Earlier in the week the possibility of a trip somewhere with Ian was mooted for Sunday. It would depend if there were any birds around worth going somewhere for. As a Hoopoe had turned up at St Abb's Head on Saturday and Ian had already seen the Dotterel at Rattray Head the same day the decision was made to head south to the Borders. I also discovered that Reed Warblers breed at Seafield Pond in Belhaven, next door to Dunbar giving me a hopefully easier attempt at seeing the species.
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| Wigeon |
As usual on a Sunday the first train to Perth arrives after 0900 so it was a slightly later start than ideal. I headed out slightly earlier than I needed to around 0805. Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Jackdaw, Starling, Blue Tit and Woodpigeon were seen on the walk down to Victoria Road. My first Dundee Swifts of the year were seen high above the junction of Victoria Road and Dens Road. House Sparrow, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch and Blackbird were seen before I reached the railway station.
The train journey was reasonably productive with Mute Swan, Mallard, Black Headed Gulls and a handful of Redshanks in Invergowrie Bay and an overflying Grey Heron as we passed Invergowrie. Roe Deer were seen in the usual rough field further on. Goosander was noted much earlier than usual with 1 on the Tay where the railway line runs alongside. Rabbit was a final addition before I reached Perth. The journey to St Abb's wasn't overly productive with Magpie, Buzzard, Oystercatcher and Swallow the only new additions.
We arrived at St Abb's visitor car park around 1050. A Coastguard AW189 helicopter overflew us on the road in and a Coastguard pick-up truck with blue lights flashing overtook us suggesting an emergency. As we got ourselves sorted out for the walk in to the reserve, the Air Ambulance EC145 helicopter descended somewhere close by. It was clear that something was going on. We set off along the track. Orange Tip butterfly and an unexpected Pipistrelle(?) Bat circling round above the farm next door were first onto the list. Chaffinch, Rook and Pied Wagtail were seen as we waited for the 2 emergency helicopters to depart. We had been stopped by the Police along with other walkers to allow the emergency services to do their thing. Unfortunately while we waited we had discovered that there had been a Hoopoe reported at St Cyrus - most likely the same bird we were looking for.
Once the helicopters left (and I got plenty of photos as they did so) we continued on, adding Linnet and Whitethroat before reaching a track down towards Mire Loch. As we could hear a few warblers singing we decided to do some exploring. Fleeting glimpses of Chiffchaff and Blackcap were had along with a Pheasant female, Peacock butterfly and a Green Veined White butterfly. Reaching the Mire Loch we added Moorhen, Coot, Little Grebe and Mallard to the list. A few Ravens and a Wheatear were seen across the far side of the Loch along with a Small Copper butterfly. We debated where to go next before finally deciding on walking along the track to the south of the Loch.
We crossed back to the far side where a butterfly caught my eye and thankfully it eventually landed long enough for me to realise it was a lifer - a Wall butterfly. Wandering on along the track we found a few Speckled Wood butterflies, a Small White butterfly or two and a few Dunnocks as well as a Robin. From across the Loch we heard a singing Lesser Whitethroat and I pointed out where I thought the bird would be. We eventually managed to see it when it popped out into view where I thought it would be, albeit briefly but long enough to give Ian a welcome year-tick and me a very poor record shot. Willow Warbler was added a little further on. Sand Martin and House Martin were seen circling high overhead before a Sparrowhawk appeared from above the top of the hill opposite and cruised over before disappearing down behind the slope behind us.
We had a very quick look out to sea where we noted Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake and some passing Gannets further out over the water. A Cormorant passed by before we headed back to the car. By now the sun was rather warm and I was feeling the heat having dressed for slightly colder weather. Another Wall butterfly settled among the grass as we neared the gate at the edge of the reserve. Next we headed for Skateraw where Shelduck, Grey Heron and not much else was noted. A short stop at the nearby dung heap added a flying Yellow Wagtail, a Skylark singing on the ground and a Buzzard being harassed by a large flock of Jackdaws.
Seafield Pond was our next and final port of call. A drake Wigeon was seen on the pool along with Mallards, Moorhen and a Grey Heron. A Collared Dove landed at the water's edge, while a Jackdaw loitered for handouts and a Dunnock did a passable impression of a Reed Warbler as it skulked low in the reeds. There was no singing from the reeds at all and no sign of the hoped for Reed Warbler, or even a Sedge Warbler. Walking back a Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid was seen with Carrion Crows on the beach. A Meadow Pipit flew over before we got back to the car to head back for home.
A slightly disappointing but still enjoyable day out with the Hoopoe having moved on overnight to elsewhere. Despite that a total of 54 species were seen. A nice mix of butterflies including another new one for me and the surprise Bat flying in daylight were nice bonuses.
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| Pipistrelle Bat (?) |
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| Pipistrelle Bat (?) |
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| Whitethroat |
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| Peacock |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Wheatear |
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| Raven |
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| Small Copper |
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| Coot & Moorhen |
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| Moorhen |
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| Wall |
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| Wall |
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| Lesser Whitethroat |
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| Speckled Wood |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Sparrowhawk |
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| Green Veined White |
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| Wall |
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| Buzzard & Jackdaw |
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| Skylark |
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| Skylark |
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| Moorhen, Mallard & Grey Heron |
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| Wigeon & Mallard |
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| Wigeon |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid |
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| Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid |
Species seen - Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Gannet, Goldfinch, Goosander, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Herring Gull, Hooded Crow x Carrion Crow hybrid, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kittiwake, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet, Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Razorbill, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Wigeon, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Yellow Wagtail.
Butterflies seen - Green Veined White, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Copper, Small White, Speckled Wood, Wall.
Mammals seen - Pipistrelle Bat (?), Rabbit, Roe Deer.
Bonus helicopter photos. Coastguard AW189 and Scottish Air Ambulance EC145.
