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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Glossy Ibis |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Little Ringed Plover |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Tawny Owl |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| 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.