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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Canada Goose |
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| Buzzard |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Buzzard |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Robin |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Goosander |
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| Fallow Deer |
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| Siskin |
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| Red Kite |
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| Mealy Redpoll |
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| Brown Hare |
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| Black Grouse |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Black Grouse |
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| Kestrel |
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| Hawfinch |
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| Hawfinch |
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| Hawfinch |
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| Chiffchaff |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Treecreeper |
Having had a really enjoyable day out two days earlier with my pal, Nat, I was looking forward to doing likewise with my birding buddy, Rhona. On the Saturday in between, Rhona had been at Dunkeld for a conference about Scottish Beavers. Rhona is heavily involved with the Beavers around Perthshire and the surrounding area. However, in addition to all the discussion about Beavers, Rhona was lucky enough to have a Nuthatch pointed out to her by another couple of delegates at the conference. Having seen the photos which Rhona had managed to get I knew where I wanted to go. After that, there was no actual plan so it would be similar to Friday in that there was no real plan.
Rhona picked me up just before half past eight and we set off for Dunkeld to see the Nuthatch at Dunkeld. I had an idea to try some of the back roads, as on a Sunday morning they should be rather quiet traffic-wise and give us a good chance of seeing plenty wildlife. Carrion Crow, Herring Gull and Feral Pigeon were on the list before we had reached the Kingsway. Lesser Black Backed Gull, Woodpigeon and Jackdaw following them onto the list as we headed out of Dundee towards our first brief stop at Piper Dam.
It was rather overcast and rather chilly so I decided to have a quick scan from the car to try and get the target bird here which was Canada Goose, and a number were immediately apparent as we pulled in to park. A Pied Wagtail landed on the ridge of the roof of the building by the car park as Rhona got out to get closer views of the Geese. A few Coots and Mallards wandered around on the grass along with a few Oystercatchers, and a Black Headed Gull landed nearby. Out on the water I could just make out some distant Goldeneye along with more Coots, Mallards and Canada Geese.
After this brief stop we headed back out from the car park, passing a male Blackbird bouncing around on the grass. A Blue Tit flew in to a tree in a garden below a singing Greenfinch. Through the trees I spotted a Buzzard perched precariously atop a smallish conifer and we stopped once again to get a few photos. One or two Starlings skimmed over as we headed back out to the main road again and headed onwards. Not much further on we saw our first Pheasant of the day. They wouldn't be the last.
We took a small narrow road out from Coupar Angus rather than the faster main road. I hoped that this would mean we might see some good birds with traffic being low early on a Sunday. A Collared Dove was seen on the edge of the village before we hit the countryside once again. We chanced upon a very busy garden of a roadside cottage which held House Sparrows and Chaffinches. Better than those however were the Bullfinch pair, and Rhona got out of the car to try and photograph them, the birds paying her little attention as they fed on buds. A Tree Sparrow popped up out of the hedge.
Slightly further on we managed to spy a Dunnock pair and a skulking Wren among the bushes. Great Tits and Blue Tits flitted around in the small roadside trees. Rooks and Jackdaws in quite large numbers as well as plentiful Pheasants and Woodpigeons could be see in the grassy fields pcking around. A Brown Hare ran off across a ploughed field as we stopped to try for a better view and a photo for Rhona. A few Common Gulls were also seen in the fields at a few spots along the way.
As we descended into Dunkeld, Rhona spotted a Jackdaw perched on a sheep but I missed the opportunity to get a photo of a scene I have hoped to capture for a while. Rhona offered to go back but I preferred to head for the hoped for Nuthatch. Oddly enough as we drove into the grounds of the Dunkeld Hilton there was a small group of Fallow Deer lying in the field over towards the trees, one of which had 2 Jackdaws perched on it, one on its head, however the photos were blurred so got deleted.
Having parked the car, Rhona pointed out where they had seen the Nuthatch the previous day. There was no sign of the bird, and it didn't seem to be calling either. It was going to require patience if we were to see the bird. Still, the weather had improved, with a bit of sunshine appearing. Siskins overflew high above the tree-tops. Twenty minutes of checking every bird only added Blackbird, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Chaffinch around the car park, with Black Headed Gulls and 2 Buzzards overhead.
Eventually a small bird flew in and perched at the top of a tree down by the river. The Nuthatch. I snapped a few photos and edged closer. The bird flew back across the car park to the tree it had favoured the day before. We managed to see it high up among the branches. It worked its way lower but never quite as low as it had been in Rhona's photos from the Saturday. Still, as it is a rare bird this far north in Scotland still, it was great to get any sort of photo. It was also naturally a year-tick for me.
