For a variety of reasons last midweek's outing with Paul didn't happen. With Autumn movements already underway we had to try to make up for it a little by targetting a few species for this week's outing. Our final stop would be at Westhaven in time for high tide around 1500. I suggested we start at Backwater Reservoir then head to Kinnordy, then to Murton where a Mandarin (which may be an escape from the other side of the site rather than a wild bird) and 2 Garganeys were found on Monday by Stuart Green. From there we would head to either Montrose Basin or to the coast for some seawatching. A stop at Arbroath was a possibility before reaching Westhaven to search for Roseate Tern - a lifer for Paul.
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| Mediterranean Gull |
We arranged to meet at our old pick-up point, owing to roadworks, at 0730 so I headed out at around 0715 for the 10 minute walk. Swifts overhead, Herring Gulls on roofs, Feral Pigeon, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove and Goldfinch were all noted as well as the first Painted Lady butterfly of the day. We soon added Swallow, House Martin, Blackbird and House Sparrow followed by a Buzzard in a field then a few Jackdaws as we headed north into the countryside. A Grey Heron flew over as did a Mallard shortly after. Yellowhammer and Pheasant were seen as we neared Backwater with a Brown Hare running along in front of the car for a few seconds before cutting into a field. I picked out a Great Spotted Woodpecker on a tall bare tree as we drove past (we stopped to confirm).
Meadow Pipits were plentiful along the stretch of road leading down to the farm just before the Backwater junction. A Whinchat was heard singing but went unseen. At the dam we added Common Gull to the list. Stopping at the eastern side of the dam we spent a bit of time seeing what we could find - Meadow Pipits, Willow Warbler, a Wheatear, a few Tree Pipits, a Song Thrush that Paul saw but I missed and a Roe Deer. Heading on a bit an Osprey flew out from a tree near the road and a family of Blue Tits were nearby. A Kestrel landed on a telegraph pole and a Pied Wagtail was seen in a field. Sand Martin, Mallard, 3 Common Sandpipers and an unexpected Spotted Flycatcher sharing a wire with a Willow Warbler were all noted before we set off back down the road. A pair of Ospreys were circling above the reservoir along with the gulls.
A raptor drifing over the top of the hills proved to be a Red Kite and a probable Dark Green Fritillary caused another stop during which time Paul spotted a Cuckoo in flight which landed near the top of the hill. Siskin and Mistle Thrush were seen across the far side of the dam before we headed for Kinnordy. Linnet was noted on the way there. The car park was empty when we arrived and apart from a few Mallards it appeared the Loch was likewise very quiet. Patience was eventually rewarded with a male Marsh Harrier heading along the Loch hunting, before returning with a Water Rail chick in its talons. Paul spotted a Sparrowhawk that I missed. Lapwings, Moorhen, Buzzards and Black Headed Gull were all seen before we headed back to the car. A Small White butterfly was spotted and an unidentified dragonfly zoomed over at treetop height at the car park before we headed for Murton.
Starling was finally added in Kirriemuir but nothing else new was seen before we reached a very busy Murton. Thankfully, the people were mostly either in the cafe or in the child-friendly farm side. We popped into the hide at the car park to look for the Mandarin. There were lots of Greylags plus Lapwings, Mallard, Gadwall and the Garganey pair. Despite plenty scanning I failed to locate the Mandarin. A pair of Reed Buntings were seen before we walked down to the other hide. Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Robin were all seen on the short walk. Teal was noted among the Greylags and ducks at the second pool as well as a Mute Swan family. There was still no sign of the Mandarin.
An odd sounding Garden Warbler and a Chaffinch were added before we were distracted slightly by insects - Small Tortoiseshell and Painted Lady butterflies sunning themselves, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Green Veined White and a Common Blue flitting around by the banking before the airfield turn. There were plenty of Common Blue Damselflies around as well. Paul found a small Common Frog and a Shaded Broad Bar moth was also noted. There were lots of Sand Martins around. An Emerald Damselfly was seen near the small woodland and I found a Common Toadlet while looking at a juvenile Robin. We had better views of the Garganey but still failed to see the Mandarin (which was reported later in the day). A Rook flew over before we got back to the car and a Udea lutealis micro moth was found by the path.
