Having had a successful trip northwards on Saturday with Ian and Kenny for Crested Tit and American Wigeon I was keen to get out on Sunday for another attempt at the Black Scoter in Lunan Bay. However, the weather forecast was showing a small window of opportunity between about 0900 and noon when I checked on Saturday night. When my alarm went off early on Sunday this window had shifted with noon till 1500 looking the best bet, though with still a chance of some rain. With no sunshine at all forecast I suspected that my chances of catching up with the Black Scoter would be low again, but I certainly wouldn't see it while sat at home so I headed out to catch the 1120 bus to Inverkeilor.
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| Common Scoter |
A few Redwings and a possible Waxwing were seen in trees across the road at the Dura Street roundabout on Dens Road, but a very quick look from that side of the road drew a blank on the Waxwing which had flown round the back of one of the trees. A mixed flock of Blue Tits and Long Tailed Tits were seen in the trees on Dens Brae. There wasn't much to be added from the bus with Pheasant and Jackdaw the 'highlights'. A Grey Wagtail showed well by the farm buildings at the rear of Inverkeilor as I set off along the road towards the bay. The visibility wasn't looking promising. I had posted on Twitter from the bus that I was headed to Lunan Bay but hadn't checked for replies (as I wasn't expecting any). I bumped into Martin Scott (who it turned out had answered my post to say that conditions were rather poor) and another birder who had seen a Black Guillemot towards the south end of the bay but had had no luck with the Scoter.
I decided to stick with my original plan of heading to the viewing platform and wandered along the road with the pair. Tree Sparrows and a Reed Bunting were in the hedges between the Castle and river, and a large flock of Linnets dropped into the trees as we passed. Goldcrest and Fieldfare were noted on the walk in towards the car park where Martin and his pal headed off elsewhere. I wandered up to the platform. As expected the light was poor, probably even worse than it had been on Wednesday though there was less wind but the sea was probably even wilder with the birds a bit further out from shore. I set up my scope and scanned through the birds I could see out on the water. Common Scoters and Long Tailed Ducks made up the majority with a few Shags and Cormorants in attendance also. A single Velvet Scoter landed near what may have been others.
After about 40 minutes I decided I was unlikely to have any success as the sky was already looking darker and seemed to be hinting at incoming rain. I headed back towards Inverkeilor again. Great Spotted Woodpecker and Kingfisher were both heard but not seen near the bridge. Walking back along the road it began to rain which just seemed to confirm the overall futility of the trip. I caught the bus back to Dundee at around 1445 and passing through Arbroath I spotted birds in the very top of a tree by the Morrison's roundabout which looked like they could be Waxwings. The species has been seen recently in this particular area and I did consider getting off the bus at the bus station to have a proper look but instead stayed on the bus and headed home. Just 33 species seen in total though even that amount was probably a slight surprise given the conditions. The camera stayed firmly in my bag so the photos for this post are from days with much better weather.
Species seen from Dundee to Inverkeilor - Herring Gull, Blackbird, Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Redwing, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Starling, Jackdaw, Pheasant.
Inverkeilor to Lunan Bay and back - Grey Wagtail, Robin, Reed Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Fieldfare, Collared Dove, Great Tit, Black Headed Gull, Common Scoter, Long Tailed Duck, Shag, Velvet Scoter, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Goldfinch, Moorhen, Coal Tit.
Inverkeilor to Dundee - Woodpigeon, (possible Waxwings), Common Gull.
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| Cormorant |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Redwing |
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| Common Gull |
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| Pheasant |
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| Jackdaw |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Grey Wagtail |
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| Long Tailed Duck |
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| Great Tit |
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| Robin |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Moorhen |
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| Goldcrest |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Feral Pigeon |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Velvet Scoter |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Shag |
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| Starling |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Long Tailed Duck |
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| Velvet Scoter |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Blackbird |
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| Long Tailed Tit |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Long Tailed Duck |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Linnet, Long Tailed Duck, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Shag, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Velvet Scoter, (Waxwing?), Woodpigeon.
