Having read in various places online that Grasshopper Warblers were beginning to appear again in Scotland as they returned from their wintering grounds much further south, I decided to see if some insider information, courtesy of Lainy McCormack, could be put to good use. During lockdown last year, Lainy had discovered at least 3 or 4 birds in the general area of Clatto Reservoir on the outskirts of Dundee, including a juvenile bird later in the summer. Although there was a possibility that I would be a few days too early, I decided to give finding one a go early on Saturday morning.
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Grasshopper Warbler
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As it is roughly an hour's walk to the reservoir I decided to attempt to get there before 0700, which meant an 0600 departure from home and a rather brisk walk. As I would be searching for a skulking bird that likes a bit of cover I decided as I was en route to try a different way in to the reservoir. The walk to get there actually saved me a bit of time and is likely to be my preferred route in future. Given the early start there was plenty to see along the way, with a singing Linnet on the wall at Dundee United's Tannadice Park stadium the first welcome surprise. Further on, Siskin, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Oystercatcher, Song Thrush, Greenfinch and Collared Dove were all noted.
I reached the northern edge of the city and found the track I wanted. A calling Yellowhammer, a male Pheasant and a Skylark singing its way upwards welcomed me to the area. I wandered slowly up the track adding a small flock of around 8 Linnets, plus more Yellowhammers, a Willow Warbler and a Blackcap before a Peregrine swept low over the field to the north. As I attempted to take a photo it was clear something wasn't right with my camera. Eventually I was able to grab a photo as the Peregrine swept upwards and away after the low pass. After a bit of deliberation I worked out what the problem was. The camera had somehow slipped onto timer mode. I fixed the issue and continued my hunt for Grasshopper Warbler.
I reached a semi-wooded area adjoining the eastern end of the reservoir and slowly wandered, looking and listening intently as I did so. A Rabbit, a Chiffchaff or two, more Bullfinches, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps as well as Blue Tit, Great Tit and Coal Tit among others. With almost no-one about there was plenty to see and hear but no Grasshopper Warblers in any of the locations Lainy had seen and heard them last year. I walked through the wood that lies north of the Reservoir and back down the edge of the field to where I'd exited the track into the wooded area to the east a short while before. Another circuit produced more of the same.
I thought I could hear the reeling of a Grasshopper Warbler but it was very faint and mostly drowned out by other singing birds. I wasn't sure. I attempted to fix the location by moving and stopping. A pair of squabbling Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Great Black Backed Gull both overflew. Eventually, I heard just enough of the Grasshopper Warbler to confirm that there was indeed one within a fenced off area. A noise to my left made me turn just in time to see an unexpected Fox running off. While attempting to gain a view of the Grasshopper Warbler as it reeled on and off I added Rook and a Wren. Eventually, after a lot of moving bits of bush and grass, the bird popped up in a small tree for a few seconds worth of reeling 'song' before disappearing back into cover.
I continued to wander around to see if there was more than just a single bird around as well as exploring a little wider. In doing so Long Tailed Tit, a grey-ish displaying Lesser Redpoll and a Jay were all seen. A Mallard drake flew over towards the Reservoir as I headed in to see if there was anything of note there. It was much quieter than on my previous visit though Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe were all noted. I messaged Lainy to let her know my hunt had been successful and she asked if I would like a trip to see the flock of Golden Plover she'd found near the hills to the morth and which I'd managed to miss on my walk the previous weekend.
Although I don't like to impose on others, Lainy was insistent that it really wasn't a problem if I wanted to go and she was keen to get me the birds for my year-list and to get out and about for a change of scenery - as she's been limited lately by an injury incurred while birding earlier in the year. Lainy and her husband, Adam, have a camper van which would be the vehicle used, with a seat right at the rear where I would be sitting, meaning we would be well socially distanced and with masks being worn and windows opened we'd be taking as many precautions as possible to allow us all to stay safe. They arranged to meet me at the car park at 0930.
We headed out of the city along some of the smaller roads to the northwest that I was unfamiliar with but had considered exploring. Stock Dove in a field and a Swallow perched on a wire were noted as well as a Brown Hare which we stopped to watch for a few minutes as it ran around in another grassy field. We found the field where the Golden Plover had been but there was no obvious sign of the birds. Lapwing and Oystercatcher were at the pond along with Tufted Duck and Canada Goose. Towards the northern edge of the field I spotted movement which I thought might be Grey Partridge but a quick check showed that I'd actually found a small flock of around a dozen Golden Plover, in breeding plumage, and mostly looking rather smart.
We then added Rook, Jackdaw, Skylark and Meadow Pipit as we watched the Plovers for a while. Lainy asked if there was anywhere else I wanted to go. I was conscious of the fact that Lainy would be limited to what she could see from the passenger seat and tried to think of anywhere nearby where there might be something worthwhile. Tentatively I suggested one of the Angus Glens where there are a few reasonably decent stopping points where a variety of birds might be seen, as well as a few other species that can often be seen by the roadside. With low levels of road traffic it is often possible to stop for a few minutes if there is a particularly showy bird.
