Provisional plans for a spot of birding on Sunday with Ian were put in place on Friday evening. Our destination hinged on whether the Hoopoe in Aberdeenshire or the Red Necked Grebe at Dalgety Bay were reported on Saturday. Although it would be a later start (around 1100) both were reachable from Dundee within an hour or so. Unfortunately, neither was reported on Saturday but we decided to head out anyway. As Ian still needed Woodcock for his year-list I suggested a small-ish wood near Arbroath that had been mentioned as a good place to catch up with the species. After that we could head back to Lunan Bay in the hope of seeing the Black Scoter again so I could try to get some photos/video of the bird. Time and remaining daylight would then determine where we would go from there.
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| Mediterranean Gull & Black Headed Gull |
Ian picked me up as arranged just after 1100 and we headed off for Arbroath, after having watched a Fox cross the road and wander in the main entrance at Tannadice Park in broad daylight. As we were driving down the Kingsway by Mid-Craigie I commented on the Rowan trees full of berries and my hope that Waxwings might return to them soon. As we passed the Longtown Road junction I
spotted a flock of birds high in the tall trees by the shops. The light caught the pale
bellies and I said to Ian "I think I've got Waxwings". We turned around
and headed back. Parking at the shops and opening the window confirmed
the ID as the birds flew into and out of the tree, with lots of calling heard. Given the area's slightly dodgy reputation I kept the camera in the bag
and we headed off again having noted around 70 or so birds.
As we headed for Arbroath there seemed to be plenty of Pink Footed Geese on the move and just north of the town we spotted a field full of Golden Plover but there was nowhere to stop for a better look. We found what I hoped was the correct wood and wandered through searching for Woodcock. Ian managed to flush 2 that I missed, and then another single bird that I also managed to miss. Ian then slipped and fell, managing to take a lump out of his shin and give himself two cuts to his forehead. Thankfully it did look worse than it was and once he'd cleaned off the blood we headed on to Lunan Bay. A birder (Twitter handle - @bubobilly) Ian recognised from his previous (successful) attempt at the bird was already scoping from the platform but had drawn a blank so far. We scanned through the flock of Common Scoters but despite the sunshine the light wasn't as helpful as 24 hours previously. We moved along to Saturday's perch but again drew a blank.
We gave up after a while and had a brief chat to Simon Ritchie at the viewing platform who was trying again to see the bird he'd already tried for a few times and failed. We had a quick stop at Boghead Farm where there were plenty of Tree Sparrows but only a couple of Corn Buntings. Next stop was Arbroath at Victoria Park. Ian picked out an adult Mediterranean Gull among the Black Headeds adding to our 'pretty decent bird' list for the day. We had a quick stop at Elliot Golf Course in the hope of a Short Eared Owl but despite it being ideal hunting owl weather we drew a blank. A Sparrowhawk hunting over Pitkerro Road was seen before Ian dropped me off after a pretty good 5 hours birding with 45 (& Woodcock seen by Ian) species seen.
Dundee to wood near Arbroath - Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull, Magpie, Jackdaw, Waxwing, Starling, Buzzard, Black Headed Gull, Pink Footed Goose, Rook, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover.
Mammals seen - Fox, Roe Deer.
Wood near Arbroath and Lunan Bay - Blue Tit, Wren, Woodpigeon, Kestrel, Curlew, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Common Scoter, Red Throated Diver, Shag, Cormorant, Sanderling, Common Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Eider, Long Tailed Duck, Goldeneye, Red Breasted Merganser.
Boghead Farm - Robin, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Corn Bunting, Little Grebe, Pheasant.
Arbroath and Elliot to Dundee - Redshank, Rock Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Turnstone, Mallard, Sparrowhawk.
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| Waxwings (iphone pic) |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Pink Footed Goose |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Common Scoter & Herring Gull |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Tree Sparrow & House Sparrow |
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| Linnet |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Herring Gull & Carrion Crow |
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| Black Headed Gull & Herring Gull |
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| Mediterranean Gull, Black Headed Gull & Turnstone |
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| Starling & Jackdaw |
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Mallard
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Species seen - Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Corn Bunting, Curlew, Eider, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Great Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Linnet, Little Grebe, Long Tailed Duck, Magpie, Mallard, Mediterranean Gull, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pink Footed Goose, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Sanderling, Shag, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Turnstone, Waxwing, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Mammals seen - Fox, Roe Deer.
