Tayforth Birding

[delia todd]

EDIT 19th July 2009:

The name of this thread has been changed as it now includes Stirling and Clackmannanshire. The areas covered are shown on the attached map:

Angus (2), Perthshire (24), Kinross (16), Fife (13), Clackmannanshire (9) and Stirlingshire (30).

------------------------

I've wanted to do this for a while - think it's time for reports from the local area not covered by the Rob's and mine methinks. How about it then? And if you don't like the title I can change it ;)

I went to Kinnordy on Saturday, really, really quiet. Hardly anything visible from the Gullery hide so moved onto the right hand one (never can remember what it's called).

Blue, Coal and Great Tits at the feeders, along with Chaffinch on the ground. A Treecreeper flew onto one of the trees there, but nothing else.

There were a selection of birds on the water, but not many of each. I was hoping to see some geese but there were none. It turned out that they had been shooting there that morning. :storm: I didn't know, but apparently the agreement is for 2 days shooting per year. Obviously everything had either left or gone into hiding.

Things were beginning to come out a bit, Mallard, Wigeon and Coot mostly and there were Heron, Cormorant, Mute Swans with a couple of cygnets and Moorhens. A large flock of Lapwings came in just before I left.

Three Buzzards were flying over the hill in the distance.

Popped into the new hide at Lintrathen on the way home. Lots on there, but still no geese. Mallard, Tufted, Teal, Pochard (no sign of the reported Red Crested though), Wigeon, Coot, A juvenile Great Crested Grebe and a Little Grebe.

Several Herons, Mute Swan and a Great Black Backed Gull with the Commons.

Then Up the Hill – but that's for another thread:t:

D

[delia todd]

Forgot to report on Sunday.

The Drimmie Road from Blairgowrie to Bridge of Cally. A Flock of around 30 Goldfinches feeding at the side of the road and further along there were 6 Stone Chat. I think these may be migrants.

Two Buzzards and a Kestrel, also spotted.

D

[delia todd]

Murton Nature Reserve near Forfar

Very quiet there today, according to Al seems to be a sort of 'between' times.

Only went to the Gladstone Hide, c50 Mallard, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese (one with broken wing). Three Pink Feet flew in. About 20 Rooks.

Flyovers, included Cormorant, Feral Pigeons, Great Black Back Gulls and a Wood Pigeon.

There were several Buzzards, three in my bins at once. A Kestrel came hunting too.

A highlight there were 2 Swallows.

Away in the distance, coming from the north, I could see several flocks of 'little things', so presume these are migrants.

On the way home there were loads of Pink Feet flying over, 2 skeins joined together for a while and I estimate about 1000 birds there. About 50 of them then broke away and headed SE the remainder going more SW, perhaps to Vane Farm.

D

[delia todd]

A visit to Kinnordy gave me one of those Wow moments - loads of Common Gulls flying past heading West. They just kept coming and coming, at one point there must have been over 1000 gulls stretching for nearly a mile with more coming through to catch up. Then 5 minutes later another lot.

The wild fowl seem to have recovered from the shooting on Saturday, and 5 Red Breasted Merganser have joined the party there.

D

[delia todd]

A bright and sunny morning with a very heavy frost.

We decided to head for Loch of Lintrathen. A Robin was pecking about in the long grass in front of the hide. The water was frozen but there were a few ice-free patches, on the far side of course. Good numbers of water fowl - Mallard, Teal, Wigeon and Coot. A few Pochard, Whooper and Mute Swans and I could only see two Cormorants. Gull numbers were very low, all sitting on the ice in the middle of the loch, Common, mostly with a few Herring and a single Great Black Back.

Sadly there was a Whooper Swan frozen into the ice. The police did come to investigate, but it would have taken a major operation to attempt a rescue. There's been a thaw overnight, so hopefully it's survived.

Scoping the trees, one of the pines was very busy with Goldfinch, Blue Tit and Siskin.

The drive there and back we found a total of 5 Buzzards, lots of Blackbirds, more Goldfinch with Chaffinch but little else really - no winter thrushes anywhere.

D

[aythya_hybrid]

Staying with my parents in Fife at the moment and will definitely do some local birding soon: probably not tomorrow or the day after, but certainly between 1-5 jan I intend to check Leven, Ruddons, St.Andrews and the Eden.

