Ian suggested a trip south of the border for Friday 4th of October as he had a day off and there was very little worth attempting to see in Scotland (and a rather unfavourable weather forecast to go with it), so naturally I agreed. Greenish Warbler and Pacific Golden Plover at Holy Island were the targets for the day. An early start (train getting into Perth at 0715) was arranged and we were headed south on time well before 0800. The weather was wet and windy but it wasn't raining when we reached a very quiet Barns Ness where we searched in vain for any migrants around the wire dump. With the Holy Island causeway not open until 1050 the stop had been factored in, and we squeezed in a few minutes near Torness as well. Unfortunately the blustery conditions did have us both considering suggesting that we cancel and head back to the Tay where a Hooded Merganser had been reported, though neither of us said so at the time.
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| Yellow Browed Warbler |
We continued on southwards and arrived on the island at around 1120. There were 100(0)sof Brent Geese and plenty other birds on the mud either side of the causeway and a large flock of Golden Plover did land well out on the mud (beyond scope range for picking out a Pacific Golden Plover at least). Our first stop proper was the Vicar's Garden where the
Greenish Warbler had apparently been in residence for some time. Thankfully it was calling as we arrived at the right spot and we were able to catch a brief glimpse of the bird before it went silent and vanished again. We were joined by others and soon added Yellow Browed Warbler, Brambling and Blackcap to the list before deciding we had best head off to explore the island. Lots of Redwings were arriving (along with a few Fieldfares).
Our only Golden Plover sightings were of huge flocks (3000 reported around the island) milling around in the air, rather distantly. A Merlin was chased off by a Kestrel before we headed back to try again with the Greenish Warbler. I did succeed in seeing the bird through the branches of an Elder bush as it perched on the garden wall preening but a photo was impossible. We headed back up the road around 1645 stopping at Dalgety Bay in a failed attempt to see Red Necked Grebe in the gloom at dusk. Ian dropped me off at home around 2000 after a long, but worthwhile day's birding. 59 species seen including a lifer (in bold).
Species seen Dundee (to Perth) to Barns Ness - Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Cormorant, Woodpigeon, Buzzard.
Barns Ness - Gannet, Curlew, Great Black Backed Gull, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Grey Heron, Red Throated Diver.
Mammals seen - Roe Deer.
Barns Ness/Torness to border - Rook, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Linnet, Goldfinch, Pheasant.
Border to Holy Island causeway - Black Headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon.
Holy Island - Brent Goose, Curlew, Eider, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Cormorant, Dunlin, Knot, Golden Plover, Great Black Backed Gull, Starling, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Mute Swan, Rook, Kestrel, Pied Wagtail, Lapwing, Redwing, Collared Dove, Blackbird,
Greenish Warbler, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Red Breasted Merganser, Turnstone, Bar Tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Meadow Pipit, Grey Heron, Guillemot, Yellow Browed Warbler, Brambling, House Sparrow, Merlin, Stonechat, Rock Pipit, Ringed Plover, Robin, Magpie, Linnet, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Blue Tit.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal, Roe Deer.
Dalgety Bay - Shelduck, Great Crested Grebe.
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| Red Throated Diver |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Brent Goose, Wigeon, Knot, Redshank & Oystercatcher |
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| Brent Goose |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Brent Goose & Mallard |
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| Lapwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Redwing |
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| Fieldfare |
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| Red Breasted Merganser |
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| Little Egret |
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| Brent Goose & Wigeon |
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| Robin |
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| Redwing |
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| Yellow Browed Warbler |
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| Yellow Browed Warbler |
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| Blackcap |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Lapwing |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Kestrel |
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| Wigeon |
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| Stonechat |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Curlew |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Grey Plover |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Yellow Browed Warbler |
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| Yelllow Browed Warbler |
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| Yellow Browed Warbler |
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Great Crested Grebe & Black Headed Gull
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Species seen - Bar Tailed Godwit, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Brambling, Brent Goose, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Fieldfare, Gannet, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe,
Greenish Warbler, Grey Heron, Grey Plover, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Knot, Lapwing, Linnet, Little Egret, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Merlin, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Red Throated Diver, Redwing, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Shelduck, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Turnstone, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Yellow Browed Warbler.
Mammals seen - Grey Seal, Roe Deer.