We continued on eastwards towards Montrose. As the water level in the Basin was already rather high we headed for Boddin Point to try some seawatching. The light was slightly harsh with a bit of a haze out over the water. However, we were able to see a decent selection of species - Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Eider, Great Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Kittiwake, Goosander, Cormorant and Fulmar were all seen relatively quickly. A Rock Pipit flitted around and a Whimbrel headed north over the water. Gannet, Common Scoter, Guillemot and a single distant Arctic Skua passed by before we packed up to head for the car and on to Westhaven.
A few Six-Spot Burnet moths were seen whizzing around out of the wind and there were more Painted Ladys around as well. A very distant Buzzard was noted but while Paul was trying to get on it he found a Peregrine which then flew up to join a second Peregrine. A nice bonus. We reached Westhaven around 1445 and found the rocks underwater meaning a bit of a wait. We found a seat and scanned out over the sea. Arctic Terns, Sandwich Terns, a few Common Terns, Goosander, Eider, Black Headed Gulls, Herring Gulls and a Common Gull or two were all seen as we waited for the tide to recede far enough for the birds to perch on the exposed rocks. I spotted a probable juvenile Mediterranean Gull as it passed and managed to confirm it when it headed back a little later.
Oystercatcher, Curlew, Dunlin and Redshank plus a few Turnstone were all seen as the water level subsided and birds returned to perch among the rocks. After a few false alarms I picked up the unmistakable clean white of a Roseate Tern among the other Terns and Gulls and managed to direct Paul onto the bird. We watched it for a while as it changed position a few times, before vanishing behind a rock. With the time around 1630 we called it a day and headed back towards Dundee and home.
A fairly productive day out with some good birds found though we did only manage to see one of our actual target species among the 76 seen. In addition we managed 2 amphibian species, 8 butterfly species, 2 damselfly (& 1 dragonfly sp.), 2 mammals and 3 moths. I had also learnt my lesson from Saturday and had applied sun lotion and kept my arms covered up, meaning a lot less discomfort in the evening.
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| Roe Deer |
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| Wasp sp. |
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| Wheatear |
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| Wheatear |
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| Buzzard |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Willow Warbler & Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Mallard |
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| Willow Warbler |
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| Osprey |
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| Osprey |
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| Red Kite |
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| Cuckoo |
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| Marsh Harrier |
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| Marsh Harrier (& Water Rail) |
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| Marsh Harrier (& Water Rail) |
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| Marsh Harrier (& Water Rail) |
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| Small White |
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| Garganey, Lapwing & Greylag Goose |
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| Greylag Goose, Teal & Lapwing |
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| Painted Lady |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
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| Fly sp. |
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| Common Blue butterfly |
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| Common Blue Damselfly |
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| Shaded Broad Bar |
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| Emerald Damselfly |
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| Garganey |
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| Garganey |
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| Whimbrel |
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| Whimbrel |
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| Common Tern |
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| Great Black Backed Gull |
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| Common Scoter |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Common Tern |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Arctic Skua |
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| Gannet |
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| Buzzard |
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| Peregrine |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Common Tern |
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| Eider |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Mallard |
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| Sandwich Tern |
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| Arctic Tern |
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| Common Gull |
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| Mallard |
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| Mediterranean Gull |
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| Mediterranean Gull |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Redshank |
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| Common Gull |
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| Herring Gull & Eider |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Black Headed Gull |
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| Gannet |
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| Mallard |
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| Black Headed Gull & Sandwich Tern |
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| Roseate Tern, Black Headed Gull & Common Tern |
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| Arctic Tern, Roseate Tern & Sandwich Tern |
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| Sandwich Tern, Black Headed Gull, Roseate Tern, Common Tern & Arctic Tern |
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| Black Headed Gull, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern & Roseate Tern |
Species seen - Arctic Skua, Arctic Tern, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Common Scoter, Common Tern, Cormoramt, Cuckoo, Curlew, Dunlin, Eider, Fulmar, Gadwall, Gannet, Garden Warbler, Garganey, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Kite, Redshank, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Roseate Tern, Sand Martin, Sandwich Tern, Siskin, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Tree Pipit, Turnstone, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Yellowhammer.
Amphibians seen - Common Frog, Common Toad.
Butterflies seen - Common Blue, Dark Green Fritillary (probable), Green Veined White, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White.
Damselflies seen - Common Blue Damselfly, Emerald Damselfly.
Mammals seen - Brown Hare, Roe Deer.
Moths seen - Shaded Broad Bar, Six-Spot Burnet, Udea lutealis.
