A little longer in bed than intended meant that there was a strong possibility of getting wet at some point during the afternoon's birding. With this consideration in mind I had to choose somewhere where there was a chance of some decent migrants and some shelter if the rain did start. That limited the options rather a lot, and with a heavy shower due to pass through between 1400 and 1500 at least, I chose to visit the Angus Coast between Carnoustie and Easthaven. The plan was to make a rough figure of eight from Westhaven along the beach, then across the Craigmill Burn and the railway line, up and down Craigmill Den then along to Easthaven checking the fields for buntings and finches on the way, then after checking the bushes etc around the village, back along the beach, across the railway line again and along the road to catch a bus, either back home or further along the coast to Arbroath and beyond.
 |
| Linnets |
I headed out at around 1040 to catch the number 73 to Carnoustie. A Blue Tit, a House Saprrow and a Herring Gull started the day's list off with a Magpie seen flying over between the rooftops as I walked on. Feral Pigeons and Carrion Crow were next before I reached the bus stop. A seat upstairs on the bus gave me a forward view though the side windows were rather steamed up, limiting the view. I still managed to add a few species along the way - Black Headed Gulls, Woodpigeons, Starlings and Rook, before I arrived at the east end of Carnoustie.
There were Skylarks following the coast as I wandered through Westhaven towards the beach. A Blackbird flew across the road in front of me. I heard Goldcrests from a small tree in a garden but chose not to try to see them, suspecting I would probably not struggle to find them later on. Reaching the beach I could see gulls out on the rocks, and a handful of waders - Curlews, Oystercatchers and a Bar Tailed Godwit. A couple of Great Black Backed Gulls were on the wooden poles just offshore. A couple of Redshanks flew off further out onto the rocks.
I spotted a Grey Heron flying off eastwards, and a Cormorant flying off along the shoreline. More Skylarks and Starlings lifted from the fields as I walked along the beach. A Dunlin was spotted as it alarm called and sped off low over the rocks. A Pied Wagtail was on the beach ahead of me. There was a small flock of Goldfinches feeding on the seedheads along the edge of the field where it bordered the beach. I wandered along the edge of the stubble field, putting up a single Meadow Pipit. A flock of Lapwings flew west just offshore as I reached the burn mouth. There were a few Common Gulls among the roost but the water levels in the burn proved to be too high to make it all the way across. Instead I had to double back and cross the railway line at a level crossing.
I took a detour up the western side of the Panbride House buildings and scanned the site from outside. It appeared to be derelict and a decent place for birds, hopefully including some migrants newly arrived. I took my time. The first Goldcrests showed well in a tree by the corner. A Song Thrush flew off a bit further on. There were a few Blue Tits flying down to the stubble and back into the trees. A Coal Tit showed just above me, and a Robin was spotted in the trees. I could hear Tree Sparrows but failed to spot them. A few more sightings of Goldcrests followed before I doubled back to head back to the main road and along to Craigmill Den.
Things were quiet except for a few Rooks and Jackdaws overhead. The wires ahead were full of Linnets - at least 120, as well as a Yellowhammer and a Goldfinch. There were Tree Sparrows, Linnets, Blackbirds, a Blackcap and Goldfinches in the vegetation below the wires and I took my time scanning ahead as I went. As is usually the case, the stealth approach was rendered pointless by a dog running along the track ahead of the dog-walkers. Off went the birds. A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in and landed on the telegraph pole near the top end but flew off again when it spotted me. With Siberian Accentors seemingly flooding into Western Europe in unprecedented numbers, including the first 3 for the UK, I daydreamed about finding one hiding in the Den. An Accentor popped up in the weeds ahead of me. A Dunnock. Ah well.
I found a pair of male Blackcaps in a tree across the burn and walking back down the Den, I spotted a Treecreeper in the trees across the far bank as I was watching yet another Goldcrest hunting the leaves of a sycamore for insects. The Treecreeper looked huge compared to the Goldcrest despite its own diminutive size. A Song Thrush flew off from the gorse bushes opposite and there were still a few Skylarks passing over. A young (or female) Blackcap was seen just before I reached the mature trees at the bottom end. My plans had to be abandoned as the forecast rain began to fall. I hurried along to Westhaven where I found temporary shelter in a bus shelter, which unfortunately was open to the wind, meaning I was getting wet from the waist down. Eventually I checked the bus times and decided heading for home was a better bet, and got wetter walking back to the first bus shelter in Carnoustie for a 15 minute wait then home.
No year-ticks among the rather low total of 37 species, and very few photos taken, but it did mean I'd managed to get out birding on all 9 days since coming off on holiday for the week. I had managed to see 97 species in the 9 days but only 2 year ticks (Yellow Browed Warbler & Pomarine Skua), though there was the possible Pallas' Warbler and maybe an Arctic Redpoll that 'got away'. For weather conditions that seemed so promising, it was a disappointing haul, especially given the birds turning up almost everywhere else along the east coast. Still, I did manage to get some nice photos, and it was certainly more enjoyable than being at work.....
 |
| Grey Heron |
 |
| Skylark |
 |
| Pied Wagtail |
 |
| Linnet |
 |
| Yellowhamer |
 |
| Linnets & Goldfinch |
 |
| Skylark |
 |
| Dunnock |
 |
| Song Thrush |
 |
| Blackcap |
Species seen - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Linnet, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.