A pair of Long Tailed Tits flew across the car park into trees behind Rhona's car. While looking for them I found a Coal Tit, and as I looked up I spotted three Goosanders whizzing over following the river. I got a few more Nuthatch photos and found a Robin also. We decided that we might as well pop into Loch of the Lowes just in case the Ospreys were back. I took a few photos of the Fallow Deer on the way out, as they are a species I haven't seen anywhere else.
Siskins were in the trees around the car park at Loch of the Lowes. At the feeders by the visitor centre, there were a mix of species - Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird and a few Mallards. We headed to the upstairs hide to scan out across the loch and surrounding area. I spotted a few Long tailed Tits in the trees just off to our right. Out on the water the only birds were very distant, mostly Mallards, Great Crested Grebe and Goldeneye. A Sparrowhawk shot through from the direction of the feeders, though with apparently empty talons.
A Woodpigeon flew across the loch, and a Wren foraged along in the small bushes and branches below the hide. Off in the distance towards the hills, I spotted a few raptors circling. These were mostly Buzzards, but I also found a Kestrel and a distant, but very distinctive Red Kite. A Carrion Crow overflew. Two Goldfinches flew in to the trees slightly to the north and a Water Rail 'sharmed' (- the pig squeal call) unseen from the reeds.
Rhona had headed in to the centre again to photograph the birds around the feeders and I chatted to the lady up on holiday from Wales (whose name I've forgotten - sorry! - but whose path I have crossed on facebook in the past). More scanning of the skyline found more raptors but I'm pretty sure they were the same as before, mostly Buzzards. We were joined in the hide by Eth Jessett who we had actually just mentioned. Talk about a coincidence. After a few minutes more conversation I said my goodbyes and headed in to see a Yellowhammer at the feeders that Rhona had texted me about.
Once the Yellowhammer was added to the list we discussed the possibilities for where to go next. Black Grouse was a bird that Rhona wanted to see, so knowing that others have photographed the species in the Amulree area somewhere, I suggested that we could head that way then down to Perth to Scone Palace to try for Hawfinches, another species that Rhona hoped to see. From the car park, we had views of Jackdaws and Woodpigeons and a small group of Redpolls flew in as I was chatting to Eth's husband, Paul. Mostly Lesser Redpoll as expected but one bird stood out as much paler and greyer - a Mealy Redpoll. An unexpected but very welcome addition.
We set off through Dunkeld and across the dual carriageway to take the road out to Amulree. The fields on either side held a nice varied selection of birds with some favoured by Jackdaws, others by Woodpigeons, a few Oystercatchers, the odd Starling or ten, and the first Curlews of the day. Lapwings were much in evidence, wheeling around on large rounded wings, dipping, swooping and soaring back up to repeat the act. There were a few gulls around, both Common and Black Headed.
Passing one such field I spotted a black shape just over the drystane dyke. Black Grouse! Thankfully the road behind us was clear and Rhona was able to stop. Unfortunately the window on my side of the car doesn't work. The two birds took off down the field and away from us before we could get any sort of photo. On the opposite side of the road, Rhona spotted seven Brown Hares together, chasing each other round - obviously there was at least one female among the crowd.
Rhona got a few photos though the Hares were a bit distant for her lens reach. We drove on again finding even more Black Grouse, much further down the next field, with some very half-hearted lekking going on. A Buzzard flew off from the trees behind them as I watched through binoculars. It was good to see the Black Grouse again, and in decent numbers also. Reaching Amulree I decided we may as well take a bit of a detour into Glen Quaich. A pair of Goosander were on the river.
We didn't need to go too far before we saw our first Red Grouse of the day. A Kestrel hovered over the heather a bit further away. I spotted two distant Greylags as a few Black Headed Gulls flew towards the loch. There were already plenty Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails flitting around by the roadsides. On the loch we could see more Canada Geese, more Greylags and Mallards. More Lapwings displayed over the fields, while others eyed the slow moving car with suspicion.
A few Starlings were around near the houses in the glen. Small groups of Jackdaw wandered around in the grassy fields picking at anything they could find. A single Mute Swan swam around near the northern end of the loch, and a few Canadas stood along the edges. A pair of Greylags waddled away from the car as we turned to head back down the glen and onwards to Perth. Another quick scan of the loch produced a Great Crested Grebe.
The birds on the way back out were similar to those seen on the way in, though we did manage closer views of Red Grouse. A single male Black Grouse was in among the long grass in an overgrown field of sorts. A Red Grouse was right at the corner of the road at the junction back onto the main road, but disappeared into the field and away before I had the chance of getting a photo (as it was on the 'wrong' side of the car for me.
