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| Sandwich Tern & Common Tern |
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| Cormorant & Eider |
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| Grey Heron & Carrion Crow |
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| Curlew |
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| Dunlin & Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Dunlin |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Sanderling |
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| Curelw Sandpiper |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Canada Goose |
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| Wheatear |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Ruff |
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| Buzzard |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Ringed Plover |
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House Sparrow
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Having missed out on the Curlew Sandpiper the previous day at Westhaven, I had to hope that the bird would stay put and try to get there relatively early, just in case it was going to move on during the morning. I decided on a similarly early morning departure to the previous day. So with fingers crossed the plan was to try and get some hopefully decent views, and if possible decent photos too.
I left the house at around 0735 to walk down to Arbroath Road to catch the bus to Carnoustie. Herring Gull and Feral Pigeon were the first birds of the day with migrating Meadow Pipit making an early entry on the list. At this time of year they are almost daily while I wait for my bus to work. I suspect that they are heading roughly towards Dundee Law, using it as a navigational aid. If I get a foggy morning sometime soon, I may pop up there to see if any migrants drop in on the little island in the sea of fog. There is decent cover on the slopes and a mixture of short grass and weedy areas, so anything is possible.
House Martins were still hanging on around Stobswell Primary School, and Carrion Crow was seen by Dura Street. Blackbird was added as I waited for the bus on Arbroath Road. I spotted what looked like a bird of prey as the bus traveled along Craigie Drive but its gliding flight didn't seem quite right for Buzzard, though given the route it took, that seemed most likely regardless. Collared Dove, Starling, Lesser Black Backed Gull and Woodpigeon went onto the list before the bus left Monifieth for its short journey to Barry village. Rook and Swallow were the birds seen from the bus before Jackdaw too was added as the we passed through the village.
On reaching Carnoustie and getting off the bus I chanced upon a flock of House Sparrows around the houses as I headed down towards the beach area. Blue Tit, Pied Wagtail and Goldfinch all being spotted before I made it to within sight of the sea. I stopped to scan through the binoculars. Black Headed, Common and Herring Gulls mingled with Common and Sandwich Terns while Redshanks foraged and roosted among the rocks. Offshore a few Eiders swam while Goosanders rested up on the rocky shoreline. A few Knot and Oystercatchers were picked out. I eventually managed to see a Turnstone feeding among the seaweed.
A few juvenile Kittiwakes flew in to join some of the Terns on the rocks. A Cormorant flew past in the company of three Eiders in eclipse plumage. The head and neck of a Grey Heron appeared from between some of the rocks before disappearing once again back out of sight. A Rock Pipit landed on the beach. A few Meadow Pipits passed over but vis-mig was very low compared to the previous days. A single Canada Goose was out on the water offshore and a Curlew flew past westwards low over the rocks. An Arctic Tern was found among the other Terns and a Goldfinch fed on the seed head of a plant among the long grass by the beach.
I passed Westhaven which disappointingly held almost no birds apart from the gulls and terns out on the rocks and headed along the beach towards the mouth of the burn where I hoped to find the mixed wader flock which the Curlew Sandpiper was reported with. With it being a weekday there were few people out on the beach which was a nice bonus. A Grey Wagtail flew over. I soon spotted the wader flock, mostly Dunlin but with some Ringed Plover among them. A bit of careful scanning produced the
Curlew Sandpiper - a much cleaner and leggier looking bird than the Dunlin. How I had managed to miss it the day before, I have no idea. Also on the beach was a Redshank, Curlew and juvenile Black Headed Gull. I sat in by the long grass at the top of the beach and waited for the birds to work their way along the beach towards me. This is much more productive than trying to sneak up on them. Although small waders can be quite confiding it only takes one to panic and the whole flock disappears. Much better to let them come to you.
A flock of Lapwing appeared from along to the east before circling back round and heading back towards Easthaven. A Carrion Crow followed a Grey Heron down to land among the rocks. A previously unseen juvenile Shelduck took off with the terns, gulls and Jackdaws when something spooked them. I spent some time watching and photographing the Dunlin, Ringed Plover and the Curlew Sandpiper although the latter tended to stay further away than the former which would approach quite close before sprinting past then settling down again once they decided the distance between me and them was sufficient. I spotted a Sanderling in among the pools in the wet sand. I decided to wander along to Easthaven to see if the Yellow Wagtail had stuck around.
I paddled across the shallow burn outflow. Two Meadow Pipits fed along the seaweed strand-line on the sand. I could see another birder approaching from the east. this turned out to be ADBC member, Mickey Mellon who confirmed that it appeared the Yellow Wagtail had moved on. I showed him the Curlew Sandpiper which was feeding along the edge of the burn on the opposite side. With that in the bag for Mickey we headed back along the beach to Easthaven to see what else was around. A few Mallard flew in and as we neared Easthaven beach we could see a flock of 28 Canada Geese on the sand eyeing us warily. An Oystercatcher was by the waters' edge along with a couple of juvenile Herring Gulls. The Geese took flight, flying past us westwards gaining a bit of height as they passed us.
