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| Stonechat |
On Saturday the 20th of June, with it being a bit on the warm side during the day, Rohan had suggested the possibility of heading inland for a spot of cooler evening birding with Kinnordy and Lintrathen suggested. Given that it appears that Kinnordy is pretty much photographer-central these days, I suggested a wee wander at Backwater Reservoir as an alternative, with a stop at Lintrathen or Kinnordy later once we were done there. Rohan agreed and we arranged an 1800 pick-up, which would allow things to have cooled down a bit, temperature-wise.
An unexpected Swallow and a Jackdaw were added before we'd left Dundee, with Oystercatcher, Common Gull and the evening's first Brown Hare noted en route to Backwater Reservoir. Once we got there it didn't take long to add Willow Warbler, Buzzard, Curlew, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Sand Martin, Woodpigeon and Pheasant as we wandered northwards along the road from the top end car park. A Field/Bank Vole ran across the road in front of us. There was no sign of some of the hoped for species but there was almost always something for us to look at. Around 1920 we headed down to the other car park to have another walk along the road.
Linnet, Wren, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow and a Common Sandpiper were found along this particular stretch of road and a few Roe Deer could be seen further up the hillside. Swift, Kestrel, Reed Bunting and a Spotted Flycatcher were all found before we headed back to the car. A slight navigational error led to a bit of a detour on the way home, but got us Blackbird, Collared Dove and a Lesser Black-backed Gull as well as a couple more Brown Hares. We ended the evening's birding with a total of 26 species of birds and 3 of mammals. The birding was rather relaxed and the weather behaved too, which was a nice bonus. A very pleasant way to spend a Saturday evening.
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| Stonechat |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Curlew |
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| Stonechat |
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| Stonechat |
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| Stonechat |
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| Curlew |
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| Buzzard |
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| Grass moth sp. |
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Linnet |
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| Linnet |
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| Buzzard |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Reed Bunting |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Roe Deer |
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Rook |
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| Bullfinch |
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| Meadow Pipit |
Birds - Blackbird, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Sand Martin, Song Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat, Swallow, Swift, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren.
Mammals - Brown Hare, Bank/Field Vole, Roe Deer.
