I haven't been in the best frame of mind this week, though a trip to the cinema last night with a friend did pick me up a bit. However, I went back to sleep when the alarm went off this morning and didn't get up until around 1100. Rather than stay in I decided I should try and get out somewhere but was undecided where to go. I wanted to be able to see a variety of species but without being stuck on a bus for an hour to get somewhere. It boiled down to a choice between Riverside Nature Park and walking from Tayport round to Leuchars. I chose the latter and headed out at 1150.
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| Buzzard |
Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon and Herring Gull were spotted as I waited for the bus. A Woodpigeon was seen as I neared the bus station. Surprisingly as the bus reversed out I spotted a Cormorant flying over to the north from the direction of the city centre. A field of Black Headed Gulls were seen as the bus neared Tayport and I decided to get off the bus at the fire station to check out the pond and the shoreline before walking through the caravan park. This would hopefully add species that I might not otherwise see along the chosen route.
There were Mallards roosting at the corner of the pond and at least 13 Moorhens were dotted around. In addition there were a number of Teal mostly hidden away behind the reeds and away from the paths. Out on the mud I added Oystercatcher, Curlew, Mute Swan, Common Gull and Bar Tailed Godwit though all were rather distant. A Meadow Pipit flew over as I exited the other end of the caravan park. A Redshank was seen near the Mallards and gulls by the burn outflow. A single Pink Footed Goose was spotted amongst them. Ahead of me a Wren and a Dunnock shared a scrubby patch by the track and a Blackbird burst out of the reeds nearby and flew off.
A small flock of House Sparrows showed well a little further on and a party of Goldfinches flew around before settling on another weedy patch. A Yellowhammer flew over and a Rabbit was seen in the field to the south. A small flock of Linnets circled round above the old weather station. I cut into the dunes as a party of dog walkers were ahead of me on the beach. This allowed me to add Stonechat to the list as a male caught flies from its raised perch on the vegetation. A few Shelduck could be seen distantly before I headed into the forest to follow the track out to the point. Coal Tits and a Red Squirrel were seen but very little else though a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard calling.
Near the eastern end of the forest I headed back out to scan along the shore adding Eider. Crossbills were heard calling but not seen. A Goldfinch flew over at the northeastern corner of the forest. As I walked down the edge of the forest I stopped to scan the trees when I heard Goldcrests calling and managed to find one high up among the branches. Things were vey quiet in the trees where I often see Green Woodpecker though a Blue Tit was heard but not seen. A pair of Mistle Thrushes flew up into the trees and a Buzzard circled round before heading over towards the forest.
A few Skylarks arrived in off the sea as I wandered along the edge of the beach. Ahead at the lagoons I could see a Great Black Backed Gull. I found a very narrow part of the channel and managed to get across so I could check the northern tip of the dunes in case the Snow Buntings had returned, or perhaps even a Shorelark or two. A single Grey Seal was hauled out on the sand to the north and a few Oystercatchers and gulls were dotted around. A small group of Red Breasted Mergansers were found on the main lagoon pool but things were otherwise rather quiet. A small flock of Linnets flew up from the dunes and what appeared to be a single Skylark did likewise.
I cut in towards the edge of the forest and spooked a Sparrowhawk from the edge of the trees. As I cut across the car park I spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker as it flew from one of the small trees in the dune edge to the forest. A party of Long Tailed Tits were seen as I walked along the access road. A little further on I heard a Crossbill call and managed to spot 2 flying over. Another few seconds later a 3rd bird headed in the same direction. By now the light was fading as was the little enthusiasm I'd started out with. My legs were tired but there was nothing else to do but keep going.
I cut off the access road to take the track leading to Earlshall Muir and unsurprisingly found almost nothing along the way save for a few Chaffinches. The more open area at the southern end of the forest was devoid of birds but a large flock of Fieldfares were seen flying west as I walked towards the boardwalk area. A Reed Bunting, a few Long Tailed Tits, a single Fieldfare, a distant Sparrowhawk over Reres Wood, a Mistle Thrush and a few Carrion Crows were all I managed to see before I reached the Earlshall road. A few Redwings were seen as I reached the eastern end of Leuchars and as I cut down towards the bus stop I added a single Starling.
Tired legs, 43 species of birds and 3 of mammals were the sum total for around 5 hours of birding. It being low tide didn't help neither did the rather choppy conditions offshore at Kinshaldy. Although it was certainly better than staying at home the return for the amount of effort expended was rather lacklustre and I didn't take too many photos as the opportunities were also rather limited.
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| Moorhen |
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| Teal |
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| Dunnock & Wren |
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| Wren |
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| Wren |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Pink Footed Goose, Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Oystercatcher |
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| Linnet |
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| Stonechat |
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| Red Squirrel |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Cormorant |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Buzzard |
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| Stonechat |
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| Skylark |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Linnet |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Mistle Thrush |
Species seen - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Cormorant, Crossbill, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Feral Pigeon, Shelduck, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal, Rabbit, Red Squirrel.