I see the bonaparte's gull seems to be showing well in the morning at Ferryden, Angus, right near Montrose.

[delia todd]

Staying with my parents in Fife at the moment and will definitely do some local birding soon: probably not tomorrow or the day after, but certainly between 1-5 jan I intend to check Leven, Ruddons, St.Andrews and the Eden.

I see the bonaparte's gull seems to be showing well in the morning at Ferryden, Angus, right near Montrose.

Hiya Aythya hope you're enjoying the holidays and see you managed to track down the Barrows Goldeneye - nice one. Have you been escaping the fog we've been suffering with here the last few days?

I must get back up to Montrose - it must be over a year since I've been there.

Yesterday went to Montreathmont and saw nothing all the way for the fog. Clearer on the way home and saw both Buzzard and Kestrel.

The feeding station had plenty of activity with Coal, Blue, and Great Tits, Dunnock, Chaffinch, and Robin. Eventually a single Greenfinch arrived (where are they all??) then a small flock of Long Tailed Tits (so that was me happy). A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers made constant visits to their favourite feeder.

Scoping round the trees, Ken found a Treecreeper. Green Woodpeckers were calling constantly but never came into view.

Just before we left - whooosh in came a Sparrowhawk.

Walking back along the track to the car we heard, then saw 4 Jays.

We had thought of going to Balgavie, but stayed too long at Montreathmont - hmm... I hear there were some Waxwing there yesterday.

D

[matt green]

Looks like you have tayside all to yourself Delia ;)

Do keep up your reports,they do make for very interesting reading.Especialy
for a certain norfolkman who secretly craves for rocky outcrops,deep valleys,
bubbling streams and all those eagles!

Matt

[aythya_hybrid]

Managed a spot of local birding today, but my efforts were hampered a bit by the strong winds.

Did manage to pick out the drake Surf Scoter at Ruddons, which showed reasonably well despite the strong winds. Also a female Scaup on Kilconquhar Loch and 23 Whooper Swans and a fem RB Merganser on Cameron. Will try the St.Andrews/Eden area soon, hopefully when the wind's died down a bit!

[delia todd]

Looks like you have tayside all to yourself Delia ;)

Do keep up your reports,they do make for very interesting reading.Especialy
for a certain norfolkman who secretly craves for rocky outcrops,deep valleys,
bubbling streams and all those eagles!

Matt

Hardly a bubbling stream Matt - more like raging torrent today!

You had a better day than I did then Aythya-hybrid - I think all the birds were blown away last night.

Best of my bunch (16 species only) were Long Tailed Tit, Dipper and female Goosander. I think I heard a Treecreeper but the noise from the water was too great to be sure. These were all on an afternoon walk along the river, after first having had to climb over a fallen tree, one of several casualties I saw.

I may take a trip to Vane Farm later this week or next, as I'm thinking of going to Hoggs for a new pair of boots.

D

[aythya_hybrid]

had a decent few hours in the St.Andrews area today: see Rob's Eden Estuary thread for further details.

[delia todd]

the LT Ducks were particularly good.

You had a good day by the sound of it - LT Ducks are my favourites.

I started off with a quick view, in a howling gale, at Murton. Lots of Wigeon, Goldeneye and Tufted out on the large pond and amongst the, mostly, Common Gulls was a Greater Black Backed Gull. Only 2 Lapwing to be seen. Just as we were leaving a flock of about 15 Goldfinch swirled around and settled in a tree just above our heads.

Then off to Balgavies. There were very few passerines to be seen but a Treecreeper in the car park was nice.

Lots of wildfowl on the water, mostly Goldeneye, Tufties and Coot, though I spotted a singleton Moorhen and 16 Greylag . Eleven Cormorants came in to roost on the island trees. Two Grey Herons and 4 male Goosander. Then found a Buzzard sitting on a fence post. Lapwing and Pinkfooted Geese flew over.

The circular footpath has now been completed so I'll give that a try one day.

Some local birders came in as we were about to leave and reported Waxwing in Kirriemuir, so decided to go into the town instead of skirting it. Didn't find the Waxwing but saw 3 Redwing there instead.

