With a couple of days off work, my intention was to get out birding. On Wednesday, while out with Paul news came in about the Great White Egret having been re-found near Rossie Bog in Fife. Paul wasn't certain he'd be able to get out and about but we made provisional plans to try for it if he was able to. An email later confirmed he was able to go for it and plans were made for me to meet him at Ladybank around 0900. However, the TravelineScotland app gave me a time of 0800 for the bus to Ladybank, but when I arrived at the bus station at 0756 I discovered the bus had left. The 0800 time was only during school holidays - which supposes that everyone will know when school holidays are. Either way I had another hour to wait or I had to give up on that particular option. I did the latter and messaged Paul to let him know.
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| Mute Swan |
I had headed out at 0740 initially but only managed to see Herring Gull on my way to the bus station having caught the bus into town and then walked through the City Centre. I headed home having missed the bus adding Blackbird and Blue Tit, though it was a brief stop at home before I had to be out the door again to catch the bus to Kirriemuir to spend the day at Loch of Kinnordy, where I hoped to see Bittern and Green Woodpecker, though luck would play a huge part. On the way to the bus I added Feral Pigeon and Carrion Crow.
Once underway I was able to add a Black Headed Gull at Morgan Academy and a Magpie at the Kingsway junction. Jackdaws, Starlings and Woodpigeon were seen in Forfar. I arrived in Kirriemuir to hopefully make it to the East Hide before a likely shower of rain arrived. Things were rather quiet along the path though a pair of Bullfinches were a nice start. Further on a pair of Buzzards called from above the trees, drifting in the strong wind. I spooked a Buzzard with a Woodpigeon kill and it flew off low through the trees. A pair of Roe Deer ran off through the trees when they spotted me. At my first view over the eastern end of the Loch I added Wigeon to the list, and Great Tit was seen as I headed into the empty hide.
It wasn't particularly warm with the wind coming from a northerly direction but I scanned out over the water to see what I could find. Goldeneyes were not too far out in the loch with Mute Swans further over and a small group of Whooper Swans tucked in half-hidden by reeds across the far side. A few Teal could be seen and some Tufted Ducks drifted into view. A quick count of Common Gulls on the water gave a total of 63. A pair of Mallards flew in and the Barn Owl was showing well at the owl box hole. Goosander and Greylag were added followed soon after by Rook and Grey Heron. A Peregrine appeared and went into a shallow stoop and fast run just above the reeds.
With nothing else added over the course of the next hour I headed along to the Gullery Hide. Robin, Chaffinch, Coal Tit and Redwings were seen on the wander along the path. Things weren't much better in this hide with the wind rocking the hide a few times and the icy blasts coming straight across the Loch and into the hide. It wasn't hard to see why I was the only person who'd thought Kinnordy was a good idea on such a windy and cold day with sporadic showers. I did manage to add Lapwing and Coot to the list for the day, and even spotted a Kestrel hunting over the field edges off to the northwest. An Oystercatcher flew in to land among the Lapwings. A Great Black Backed Gull flew past. I was joined in the hide by Doug Milne. A Sparrowhawk flew past the hide at speed. Doug headed off to try for the Green Sandpipers we'd found the day before at Murton at around 1330 so I wandered along to the Swamp Hide for a quick look.
A Song Thrush was seen feeding in the hedge but there was nothing to add at the hide so I headed back to the Gullery Hide. Another birder popped in but the birding failed to pick up with just more of the same, though watching a distant Buzzard almost in the water, feeding on something did at least draw attention away from the waterfowl for a while. One of my brothers lives in Kirriemuir and had invited me to pop in for a visit when I was in the area. With another hour of freezing in the hide before he'd be home from work or the 30 minute walk to the bus and homewards to choose from, the thought of some heat on the bus won out. I did actually manage to add a Moorhen feeding at the edge of the fields on the walk back, taking the list for the day to a round 40 species of bird (and 1 mammal).
Not the greatest of days out but was better than wasting a day sat at home. Paul didn't manage to see the Great White Egret on Thursday anyway - though he did find it roosting in a tree on Friday, so the change of plan wasn't too big a disappointment.
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| Common Gull |
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| Rook & Jackdaw |
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| Tufted Duck |
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| Barn Owl |
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| Greylag Goose |
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| Buzzard |
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| Lapwing |
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| Goosander |
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| Goosander |
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| Kestrel |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Redwing |
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| Buzzard |
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| Mallard |
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| Mallard |
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| Coot |
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| Buzzard |
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| Greylag Goose |
Species seen - Barn Owl, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Coot, Goldeneye, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lapwing, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Redwing, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Teal, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Woodpigeon.
