Originally a trip northwards to try for Crested Tits and various raptors was on the cards for this Wednesday's outing with Paul. However, circumstances meant an earlier than usual finish had to be factored into our plans, so I came up with an alternative plan that would give us both a chance of adding to our year-lists. Paul picked me up at 0730 and we headed for Riverside Nature Park in the hope of finding a Jack Snipe. Unfortunately the 'boggy' area has almost completely dried out and we drew a blank, though a Great Spotted Woodpecker on a telegraph pole was nice to see. After that we headed northwards for Glenshee to try for Ptarmigan. Having drawn a blank from the car park we decided to try from further up the slopes of Carn Aosda. Plenty of Red Grouse and Mountain Hares were seen on the walk up and we did eventually go all the way to the top, but with a couple of walkers with a dog reaching there before us there were no birds to be seen, except for some very distant Ravens. A trio of Peregrines together were added as we headed back down to the car.
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| Great Grey Shrike |
A Great Grey Shrike had been seen at Backwater Dam almost a fortnight ago, but as the habitat seemed ideal for the species to linger, I figured there was no harm in checking to see if it had hung around. At the top end car park we got out to have a look and within a minute or so Paul had spotted the
Great Grey Shrike perched on one of the remaining trees in what was previously a conifer plantation. The bird was actively hunting and we lost sight of it from the road a few times but always managed to refind it. A year-tick for me, and a lifer (and most-wanted bird) for Paul. (I discovered later at home that it had also been reported on the 25th). From there we headed for a quick stop at Lintrathen where a trio of Pochard were the best birds among the waterfowl on the Loch. We managed to squeeze in a visit to Kinnordy where Whooper Swans and a Red Kite were the best birds noted. Unfortunately we didn't have sufficient time to squeeze in any other stops and headed homewards having seen 52 species of bird (year-tick in bold) and 4 of mammals.
Dundee & Riverside Nature Park - Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Pied Wagtail, Herring Gull, Starling, Pink Footed Goose, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Redwing, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long Tailed Tit, Buzzard, Magpie, Jackdaw, Wren, Chaffinch, Goldfinch.
Dundee to Glenshee - Collared Dove, Rook, Fieldfare, Jay, Pheasant, Raven, Red Grouse, Peregrine.
Mammals seen - Red Squirrel, Mountain Hare.
Glenshee to Backwater Reservoir - Red Legged Partridge, Kestrel, Cormorant, Mallard, Mute Swan,
Great Grey Shrike.
Mammals seen - Red Deer,
Loch of Lintrathen - Canada Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard.
Loch of Kinnordy - Snipe, Grey Heron, Reed Bunting, Red Kite, Goosander, Robin, Coal Tit, Greylag Goose, Gadwall, Whooper Swan, Blue Tit, Goldcrest, Tree Sparrow.
Mammals seen - Roe Deer.
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| Great Spotted Woodpecker |
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| Buzzard |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Raven |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Peregrine |
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| Peregrine |
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| Kestrel |
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| Great Grey Shrike |
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| Great Grey Shrike |
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| Great Grey Shrike |
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| Wigeon, Pochard, Coot & Teal |
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| Canada Goose |
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| Teal & Coot |
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| Snipe |
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| Red Kite |
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| Goosander |
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| Whooper Swan, Mute Swan & Goldeneye |
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| Whooper Swan & Mute Swan |
Species seen -Blackbird, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Goosander, Great Grey Shrike, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pink Footed Goose, Pochard, Raven, Red Grouse, Red Kite, Red Legged Partridge, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Snipe, Starling, Teal, Tree Sparrow, Tufted Duck, Whooper Swan, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals seen - Mountain Hare, Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Roe Deer.