Last port of call for the day was Kinnordy. It was really dim light by now - 3pm and nothing on the feeders. Similar birds here to Balgavies, with the addition of Mallard, and Whooper Swans but the real goody there was a female Smew (Redhead) which had palled up with a Goldeneye.

D

[aythya_hybrid]

Last day up in Scotland today. Went for a walk with the parents around Abernethy Glen. Nothing spectacular but one or two things: 1 Raven, 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Redpoll, loads of Redwing (200+) and smaller numbers of fieldfare.

Birnie and Gaddon Loch on the way home: c25 siskin, 18 goosander, not much else....

[kawwauser]

i was at kinnordy on the 18/12/06 i think?my days are mixed up with working so hard,this is my first day off,apart from great/blue/coal tits
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/greattit.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/coaltit.jpg
i also seen some long tailed tits being chased by a sparrowhawk at the gullery hide, http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_6568b.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_6571b.jpg
outside the gullery hide a flock of bullfinches were feeding
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_6613.jpg
on the way to kinnordy from dundee i counted three buzzards and two kestrels,i read about the waxwing but left it late as usual,i noticed some rooks at their rookerys sitting by the nests,

[delia todd]

aythya_hybrid: Thanks for posting your reports. That sounds like a pretty good day you had. I went to Birnie Loch for the first time last year very nice there. Have a good trip home.

kawwauser: nice to hear from you again. That's a lovely picture of the Great Tit, but your other links aren't working. Drop us a PM if you're going again and I may be able to join you.

I was back at Kinnordy this afternoon - no sign of the Redhead (must have known I wanted a picture LOL) but did see Teal there today (all hiding in the reeds). Counted 54 Whooper Swans feeding in the grass field opposite.

D

[delia todd]

Ah! I see you have the links working now kawwauser, well done with the LTTs I've never managed a good one yet.

Funny I haven't seen a Coal Tit yet this year hmm can't be looking hard enough.

D

[delia todd]

I went for a drive round Clunie Loch today - so close but not been there for ages.

Mallards a'plenty and there appear to be 2 pairs of Goosander. Goldeneye, Coots and about a dozen Cormorants sitting in their usual place on the castle island. These all seen at the East end.

I stopped by the Kennels on the south side and could hear shooting (presumably a pheasant shoot) in the distance, which disturbed around 200 Jackdaws. There was a lot of activity here, with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch and Chaffinch all busy feeding.

At the Church I stayed quite a while and went for a walk in the wood - absolutely dead, not a sound. On the loch, though were Tufted Duck, 2 Greylag Geese and a pair of Mute Swans. I was surprised there were no Grebes at all.

Returning by the west end past Clunie Farm a pair of Mistle Thrushes sitting on a rock then at Lunan Burn Long Tailed Tits to finish the day.

D

[aythya_hybrid]

visiting parents again.

At least 4 Tree Sparrows in a bush by the small farm between Hill of Tarvit and Craigrothie in central Fife today. They are always in the exact same bush: worth a look if anyone needs tree sparrow!

[aythya_hybrid]

In Angus today:

leisurely stroll up Glen Isla - 20-25 Raven, c15 Buzzard, 14 Red Grouse, Siskin, Dipper, Treecreeper.

Loch of Lintrathen - not much: a few Whoopers and Goosanders. No sign of smew reported yesterday but was very choppy.

Major bonus was a ringtail Hen Harrier low over the road just west of Kirkton of Kingoldrum. Also at least 30 Whoopers at Kinnordy seen from the car whilst going past the west end.

Will be back up in two weeks (again!!) for some serious birding.

[kas]

Keep up the reports. Nice photos from kawwauser. ;)

One day I will get down for the tour Delia, Green Woodpecker and Jay would be life birds for me, and in return you can come and see my Long tailed ducks whilst having a relaxing seat in the house.
:-O

[kawwauser]

the hen harrier made its way to kinnordy today along with an iceland/icelandic gull i missed both,there was a lot more birdlife today compared to the last few weeks, lots of swans mute/ whooper, some teal,goldeneye, a pair of goosander, long tailed blue great and coal tits, one magpie in the field imediatly to the left of the loch ,and a pair of carrion crows gathering nesting material,maybe they are trying to beat the rooks at nestbuilding ?
here are two pics take at kinnordy today
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/longttkin.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/chaffinchkinn-1.jpg

[delia todd]

leisurely stroll up Glen Isla - 20-25 Raven,

How far up the Glen were you for the Raven? It's only a long hop skip and a jump from my Patch and I keep looking for them there.

