0527 : Targets For Today (10/5/18)

During Saturday's trip to the Tay reedbeds with Susan we had discussed the bare bones of a plan to get a few more birds for Susan's year-list (and my own - Cuckoo, in particular) with a visit to some of the upland areas in Perthshire and/or Angus. Between then and Thursday, Susan had provided me with a short list of species she was hoping to be able to see and I attempted to build a workable plan around them, taking into account the best places I know of to get the species along with a few other potential spots to mop up any we missed elsewhere.

Wood Warbler

For an 0830 start I headed out at 0815 to meet Susan. Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, House Sparrow and Carrion Crow were the birds seen on the 10 minute walk. Our first stop would be Killiecrankie for Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler, with an outside chance of Spotted Flycatcher, though I suspected it was still likely too early for many to be back, if any at all. Rather than going the fast way we would take a slightly more direct cross-country route, which though slower would be more 'birdy' and which might give us at least 1 of the day's targets.

Pheasant, Rook, Swallow, Jackdaw, House Martin and Blackbird along with a single Brown Hare were quickly added to the day's list, followed soon after by Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Linnet as we left the predominantly agricultural landscape behind. However, birds became even fewer with only a Curlew and more Meadow Pipits seen in an area that should have been more productive. A surprise was a single Sika Deer, which was new for us both, which ran off at speed when the car stopped. A Little Grebe on a roadside pool was another surprise, and a few Oystercatchers in a field were less of a surprise. Starling, Sand Martin and Robin were the final adds before we reached Killiecrankie.

The feeders at the visitor centre gave us close and repeated views of Nuthatch, as well as Great Tit, Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Coal Tit. We crossed the small wooden bridge to search for our target species but there was little birdsong to be heard. Eventually we heard a Wood Warbler singing. We managed to pinpoint where the sound was coming from and Susan spotted the bird before I did. Long Tailed Tit was added while we searched for a Pied Flycatcher. A Dipper was seen down on the river but despite our efforts we eventually had to admit defeat on Pied Flycatcher. Red Squirrels gave us decent views a couple of times before we headed back to the car.

We headed for a quick stop at Loch of the Lowes, hoping for Redstart nearby but had to make do with a Coot on another roadside pool and a flyover Mallard. The first Buzzard of the day was seen as we headed towards Blairgowrie. An Osprey was seen heading towards Loch of the Lowes a few miles further on. Song Thrush and Common Gull were added as we headed further eastwards. A big surprise was a sub-adult Golden Eagle that almost got dismissed as another Buzzard, seen when we made a stop at a likely looking spot for Cuckoo.

We found a flock of around 20 Ravens during a detour to another promising site for a few of our targets, with at least a couple showing apparent evidence of having been shot at. A few Lapwings were seen, along with a singing Willow Warbler. A Mistle Thrush landed in a field nearby. A Common Sandpiper and Wigeon were surprise additions and a pair of Red Legged Partridges flew past before we set off again having had a spot of lunch. Skylark was our next addition, as 1 flew up from a field as we passed.

We decided to pop into Loch of Kinnordy to see if the Wood Sandpipers were still around. If so, Susan would have a lifer. A Wheatear was seen en route. Greylags and Pink Footed Geese were seen on the Loch along with Shoveler and Mute Swan and a few other species we'd already seen. Among the feeding hirundines I found a few Swifts towards the eastern end of the Loch. A small wader took flight from the bogbean and gained height before flying off eastwards. Not an expected Redshank (though we did see 1), or even a Snipe, nor was it a Wood Sandpiper. It turned out to be an unexpected Dunlin.

We were joined by another Kinnordy regular who we mentioned Wood Sandpiper to, and who minutes later spotted 1, a lot closer than I'd seen them 2 days previously. A Grey Heron flew past. Mission accomplished, so we decided to try for Little Ringed Plover, another potential lifer for Susan, at the site I'd visited on Tuesday. Our luck was in, and we added Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Black Headed Gull and Gadwall here also. We still hadn't seen any of our actual targets other than Wood Warbler, so I suggested a quick visit to 1 of the Angus glens for Redstart, which was Susan's main priority and if we managed to see it quickly enough trying to pop into another glen for Black Grouse and maybe Whinchat also. It would mean a later finishing time than intended, but Susan agreed to giving it a go.