We headed into Forfar to allow Lainy and Adam to pick up some supplies, having not planned on making a day of things when they left home earlier. The rather claustrophobic position at the back of the van was making me feel a bit queasy as Adam was in the supermarket, so I stepped out of the van for some air for a few minutes to see if I felt any better. As I stood outside I spotted some gulls circling to the north. A bird in the same bit of sky didn't seem to be acting particularly gull-like and I had my suspicions what it might be. I got Lainy onto the bird and she had a nice bonus Osprey on her list for the year. A welcome surprise which when Adam returned he was also able to pick out though a bit more distantly.
We headed for the Glens, stopping at a small roadside pool which proved quite productive giving us Pied Wagtail, Teal, Black Headed Gull, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Grey Heron, Pheasant and Greylag Goose as well as Lapwing, Oystercatcher and an Orange Tip butterfly. A second Brown Hare for the day was seen as we neared our destination Glen. A Red Kite was seen after we'd gone a little way down the road into the Glen and our first brief stop added Chaffinch, Curlew, Goldcrest and another Red Kite as well as a number of Common Gulls calling loudly from high on a nearby hill. Moving on again, a Wheatear was spotted, my first of the year, as well as a Blackbird (sadly not a Ring Ouzel) and a Buzzard. A distant pair of Ravens were also heard then spotted before we moved on again. A male Red Grouse was spotted by the side of the road but didn't want to linger, but a second bird stood by the side of the van allowing me to take a few photos through the side window.
Setting off again, we added a few Meadow Pipits perched on wires and another Wheatear before another stop which proved a little disappointing. A short wander by myself discovered an unwelcome sight - a Larsen trap with a Carrion Crow as bait inside. The estate(s) in the Glen seem to have upped their efforts to eradicate anything that might be deemed a threat to them making money from killing things - with most of the trees in the Glen being removed over the past few years and an apparent increase in traps etc (though perhaps they were always there but hiden from view by stands of trees). Our next stop was to search for Black Grouse at a location that can be very good for connecting with the species. We found 2 Black Grouse males in behind a wire fence and a number of Sand Martins zipped around. A Pied Wagtail was on a nearby burn.
We continued on towards the end of the road. A Red Squirrel ran across the road in front of us. I had hoped we might find a Ring Ouzel at the end of the road but despite much scanning only a Siskin flying over and a Mountain Hare sunning itself on the hillside, found by Lainy, were new for the day's list. A few stops on the way back only added a Mistle Thrush. A young gamekeeper gave us the usual friendly interrogation/chat routine I've come to expect in a few of the local Glens. He'd seen 6 Ring Ouzel up the top of the hill he'd just came down, but going up wasn't an option for us, so we didn't see Ring Ouzel. We headed out of the Glen just before 1600, stopping to photograph a Red Legged Partridge by the roadside (another year-tick for me) before spotting a pair of Roe Deer in the far corner of a nearby field.
We called it a day and headed back to Dundee after what had been a relatively successful day's birding - though as it is still a wee bit early in the 'season' for the upland birds returning, coupled with the removal of most of the potential tree nest sites, it wasn't quite as good as it might've been in previous years. Lainy and Adam dropped me off at home almost 11 hours after I'd left in the morning having had a really enjoyable and unplanned day out thanks to their generosity. In total I managed to record 70 species of bird (6 year-ticks), 6 of mammal and 1 of butterfly. Big thanks to Lainy and Adam for their company and the opportunity to get a bit further afield and some good birds, once again. Much appreciated.
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Yellowhammer & Willow Warbler
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Peregrine
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Blue Tit
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Skylark
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Linnet
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Pheasant
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Pheasant
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Willow Warbler
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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Song Thrush
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Blackcap
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Yellowhammer
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Pheasant
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Lesser Redpoll
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Willow Warbler
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Jay
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Lesser Redpoll
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Mallard
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Wren
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Grasshopper Warbler
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Great Crested Grebe
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Great Crested Grebe
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Moorhen
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Moorhen & Coot
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Blackbird
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Golden Plover
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Golden Plover
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Buzzard
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Osprey
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Red Kite
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Wheatear
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Red Grouse
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Pied Wagtail
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Black Grouse
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Buzzard
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Meadow Pipit
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Red Kite
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Red Kite
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Lapwing
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Mountain Hare
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Rabbit
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Meadow Pipit
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Curlew
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Rabbit
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Sand Martin
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Sand Martin
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Red Legged Partridge
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Red Legged Partridge
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Birds -
Black Grouse, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Curlew, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldcrest,
Golden Plover, Goldfinch,
Grasshopper Warbler, Great Black Backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Lapwing, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Linnet, Little Grebe, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven,
Red Grouse, Red Kite,
Red Legged Partridge, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Sand Martin, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Swallow, Teal, Tufted Duck,
Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer.
Butterflies - Orange Tip.
Mammals - Brown Hare, Fox, Mountain Hare, Rabbit, Red Squirrel, Roe Deer.
