I wasn't sure where I wanted to go on Sunday. I did consider an early start at Balgove Bay in the hope of seeing a Curlew Sandpiper, or a trip up to Lunan Bay to try and see a Sabine's Gull. The stumbling block of both scenarios was what to do afterwards. After contemplating possibilities for a few minutes I went back to sleep. Jacqui messaged me later in the morning and we decided to head for Easthaven, with half a plan to walk to Westhaven and Craigmill Den. There was a slim chance of picking up a year-tick but it was more than was likely if I stayed at home.
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| Peregrine |
I headed out at around 1145 to meet Jacqui at noon. Woodpigeon, House Martin, Lesser Black Bcaked Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon and Starling were all seen within the first minute of leaving home. A Small White butterfly flitted around on a street where food plants were minimal. Carrion Crow and Blue Tit were added before I met Jacqui. A Grey Heron was the only further addition on our drive to Easthaven.
We had a wander along to the east as far as the first small wooden bridge and then back along the beach to the car park. This gave us Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Black Headed Gull, Bar Tailed Godwit, Linnet, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Eider and Mallard. A Meadow Pipit flew over and Jacqui heard a young Sedge Warbler calling from a bush by the railway line and then managed to find the bird. We continued on along the track that runs parallel to the railway line and then behind the houses. Common Gull, House Sparrow and a Magpie were spotted before a Merlin sped past us before swinging round and dropping down behind the railway line. Teal was added to the list before we reached the Craigmill Burn mouth.
There were lots of gulls roosting out on the rocks and a pair of Fulmars glided along just offshore. Pied Wagtails were picking around in the seaweed. Jacqui had a possible Wheatear but didn't get a good view as it flew off. We crossed a narrow part of the burn to get a better angle on the gull roost and as I scanned through them all they took flight. The culprit was a young Peregrine which targetted a Snipe and gave chase, but ultimately missed out. It then hung in the wind above us before heading over the fields to the north before coming back round again to above us. A Painted Lady butterfly was on flowers at the edge of the beach. Gannets and Kittiwakes were spotted offshore before we crossed back over the burn to the level crossing.
The plan was to walk up Craigmill Den then back down again and along the cycle path to easthaven. Jacqui was feeling tired so we arranged for her to head back to the car and I would check the Den then meet her back at the car. Although things were relatively quiet I did still add a few more species on the walk up the Den. Yellowhammers, Great Tit, Stock Dove and Blackbird as well as Blue Tit, Goldfinches and Linnets were all seen. As we'd walked along the beach, I'd mentioned Peregrines in Arbroath to Jacqui so she suggested that we head there next, so when I arrived at the top end of the Den I realised that rather than waste 5 minutes walking back down the Den I could head out past the farm to the junction just up from Easthaven, saving us a few minutes.
I added Tree Sparrows, a Buzzard and a Red Admiral to the list as I walked along the road in the sunshine. The road was littered with lots of dead 7-spot Ladybirds, possibly as a result of hitting passing cars. I messaged Jacqui and waited a minute or so for her to drive up to pick me up en route. She had seen a Wheatear on the walk back as well as having further sight of the Merlin. We added Rook as we entered Arbroath and what looked like another Peregrine over the burn mouth at Elliot. I suggested stopping off by the cinema to check for Mediterranean Gull but as it was a rather busy, sunny Sunday afternoon, Jacqui decided against it. There was no sign of the Peregrines where I'd heard they'd been seen, so we headed out towards the cliffs.
We were able to add Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Turnstone on the beach as well as Jackdaw and Curlew. A few Swallows swept by. Jacqui wanted to check out Keptie Pond as she was unsure whether she'd been there before or not. This did give us a few more birds - Moorhen, Coot, Mute Swan and Tufted Duck, plus Black Headed Gulls and 5 Grey Herons (4 in trees on island) before we called it a day and headed for home. Checking Rare Bird Alert as we headed out along the dual carriageway I discovered that a Curlew Sandpiper had been seen in Arbroath a short while earlier. As luck would have it, it had been on the pebble beach behind the cinema. As we were now on the road away from Arbroath I would have to hope that it would linger in the area until I could get the chance to get back to Arbroath before I'd be able to add it to my year-list.
I ended the afternoon on a nice round 50 specie of birds plus 3 species of butterfly. Although it had been far from a classic afternoon's birding, it had been good to get out in the sunshine and the Merlin and Peregrine were good to see.
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Bar Tailed Godwit |
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| Sedge Warbler |
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| Peregrine & Snipe |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Starling |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Linnet |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Buzzard |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Dunlin |
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| Turnstone |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Terrapin |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron |
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Coot
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Species seen - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Fulmar, Gannet, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kittiwake, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Merlin, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sandwich Tern, Sedge Warbler, Snipe, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Turnstone, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies - Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small White.
