0721 : Wholly Holy (4/10/19)

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.

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.

Red Throated Diver

Roe Deer

Brent Goose, Wigeon, Knot, Redshank & Oystercatcher

Brent Goose

Golden Plover

Brent Goose & Mallard

Lapwing

Redwing

Redwing

Fieldfare

Red Breasted Merganser

Little Egret

Brent Goose & Wigeon

Robin

Redwing

Yellow Browed Warbler

Yellow Browed Warbler

Blackcap

House Sparrow

Lapwing

Roe Deer

Kestrel

Wigeon

Stonechat

Golden Plover

Curlew

Mute Swan

Grey Plover

Golden Plover

Yellow Browed Warbler

Yelllow Browed Warbler

Yellow Browed Warbler

Great Crested Grebe & Black Headed Gull



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. 

0720 : Back To The Barred (3/10/19)

A day out with Susan and her cousin Gordon was arranged for the 3rd October. An early start suited me so I arranged to meet Susan and Gordon at Kilminning around 1100. I headed out at around 0645 and finally made it to Crail roughly 90 minutes later. Once again I took the track across the fields on my way out to Kilminning. Things were relatively quiet at the top end so I headed instead to the bottom end where the Barred Warbler showed briefly on and off. Susan and Gordon arrived and managed to see the bird. As it wasn't particularly warm we headed to the Fife Ness hide for some seawatching. A Long Tailed Duck and a few Sandwich Terns were as good as the seawatching got. We headed for St Andrews next but called an early halt to proceedings after a quick look at St Andrews Bay from near the castle. Not a classic day out but Barred Warbler is always worth seeing.

Barred Warbler

Species seen on walk to bus station - Herring Gull, Pink Footed Goose, Carrion Crow,

From bus to St Andrews - Woodpigeon, Rook, Starling, Jackdaw.

St Andrews to Crail - Mallard, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Gull, Black Headed Gull, Pheasant.

Crail to Kilminning - Grey Wagtail, Blackbird, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Golden Plover, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk, Wren, Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Gannet, Kestrel, Chaffinch, Buzzard, Magpie.

Kilminning - Yellowhammer, Song Thrush, Redwing, Linnet, Barred Warbler, Goldcrest, Great Black Backed Gull, Cormorant, Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch.

Fife Ness - Curlew, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Razorbill, Red Throated Diver, Kittiwake, Red Breasted Merganser, Grey Heron, Teal, Shag, Guillemot, Eider, Long tailed Duck, Velvet Scoter, Rock Pipit, Ringed Plover, Oysteractcher, Dunlin.

St Andrews - Turnstone.

Golden Plover

Golden Plover

Skylark

Sparrowhawk

Wren

Dunnock

Goldfinch

Stock Dove

Redwing

Blue Tit

Magpie

Starling

Robin

Starling

Song Thrush

Barred Warbler

Barred Warbler

Buzzard

Barred Warbler

Stock Dove

Red Throated Diver

Gannet

Common Scoter & Teal

Red Throated Diver

Red Throated Diver

Gannet & Red Throated Diver

Red Throated Diver

Red Throated Diver

Long Tailed Duck & Common Scoter

Grey Heron

Sandwich Tern

Gannet

Herring Gull

Wigeon

Dunlin & Ringed Plover

Red Throated Diver

Stonechat

Stonechat

Stonechat

Red Throated Diver

Eider & Red Throated Diver

63 Species seen - Barred Warbler, Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Common Gull, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Goldcrest, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Kittiwake, Linnet, Long Tailed Duck, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Razorbill, Red Breasted Merganser, Red Throated Diver, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Rook, Sandwich Tern, Shag, Skylark, Song Thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Teal, Turnstone, Velvet Scoter, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.