Almost 2 months ago I turned 50. As I couldn't decide on anything special to do to mark the 'milestone' birthday, I did nothing. However at the weekend I decided to treat myself to a 'new' Swarovski scope as a belated birthday (and Xmas) present, and with heavy rain being forecast for Wednesday I arranged for it to be delivered on Wednesday. Needless to say the forecast improved and by the time the scope arrived - around 1340, the amount of usable daylight to test it out was dwindling fast. I decided I would head out anyway. Although it would be high tide, and a particularly high one at that, I decided to head for Guardbridge as most birds would be distant and a good test for the scope.
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| Redshank |
Long Tailed Tits were the main highlight on the walk down to the bus station and there wasn't anything unexpected added from the bus to Fife. I arrived around 1440 and found the centre door wide open. Inside were 3 young teenage boys and their teacher from a local school. Having encountered a similar party at Balgove Bay before it appears to be a way of avoiding disruption to classes by taking the worst offenders out of school for a period of time and allowing them to behave how they want outwith the school. Unfortunately, the unsuitability of bird hides doesn't seem to have occurred to the teachers. Thankfully, within a few minutes of me arriving they left. The tide was well in, with the saltmarsh mostly underwater. The river was almost completely empty of birds too.
Scanning through the scope I did manage to find a mix of fairly common species for the location with a pair of Little Egrets the closest to being unusual - though now they are an almost permanent fixture. The light was a challenge but the scope proved to be up to the challenge and I was able to pick out waders feeding around the flooded areas of the saltmarsh, along with a mix of Mallards, Teal and Wigeon. A single Goldeneye and a Pink Footed Goose were seen out on the river along with a small flock of Herring Gulls. There were plenty of Tree Sparrows at the feeders with at least 20 of them along with at least 1 House Sparrow. By 1545 the light was really poor but I was still able to see enough detail on a Goldfinch perched on the fence opposite the hide. I stayed until 1600 before heading for home. 36 species were seen in total and without a camera, no photos were taken. Those used to illustrate this post are from other outings.
Species seen - Dundee to Guardbridge - Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Blackbird, Starling, Magpie, Long Tailed Tit, Woodpigeon, Rook, Jackdaw, Collared Dove.
Guardbridge - Redshank, Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Mute Swan, Tree Sparrow, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Coal Tit, Pink Footed Goose, Goldeneye, Chaffinch, Mallard, Little Egret, Black Tailed Godwit, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Black Headed Gull, Robin, Goldfinch, Pheasant.
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| Robin |
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| Goldeneye |
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| Blackbird |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Long Tailed Tit |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Carrion Crow |
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| Curlew |
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| Redshank |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Collared Dove |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Starling |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Mallard |
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| Cormorant |
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| Shelduck |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Woodpigeon |
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| Redshank |
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| Jackdaw |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Pheasant |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Lapwing |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Magpie |
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| Goldfinch |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Pheasant |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Teal |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Teal |
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| Dunlin |
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| Dunlin |
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| Rook |
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| Little Egret |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Wigeon |
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| Teal |
Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lapwing, Little Egret, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pink Footed Goose, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Shelduck, Starling, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Wigeon, Woodpigeon.
