Having managed to miss out on the lingering Red Necked Grebe at Dalgety Bay 3 times (despite a false alarm on 1 visit) a further trip to the southern end of Fife was arranged for Wednesday afternoon, after Ian had finished work. The weather forecast for the rest of the day wasn't good though the sun was forecast for where we were headed around the time we were headed there (arriving around 1600). It was still rather overcast in Dundee when Ian picked me up just after 1500 and though the weather improved as we headed through Fife, there wasn't much variety to be seen from the car. Slavonian and Great Crested Grebe were found easily and there were a number of Guillemots dotted around. Ian found a candidate for our target across the far side of the bay and as I scanned with the camera to try to get onto it a Diver flew past and out of the bay.
 |
| Goldfinch |
I followed this bird which looked a bit Red Throated Diver-like, but also a bit Black Throated Diver-like. In the end after checking the photos at home a few days later I settled on Black Throated (despite Merlin app giving a selection of 3 different Diver species!). I finally got onto the bird Ian had found and from the head and neck view I had over the waves it did look good for Red Necked Grebe though only a single photo was anywhere close to being in focus though even the views from Ian's scope were very brief among the waves. Mission accomplished. We decided to walk round the bay in the hope of a better view of the bird and set off around the coastal path. It turned out to be a bit further than expected (roughly a mile and a half each way) and when we reached the far side there was no sign of our Grebe. A few more Guillemots and a definite Red Throated Diver were found and on the rocks just offshore there was a mixed wader roost.
Despite lots of scanning from the small stone jetty we failed to refind our bird, though a definite Red Throated Diver was seen. By the time we walked back to the side of the bay where the car was parked the sun had set and a Pipistrelle Bat patrolled the short length of path from the small wood back to the street. We put out word of our sightings on the Whatsapp group as we headed back towards Perth where Ian dropped me off. When I finally got round to editing the photos our Grebe looked a bit less than the 100% certainty it had appeared to be 'in the field' so after some discussion online we decided not to count it on our year-lists.
Had I not looked at the photo as closely as I did, we would have both happily counted Red Necked Grebe on our lists. However, I'd much rather correct a mistake even if it means I miss out on a bird rather than go down the road of the 'never wrong/know everything' brigade. I fully expect that I will continue to make mistakes from time to time when birding as I do in other spheres outwith birding. However, I'd rather catch these errors and hold my hands up (as here) and keep my list(s) accurate. If you do happen to spot any mistakes/typos/mis-IDs on any of my blog-posts, please do flag them up.
35 species seen in total including 1 year-tick (in bold).
Dundee to Dalgety Bay - Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Starling, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Magpie, Black Headed Gull, Rook, Jackdaw.
Dalgety Bay - Robin, Redshank, Curlew, Mallard, Shelduck, Red Breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Guillemot, Red Throated Diver, Turnstone, Dunlin, Eider, Goldfinch, Long Tailed Tit, Grey Wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Black Throated Diver, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant, Common Gull, Blackbird.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal, Pipistrelle Bat.
 |
| Great Crested Grebe |
 |
| Guillemot |
 |
| Black Throated Diver |
 |
| Black Throated Diver |
 |
| Black Throated Diver |
 |
| Black Throated Diver |
 |
| Guillemot |
 |
| Slavonian Grebe & Black Headed Gull |
 |
| Robin |
 |
| Sparrowhawk |
 |
| Shelduck |
 |
| Great Crested Grebe |
 |
| Curlew |
 |
| Grey Heron |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Throated Diver, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sandwich Tern, Shelduck, Slavonian Grebe, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Turnstone, Woodpigeon.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal, Pipistrelle Bat.
