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| Linnet |
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| Wheatear |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Garden Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Sedge Warbler |
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| Grey Heron (with Newt sp.) |
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| Wren |
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| Blackcap |
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| Swallow |
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| House Martin |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Red Legged Partridge |
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| Red Legged Partridge |
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| Juvenile Woodpigeon |
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| Osprey |
The first day of my holiday 'proper'. A Monday morning when I actually wanted to get up out of bed. It is always so much easier when you don't have to go to work. The weather forecast was reasonable and I had made arrangements to meet my pal, Jacqui Herrington around mid-morning. The plan was to see what we could find around the northwest of Fife area, mostly, and see where we ended up. As it turned out we managed to see a wide variety of birds and managed some really good photo opportunities in what turned into a 12 hour day for me. Tiring but very worthwhile.
I left the house at 0850 to head into town to catch a bus to Guardbridge, to do a spot of exploring of the Eden Estuary LNR while waiting for Jacqui. The usual birds were seen en route into town - Blackbird, herring Gull, House Sparrow, Feral Pigeon and Woodpigeon. I caught over to Fife at around 0910 with Woodpigeon, Starling and Pheasant seen before we reached St Michaels where Rook was added. Passing through Leuchars added a few more species - Jackdaw, Collared Dove and Carrion Crow with a couple of Swifts over the RAF accommodation houses. Mallard was seen on the Motray Water as we passed.
As I got off the bus near the St Andrews road at Guardbridge a Goldfinch flew over calling as it went. Scanning north from the footbridge next to the roadbridge, more Herring Gulls in company with a few Lesser Black Backed Gulls were seen on the mud along with Oystercatcher and Shelduck. A few Swallows hawked above the Mute Swans on the Eden, and further downstream a few Goosanders lingered from the day before. Passing up through the outlying houses at the eastern end of the village a Blackcap was heard singing opposite the garage among some scrubby bushes. I managed to see it without too much difficulty. Great Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Starling and Blackbird soon joined it as I headed onwards. I bumped into a Guardbridge resident I knew from my plane-spotting days as he was cycling to work in St Andrews so we chatted as I walked hurriedly alongside his bike headed in the same rough direction.
We parted ways at the start of the dirt track down to the nature reserve area, located on a headland into the river. A Skylark took off from the field by the track and a pair of Linnets briefly landed on the fence. Slightly further on I was surprised to see a Buzzard perched on a fencepost staring at me. I knew that if I reached for my camera, which was still in my bag, that the bird would fly off. Nevertheless I needed to get my camera out, so I took the chance and off flew the Buzzard. A pair of Reed Buntings were next to go on the list as they flitted along the fence-line. A Pied Wagtail was next as I reached the gate into the estuary area. I stopped and scanned, picking up Curlew out on the mud and Cormorant and Eider out on the river. Ahead of me I spotted a Wheatear among the concrete blocks scattered around to stop erosion. There wasn't much else to add around the edges of the nature reserve although a Great Black Backed Gull did come to check me out, calling as it circled nearby as I walked along before it got bored and flew off again. I heard a Sedge Warbler from within the reserve and found it in an area of reeds by one of the pools.
A small group of cows came to investigate me, but time was wearing on for me to head back to meet Jacqui at Guardbridge hide as arranged. However, Jacqui's circumstances had changed and she was now able to get out birding sooner than planned. We arranged to meet at the small roadside restaurant by the Strathkinness turn-off. A few more Linnets, Swallows and a pair of Meadow Pipits were seen before I made it along to the rendezvous point. I did stop briefly to photograph a USAF C-37A Gulfstream bizjet carrying out a practice approach over the river at Leuchars.
We decided to head for Letham Pools first. The pools are two large flooded fields split by a road which can, and do, attract some very good birds. Woodpigeons and Carrion Crows were seen en route, with the odd Swallow as well swooping about. As always at the pools it was difficult to know where to start looking first, with birds dotted around in small groups both on the water and around the edges, with a few species above also. Black Headed Gulls, Coots, Gadwall, Greylag, Lapwing, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher and Redshank were all noted without having to try very hard. We were hoping to see Wood Sandpiper but a promising candidate found by Jacqui turned out to be an unexpected Greenshank. Little Ringed Plovers have been quite common on the pools in small numbers this spring but there was no sign of any. We did however find a Ringed Plover instead. A pair of Shelducks and a drake Shoveler were next to join the ever-growing list for the day.
