With the Ring Necked Duck which we managed to see back in late November in Pitlochry still hanging around, myself and Nat had been hoping to get back up there to add the bird to the 2016 year-list. However bad weather and other good birds closer to home had conspired to mean we hadn't yet made it up the A9. A Mandarin drake had also apparently put in an appearance on the same pond, The Cuilc, which would also be a nice bonus bird. With Nuthatch now seemingly a regular sight just a few miles outside Pitlochry at Killiecrankie we could hope to add a third species if we were lucky. With the weather forecast being reasonable we decided to go for it on our mid-week outing.
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| Nuthatch | | |
Carrion Crow and Herring Gull got the list started before I got into Nat's car. Starling and Feral Pigeon joined them on the list before we stopped for fuel at Tesco Kingsway. Rather than the boring route via Perth and the A9 we headed cross-country to Dunkeld hoping that we might see a few more species along the way. Pheasants were the first, followed by Jackdaws then Woodpigeons and a number of Common Gulls in a field by the road. A possible Little Grebe and a few Goldeneye were on the first loch we passed, with a small flock of
Canada Geese at the next one - my first of the year. We eventually spotted Mallards a bit further on. We had a pair of Fallow Deer in the trees near Dunkeld and a Red Squirrel left crossing the road a little late requiring a spot of urgent braking.
Arriving at Killiecrankie car park we watched Great Tits and Blue Tits flit around in the car park before walking along to check the feeders at the visitor centre. We managed to add 4 new species around the feeders - Chaffinches, Coal Tit, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Dunnock below. We then walked down the steps and across the bridge and up the other side. I spotted a pair of Jays fly up through the trees ahead of us. We watched them for a few minutes before walking the short distance to the viewpoint overlooking the river. There was no sign of any Dippers or Grey Wagtails down on the river.
As I scanned downwards, Nat was searching the trees around us and soon found a
Nuthatch in the trees beside us. We had decent views though we were looking into the sun. Thankfully the bird flew into the trees on the other side giving us slightly better views before it flew off deeper into the wood. We then found a Treecreeper picking along a mossy branch giving us pretty good views. We walked back in the direction of the visitor centre before cutting off into the trees to our left. We were soon rewarded with the sight of not one but two Nuthatches chasing around up in the treetops. One eventually settled nearby, and we watched it feeding and calling in good light, with the sun shining through the branches and a blue sky behind the bird. Mission accomplished - part 1.
At the car park we watched a large gathering of Rooks circling up together high above, with more birds joining them from all directions. Jackdaws soon joined in before we lost sight of the flock when it disappeared behind the trees that blocked our line of sight. We headed back into Pitlochry to see if we could find the second main target bird, and the 3rd for my year-list for the day. Another birder was getting out of his car as we arrived. He went in one direction while we walked to the open area at the road junction. Mute Swans, Mallards and Tufted Ducks were all visible. Among them, but on its own was the
Ring Necked Duck, showing very well. We were joined by the other birder who was visiting from Edinburgh and pointed out the bird to him.
The bird didn't come any closer and there was no sign of any Mandarin drake though I found a Moorhen across the far side of the pond. We decided to head to Loch of the Lowes to have our lunch and see if we could see Red Kites above the hills. A pair of Grey Herons were stood in a field by the A9 near Ballinluig and a Buzzard was in another. We sat in the car and ate lunch watching the birds nearby. A Robin and a Yellowhammer dropped down to a puddle to drink, while a Chaffinch had a bath. Coal Tits flitted through the trees next to the car.
We headed into the elevated hide and scanned out over the loch. I found a Moorhen and a Little Grebe near the reeds as well as a pair of Mallards further round. Scanning along the ridges to the north I found a few raptors which appeared to be mostly Buzzards. A flock of Wigeon appeared out on the loch much closer than some Goldeneye which were closer to the far end of the loch. A few more raptors were seen but it was tricky to be sure what they were though Buzzards did seem most likely. With the time around 1300 we decided to head towards Amulree in the hope of seeing Black Grouse.
The road was pretty quiet so we were able to take our time. We found a flock of Lapwings in a field with some cattle. A few miles further on I noticed a single male
Black Grouse stood just inside a field, but Nat couldn't see it from her side of the car. She put on the hazard lights and stepped out for a look. It turned out that there were actually a trio of the birds and they flew off in different directions. Yet another successful search. A bit further on we saw 2 Brown Hares on a small slope in a field. A flock of Starlings shared another field with Redwings, Fieldfares and Mistle Thrush. We turned into Glen Quaich to search for Red Grouse but there was still a bit of snow on the road so having reached the end of the stretch most likely to hold the birds in the heather, we turned back.
At the southern end of the Sma' Glen I've seen
Red Kites before so I suggested that we head back towards Dundee that way, heading east towards Luncarty then home via Perth. With time still on our side that was what we did. There was nothing to see until we reached the turn-off for Luncarty. No sign of any Red Kites but a pair of Ravens were perched up in a tree. We drove eastwards adding a Sparrowhawk which crossed the road in front of us, swooping up into a tree. A pair of Moorhens crossing the road a bit further on was a surprise though it turned out there was a small burn flowing from below the road and under the roadside hedge.
Nat spotted a raptor to the north of the road gliding above the fields. When she stopped the car, trees blocked the view. However I could just about see the bird through the branches so I kept tracking the bird and got a few photos when it appeared back in the open, showing it to be a Red Kite. Yet another successful hunt and the 5th year-tick of the day for me. A few Blackbirds and a Jay were seen as we neared the Luncarty flyover. While crossing the Tay in Perth and stopped at traffic lights, Nat spotted a bird downriver. A quick check and we had a Goosander for the day list. Black Headed Gull was added on the Kingsway when we got back to Dundee.
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| Jay |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Treecreeper |
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| Nuthatch |
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| Ring Necked Duck and Tufted Ducks |
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| Ring Necked Duck |
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| Ring Necked Duck and Tufted Duck |
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| Ring Necked Duck |
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| Ring Necked Duck |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Raven |
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| Red Kite |
Another really successful day out with 5 new year-ticks (in bold) among the total of 42 species. It was quality rather than quantity though.
Species seen -
Black Grouse, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard,
Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Goldeneye, Goosander, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Little Grebe, Mallard, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan,
Nuthatch, Pheasant, Raven,
Red Kite, Redwing,
Ring Necked Duck, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.