One day I will get down for the tour Delia, Green Woodpecker and Jay would be life birds for me, and in return you can come and see my Long tailed ducks whilst having a relaxing seat in the house.

You'll be welcome anytime but could you hang on to a Glaucus Gull for me. You may have noticed elsewhere I've just seen loads of Long Tailed Ducks ;)

Those are cracking pictures, again kawwauser.

I was at Kinnordy for a couple of hours this afternoon. En route I saw 4 Common Buzzard, two flying just outside Rattray (Pondfaulds), one near the gates of Airlie Castle, which flew down onto the road with a Wood Pigeon, I stopped well short but it flew off anyway without it's prize, then another on the Kaims of Airlie road beside Ghenty Farm. A further two were at Kinnordy, so 6 in total. Also on this road (at the large dung heap) near Cairnleith Farm, a rather nice Grey Wagtail.

A pair of Shoveler flew along to the west end of the Loch as I drove past - the place is absolutely hotching with both Mute and Whooper Swans, also Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Pintail and Goldeneye. A few Goosanders, Shelduck and Coot around too. Just a single Grey Heron flew across on the far side.

I'd heard that an Iceland Gull had been seen recently, but my informant today said he hadn't seen it. However, very patiently, I scoped through the large raft of Gulls (I don't do gulls normally) Black Headed, Common, juvenile ers..... and then I found it a Lifer for me. :D

Blue and Great Tit outside the Gullery Hide, but I didn't have time to do anything else

D

[kas]

I'd heard that an Iceland Gull had been seen recently, but my informant today said he hadn't seen it. However, very patiently, I scoped through the large raft of Gulls (I don't do gulls normally) Black Headed, Common, juvenile ers..... and then I found it a Lifer for me. :D



D

Nice one, I am glad you caught up with it, nothing like a lifer to put a spring in the step. In fact I have quite often danced like the estatic smiley when getting one. Iceland Gulls are great I hope it hangs around for you.

[kawwauser]

i was at kinnordy today but didn.t know the iceland gull was still present, the notice board hasn,t been updated since last week and i never thought of checking
i saw a female goosander which is my first this year ,ive seen a lot of males kinnordy/tullybackart , there was also a pair of cormorants at tullybackart, on the way to kinnordy i passed six buzzards, surely this is now our most common bird of prey?i have pics from a few years ago of a buzzard nest less than twelve feet from the ground in a public park in dundee, the birds reared two chicks ,i also spotted one goldcrest and a female stonechat at the bottom of the sidlaw hills
these pics were taken at kinnordy/surrounding farmland
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/robin.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/whooper.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/pintail.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/pintail2.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/buzzard.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/buzzard2.jpg

[aythya_hybrid]

Not a bad day today (visiting my parents again, this time for serious birding....)

got the Bonaparte's Gull at Ferryden
superb Iceland Gull at the landfill tip just east of Forfar
98 Whooper Swan and a few goosander at Kinnordy, but the loch was mostly frozen, so no sign of smew.
10+ Hawfinch at Scone.

Going to try some places in Fife tomorrow....

[Pluvius]

I was staying with my sister in Dalguise at her Bed and Breakfast (http://www.miltoncottage.com) for a few days this week. I came over to Scotland with the express idea of seeing a Crested Tit. So I went upto Loch Garten without much success part from Robins!! Having spent an hour walking around with the new fall of snow dropping from the pines it was quite difficult to bird. So I went over to Corrimony on the side of Loch Ness again nothing apart from Raven, Buzzard and Coal tits.

Back to Dalguise where there were 10 Whooper Swans on the Kinnaird Beat of the Tay. There was also a male Goosander. My sister has a pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker that come to her feeders but I could never get close to photograph. She had tons of Chaffinch, Bluetit, Coal tit and Great Tit to the feeders but little else. She also has some Red Squirrels that come to the feeders.


I then went to Loch of Llowes where they have a great feeding station where I saw Siskin and again Gt. Spotted Woodpecker and out on the Loch there were Goldeneye, Tufted, Mallard, Gt Crested Grebe and Cormorant.

