into the Fife Bird Club hide.

A large flock of 80+ Great Black Backed Gulls in a mixture of plumages were stood together on the rocky islet just offshore. An Oystercatcher fed among the seaweed a short distance away. A pair of Eiders were out on the sea not far offshore and they were joined a while later by a Guillemot. One or two Herring Gulls drifted over, with others much further out over the water. Gannets were in remarkably short supply with only small numbers passing by offshore. A pair of Terns flapped their way by giving me my third year-tick of the day - Sandwich Tern. Shag and Cormorant both flew low over the relatively calm water and a summer plumaged Red Throated Diver inelegantly put down for a spot of fishing just to the north. I decided to check out Fife Ness Muir ("the patch"), a trio of Swallows coming in off the sea and whizzing over my head inland as I headed towards the cottage past which the path to the patch passes. It was quiet in the trees with only Long Tailed and Coal Tits being seen.

Crossing the golf course to head back uphill, a Kestrel was seen hunting over the rough in front of the summer cottages, but it had flown off south over the patch before I was able to stop to take a photo. I headed back past Kilminning with the Buzzard again taking flight and a few more Woodpigeons doing likewise. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks again lifted and called and sang from the fields. In Denburn Wood a Robin showed nicely and a bit of movement on the trunk of a tall old tree turned out to be a Treecreeper working its way upwards checking out the crevices among the bark for insects.

I exchanged a few messages back and forward with my pal, Jacqui Herrington, as I bussed it back towards St Andrews and we arranged to meet up at Guardbridge and go and visit Morton Lochs for an hour. The bus I was on was being very temperamental, losing power and stopping before the driver restarted the engine. I did manage to add Lapwing to the day list as we passed the Fairmount golf course entrance. Carrion Crows and Woodpigeons were in the field by the caravan park.  We eventually limped back to the bus station to find I had just missed the Dundee bus. A short wait and I was headed to meet Jacqui. I quickly popped into the hide to use the facilities and have a quick look out the window. Shelduck and Redshank being the only obvious birds out on the mud, with a Red Breasted Merganser in the river.

We parked Jacqui's car at the top of the entrance road and walked down the pitted and potholed gravel track. The fields to the south were being ploughed and there were lots of birds around feeding on the ground. Carrion Crows mingled with Oystercatchers, Curlews, Lapwings, Woodpigeons and one or two Mistle Thrushes. A pair of Mute Swans were on the small flooded pool with a wader feeding around behind them on the muddy edges. Although there was a lot of heat shimmer we did manage to see enough to be able to claim my fourth new bird of the day - Green Sandpiper. It had been reported on and off for a week or so and was a good bird to get for my year list. Coincidentally, my first ever Green Sandpiper had been in the same place and also with Jacqui back in April 2010.

We headed in to check out the lochs themselves from the hides. It was very quiet out on the water with a few Mallards dotted around. A pair of Greylags and a pair of Teal were picked out as they rested on the far side opposite the hide. One or two Little Grebes were around, disappearing under the water and popping up again briefly before diving again. Jacqui spotted a Sparrowhawk overhead just before we decided to check the view from the other hide. En route we did manage to see a Chiffchaff as well as a Wren. Blackcap was heard but proved to be elusive. From the other hide, only a Moorhen was added to the birds seen from the other hide.

We wandered back out the road, pausing to check out the other loch. A Grey Heron flew in as we watched. We stopped again and scanned across the field, finding a male Pheasant near the trees. A Pied Wagtail landed in front of us, tail wagging before flying off again. A few Feral Pigeons flew in to join the other birds in the field, and as we walked on a bird lifted from the earth and flew low over the ground before landing up in the tops of the small group of trees in the middle of the field. We had wondered the identity of the bird as it flew low, a patch of white showing as it went. I had suggested Wheatear but began to doubt myslef when it landed in the treetops. However, this turned out to be correct though neither of us could recall having ever having seen Wheatear in a tree before. A Mistle Thrush landed on a fence post nearby briefly, allowing me to grab a quick photo of the perched bird. A Yellowhammer and a Chaffinch were seen in th trees as we reached Jacqui's car again.

Jacqui dropped me off at St Michaels to wait for my bus back to Dundee and I watched the Rooks coming and going noisily to their nests in the trees opposite the bus stop. A Swallow busily hunted around the roofs of the houses and the St Michaels Inn at the crossroads. A few Woodpigeons were seen from the bus back to Dundee though little else.


A very enjoyable day out with 66 species seen (4 new in bold)
Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Fulmar, Gannet, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Green Sandpiper, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Little Grebe, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Treecreeper, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer