Having been out and about with Paul on Wednesday and Susan on Thursday it was Jacqui's turn on Friday for a trip out and about. The weather forecast for the morning was reasonable and we decided to try the Kilminning and Fife Ness area in the hope of some migrants on the move and then to try Guardbridge around lunchtime for the tide coming in, in the hope that we could see the Spotted Redshank which had been reported on Thursday at the Eden estuary. I arranged to meet Jacqui at Guardbridge around 0900, though I planned to head over slightly earlier in case the Spotted Redshank was visible.
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| Goosander |
I headed out at around 0745 kicking off the list for the day with Woodpigeon, Herring Gul and Feral Pigeon. A Blackbird was on the traffic roundabout at the Fife end of the roadbridge and Swallows, Rooks and Starlings were seen around St Michaels. Jackdaw was added in Leuchars. I had considered trying the small reservoir at Guardbridge next to the Motray but decided time was best spent around the hide instead. Jacqui messaged me just after I arrived at the hide to say she wouldn't be too long. The hide was open despite it being before 0900 so I headed inside.
Lapwings were plentiful and there were a good number of Redshanks also. A flock of Canada Geese flew up over the bridge and a Collared Dove flew across the river. There were Grey Herons around and also at least 3 Little Egrets. Scanning added Black Tailed Godwit, Black Headed Gull and Carrion Crow rather easily while at the feeders both Tree Sparrow and House parrow could be seen. Oystercatcher and Curlew were seen before I was joined firstly by a photographer and minutes later by Jacqui. Pied Wagtails and a local Kingfisher were next onto the list. Across the river one of the local Buzzards could be seen. Great Tit, Blue Tit and Greenfinch were seen on the feeders before we decided to head off to Crail.
A Rabbit scurried off as we left the hide and Meadow Pipits passed overhead. Goldfinches were added at the car park. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was a surprise sighting as we neared Boarhills. We popped into a rather quiet Denburn Wood for a few minutes but drew a blank though at least 1 Whimbrel was heard passing westwards overhead. Arriving at Kilminning we stopped to watch Goldfinches in the trees. More Meadow Pipits passed over as did a number of Swallows. A Red Admiral showed well. A Sparrowhawk was harassed by some of the Swallows and House Martins. Chaffinch and Willow Warbler were spotted and more butterflies too - Small White, Large White and Painted Lady.
My first Common Darter dragonflies of the year and a few Silver Y moths as well as a Udea lutealis moth and more Painted Lady, Red Admirals and Whites were noted as we checked round the top end for any sign of birds on the move but apart from a trio of Buzzards overhead there was nothing new to be added. We decided to head down to the hide for a spot of seawatching from Fife Ness, though the winds weren't promising, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Sandwich Terns, Gannets, Shags and Great Black Backed Gulls were all visible as we walked the short distance down to the hide. As expected things were rather quiet with Common Scoter, Red Throated Diver and an unexpected Peregrine out over the sea the best birds seen.
Fulmar, Ringed Plover, Eider, Linnet and Turnstone and a Isle of May ringed juvenile Great Black Backed Gull were the best of the rest before we set off back to Guardbridge. A Kestrel was seen hovering over the Fairmount golf course as we neared St Andrews. When we arrived back at Guardbridge we found the hide full so decided to scan from outside where things were quieter, alongside John Anderson. Inside it was busier with Doug Milne, Jed from Dundee and unexpectedly, Susan. Susan asked me to help her find the Spotted Redshank so I went inside to use her scope to attempt to find the bird among the few hundred Redshanks (and 2 Ruff) opposite.
Dougie Dickson managed to find the bird but I couldn't work out where he was meaning. There were plenty of false alarms before I finally did find what I was looking for, the
Spotted Redshank. Which then promptly tucked its beak under its wing and went to sleep, just as another group of Redshanks dropped in around it. In trying to stand up to let Susan see the bird I accidentally knocked the leg of the tripod and couldn't find where I'd been looking. This was frustrating for us both as I didn't have an idea where to aim for a photo, and Susan hadn't seen the bird. I tried again but Dougie Dickson managed to get on the bird again just before it took flight along with more Redshanks. Susan decided to head off and Jacqui decided to head home too.
Despite high tide still being a while away I decided to stay out to see if I could get a better view as the tide receded again. A rather heavy shower of rain passed through which when it abated enough a few more folk decided to head off. Although most of the birds were now quite distant I was able to add a few more species - Mallard, Teal, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Gull, Mute Swan, and Cormorant. Sandwich Terns hunted quite far up the estuary though never quite close enough to us. A couple of Goosander were found as the tide bgan to recede. A few Redshanks could be seen edging closer again while others flew off across towards the base. I decided to photograph these small groups in case the Spotted Redshank was among them, and it turned out that it was, though the distance and amount of birds on the move meant I didn't stop to check the photos until later. It turned out that I had photographed the Spotted Redshank in flight with 3 Redshanks quite early on.
Sand Martin was added and before everything had repositioned as the tide ebbed the local Buzzards caused some panic which meant that I found a Bar Tailed Godwit among the Curlews. Once the clouds broke and the sun came out the light was really good for seeing the waders. Ruff, Dunlin and Knot as well as Oystercatcher, Redshnaks aplenty and Curlews all took advantage of the freshly uncovered mud to feed. A Common Sandpiper flew in and a Grey Wagtail was spotted flying past. We were joined again by John Anderson who had been to Dundee for an hour or so, and around 1630 John picked up a distant Arctic Skua which was an unexpected bonus bird. As the time edged nearer to 1700 we all decided to call it a day and headed homewards.
A pretty decent day out with 64 species of bird seen including a year-tick (in bold) as well as 4 butterfly species, 1 dragonfly, 1 mammal and 2 moths. Hopefully the easterly winds will finally appear in a few weeks time when I'm off work again.
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| Black Tailed Godwit & Little Egret |
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| Red Admiral |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Sparrowhawk & Swallow |
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| Buzzard |
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| Small White |
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| Painted Lady |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Zebra Spider sp. |
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| Common Darter |
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| Common Scoter & Gannet |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Turnstone & Ringed Plover |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Great Black Backed Gull (yellow X-111) |
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| Ruff |
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| Spotted Redshank & Redshank |
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| Redshank & Spotted Redshank |
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| Buzzard |
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| Osprey |
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| Curlew |
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| Curlew |
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| Buzzard |
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| Curlew |
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| Common Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Redshank |
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| Goosander |
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| Teal |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Redshank & Spotted Redshank |
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| Redshank & Spotted Redshank |
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| Black Tailed Godwit |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Teal, Dunlin, & Redshank |
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| Little Egret |
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| Dunlin, Redshank & Knot |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Redshank & Black Tailed Godwit |
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| Buzzard |
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| Ringed Plover, Redshank, Dunlin & Knot (also Common Gull & Herring Gull) |
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| Arctic Skua |
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| Arctic Skua |
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| Arctic Skua |
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| Eider & Teal |
Species seen - Arctic Skua, Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Fulmar, Gannet, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Linnet, Little Egret, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Ringed Plover, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Ruff, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Sparrowhawk,
Spotted Redshank, Starling, Swallow, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Turnstone, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon.
Butterflies - Large White Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small White.
Dragonfly - Common Darter.
Mammal - Rabbit.
Moths - Silver Y, Udea Lutealis.
