A (mostly) Dundee, Scotland birding blog by Barry Farquharson.
Twitter : @sfbirding
0751 : Absolutely Amazed In Angus (3/1/20)
I always set myself the target of seeing 100 species before I have to go back to work after the New Year break. This year I was scheduled to go back on the 6th, and having managed to reach 94 species by the end of the 2nd, I was keen to try and beat my previous record of 4 days by adding at least 6 species on Friday. I was weighing up options when Jacqui messaged me suggesting a trip up the Angus Glens followed by a stop at Loch of Kinnordy. After some discussion we came up with a plan and arranged to head off at 0830. The plan was to head for a glen and then weigh up the options on which way to head for home afterwards with a stop somewhere en route. I decided to leave the scope at home and take a camera, as opportunities to use the scope would be limited by our chosen locations.
White Tailed Eagle & Red Kite
We had a few target species - Raven, Red Grouse, Black Grouse and Red Kite which wouldn't quite be enough to reach the century but would be a good start. A stop on the way back to Dundee would hopefully add more. We encountered our first target species in a location we are used to running into Red Kites with a couple of the birds showing quite well. A nice way to start things off. As we headed further into the glen I spotted a bird landing on a fencepost at the top of a hill. Jacqui stopped and a quick photo gave me my first Stock Dove for the year. As is usually the case there were a number of Red Grouse encountered alongside the road, giving me year-tick number 3 for the day and edging closer to the 100 mark.
A few Ravens were spotted over the hills (number 4 for the day) before a Buzzard put up a few Black Grouse from a field near the road giving me yet another year-tick. We headed back along the glen before stopping at an area I've seen a mixed Redpoll flock before to see if we could add any. I spooked a possible Meadow Pipit but lost sight of it so was unable to confirm it. I heard a Raven calling and looked up to see a large dark bird going over and took a few quick photos before noticing another large bird approaching along the same line through the glen. This one was a clear 1st winter White Tailed Eagle. Species number 100 for the year, in record time.
I shouted to Jacqui who got onto the bird quickly. A Red Kite flew up to intercept the Eagle before a Raven joined the party. The Eagle soared higher before swinging back towards us with a couple more Ravens in tow. I spotted another smaller raptor higher in the sky nearby which turned out to be a Peregrine. The Eagle climbed higher in the sky leaving the others below. I scanned round the ridges and spotted a Buzzard, then a Red Kite then 2 distant raptors which had a bit of a tussle. Photos appeared to show 2 Golden Eagles, another year-tick, confirmed on the computer at home later.
To my embarassment, later at home I discovered that the dark bird which preceded the White Tailed Eagle was an adult Golden Eagle, my closest ever view of the species, and I hadn't noticed - as I was expecting to see a Raven, and looking into the light that was what my mind told me it was, though in my defence the bird was flapping along rather than gliding. However, I would definitely have taken many more photos of the Golden Eagle had I realised.
We stopped near a stand of conifers to check for Goldcrest and found a single calling bird giving me yet another year-tick. We were most definitely on a roll. We discussed where to head next and decided to pop into Montreathmont Forest where Redpolls were a possibility. As we chatted on our way along the minor roads I jokingly remarked that given our luck so far we would probably find a covey of Red Legged Partridges running across the road in front of the car. We rounded a bend to find a trio of the birds doing just that. Another one for the list.
At Montreathmont we could hear Crossbills when we got out of the car and Siskins as well as Coal Tits and Goldcrests. We wandered along the track to the more open area and managed to find a Mealy Redpoll (another tick) in with Siskins and Crossbills. On the walk back to the car we encountered another mixed flock and there was a Lesser Redpoll showing reasonably well in that one. We were most definitely on a roll. We also heard a Crossbill singing and also a very strident calling individual that I recorded as it was not a call I've heard before, and which sounds a bit like some Parrot Crossbill recordings on xeno-canto website, though at a slightly lower frequency. I suggested stopping off at Monikie Country Park for Pochard, Kingfisher and maybe a Green Sandpiper. Arriving there we found it rather busy and drew a blank on our hoped for birds.
There was one final target that would hopefully be available - Waxwings. Despite Ian and I having missed them on Thursday, I figured that the much better weather meant that there should still be a chance. We tried the trees where Ian and I found a flock a month ago but there were only Starlings again. We headed for the road down past the Cutty Sark pub running parallel to the Kingsway and Jacqui spotted a tree full of birds which turned out to be Waxwings, and a few Fieldfares. Year-tick number 12 for the day in the bag. Although we only managed to see 50 species, the quality was really good with some of the additions taking a bit of pressure for later in the year, and 12 year-ticks (in bold) was a brilliant return. I was also rather glad I took a camera with me, rather than the scope.
What was an exceptional day for us in the Angus Glens shouldn't actually be unusual, but in my experience most definitely is. Given that we saw Red Kite and Peregrine in addition to both Eagle species as well as the photogenic 2 species of Grouse, wildlife tourism could really take off in the area if raptors (and other carnivores) were actually allowed to live unpersecuted. Given that Mull doesn't yet have Red Kites (though Otters are a draw there), there would be some potential to at least grab a share of the wildlife tourism market, with specialist hides set up for photographers and wildlife watchers to spend a few hours in for a reasonable amount of money. If 'virtual reality' shooting (which would be sustainable without the same damage to the environment and wildlife as the current set-up and is surely simple enough to create using today's video game and VR technology) was introduced then the wildlife tourism could then sit comfortably alongside those who enjoy shooting at the wildlife - without any actual blodd being shed. However, I doubt that there are any of the local landowners who would pioneer such a project, unless forced to, by any future legislation brought in by the Scottish Government.
Species seen Dundee to Glens - Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Black Headed Gull, Jackdaw, Rook, Pink Footed Goose, Woodpigeon, Pheasant, Blue Tit, Starling.
Angus Glens - Red Kite, Common Gull, Blackbird, Buzzard, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Stock Dove, Red Grouse, Raven, Black Grouse, Reed Bunting, Golden Eagle, White Tailed Eagle, Peregrine, Goldcrest.
Angus Glens to/and Montreathmont Forest - Red Legged Partridge, Common Crossbill, Greylag Goose, Siskin, Carrion Crow, Lesser Redpoll, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Jay, Mealy Redpoll, Long Tailed Tit.
