0656 : The Long-ish Day (30/3/19)

On the way back from twitching the Chough at Turnberry earlier in March with Ian, the possibility of twitching the long-staying Loch Feorlin Pied Billed Grebe was discussed and a provisional date of the 30th of March was decided upn. As the date got closer it appeared that the weather might interfere with the plan but as the date drew closer still the forecast improved and plans were firmed up. I would meet Ian in Perth at 0715 and we'd head west for the Grebe from there. If time then allowed we'd continue on to Strontian to try and see the long-staying Black Duck there. It was also likely I would be able to add Black Guillemot and Hooded Crow to my year-list. I worked out that it might be almost 2100 before I got home - a long day but potentially a very good day out.

Black Duck

It was just before 0625 when I headed out to catch the train to Perth. Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon got the list up and running. Blackbird, Blue Tit and Goldfinch were added on Dens Road as was an unexpected flyover Meadow Pipit. A small flock of 7 Oystercatchers called loudly as they circled round by the Wellgate Centre where I assume they will be attempting to nest this Spring on the flat roof. I caught the train on time and sat on the south side so I could check out the Nature Park and Tay during the short journey.

Mallards, a large flock of Pink Footed Geese in a field next to the railway line, a small group of Roe Deer, a few pairs of Mute Swans and some Black Headed Gulls were noted from the train. Once I met Ian we added Lesser Black Backed Gulls on the way to get fuel. On the way back out through St Catherine's Retail Park we chanced upon 4 Sand Martins hawking for insects over a small burn I didn't even know existed. These were a welcome year-tick for us both and rather unexpected given the location in the centre of Perth. Magpie, Starling, Rook and House Sparrow were noted as we headed westwards out of the city.

Not unexpectedly there wasn't too much to be seen on our way through Perthshire though we did manage a few more species - Pheasants, Common Gulls, Pied Wagtail and Buzzard. A pair of Red Kites were seen between Comrie and St Fillans. Chaffinch, Goldeneye and Canada Geese were seen as we passed Loch Earn. A Raven flew over as we headed higher towards Tyndrum and a brief break at the Green Welly Stop. Collared Dove and Song Thrush were noted there. A small flock of Whooper Swans were on the small lochan just west of Tyndrum. Mistle Thrush was seen as we headed for Inveraray perched right at the top of a tree.

At Inveraray we stopped for a minute or so to check offshore for Black Guillemot and found a pair swimming close in. A pair of Pink Footed Geese flew over as we watched the auks. A Cormorant was also noted before we set off again. A Hooded Crow was spotted by Ian perched on a lamp post giving me another year-tick and there were a number of Eider noted on the water. We found the track up to the farm from where it was possible to walk the mile or so to Loch Feorlin. A Robin was seen at the car park and Meadow Pipits were abundant with display flights all around. A Skylark rose skywards although it did require a bit of searching to see it high in the sky.

The track was rather muddy with puddles and Sheep everywhere. We stopped to scan the Loch and found a bird that we were certain was the Pied Billed Grebe though photos only showed the back of the head, though the stocky shape was in itself enough to confirm the ID. However when we reached the ruined buildings that overlook the Loch the bird had vanished. A Stonechat showed nearby, a small flock of Whooper Swans were on the water as was a single Goldeneye and a pair of Canada Geese. There were brief glimpses of a small grebe among the reedy edges that might have been Little or Pied Billed. A Curlew flew by and a Raven flew over.

We were hoping for a better view of the Grebe but as time went on it began to seem a forlorn hope. We heard the bird call a couple of times from the reeds but could see no sign of it. We decided to give it until 1145 before heading back to the car. With a few minutes left on the countdown Ian spotted the bird through his scope, stationary out on the water. This allowed me to get photos and a video clip before we set off back to the car. A Peacock butterfly was a surprise sighting on the way. A brief shower of rain passed through and Grey Wagtail was seen at a small burn. We headed back to Inveraray and initially missed the turn which did mean we saw a few Grey Herons and Curlews on the beach.