We headed southwards through the Sma' Glen with few birds seen until we stopped for something to eat in a small lay-by by the river. Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Pied Wagtail were all in the trees here, with Woodpigeons and Jackdaws around a little further away. A Kestrel hunted high up near the hill-top. On our way again after 10 minutes or so we pushed on towards Perth, A Raven overflew, a few Mistle Thrushes and another couple of Red Grouses added to our total before we almost missed the turn-off towards Methven.
The roadside field here seemed to be alive with Meadow Pipits, all skulking around searching through the grass for food. In a boggy area on 'my' side of the car were a few Mallards sleeping. A pair of Mistle Thrushes flew out from the trees as we set off again. More Oystercatchers, Curlews and Lapwings were in the fields along this stretch of road as well, with plenty Woodpigeons and Jackdaws too. There were more Rooks in the fields along here too, with scattered Pheasants also.
As we passed through Methven we added Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon and more Jackdaws. A surprise as we drove towards Scone Palace was a Buzzard above the eastern side of the city, most likely from Kinnoull Hill. Lesser Black Backed Gull and Feral Pigeons were also seen. With the time already around 3 o'clock we only had an hour left to explore the grounds while trying to find Hawfinches for Rhona. As we drove in a Buzzard flew away across the grounds pursued by a few Jackdaws.
The Highland Cattle and especially the youngsters drew Rhona's atention as we got out of the car. Rather than waste any potential Hawfinch-hunting time I suggested we get the wee cute calves when we returned to the car park. My plan, such as it was, was to wander up the main driveway checking the trees for the birds. Light rain started to fall, which wasn't ideal, but it remained rather light. Pied Wagtail wandered around on the grass in front of the palace as we looked towards the tree-tops in hope and expectation. A few Feral Pigeons were on the roof.
Under the arch and down the driveway we looked and listened. A Robin sang quietly from a low branch, a Blackbird hopped around by the bushes and a Carrion Crow flew over. I could hear calling birds high in the trees that sounded very much like Hawfinches but just could not see them, until a small group of around half a dozen birds flew out from the trees and away from us. As the calling seemed to stop after this I think it was safe to say that we had seen Hawfinch, but not well enough for Rhona to claim. A little further on, more calling and then another flock flying out, around a dozen birds this time. A few Chaffinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits distracted us momentarily as we searched for the elusive big finches.
Unfortunately we struggled to find the flock again, despite checking the area in the corner of the grounds where I've seen the birds a few times. With time against us we headed back down the drive, listening and looking again. Just before we reached the archway I spotted what looked like a bird high in the top branches of a tall tree. Checking through binoculars I confirmed that it was indeed a Hawfinch. I managed to get Rhona on to the bird and she had her first decent views of a perched Hawfinch. We took a few photos then headed back to the car, stopping to get photos of the Highland Cows, with the wee one posing nearer to the fence than it had been when we arrived.
Having not seen Grey Wagtail yet, I suggested we try the pool by the side gate where I had seen the pair two days previously, so off we went. A Siskin overflew as we got out of the car, its call alerting us to its presence. An Oystercatcher called loudly a little to the north as it flew around and disappeared back over the trees. A Moorhen swam around on the pool, but there was no sign of the hoped for Grey Wagtails.
We wandered up the road a little to see if there was anything else of interest, finding Long Tailed Tits, Goldcrest and a Wren. A detour in the side entrance resulted in us hearing a Chiffchaff, and possibly a second bird. After a bit of searching we eventually managed a sighting of the bird as it flitted around in the trees. My first Chiffchaff of the year.
As we were about to get back into the car, things began to liven up somewhat. The Grey Wagtail pair flew in and landed on the mud on the opposite side of the water from us but still relatively close by. I spotted movement on a tree trunk as I searched for calling Long Tailed Tits, and there was a Treecreeper shuffling upwards. I managed to see the Long Tailed Tits and a Goldcrest as well among the branches of the same tree as the Treecreeper had been in. A Sparrowhawk appeared from nowhere and sped overhead in a fast shallow glide. Not a bad way to round things off.
Rhona had arranged to meet folk in Blairgowrie later to take them to see the Beavers on the Ericht, so she had a beaver pelt to collect from home before dropping me off at home and heading for Blairgowrie in plenty time. On the way we had a second sighting of a Buzzard above the city. Starlings, Oystercatcher and Jackdaw rounded things off as we headed back to Dundee after a really good day out.
58 species seen (year-ticks in bold) - Black Grouse, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Curlew, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Hawfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mealy Redpoll, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Red Grouse, Red Kite, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.