The weather forecast for Tuesday wasn't too promising with more strong westerlies and a chance of rain but I decided I should still make thfort to get out and attempt some birding regardless. I was unsure where to go and eventually settled on the Angus coast. I was going to head for Ferryden for a look offshore and then work my way back down the coast through the afternoon.
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| Rock Pipit |
I headed out at 1055, heading for the bus station. Herring Gull, Carrion Crow and Blackbird were seen near home then Blue Tit was seen on Dens Road. Feral Pigeon was added near the bus station. As I was about to cross the road at the bus station, I noticed there was a 73A bus at the stop. Rather than wait for a further 10 minutes I decided to jump on that bus and go to Arbroath first. Woodpigeon, Sparrowhawk, Jackdaw, Curlew, Rook and Collared Dove were all noted before the bus reached Elliot where I got off to walk along towards the cliffs.
The sea was rather rough and the wind rather strong, though not as strong as expected. Black Headed Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Turnstone were seen along a short stretch of beach but a wader I'd seen landing among the pebbles which appeared to have a white rump could not be relocated. Offshore a few juvenile Gannets, and more distant Cormorants were spotted over the waves. A Guillemot bobbed around among the large waves.
I walked along towards the cinema spotting a few Eider offshore. There were plenty of Black Headed Gulls among the waves at the edge of the rocky breakwater, as well as Turnstones and Starlings. A few more Redshanks picked around nearby. Rock Pipits and a few Pied Wagtails were also noted. A Common Gull showed among the Black Headed Gulls. I continued on along to check the wader roost but there were only a few Curlew and some Oystercatchers. Kittiwake and a Red Throated Diver were added, and a Razorbill was found among the waves.
A small group of Goldfinches and a Meadow Pipit were on the small area of seaweed in the nortwestern corner of the harbour area near the museum. A small flock of House Sparrows were in the bushes in front of the building. Cormorants and Great Black Backed Gulls milled around on the breakwater. I continued along towards Victoria Park after stopping for some not particularly good chips from a chip shop by the harbour. I found a wader roost on the only bit of sand not already underwater. Turnstones and Ringed Plover made up the majority of birds but at least 1 Dunlin, a few Redshanks and Oystercatchers as well as a Curlew were all seen though I didn't linger so as not to flush the birds.
Offshore a few Shags passed by as well as a second Red Throated Diver. There were plenty of Rock Pipits around near the path up to the cliffs. I ventured up to the rather exposed clifftops to see if there were any more birds passing than there appeared to be from sea level. There weren't. There were a number of Guillemots just offshore and another Red Throated Diver. A trickle of Shag, Cormorant and Gannets were noted before a surprise Velvet Scoter dropped in and swam towards a small group of birds already on the water. These were more Velvet Scoters and a couple of Common Scoters, neither common from here.
A Peregrine flew past in the direction of the town and a short while later a pair of Jackdaws harassed a Kestrel close by. A Grey Seal 'bottled' just offshore. Other than a few Feral Pigeons however there was little else to see, so I decided to head for home. The high tide was causing large waves to erupt over the seawall and I stopped for a few minutes in one of the wooden shelters to watch. It began to rain and as I was walking into the wind, I was getting a bit wet. I eventually made it to the bus station and caught a 73 for home. Passing Keptie Pond I was able to add Mallard, Coot and a roosting Grey Heron in a tree. A Magpie was one final addition as the bus passed through Monifieth.
Not the most exciting or productive day's birding with only 41 species seen though considering the conditions this was probably as much as could be expected.
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| Great Black Backed Gull & Herring Gull |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Gannet |
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| Common Gull |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Turnstone |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Cormorant |
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| Cormorant |
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| Cormorant & Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Turnstone & Dunlin |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Turnstone |
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| Curlew |
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| Redshank |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Redshank |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Guillemot |
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| Gannet |
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| Velvet Scoter |
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| Velvet Scoter |
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| Kestrel |
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| Kestrel & Jackdaw |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Gannet, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Razorbill, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Ringed Plover, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shag, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Turnstone, Velvet Scoter, Woodpigeon.
Mammal species - Grey Seal.
