With Nat otherwise engaged, my Wednesday outing was again to be under my own steam. However, the weather forecast wasn't promising for an early start so the snooze button got more than a few extra presses before I went back to sleep again. It was a good bit later than intended when I did get up, so I decided that as it wasn't raining I should get out somewhere. I decided that the hide at Guardbridge would, in theory, give me a chance at Little Egret and White Tailed Eagle, so having consulted the rather confusing temporary bus timetable I found that I was looking at a bus trip to Leuchars and a walk from the station or the longer journey round via Balmullo to get to Guardbridge. Either option would mean at least a 30 minute journey. With high tide forecast for mid-afternoon I would hopefully catch the waders being pushed closer in opposite the hide, and then I would go exploring around the village.
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| Fulmar |
It was after 1130 when I headed out to catch the bus into town. Blacbird, Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull were seen in the few minutes I had to wait for a bus. Woodpigeon was added as I walked down past the Wellgate to the bus station. I decided not to get the X99 bus as I thought the 42A would give me the option of seeing a few birds as I walked down from Leuchars station. I almost didn't notice the 42A sitting a minute or so after the direct bus had left but hurried along to get on. A Carrion Crow called as it flew over. The driver of the bus was struggling to get his ticket machine set up. Unfortunately it turned out that the bus didn't go to Guardbridge or Leuchars Station and that I would have to take the circuitous route to get off at the southern end of the village by the bridge on the Cupar to St Andrews Road. Precisely why I hadn't got on the X99.
Ah well, too late. However, the driver disappeared off for help to sort out his ticket machine problems. 10 minutes later we still hadn't moved. I was beginning to wonder how far the tide would be in when we eventually did make it to Guardbridge. Another few minutes and we were eventually on our way. There were Cormorants on what was left above water of Submarine Rock. A few Starlings were seen in Balmullo and a trio of Buzzards were circling above the fields as we turned onto the St Andrews road. I intended getting off at the bus stop on the far side of the bridge over the Eden so I chose not to ring the bell too early. This turned out to be a wise move as the tide was already well in. I chose to stay on the bus and head to St Andrews instead.
There were a few Oystercatchers on the grass of the playing fields as we arrived in St Andrews. I walked down to the golf museum car park. There were plenty Fulmars on the cliffs as well as flying around. I sat down by the sea wall with the tide already lapping against the rocks just below me. Scanning offshore I couldn't see too many birds among the waves. Eventually I spotted a small group of Scaup and just beyond those a handful of Common Scoter. A Rock Pipit picked around on what was left of the beach, while a Rook stood expectantly near someone sat on a bench, hoping for a hand-out. I walked up to photograph the Fulmars near the restaurant down from the Sealife Centre. I took a few then walked along The Scores to see if I could see anything else from nearer the harbour.
A rather tame Woodpigeon wandered around on the path near the top of the hill, and a few Feral Pigeons were seen on the buildings as I walked along the street. I heard Blue Tits from the trees but couldn't see them among the branches. As I passed the castle I heard a Redshank calling and watched it fly in to a wader roost on a bit of wall at the base of the cliffs. Better views further round added more Redshanks, Turnstones and at least 20 Purple Sandpipers. Well out in the bay I found a string of Eiders. A group of 4 Curlews flew by, with some Oystercatchers following minutes later.
I took a few photos of the Fulmars gliding past the cliffs before heading downhill to walk out along the harbour wall. An immature Herring Gull stood near the start and a pair of fresh looking Feral Pigeons posed nicely for a photo. Reaching the end of the breakwater, I found only a single drake Eider out on the water, despite plenty scanning. There were a few Herring Gulls off the East Sands but no Divers or Long tailed Ducks. Walking back I stopped to scan and did manage to find a
Razorbill just beyond some Eiders. A year-tick for me.
I headed back up the hill to take more photos of the Fulmars as they glided by, as well as a few Herring Gulls. I was reasonably successful when I resorted to using the lens at the 150mm end rather than at full zoom of 600mm. A pair of ducks splashed down below the cliffs. A quick check showed them to be Mallards. A Pied Wagtail flitted around nearby before flying off. My fingers started to feel the cold so I decided to pay a visit to some of the second-hand bookshops and charity shops to see if I could find any bird books that I didn't already own. I did end up buying 3 in a charity shop before finding a brilliant book shop that I didn't know existed. They actually had a full selection of bird books including Helm fieldguides, Poyser and New Naturalist titles among others. I may well pop in there again for new books rather than wait on Amazon if I'm in the area. In fact there were a couple of books that I might have bought if I'd had enough money with me anyway, but instead I headed for the bus back to Dundee adding Goldfinch, Jackdaw and House Sparrow on my walk.
From the bus there were a few more birds seen including a flock of Mute Swans feeding in one of the roadside fields near Balgove Bay. Woodpigeons, Carrion Crows and Buzzards were also noted before the last addition to the day's list was glimpsed as we passed Drumoig - a male Pheasant that I almost missed, just happening to look up and see it as we passed. Not a vintage day out though I did get some nice Fulmar photos and a year-tick (in bold) among the low total of only 28 species.
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| Scaup |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Redshank, Turnstone & Purple Sandpiper |
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| Redshank, Turnstone & Purple Sandpiper |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Eider |
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| Feral Pigeon |
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| Razorbill |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
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| Fulmar |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Curlew, Eider, Fulmar, Goldfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Purple Sandpiper,
Razorbill, Redshank, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Scaup, Starling, Turnstone, Woodpigeon.
