Having missed out on the Curlew Sandpiper at Arbroath on Sunday afternoon, I decided to take my camera and binoculars to work with me on Monday and if the bird was reported I would catch a bus through to see it. I happened to mention this idea to Susan on Sunday night and a plan to try for it was hatched. I would meet Susan at our usual pick-up point after work, if the bird had been reported during the day. As Monday wore on there was no report showing on Rare Bird Alert though wet weather probably limited the amount of birders looking. Despite this we decided to try for it anyway.
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
I left work at 1600, noting a flyover Feral Pigeon on my way to the bus, then Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Herring Gull from the bus into town. I then caught a bus from the town to as near as I could to the pick-up point and we set off at around 1640, bound for Arbroath. The only addition from the car on the way was Black Headed Gull. As we neared Arbroath I checked my phone to see if there had been any reports of the bird since I last checked at 1600. It had been seen at 1550. Fingers were crossed.
Arriving at the car park by the cinema and pizza restaurant we jumped out the car and walked the few steps to the seawall and peered over. Below us was a small pool and there was the bird we were looking for, a rather nice young
Curlew Sandpiper. Susan had been out earlier in the day and had seen a Water Rail at The Wilderness which had taken her to 199 for her year-list. The Curlew Sandpiper was her number 200 and she'd reached the target she'd set herself earlier in the year. Mission accomplished.
We had great views of the bird as it foraged around the pool and preened. In addition to the Curlew Sandpiper we were able to add Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin and Jackdaw around the pool as well as Sandwich Tern, Curlew and Turnstone a little further away. Starlings dropped in, while offshore Eiders and Cormorant were seen. Mallards and Teal were by the water's edge and a Lesser Black Backed Gull was with more Black Headed Gulls and Herring Gulls. A Rock Pipit pair flew past and a few Pied Wagtails were spotted around the car park.
We headed along towards the harbour to have a quick look there. We added Kittiwake, Shag, Great Black Backed Gull, Common Tern and Arctic Tern there. A quick check along towards the cliffs was unsuccessful for giving us any further additions. We made a quick stop at Westhaven where Gannest offshore, Common Gull, Goosander, Grey Herons, Stock Doves, Guillemots, Razorbills and Fulmar were all noted. The local House Sparrows gave us one final addition before we headed for home. I was able to add some very high flying House Martins as I walked back home after Susan dropped me off.
A very successful case of "nothing ventured, nothing gained" with a total of 36 species seen, including the hoped for year-tick (in bold). The weather felt rather autumnal and my work attire did not do a great job of keeping me warm but seeing the bird made it all worthwhile.
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Dunlin |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Dunlin & Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Dunlin & Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Dunlin & Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Curlew Sandpiper & Oystercatcher |
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| Curlew Sandpiper |
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| Kittiwake & Sandwich Tern |
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| Kittiwake, Common Tern, Arctic Tern & Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
Species seen - Arctic Tern, Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Common Gull, Common Tern, Cormorant, Curlew,
Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Eider, Fulmar, Gannet, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kittiwake, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Razorbill, Redshank, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Turnstone, Woodpigeon.