I was at Milton Cottage for three days and every morning around six one could hear Tawny Owls in the vicinity.

I hope to go back in April to catch up with some Scottish birds that I have yet to see. Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Crossbill and Crested Tit.

[aythya_hybrid]

A most excellent day in Fife (and indeed also Kinross today):

17 pale-bellied brents, long-tailed duck and 4 slav grebes on the Eden Estuary
31 purple sandpipers on rocks by the St.Andrews golf museum
6 Tree Sparrow in Craigrothie
drake surf scoter off Lower Largo
99 Whooper Swans and a peregrine in fields east of Vane Farm
drake Smew, Little Egret and red-throated diver at vane farm
killer whale off north queensferry.

Back of the net.

[delia todd]

Sounds to me like you've had a very gooood weekend

I've not managed anything this weekend but hoping to get out tomorrow

D

[delia todd]

A mixed flock of Fieldfare, Redwing and Starlings in a field at Drimmie.

Blue Tit, Chaffinch and Greenfinch at feeders. Other than that just a single Buzzard heard.

Bit quiet really

D

[delia todd]

oops forgot to update this yesterday!

Sunday

About 20 Starlings in a field at Drimmie, along with 2 Oystercatchers.

I could have sworn I heard a Curlew call (just the once though)

With ten Oystercatchers on my Patch and the return of a Moorhen things seem to be building up.

Also 2 Jays near the car park at Drimmie Forest.

Monday

A pair of Dabchick now on my Patch and a pair of Buzzards displaying.

Very very brief stop at Lintrathen 100+ Common Gulls on the water, Goldeneye, Coot, Tufted and Goosander

Then on to Kinnordy - well over 100 Whooper Swans, 3 Gadwall a single Cormorant. Watched a couple of Coots having a battle royal as well. Otherwise everything else much as usual there.

D

[delia todd]

Went to Tayport - bright and sunny but a very cold wind. Tide coming in.

Hundreds of Eider, also Shelduck and Wigeon. A couple of Goosanders too.

Plenty of Oystercatchers and Curlew and eventually a flock of Redshanks came in but that was it for the Waders.

Moved on to Morton Lochs after that lots of Mallard, of course, with Teal and a pair of Gadwall, one male Pochard.

I could only see one Dabchick but think there were more, as I heard a couple calling.

A Common Sandpiper was reported in the book.

A few Buzzards around and a large flock of Lapwings flying over as we were leaving.

D

[Ade George]

I have been out doing bird research near Montrose over the past few days and had c 500 Pink-feet NE on 13th and about c 450 today. lots of buzzards and a male sparrowhawk flushed a flock of 100 Yellowhammers.

[delia todd]

100 Yellowhammers Ade? Gosh! The most I've ever seen was about 20.

I couldn't face being blown away up the hill again, so thought I'd have a run along the Leitfie Road to Hallyards.

One Skylark singing over a field of something green. Detouring down to the Aberbrothie bridge to look at the Isla, there were around 30 Oystercatchers sitting on the bank, two Curlews and 2 Lapwings in the fields. I could hear some Starlings but couldn't spot them anywhere.

Moving on towards the Golf Course, there was a single Yellowhammer singing, with Greenfinch, Robin, Chaffinch and a Goldfinch.

I stopped for a while near Netherton Farm (where I've seen Whoopers in the past) and they didn't let me down today - around 60 but not all visible for the trees. Also, what I thought were about 80 Pinkfeet Geese, but suddenly a whole load took to the air and I estimate there were getting on for 3-400. There's some oxbow erm... you could hardly call them lakes but there were loads of Wigeon on one of them, with a couple of Teal and some Mallard. A couple of hundred Jackdaws came in to roost on the trees.

Two Herons, a Roe Deer and a Grey Squirrel completed the trip.

D

[Ade George]

Hello all, If anyone is out birding and see Yellowhammers please can you check for colour rings. Not alot happening otherwise near Carnoustie, c30 Skylarks in a few groups passed threw, 3 Grey Herons, 5 Buzzards, 1 Sparrowhawk male trapped, 2 Kestrels, 2 Yellowhammers trapped with a flock of 130 present, 4 Oystercatchers.

Thanks
Adrian

[Woodchatshrike]

The reported Snow Goose at Newburgh in Fife turned out to be a Ross'/ Pinkfoot Hybrid.