When we reached our first glen we watched a Red Kite circling over the road before we found a place I've had Redstart in the past. A quick spot of listening confirmed that there was 1 singing nearby. A pair of Treecreepers were seen as we walked along a track through a wooded area until Susan spotted a male Restart low in a tree ahead of us. Success, so off we headed for glen number 2. I was relatively confident we would get Black Grouse but less so that we would find Whinchat which can be very hit and miss. We added Rabbit to the mammal list as we entered the glen. I checked the wires for Cuckoo but saw none. On we drove, stopping to check birds on wires and to scan for distant grouse.

Meadow Pipits made up the majority of birds on the wires, but at 1, the expected Meadow Pipit turned out to be a male Whinchat, in an area of the glen I hadn't seen 1 before. A nice bonus. Just 2 minutes later I spotted a larger bird on wires - my target bird for the day, a Cuckoo. We seemed to be on a roll. We slowed down as we approached where I expected to find Black Grouse but there were none visible in their usual spot. We stopped to turn the car round to head for home, but I had a quick scan before we did so. Perched on a nearby drystane dyke was a male Black Grouse! Not only that, but Susan found another 2 that were invisible from much of the road.

Very happy with the success of the day's outing, though running a little behind schedule we headed for home. A Snipe flew past the car and dropped into a boggy area by a small burn as we passed. Another wire perched bird turned out to be a Stonechat male, and a female could be heard calling from the heather but she remained unseen. A male Red Grouse was spotted among the heather on a slope near the road. Susan dropped me off shortly after 1815 and I added 1 last species to the list on the walk home - Goldfinch, once again.

A very good day out, though the successes mostly came late in the day. Susan managed to see most of her targets, I got my year-tick (in bold) and Susan also got a couple of bonus lifers that weren't in the original plan. The Golden Eagle was a big surprise and though both of us had already seen the species elsewhere this year it was a highlight for us both. I ended the day with 68 species of bird seen, though just 1 year-tick. The Sika Deer was also a new mammal species for us both. All in all, a successful day's birding, even if I did take relatively few photos (and screwed up most of the Golden Eagle pics).
Nuthatch

Great Tit
Wood Warbler

Dipper

Red Squirrel

Buzzard

Golden Eagle

Buzzard

Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

Raven

Raven

Raven

Raven

Meadow Pipit

Wood Sandpiper

Cuckoo

Black Grouse

Species seen - Black Grouse, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Coot, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dipper, Dunlin, Gadwall, Golden Eagle, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Raven, Red Grouse, Red Kite, Red Legged Partridge, Redshank, Redstart, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Skylark, Snipe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Swallow, Swift, Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wheatear, Whinchat, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Wood Sandpiper, Wood Warbler, Woodpigeon.

Mammals seen - Brown Hare, Rabbit, Red Squirrel, Sika Deer.

0526 : Second Time Lucky? (9/5/18)

I was still trying to decide where to go birding on Wednesday at bedtime on Tuesday night before I eventually decided that I would once again try for the White Winged Scoter at Musselburgh. Being a weekday, the train fare would be more expensive but with a little luck I would gain a lifer. An early train would be required so an early start would be necessary. I hoped that the weather would be favourable, unlike on my previous visit.

Velvet Scoter

I was out the door at around 0625 to catch the 0655 train to Edinburgh Waverly. As the streets were still very quiet I was able to add a number of species straight away - Woodpigeon, Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Magpie and Feral Pigeon. Collared Dove was seen further down the road. Blue Tit and Blackbird were seen in the City Centre. There were no further additions until the train pulled out of the station. Lesser Black Backed Gull and Starling being spotted as the train trundled towards the rail bridge. A Cormorant flew down river as we crossed the Tay. House Sparrows were around the houses at the Wormit end of the bridge. Swallows hawked for insects over the fields before the train reached Leuchars.

Jackdaws and Stock Doves were seen around Guardbridge and an Oystercatcher was in a field outside Cupar. It was a while before anything else was added to the list with a number of Eiders seen close in to shore as the train followed the coast west. Great Black Backed Gull and a Rabbit were the final additions before the train reached Edinburgh. I didn't have long to wait for a bus to Musselburgh and I added a small flock of Mute Swans near Leith as they flew over southwards.

