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| Red-throated Diver |
With Saturday's search for Waxwings having been unexpectedly successful, it was rather disappointing to wake up to an updated weather forecast which appeared to be mostly rather wet. There was a slight window of opportunity in the morning but even that looked a bit short for getting out anywhere worthwhile. However, Lainy messaged me to see if I fancied heading back to where we'd had Waxwings the previous day. Being in her car, we would have the option of available shelter and the ability to cover more area relatively quickly and comprehensively. Lainy arranged to pick me up around 1030.
Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull and a Sparrowhawk were noted while I waited for Lainy to arrive. Passing Swannie Ponds a few minutes later we were able to add Mute Swan, Mallard and Black-headed Gull. We checked the trees at Mid-Craigie but once again they were empty. House Sparrows were heard as we passed the back of Asda Milton. We checked the area where Lainy and Adam had seen the Waxwings last on Saturday, noting Woodpigeon before we headed up to check the trees in Barnhill Cemetery. Long-tailed Tits, Starling, Robin, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, and an overflying Curlew were seen around the cemetery before we headed down to Balmossie.
Goldcrest, Goldfinch and Greenfinch were found near the footbridge. A skein of Pink-footed Geese were seen out over the river. The tide was still quite far out. We were able to find Oystercatcher, Redshank, Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Bar-tailed Godwit, Wigeon, Great Black-backed Gull, Mallard and Little Egret but the rain which had started when we were at the Cemetery was beginning to get heavier so we decided to head home. Lainy was planning to head over to Fife Ness a bit later to try for the American Golden Plover which had been seen rather sporadically recently and asked if I wanted to join her and Adam for the trip over. I wasn't feeling 100% but with the opportunity to get a lifer and perhaps a few more species I haven't seen this year yet passing by, I readily said 'yes'. Lainy dropped me off at home and said she'd give me a shout when her and Adam were leaving, likely sometime between 1330 and 1400.
Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon and Feral Pigeon were seen while waiting for Lainy and Adam arriving to pick me up. Carrion Crow and Black-headed Gull were noted on the way to Leuchars, with the usual duo of Jackdaw and Collared Dove on the roofs and in the trees there. Oystercatcher, Blackbird and a Rabbit were seen between Guardbridge and St Andrews. A flock of Skylarks flew up from a roadside field as we passed Boarhills. Pheasant was added as we drove across the golf course at Crail on our way down to park by Stinky Pool. Redshank, Great Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Shag and Eider were picked up almost immediately. There was a large flock of Gannets feeding distantly out over the sea, along with some gulls. A flock of Sanderling flew in to land on the rocks offshore where the Shags were roosting.
I spotted a Ringed Plover a few minutes later on the same rocks and a Meadow Pipit overflew. A distant Kittiwake passed southwards and a Red-throated Diver did likewise just before 1505. There was no sign of the hoped for American Golden Plover but we all kept scanning through the scopes. A sleeping Greenshank by the Oystercatchers was rather scant consolation. We were joined by Dave Waters and 2 lady birders for a wee while. Lainy spotted 2 passing Little Gulls before a single Purple Sandpiper dropped in to land on the rocks. The light was already starting to go and there was still no sign of the American Golden Plover. Curlew, Razorbill, Guillemot, Mallard, Rock Pipit, Wren and Robin were added before a Common Gull flew past and a small flock of Turnstones landed on the rocks just after 1600. We gave up eventually a few minutes later at 1605 and headed back to Dundee having managed to find a total of 37 species in the afternoon, along with 28 in the morning, though no Waxwings or the American Golden Plover. Nevertheless, it was good to be out birding given the day's weather forecast, and a wee change of scenery was also very welcome, so big thanks again to Lainy (and Adam) for giving me the chance to get out birding.
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| Pink-footed Goose |
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| Goldfinch & Greenfinch |
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| Gannets (& gulls) |
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| Ringed Plover & Shag |
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| Ringed Plover |
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| Cormorant |
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| Red-throated Diver |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Shag, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Grey Heron & Great Black-backed Gull |
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| Sanderling |
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| Herring Gull |
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| Herring Gull, Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Ringed Plover & Shag |
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| Oystercatcher & Greenshank |
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| Black-headed Gull & Herring Gull |
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| Sanderling, Redshank, Oystercatcher & Greenshank |
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| Guillemot |
Birds (AM - Dundee) - Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Curlew, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Herring Gull, House Sparrow, Little Egret, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-footed Goose, Redshank, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Wigeon, Woodpigeon.
Birds (PM - Fife) - Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Eider, Gannet, Great Black-backed Gull, Greenshank, Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail, Guillemot, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Kittiwake, Little Gull, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Purple Sandpiper, Razorbill, Red-throated Diver, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rock Pipit, Sanderling, Shag, Skylark, Turnstone, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals (PM - Fife) - Rabbit.