[delia todd]

I had to make a quick visit to Dunkeld this afternoon, so took my time coming back.

First visit to Loch of the Lowes, just in the hope that... but no sign yet.

The loch was quiet at the hide end, mostly Goldeneye there. The feeders were busy with Chaffinch, Blue and Great Tits. A Wren was scurrying around with nesting material. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, flew into a tree near the feeders.

From there I drove along the back road stopping several times to look at the water. Many Great Crested Grebes and Mallards, of course, and a few Whooper Swans but a surprise for me was a single Long Tailed Duck.

The trees and bushes around Letter Farm were busy with more Chaffinch, another Wren , Blackbirds, Greenfinch, and I heard the first of 4 Yellowhammers (couldn't see them though).

The fields all the way through Snaigow, Craigie and Essendy held many Oystercatchers, Lapwing and Curlews. There were also two Redshank wading through some flood water in one field.

What a lovely warm and sunny day it was today.

D

[delia todd]

Did the 'big circle' yesterday to meet up with friends at Pitlochry.

Still patches of soft slushy snow on Moulin Moor but Curlews and Lapwings have arrived up there, sat for some time with a view point and eventually found a male Hen Harrier (top spot of the trip that).

There were several Stonechats flitting about in the heather. Then the first of two Buzzards for the trip

Not much showing in Pitlochry itself (the Theatre area), Herring Gull, loads of Chaffinch, Mallards on the river, but in the distance were a large flock of what looked like Fieldfare.

I then drove the Dunfallandy road through Logierait to Aberfeldy, loads more Oystercatchers, Curlew, Lapwing in virtually every field. Near Aberfeldy in flooded fields, were some Teal and a Mute Swan, Common and Black Headed Gulls .

Up then to Loch na Craig with Goldeneye and Little Grebes.

Then a Dipper on River Braan at Trochry.

D

[kawwauser]

visted kinnordy yesterday,the black headed gulls are pairing off and the rooks are well into nest building, seen one pair of widgeon and seven tufted ducks, plenty of oystercatchers about and some arguing coots, both mute and whooper swan are still there as well as blue/coal/great tit, good to see the local robin is still present
http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/134160/sort/1/cat/500/page/1
on the way to kinnordy i passed five pairs of buzzards which are now displaying in flight

[Ade George]

I had 20 Whooper Swans north near Carnoustie yesterday.

[Ade George]

Surprisingly there were still a flock of approx 120 of Yellowhammers on a stubble strip near Careston today. Good to hear an Osprey has return to Lock of Lowes. I have heard a report that a Tawny Owl chick has been seen outside the box, just to reitterate how warm this winter has been.

[Ade George]

Its not quite in the area but had my first Scottish Golden Eagles since 1983 yesterday. In a space of 15 minutes I had two pairs, completely took my breathe away. I have waited a long time to see these magnificant birds. I also saw 08 green Osprey at Loch of Lowes making adjustments to the nest. I totalled seven species of raptors yesterday.

Today I had an Osprey over Kinnoull Hill going north and a pair of Wheatears at Little Glen Shee.

[delia todd]

Well done with the Goldies, Ade, can you sort of say where they were?

Another visit to Kinnordy for me this afternoon. Whoopers have taken a nose dive this week, only about 20 left now. I looked for the Smew and Greenshank, which were supposedly about but couldn't see them.

Lots of Wigeon and Teal. Also Black Headed Gulls and Oystercatchers of course. Rooks busy carrying sticks to the nests.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming and I eventually saw it, along with Chaffies, Robin, Dunnock, Blue and Great Tits and heard a Gold Crest too

Then at 5pm what I'd waited for - an Osprey came in to fish :bounce: successfully too. It was around for about half an hour giving good views, before flying off to the west.

Returned home via the pylon, but no sign of them there yet.

Pic is my first attempt at digiscoping an Osprey in flight!

D

[kawwauser]

visited kinnordy myself today,4.30 pm a little late for the osprey it was there about 10.00 am, i took some pics of the nest on the pylon and thought i may have seen a head sticking out the nest, but when i examined the pics on my computer it shows a very untidy nest, when i arrived the woodpecker and the red squirrel were in the same tree,there was also a feeder on the ground, not sure if there may have been a fight, a moorhen was fighting off some teals at the gullery hide ,got my first pic of a coot actually showing the colour of the eye

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/135243

also spotted a buzzard with a vole /mouse in the fields just south of kinnordy

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/135242

[delia todd]

Great pictures Kawwauser.