Arriving in Musselburgh I followed the river to the last footbridge. Mallards, Herring Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Canada Geese mingled along the banks and on the pebble islands. Curlews and Oystercatchers were seen at the river mouth, along with Eider and a single Goosander. I followed the seawall eastwards stopping to scan at various points. The river was relatively calm which made picking out the birds a lot easier. A pair of Sandwich Terns flew up the Forth, while a Skylark sung its way skywards from the ash lagoons behind me. Gannets, Common Scoters, Long Tailed Duck, Velvet Scoters and a Red Throated Diver close in to shore were all seen but there was nothing that looked particularly like the bird I was looking for.

A group of Tufted Ducks flew past and a Common Gull followed at a slower pace. A pair of Razorbill were picked out on the water before a Kestrel was seen hovering over the longer grass. A female Goldeneye was a slight surprise, though the first Shag of the day was less so. A few distant Kittiwakes were scoped but despite checking every single Velvet Scoter I could see I wasn't having any luck. It had also clouded over and the wind was starting to pick up making it a bit colder than ideal. I decided on a visit to the Scrapes.

Things appeared to be rather quiet with a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Shelduck on the first scrape but there was slightly more visible on the second and third. A small group of Dunlin and Ringed Plover (and a possible Little Ringed Plover) stood around on a small muddy island. Pied Wagtails, Reed Buntings and a Skylark picked around the edges. I was joined by a birder through from Paisley to search for the White Winged Scoter and as we chatted I spotted something yellow with the smaller birds. There had been a negative report of a Grey Headed Wagtail on Rare Bird Alert for early that morning, so I'd assumed the bird had moved on, but it was the rather nice Grey Headed Wagtail (the Thunbergi subspecies of Yellow Wagtail).

We watched it intently as it picked around the edges with the other birds, though the views were still rather distant. A local had joined us by this time and he was also rather pleased to see the Wagtail had re-appeared. The bird disappeared again for a few minutes but was spotted in front of a pair of Greylag Geese. Sand Martins and at least one House Martin attempted to catch some food over the pools. Pleased to have got the Grey Headed Wagtail (even if it didn't count as a year-tick owing to its subspecies status), I decided to try again for the White Winged Scoter. Goldfinch and a Pheasant were seen on the short walk round to the seawall again. Chifchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Long Tailed Tit were also heard but not actively hunted for.

It was to be another fruitless search for the White Winged Scoter however, with the odd sleeping bird giving false hope only to wake up and show itself to be just another Velvet Scoter. I did succeed in adding Guillemot and Black Headed Gull before deciding to call it quits and heading for the bus back to Edinburgh. A Grey Plover was added at the river mouth but that proved to be the final addition of the day with the bulk of the train journey spent checking photos just in acse I'd somehow overlooked the Scoter.

Not the most successful day out but the Grey Headed Wagtail made the journey worthwhile being my first subspecies other than the 'British' race - Flavissima. 52 species of bird were seen but no year-ticks. Just 1 mammal species was seen.

Goosander

Eider

Oystercatcher

Red Throated Diver

Gannet

Tufted Duck

Velvet Scoter

Velvet Scoter

Velvet Scoter

Gadwall

Kittiwake

Ringed Plover & Dunlin

Skylark, Grey Headed Wagtail & Pied Wagtail

Greylag Geese, Reed Bunting, Shelduck, Grey Headed Wagtail & Pied Wagtail

Dunlin & Ringed Plover

Grey Headed Wagtail & Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover & Grey Headed wagtail

Shelduck & Grey Headed Wagtail

Grey Headed Wagtail
Sandwich Tern

Eider

Eider

Eider

Grey Plover

Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Gadwall, Gannet, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Grey Plover, Greylag Goose, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Duck, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Razorbill, Red Throated Diver, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Feral Pigeon, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Shelduck, Skylark, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Tufted Duck, Velvet Scoter, Woodpigeon, Yellow Wagtail (Grey Headed/thunbergi).

Mammals seen - Rabbit.