We were joined by another well known Fife birder, Tommy Ross, who having set up his scope soon found the Wood Sandpiper - a year tick for me, which although distant gave decent views and allowed me to finally manage photos of one of my "bogey birds". We couldn't relocate the Greenshank, but scanning through Jacqui's scope I found two roosting Dunlin instead. A few Swifts screamed high above the pool, and myself and Jacqui commented on it being one of the sounds of summer. Another bit of scoping added Pied Wagtail. Jacqui spotted a few Sand Martins over the water while a couple of Swallows also whizzed about. A male Reed Bunting flew across the road towards nearby Mountcastle Quarry. While we chatted to Tommy, I was surprised to find a drake Pochard among some Tufted Ducks. Never a particularly common duck, so a welcome sight.
We decided to pop into Mountcastle Quarry to see if we could add a few more species and having said cheerio to Tommy we headed around to the entrance where Jacqui parked her car. There was plenty birdsong from the trees bordering the access road and it didn't take long to start seeing birds as they moved among the branches. A few Woodpigeons clattered noisily out from the bushes surprised by our sudden appearance. Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit were early additions. A male Bullfinch was a nice find as we tried to get views of a warbler flitting through the bushes but it went unidentified. A singing Garden Warbler was a pleasant surprise (as well as being my second year tick of the day), doubly so when it then perched out in the open for a few minutes allowing us really good views. Jacqui had left her camera in the car, not anticipating anything particularly exciting. She hurried back to the car to get it but just as she arrived back the bird ducked back into cover. A Willow Warbler was the next find.
A Grey Heron flew over. We stopped to check out one of the pools, finding Great Crested Grebe out on the water and a Common Sandpiper calling loudly as it flew low over the water, wings flicking downwards quickly. A Blackbird flew off through the bushes and scanning ahead over the other pool produced Tufted Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Great Crested Grebe and Coot. Swallows and Starlings flew overhead. I spotted a Little Grebe close into shore across the far side of one of the pools. A Sedge Warbler showed really well among some thorny bushes allowing me to get some nice photos. Oystercatcher and Buzzard were both picked up through hearing them first and locating them from the calls as they flew by. Heading back to the car we added Long Tailed Tit and Coal Tit.
We had intended to pop into Birnie and Gaddon Lochs to try and see Garden Warbler but having found one at Mountcastle we changed our plans and headed for Angle Park next. Surprisingly it was very quiet here, with mostly Coots out on the water, with a small group of Herring Gulls further over. There were as always a few Mallards around and another pair of Little Grebe were seen. We did see a few more Swallows and found a singing Willow Warbler in the trees behind where the car was parked. We headed next to Rossie Bog which can be very good for interesting birds passing through. We did find a Grey Heron in a field with a newt hanging from its beak and managed a few photos before it flew a little further on. Surprisingly we didn't find any Stock Doves though we did hear, but not see, Whitethroat as we drove further on. Yellowhammer went on the list as we passed one in a bush by the road. Another Grey Heron was by the roadside in another field and gave us another photo opportunity.
Rossie Bog rather disappointingly turned out to have been drained completely meaning only a few Woodpigeons and Jackdaws were among the bulls in the field. We had heard Chiffchaff from a little further along the road so while Jacqui grabbed a quick bit to eat I wandered back to try to see it. The bird was singing high up in a conifer and it took a wee bit of effort to locate the bird. A singing Wren gave me close views for a few seconds and a male Blackcap allowed me to grab a few photos as a Robin flew in. A Woodpigeon glared down at me from a tall tree but didn't fly off.
Jacqui knew of a wee walk at Lindores Loch which can be good for warblers at this time of year, so we headed there next. A Buzzard was seen high above a nearby hill as we parked. A Sedge Warbler proved elusive in a bushy area next to the car with only mere glimpses to be had. Grasshopper Warbler was the target species here, Tommy Ross having heard one the previous week here. We were to draw a blank on even hearing one, but we did have a bigger surprise when we heard the hooting of a Tawny Owl from the estate grounds across the Loch. Out on the water were a few Coot along with Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe. Woodpigeon and Swallows as with everywhere else were also seen here.
There was plenty of birdsong from the bushes but there were also hundreds of flies sheltered as were from the light wind. Jacqui decided to not go any further along the track, so I wandered on a bit further to explore, chasing an Orange Tip butterfly at one point. Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Willow Warblers all gave decent views. Another Garden Warbler showed well, but disappeared back into cover before I managed to get the camera to focus on the bird. We did succeed in seeing a Sedge Warbler before we got back to the car as well as slightly better glimpses of the original bird. While Jacqui had been waiting she had seen a Peregrine go over which I had missed.
As we were not too far from Newburgh we headed there to scan over the reedbeds of Mugdrum Island. Passing through the town we saw Blackbird, Starling and Carrion Crow but little else. We set up the scope down by the old harbour to scan, and it didn't take long for me to spot our first Marsh Harrier - a male. A female briefly rose above the reeds and a suspected food pass took place. A little later a second male Marsh Harrier was spotted, this one crossing the river to hunt above the reeds on the Fife side.