LOL that stick sticking out of the nest is very confusing isn't it. Those Ospreys were rather late arrivals last year so there's still hope

D

[kawwauser]

went back to kinnordy just after two today and within five mins the osprey appeared, within seconds of it appearing it went into a dive and caught a massive pike, it then flew west, there was a solitary cormorant on view plus a few female reed buntings were jumping about near the gulley hide,im going to start taking my scope with me i usually only carry my camera,im averging 20 species at kinnordy while others are averaging 50,below are the pics i took today

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/135381/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/135385/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/135387/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

[Steve G]

Went out searching for spring migrants hoping for Wheatear & some hirundines yesterday (4th April).
Began @ Moor Loch in the very west of Fife, got two singing Chiff-Chaff but surprisingly no Sand Martins.

Headed off up the A9 to Greenloaning taking the Braco-Comrie road where I got 2 Red Kite, a Sparrowhawk, a fly-over Osprey & the usual trillion Buzzards. Kestrels were initially missing but eventually managed 3. Passerines were thin on the ground apart from lots Meadow Pipits, saw no Stonechats & no signs of Wheatear.

Carried on to Comrie then on through Crieff heading to the Sma Glen. Picked up another 2 Red Kites amongst 3 Buzzards & a Kestrel all sharing the same thermal just outside Gilmerton (the Sma Glen side). Drove on up to Amulree & decided to go up the Glen Quaich road...... turned out to be an inspired choice.

A short distance up the glen I parked up to scan for Short-eared Owls -waited about 3/4 of an hour but it was really too bright. Took a stroll up a track to a heather clad area -plenty of Red Grouse advising me to 'go-back go-back' & lots of displaying Curlew singing.
Headed back to the car & sat for a while to enjoy some refreshment when a slight movement from the adjacent stane dyke caught my eye. The rustling foliage looked to be due to a small rodent so it was with considerable surprise that I noted a plump (?gravid female) Common Lizard make her way across the banking onto the warm tarmac at the roads edge; earliest date I've ever seen a Common Lizard in Scotland!!
Carried on up the glen -lots of Curlew, Lapwing & Oystercatchers around with Snipe singing (chipping) from some of the well-vegetated boggy areas. Further up the glen I came across 5 male Black Grouse feeding in heather/grass area adjacent to some birch scrub but still no Wheatear.
I drove on to the end of the glen & decided to go up the steep moorland road that leads over to Loch Tay. Quite a few Red Grouse apparent with two distant moulting Blue Hares but still no Wheatear. By this time it was about 6:30pm & time to turn round & head back. I parked up just below where the road descends into Glen Quaich & got out for one final scan. The day had been warm & relatively windless for early april but a slight breeze had developed & on the breeze I could hear slightly fluty yet desolate sounding bird song ........not Wheatear. It took me a minute or two to place the song & in that time I could hear a further snatch of song -this time from closer at hand. I was sure I was hearing Ring Ouzel!! A scan to the west of me revealed a distant male Ring Ouzel perched in a small leafless tree & despite the distance I clearly hear it singing. Then a second bird began to sing from a large boulder below me. It then moved onto a grassy slope where it began to feed allowing me to take a few (rather distant) images.
Leaving the ouzels behind I headed back down the glen & stopped again where I had initially parked up. After about 15 minutes of scanning a ghostly grey male Hen Harrier was watched in the distance quartering the heather (distant & poor light levels > rather poor image). A Short-eared Owl then appeared & slowly worked the heather to the west of me before perching on a post to survey the afterglow on the adjacent hills as the sun set.
No Wheatear or Sand Martin but still not a bad day.

[Ade George]

Hi Steve,
Some good photos there, an impressive day. Am of out to the glens again this weekend. I had my first Chiffchaff of the year yesterday near Carnoustie.

[aythya_hybrid]

some good recent sightings on here.

I had a pleasant surprise today with a flock of around 25 Twite in fields just east of Ceres in east Fife (where my parents live). The area is practically heaving with tree sparrows!