A Grey Heron and a pair of Greylag Geese were seen on a roadside pool as we headed north through Glen Aray. Roadworks near Connel Bridge meant a detour and the sat-nav took us through Glen Orchy which held a single pair of Mallards and apparently no other birds, or any other visible wildlife. It was rather scenic though. Glencoe was similarly devoid of birds though a Hooded Crow was seen in Glencoe village. There didn't appear to be anything in the water as we headed through North Ballachulish until I spotted a black and white bird. A quick look through the binoculars from the moving car convinced me it was a Great Northern Diver, so Ian turned the car around and we found a spot to check my ID call. I was right - another year-tick for Ian.

We reached Strontian around 1500, having seen a few Hooded Crows and Eider on the way from the short ferry crossing as well as a couple of Mallards near the village. A Pied Wagtail pair were chasing each other around the car park before we set off to check the river mouth for the Black Duck. A pair of Buzzards circled briefly overhead before disappearing westwards. A Redshank and a pair of Greenshanks were seen along with a few Mallards. A Siskin flew over followed soon after by a pair of Crossbills which sounded slightly more 'clipped' than the Commons in Angus. Ian found a Ringed Plover and there was a small gull roost containing Black Headed, Common and a Lesser Black Backed.

The Black Duck had been seen the previous day and I had asked on Twitter where those who had seen it had found it. The reply said between the bridges near the fire station. We wandered upriver carefully scanning the river as we went but only found a Mallard pair near the top bridge. A Grey Heron and Chaffinch also put in appearances. A Hooded Crow landed in a tree by the lower bridge as we discussed our options having drawn a blank. We decided to try the western side of the river mouth and wandered down to the shore. A pair of Mallard flew out from a small trickle of water. The gull roost had by now moved so we were headed down to the mouth to check 'round the corner' before giving up.

As we were scanning, I heard a "quack" from behind us and turned to see 2 ducks flying out from the gardens behind us and towards the river. The first was a Mallard drake and the second was unmistakeably the Black Duck! I rattled off a few photos - none of which were particularly in focus but showed enough to confirm we had seen the bird and once again just as we were about to call it quits. We left a note under the windscreen wipers of a car for a couple from Leeds I'd talked to who were also looking for the Black Duck, to let them know which way the bird had gone and at what time, so hopefully they also managed to see it.

As it was by now around 1630 and we had a long drive back to Perth ahead of us we quickly got organised and headed back to the ferry noting Common Seals and a few Great Black Backed Gulls on the way. The light was rather nice as we passed through Glencoe where a couple of Feral Goats were seen by the roadside. A few miles on we saw a small herd of Red Deer among the heather. A few Buzzards were noted on the drive back towards Loch Earn and a possible Sparrowhawk. Two Red Kites were seen between St Fillans and Comrie as was a small herd of Roe Deer. Ian dropped me off in Perth around 1920 and I made it home roughly an hour and 25 minutes later, rather tired but happy.

Pied Billed Grebe video


A really enjoyable day out with 5 year-ticks (in bold) and 2 lifers among the longer than expected list of 54 species seen. The 1 butterfly species seen was a surprise, though the 4 mammal sepecies noted a little less so. What was very noticeable was the dearth of wildlife away from 'civilisation' with miles and miles travelled without any birds seen. Here on the east coast we are used to Woodpigeons and corvids and gulls anytime we are going from A to B, but even the crows on the west coast were on their own.

Black Guillemot

Pink Footed Goose

Black Guillemot

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Meadow Pipit

Whooper Swan

Stonechat

Canada Goose

Raven

Raven

Whooper Swan & Goldeneye

Pied Billed Grebe

Pied Billed Grebe

Pied Billed Grebe

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver

Buzzard

Buzzard

Common Gull, Black Headed Gull & Lesser Black Backed Gull

Greylag Goose

Redshank & Greenshank

Greenshank

Black Headed Gull & Common Gull

Common Gull

Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

Ringed Plover

Mallard

Black Duck

Black Duck

Black Duck

Black Duck

Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

Hooded Crow

Species seen - Black Duck, Black Guillemot, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Crossbill, Curlew, Eider, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Northern Diver, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Hooded Crow, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pied Billed Grebe, Pink Footed Goose, Raven, Red Kite, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Whooper Swan, Woodpigeon.

Butterfly seen - Peacock.

Mammals seen - Common Seal, Feral Goat, Red Deer, Roe Deer.