Jacqui knew of a small fishery that was on our way back to Balmullo so she could walk her dog before we headed out for some more birding. We headed there in the hope of maybe finding the elusive Grasshopper Warbler (the area being one where the birds have been reported in the past via the Fife Bird Report). A pair of Mute Swans wandered around the water's edge. A pair of Swallows flew into a small hut where they were building a nest, perching outside from time to time giving us good photo opportunities. Scanning around the edge added a Moorhen, a few Oystercatchers and a small flock of Jackdaws. A Pied Wagtail scooted around on one of the small boardwalks. High above the small loch a few Swifts screamed around briefly before vanishing again. Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow could be seen in a nearby field. Above the car park a few House Martins called as they swept around picking off the insects above. The few trees nearby gave us Starlings, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow and a Yellowhammer.
We then headed off to Balmullo to walk Jacqui's dog, Archie along the edge of the village. Despite it being a short walk along a road we somehow managed to see 14 species of bird including the first Whitethroat of the day. In addition to the Whitethroat we also saw Blackbird, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Linnet, Feral Pigeon, Starling, Swallow and Woodpigeon while walking Archie. With the time now around 4pm, we decided to head north to Angus to visit Glen Moy and Loch of Kinnordy.
With Glen Moy being quite a short glen it gives a chance of some of the area specialties in quite a short time frame. However, it varies from very quiet with hardly any birds seen to a nice mixture. Our visit was to be somewhere in the middle. Pheasants are much in evidence as you drive in along with Chaffinches. We managed to drive the full length of the road without seeing much trace of there being any birds around after we passed the ruined cottage. At the small turning place we did hear Red Grouse and Common Sandpiper, managing to see both by following the sound, as well as two Snipe displaying above, their tail feathers producing the characteristic 'drumming' sound as they swooped downwards before pulling up again.
Jacqui spotted a Whinchat by the side of the road but I was looking past it at the wrong patch of heather and we both missed the really good photo opportunity it presented, much to Jacqui's frustration. The bird did show again, though further away giving me my third year tick of the day. A Willow Warbler landed in a small tree near the car, and a Meadow Pipit perched on the fence for a few seconds. Down on the burn we spotted two Dippers. A Curlew and a couple of Lapwings were seen further down the glen as were one or two Mistle Thrush. two Red Legged Partridges scurried away from the roadside and up onto a drystane dyke where they stood watching us as we took a few photos despite the birds being tucked in below a leafy tree branch which blocked a lot of the light.
Our final stop of the day was to be Loch of Kinnordy where we had one last chance of picking up Grasshopper Warbler around the back of the loch near the lily pond. We popped into the Gullery Hide to see what was around first. The water levels are quite low and waders are much in evidence so far this summer. Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Redshank and a Little Ringed Plover were on the bogbean islands, along with Black Headed Gulls. On the water were Coot, Mallard, Greylag, Shelduck, Teal and Wigeon. Sand Martins, House Martins and Swallows hunted out over the water. We headed off along the path network to try and get a Grasshopper Warbler. The path to the lily pond turned out to be much further than I remembered and Jacqui was beginning to flag after what had been a long day. We did see a few Blue Tits, Chaffinches, Woodpigeons and Yellowhammer. A Song Thrush sang loudly as we crossed the small bridge and we managed to spot it in the trees.
A juvenile Woodpigeon sat hunched up in a low tree branch and ignored us as we took a few photos. Jacqui decided to take a breather and I pushed on a bit further. There was no sign of any Grasshopper Warblers unfortunately but I did manage distant views of a perched Osprey sat atop a tall wooden pole. A small brown bird in a bush turned out to be a Reed Bunting and a Grey Heron flew off to roost. A Willow Warbler was seen singing from the top of a large conifer. A few Carrion Crows drifted over heading south over the fields.
A pair of male Pheasants squared up to each other and a short squabble ensued before one bird increased the distance between the two and wandered off. We popped back into the hide for a short while where we managed to see a marsh harrier over the reeds and an Osprey popped in for a spot of fishing, before a Rook chased it off. A Common Gull was added to the list before we set off back towards Dundee. Walking home from the drop off point, I saw a few Herring Gulls, Woodpigeons, a Blackbird and a handful of Swifts. A really enjoyable day out of just short of twelve hours birding with 81 species seen including 3 year ticks (in bold).
Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dipper, Dunlin, Eider, Gadwall, Garden Warbler, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pochard, Red Grouse, Red Legged Partridge, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Wheatear, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Wood Sandpiper, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.