Offshore I picked up a distant Gannet, the first of the day. We bumped into Jon Cook and Bob McCurley who had both appeared in the hope of seeing the Yellow Wagtail. Mickey told them that it appeared to have moved on, so we wandered eastwards along the beach to see if there was anything else of interest around nearer Hatton water treatment plant. Lots of gulls were roosting out on the rocks, mostly the 3 species seen earlier at Carnoustie but also a few Great Black Backed Gulls. A Wheatear fed among the piles of seaweed before flying down onto the rocks to skirt by us. A small group of Linnets took flight. Starlings and Pied Wagtails foraged too among the detritus on the sand. Mickey and Bob headed back, but myself and Jon continued eastwards, stopping to scan periodically. Small groups of Sandwich, Common and Arctic Terns were quite unsettled, taking flight for a few seconds before landing again then repeating the process.
I managed to find a juvenile Little Gull way out on the rocks and gave Jon directions to it. Nearby was a wader stood on a rock. It turned out to be a (probable female) Ruff, not a bird I was expecting to see among rocks. A few minutes later I found a second larger (male?) bird a short distance away. A few more Carrion Crows, Oystercatchers, Resdahnks, Common, Herring and Black Headed Gulls and Mallards were spotted before we decided to walk back. We found another Wheatear, even more strongly marked than the earlier bird with a strong white supercilium above the eye standing out well. A Buzzard drifted over above us before gliding back inland towards Craigmill Den. A Bar Tailed Godwit flew past eastwards. I decided to walk along the road to the Den and then back down to the beach at Westhaven to spend the afternoon trying to get better shots of the Curlew Sandpiper.
Jon offered me a lift along the road but I declined as walking tends to produce better bird sightings. Unfortunately, apart from a few Swallows, Meadow Pipits and Yellowhammers there wasn't much to see. I did see a moth which went unidentified though it didn't look like any species I was familiar with. Unfortunately it wouldn't settle long enough for a photo. A Robin was by the house at the bottom end of the Den. Two Skylarks called as they flew over westwards. The second Buzzard of the day circled up above the burn. A Whitethroat and a Song Thrush skulked but showed briefly among the weedy greenery. Coal Tit and Great Tit were in the smaller trees near the top end. From the road, I spotted a distant pair of Buzzards to the north, diving and displaying. Heading back down through the Den, Blackbird and Robin were seen while Wren was heard. A warbler foraged in cover but I did manage photos which appeared to show a Willow Warbler. Around midway down the track I managed to see a Blackcap and another warbler, which I assumed to be another Willow Warbler though there appears to be a wing bar on the photos (though probably just wear and tear). I finally managed to see a Wren as one showed among the stems a few feet away from me across the fenceline.
I crossed the railway line at the level crossing and then waded through the burn again. The flock i was looking for were further along the beach, so once again I settled down to wait. Again this was a successful ploy with the birds scurrying around within 10 feet or so of me at times. I decided on a change of tactic and moved into the open halfway down the beach when there was a bit of distance between the birds and me. This didn't seem to phase the birds too much as they just moved further up the slope to pass me as before. A dog walker spooked the flock which flew back to near the burn once more. I decided to lie down and tuck myself in behind my camera bag and wait for the birds to approach again. This would give a lower perspective and potentially result in closer approaches by the more curious of the birds.
The Dunlins and Ringed Plovers picked their way along the beach towards me, with a juvenile Ringed Plover being particularly nosey and eventually coming within 6 feet of me allowing me some really good photos in good light. The Curlew Sandpiper finally headed in my direction and I took a few distant photos and waited. Once the bird had covered about half the distance, a juvenile Ringed Plover took exception to it and grabbed it by the wing and swung it around. Unfortunately this resulted in the Curlew Sandpiper taking to the air and flying past me. I spent another hour or so taking a variety of photos of the Dunlins and Ringed Plovers as they crept around nearby. Once the birds know you aren't a threat they come quite close, though usually they keep one eye on you, just in case.
Around 1520 I decided to head back to catch a bus back to Dundee. Out among the rocks were Bar Tailed Godwits, Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Black Headed and Common Gulls and a few Goosanders as well as small numbers of Jackdaws. As I neared the boats I saw a small flock of House Sparrows flying down to feed at the waters' edge. I got rather close to a small group of juvenile House Sparrows who appeared to be feeding on the actual seaweed. I haven't heard of this behaviour before but it was interesting to watch. I spent most of the journey back to Dundee checking my photos and phone so there was little seen en route.
A good day out with a year tick (in bold) among the 60 species seen.
Arctic Tern, Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Tern, Cormorant, Curlew,
Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kittiwake, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Little Gull, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Ruff, Sanderling, Sandwich Tern, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Turnstone, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.