STONEFACTION BIRDING: 05/18/15

0156 : Stars On Sunday (10/5/15)

While leading the guided walk at Riverside Nature Park on Saturday morning, I received a text message via the Angus & Dundee Bird Club Grapevine service saying that there were Dotterel in a field near Kirriemuir. Although it was possible to attempt to see the birds later via the bus, it would also mean a bit of a walk as well. I decided against attempting it as there were no guarantees the birds would stick around.

Golden Plover & Dotterel

I messaged Nat who had asked me to keep her informed of any 'good stuff' around. Unfortunately she had a prior arrangement and would be tied up for the rest of the day. However, that evening she messaged me to see if I had made any arrangements for Sunday to try and see the birds. I told her I had considered the bus but a rather wet weather forecast was making it less than ideal conditions for a walk in the open countryside where there would be no shelter. Nat said she was free but only for the morning as she had things needing done in the afternoon but an early start would maximise our chances of seeing the birds if they were still around.

So, Sunday morning I was up bright and early and Nat picked me up at 8am. It was grey and raining and not particularly great weather for birding. Herring Gull, Starling, Carrion Crow, Blackbird and Woodpigeon got the day list started as we headed out of Dundee. Taking the back road towards Glamis first we began to pick up more species in the roadside fields - swallow, Black Headed Gull, Red Legged Partridge, Oystercatcher and Pheasant. Robin and Jackdaw also joined the growing number before we arrived at what we hoped was the correct field. It was, but there was no sign of any life, except a Skylark.

We scanned and scanned then moved along the road to see if the birds were perhaps hidden in a dip in the field. Stock Dove and Linnet were both added but we eventually decided to head to Kinnordy in the hope that if by some stroke of good fortune the birds were re-found we would at least be nearby. Lapwings, Jackdaws and Rooks were in the fields opposite the reserve along with some Woodpigeon.

With the rain still falling the view from the hide was rather gloomy but at least it was dry inside. Along with the Black Headed Gulls, Oystercatchers and Lapwings on the bogbean islands, we could see Mallard, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Moorhen and Coot distributed around on the water in ones and twos. Sand Martins and Swallows skimmed low over the water, and a drake Wigeon was feeding on the vegetation near the hide.

I spotted a female Sparrowhawk low over the reeds at the back of the reserve but lost sight of it behind some small trees. A minute or so I saw it again, but couldn't direct Nat to see the bird before it vanished again. A drake Teal was spotted and we almost missed the male Marsh Harrier as it headed west out over the loch before it flew up and over the trees and off to the south. A Greylag noisily flew in and landed off to the left. More scanning added Redshank to the list. The nesting Black Headed Gulls took great exception to the Mute Swans trying to sail past the bogbean islands and swooped at them until they had passed into open water again.

We were joined in the hide by two Dundee birders, Graham and Keith, who told us they had just found 3 Dotterel and 3 Golden Plover in a different field west of where they had been the day before. This wasn't just a stroke of luck, but two strokes of luck, as Golden Plover would also be a year-tick if we managed to see the birds. We gratefully received precise directions from the pair and set off to try again.

It was still raining but we parked the car in a small lay-by and scanned across the field where Graham and Keith had seen the birds. It was quite a large field and the birds were quite well camouflaged but Nat found the birds. Dotterel and Golden Plover, both year-ticks for me, and new species for Nat too. They were rather distant but we took photos anyway. We watched them for a while until they flew a little closer, giving us better views and marginally better photo opportunities.

With around an hour and a half or so of birding time available before Nat had to be back down the road we decided to check out the Backwater Reservoir area in the hope of Cuckoo. Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Mistle Thrush were seen on the way there with Common Gull and Cormorant perched on the structure which sits out on the water near the dam. Unfortunately there was little to be seen, except Chaffinches, Meadow Pipits and Mistle Thrushes until we crossed back over the dam where a Common Sandpiper was added. Blue Tit, Curlew and Reed Bunting rounded off the Backwater detour birds.

With the rain still coming down heavily, Nat phoned her friend to see whether they should cancel their outdoor plans for the afternoon and after some discussion they decided to do so. This meant we had some more birding time available, so we headed back to the hide at Kinnordy. Although it wasn't exactly teeming with birds there was still plenty to see. Grey Heron was added as one flew over the back of the reserve. A House Martin appeared among the Sand Martins and Swallows. A Wren sang loudly from low in the reeds and a Sedge warbler eventually showed near where the Wren had been a few minutes later, having sang unseen earlier.

Two male Blackcaps sang from one of the trees hanging over the reed off to the right and they were joined by another new species for the day in the shape of a Great Tit. A Lesser Black Backed Gull drifted by. Above the stand of pines off to the west I spotted a bird in flight swopping down with rather fluttery wing-beats. It reminded me at first of a Swift, but I instantly knew it wasn't, though it did take me a few seconds to realise just what it was. A Snipe 'drumming'. Though we couldn't hear the distinctive sound, the action was distinctive enough to be certain that it was indeed a Snipe we were watching.

After discussing whether or not to check out the Swamp Hide we headed back to the car for another look at the Dotterel and Golden Plover as the light was improving a bit. After another bit of effort we found the birds again in a different part of the field, and nearer the road than earlier. We were joined by a couple from Aberdeen who had been in the hide, just as a small group of the birds took flight and headed east. Thankfully this was just the 6 Golden Plovers. The 3 Dotterel had stayed put, and we managed to get the couple onto the birds.

A bit more scanning behind us resulted in Skylark and Wheatear being found by the couple and a few Yellowhammers being seen near the top end of the field. We suggested a few small detours for decent birds to the couple before they set off back to the northeast. The Golden Plovers returned just as we were packing up and another car showed up with another pair of birders who were delighted to find the Dotterel still asleep, with a Brown Hare, previously un-noticed resting nearby.

A successful trip despite the weather resulting in 2 year-ticks for me (in bold), and two lifers for Nat and a rather surprising 51 species in total.

Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dotterel, Golden Plover, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Legged Partridge, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Rook, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Skylark, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Tufted Duck, Wheatear, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.