Having made it out birding on 7 of the previous 8 days, and in decent weather too, I was determined to make it 8 out of 9 on my last day before returning to work. With both the local RSPB and the ADBC having outings to the Angus glens on the same day, I had options of sorts. Unfortunately the ADBC outing wasn't tailored for non-drivers - it being nigh on impossible without an overnight stay in Edzell to make it to the town in time for the meeting time. Arranging a lift was only an option if I definitely wanted to go, and knew the previous day or before that was the case. Nat was going on the RSPB outing and was getting a lift from Darell Berthon who I've been birding with a few times in the past. Her pal, Liz, was also going. Nat suggested that Darell might have room if I wanted to go. With a few species still to see, that I could potentially get in the glens, it made sense to go along. Darell agreed to taking an extra passenger and a pick-up was arranged.
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| Pied Flycatcher |
I was out around 0835 in case Darell & co were early. Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Starling, Blackbird, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Feral Pigeon and Carrion Crow were all seen as I waited for them to arrive. Unfortunately, something cropped up and the pick-up time slipped back. However, the sun was shining so it wasn't any sort of chore to wait. Once they did arrive we set off up the A90. There weren't too many species seen en route, though with limited view from the unfamiliar back seat position, it wasn't too surprising. Buzzard, House Sparrow and House Martin being the only new ones.
We arrived in Edzell and I had a short wander around while we waited. A Blackcap proved elusive in the wood by the car park, with only glimpses of what was possibly the bird to be had. Rooks cawed loudly from the rookery. A Song Thrush and Blackbird hopped around on the grass. A Great Tit was in the trees. Swallows swept low over the grass beyond the increasing number of cars as both groups loitered and lingered. Jackdaws and Siskins flew over, as I chatted to a few birding friends from the other group. Once everyone had arrived we set off into the glens.
Our first stop, to look for Redstarts, produced Tree Pipit and Chaffinch. Oystercatchers and Pied Wagtail were seen on the ground in a large field while we looked for a calling Spotted Flycatcher. A pair of Long Tailed Tits foraged in a small tree at the edge of the field as the rest of the group wandered on. I managed to find a Common Sandpiper down on the river when I went exploring with Liz. A Red Kite flew over lazily flapping as it went. A Blue Tit was in the trees by the river and we eventually managed to find a Spotted Flycatcher at the top of a tree. No Redstart though.
Back to the cars we went and off we went further into the glen. The next stop gave us Pheasant, Red Legged Partridge, Lapwing and Curlew plus a very distant Buzzard pair. A Mallard pair flew past, Sand Martins zipped around and a Common Gull glided over. I was chatting to Keith Edwards at our next stop when he stopped and asked "was that a Pied Flycatcher?" before striding off in the direction of the distant calling bird. Having heard the species the previous day, I knew what to listen for and heard its next syllables, having not heard the call that had alerted Keith. Most of the group followed us over the fence and into the small copse of trees beyond. We had to cross a small boggy area but eventually the bird was found. I almost managed a photo of it perched on a fence but a loud shout from someone further over spooked it and it flew into the trees giving those at the back of the group better views than the rest. I eventually managed a few record shots of what was a good find for Angus by Keith and his very sharp hearing.
In addition to the Pied Flycatcher, a Willow Warbler, Lesser Redpolls and displaying Snipe were seen at this stop. A singing Mistle Thrush gave us another addition before we moved on again. A Red Grouse showed in heather by the side of the road, although it had somehow disappeared by the time we got out of the car for a better look. Meadow Pipits were seen here, a Raven was heard but not seen before we moved off once again. Coal Tits and Wren were added at the car park at the top end of the Glen before we had lunch. Afterwards we had a walk to search for Redstarts and Ring Ouzel. There were a lot of folk around so birds were relatively few. After some searching, Keith managed to find a Ring Ouzel on the hillside and lots of time was spent looking at it, and a second pair. I also found a Wheatear far up the slope, and spotted a drake Wigeon behind us.
I decided to head back ahead of the group to search for Whinchat and Redstart. I failed to find the former but did succeed with the latter eventually. There were also Siskins, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits in, and below, the trees. The others caught up with me and most of the group had decent views of a male Redstart. On the burn a Dipper and Grey Wagtail were seen. Robin and Goldcrest were seen as we neared the car park again. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen to be building a nest in a hole just a metre or so from the car, as we pulled out. Despite further stops on our way back down the Glen we failed to add Woodcock, Whinchat or Cuckoo to the list for the day. Darell suggested we head for Kinnordy, if no-one was in any rush to get home. As no-one was, we headed there.
The hide was relatively quiet when we arrived. There were plenty of birds around though. Osprey, Teal, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Mallards out on the water. The Barn Owl was particularly active in its box, as were the increasing numbers of Black Headed Gulls out on the bogbean. Greylags, Coot, Shoveler, Moorhen and Tufted Ducks all put in appearances out on the Loch. There were only a few Redshanks, with Lapwings and Oystercatchers on the islands. Reed Buntings were seen among the reeds while Sedge Warblers were only heard. We eventually managed to see the Marsh Harriers, with both taking to the air for short spells. A pair of distant swans turned out to be Whoopers, and a Grey Heron rounded off our list for the day before we headed for a home after an enjoyable day out.
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| Red Kite |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Lesser Redpoll |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Ring Ouzel |
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| Lapwing |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Redshank |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Whooper Swan |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Black Headed Gull & Grey Heron |
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| Barn Owl |
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| Lapwing |
65 species seen, though none new for the year-list. Species seen - Barn Owl, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Curlew, Dipper, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Red Grouse, Red Kite, Red Legged Partridge, Redshank, Redstart, Reed Bunting, Ring Ouzel, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Shoveler, Siskin, Snipe, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Teal, Tree Pipit, Tufted Duck, Wheatear, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
