December 30th already, and another year rapidly approaching the finishing line. After such a successful year's birding I figured I should at least head out somewhere but had no idea where to go, with no real target birds around. A potential trip to Kinnordy with Jacqui to try for the elusive Bittern had fallen through, so I was at a bit of a loose end. I decided to head out with no actual plan and just see where I ended up. Normally this results in a local wander to Swannie Ponds sometimes leading to a walk to Broughty Ferry or a trip to Riverside Nature Park but I resisted the urge to head for Clepington Road to rule out the former options. Instead I would head towards the city centre first.
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| Long Tailed Tit |
It was just after 1135 when I got out with Herring Gull and Feral Pigeon first onto the list. Blue Tit was next followed by Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon on Dens Road. House Sparrows around the feeders in a garden on Victoria Road were next. I headed for the bus station to see what bus would be next to leave and to choose where to go from there. It was a St Andrews bus. Jackdaw and Starling were seen on the way with both around the bridge landfall in Fife. I weighed up the options as I sat on the bus - St Andrews for a better look at the Scoter flock, Guardbridge for a lazy afternoon, or a walk from the former to the latter, walking out to Reres Wood and the Eden estuary was also considered.
As the bus neared Leuchars another option came to mind. Rather than do the usual Tayport-Leuchars route which I knew I didn't have the energy or enthusiasm for, I would do a small loop incorporating parts of that much longer route. I would head out from Leuchars towards the Kinshaldy access road hopefully picking up some finch/bunting flocks in the fields then cut down through the Forest to Earlshall Muir and then if energy and time allowed walk out to the mouth of the Eden to see if there was anything of interest around there. Common Gull was noted when I got off the bus with Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Collared Dove and Pheasant all being seen as I headed through and out the northeastern limits of the village.
A Roe Deer was feeding in a field and a Buzzard lifted from the wood behind it, before landing in a stubble field a few hundred metres away. A flock of Rooks flew over. Unfortunately the road was very busy with cars passing with irritating regularlity making it a very stop/start walk with very little to be seen. There were some Woodpigeons in a field behind Cast Farm and a small group of Tree Sparrows around the farm house garden. A Pied Wagtail called as it flew over. I heard a Lapwing call from somewhere then noticed some well camouflaged birds in a ploughed field that I would have missed had the bird not called. A small flock of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Linnets were feeding in another field near the forest edge but despite much searching I failed to find anything more unusual among them. Another Pheasant ran off across the field when it spotted me. To the north I saw a skein of Pink Footed Geese somewhere near the Tay.
A small flock of Bullfinches were seen high in the trees opposite the end of the track I was about to head down. Crossbill was heard but not seen. A few hundred metres on I found a small mixed flock in the trees with Coal Tits, Goldcrest and Treecreeper all being noted. A few Jays were heard calling but my view was blocked by the trees between me and them. There was very little else to be seen, or heard as I headed on through the trees. On leaving the southern end of the forest I spotted a flock of Lesser Redpolls flying over but they failed to settle anywhere I could see them. The thought crossed my mind that maybe they could have a Mealy or an Arctic with them given the time of year. Unfortunately, I only managed a few photos that showed the expected Lessers.
A little further on a small flock of Long Tailed Tits were spotted feeding along the tree line. A pair of Bullfinches landed in a tall tree. The Redpoll flock flew over again and this time I managed to catch a rather grey individual in the flock but with the light being very poor the ISO setting on the camera meant that the detail just wasn't there. It was a
Redpoll sp., most likely a
Mealy though potentially it could be an Arctic. If anyone else sees the bird and firms up the ID to the latter then I will have a lifer. For now, it is a final year-tick for 2018, barring any surprises at work tomorrow (maybe I should try again for Tawny Owl at finishing time!). A Grey Heron was spooked near the boardwalk and flew off further towards the main forest. A Stock Dove was added as I headed back towards the farm with a flock of Siskins, then Black Headed Gull and Great Tit noted. I decided to head for Guardbridge when I got back to the village to boost the totals a little, though with the sun now very low in the sky it would be a bit of a challenge to see very much and with the tide well out most birds would be distant. I had a 15 minute wait for a bus but arrived at the hide around 1510.
Redshank, Teal and Black Tailed Godwit as well as a Grey Heron were all seen out front and the feeders were very busy with Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits. A large flock of Lapwings lifted from the mud and milled around for a few minutes. I could hear a Golden Plover call and eventually managed to find it among the flock as they circled above the mud. I soon added Curlew and Mallard then some very distant Dunlin. A pair of Dunnocks apperaed below the feeders. More scanning found a number of rather distant Shelduck on the mud. A few Oystercatchers flew in. A Magpie called from the conifers opposite but I couldn't see it. There were a few Woodpigeons in the trees and eventually the pair of Magpies perched briefly in the tops. A Cormorant was seen in flight well downriver. Looking out the other window I noticed a Great Spotted Woodpecker hanging on a peanut feeder giving me another species for the list. By now the light was getting poorer and as a bus was due I headed to the bus stop. A Mistle Thrush was seen perched on a telegraph pole north of St Michaels giving me one final bird for the day.
A total of 48 bird species seen including an unexpected late year-tick (in bold) on what was an improvised route, along with a single mammal. A decent enough mix of birds though the paucity in the fields and forest was very noticeable. All in all, not the worst end of year birding outing.
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Buzzard |
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| Lapwing |
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| Linnet, Chaffinch & Goldfinch |
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| Lapwing |
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| Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch |
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| Linnet, Chaffinch, Goldfinch |
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| Pheasant |
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Treecreeper
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| Goldcrest |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Long Tailed Tit |
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| Lesser Redpoll & Redpoll sp. (probable Mealy) |
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| Lesser Redpoll & Redpoll sp. (probable Mealy) |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Buzzard |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Siskin |
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| Redshank |
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| Black Tailed Godwit |
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| Lapwing |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Curlew & Shelduck |
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| Black Tailed Godwit |
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| Teal & Black Tailed Godwit |
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| Lapwing & Golden Plover |
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| Magpie |
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Herring Gull |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard,
Redpoll sp. (probable Mealy), Mistle Thrush, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Shelduck, Siskin, Starling, Stock Dove, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Treecreeper, Woodpigeon.
Mammals - Roe Deer.