[delia todd]

Super day you had there Steve, I love Glen Quaich.

I can feel my feet itching for Ceres (I worked there for a while years ago LOL) it's ages since I've seen Twite.

D

[aythya_hybrid]

Super day you had there Steve, I love Glen Quaich.

I can feel my feet itching for Ceres (I worked there for a while years ago LOL) it's ages since I've seen Twite.

D

The area around Ceres seems remarkably good: a seriously underwatched part of Fife with excellent densities of farmland birds - tree sparrows, y'hammers, grey partridges etc. Going for another wee stroll in the area tomorrow afternoon so will report on anything.

Went up both West and East Lomond in west Fife today. Not really birding but managed:
c6 Red Grouse, 10 Lesser Redpoll, first Wheatear of the spring.

[Ben Nevis]

Great report Steve.I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. :clap:

[aythya_hybrid]

Inspired by Steve's report, myself - along with my parents - headed up to the same area. The day's totals included:

Red Kite - 2 just north of Gilmerton on the way out and 3 on the way back
Black Grouse - 1 male just north of Gilmerton
Osprey - ditto
Red Grouse - 1 seen and a few heard in Glen Quaich
Swallow - 1 in the Sma Glen, my first of the year
Wheatear - at least 4 in Glen Almond
Dipper - 1 on River Almond

Also Stonechat, Grey Wag, Kestrel, Buzzards. No sign of any SE Owls, Hen Harrier or Ring Ouzel: the strong wind probably didn't help matters.

Also just avoided running over a red squirrel in Pitmedden Forest on the return journey.

[delia todd]

It was a bit windy today, wasn't it!

I went to Kinnordy via the pylon - no sign of the Osprey there, but someone said one had been seen.

Quick glimpse of a Sand Martin near Airlie Castle - that's my first of the year.

No sign of Whoopers for me, but Mike counted 18 this morning.

Buzzards all over the place! LOL

Everything else as expected was present. The Squirrels seem to have been busy feeding judging by the number of pine cones that have been eaten.

D

[delia todd]

I was reminded recently of Monk's Myre and realised it was an awful long time since my only visit there - right on my doorstep too!

Anyone who's not been it is a fishing water surrounded by reed beds,trees and farmland. Plenty of Yellowhammers, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits about. With about half a dozen Lapwings on the set-aside. I soon found the target bird - Willow Warbler (first of the year for me).

I'd only been there 5 minutes when an Osprey came exploring. It didn't attempt a catch though.

Loads of Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Teal and a pair of Gadwall. Two Whooper and four Mute Swans. I could hear Little Grebe calling but didn't manage to see them.

I disturbed a Common Snipe and a Sparrowhawk flew over.

Just one House Martin seen.

What with the usual Chaffinches, Linnets, Blue and Great Tits etc not a bad list for a couple of hours.

And oh boy it was hot!

D

[delia todd]

Forgot to upload a photograph - just a general view

D

[kawwauser]

headed to kinnordy today on the way noticed the ospreys at the pylon are back http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/137389/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

forgot my converter so went home returned and they had gone,
kinnordy produced a feeding osprey twice while i was there
http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/137391/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/137392/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

only a small perch was caught hardly seems the bother considering the siz\e of these birds,
four whooper swans landed while i was in the east hide, two adults plus two juvs, on the way to the feeders i thought i spotted a treecreeper turned out to be a wren acting like a treecreeper, a couple of oystercatchers plus lapwing /redshank are still in front of the gullery hide, the leaves on the trees are growing so its getting harder to spot the smaller birds but there was plenty chaffinch/great tit/blue tit around, never seen any coal tits at kinnordy but seen two at the sidlaws near dundee along with three bullfinches and four stone chats ,loads oif buz\z\ards on the way to kinnordy when are the red kites going to start to be common up here?

[delia todd]

I seem to keep missing you kawwauser - I was at Kinnordy today as well but you must have left before I got there.

I'd heard the Ospreys were back on the pylon but didn't have time to go today. Great pics you've got there (as usual).

Only Mute Swans were visible for me this evening. I think the Oystercatchers were away feeding because they came back in good numbers later on. Plenty of Swallows and Sand Martins high up

Ah! Red Kites; they're closing in on us now - it surely can't be long :-O

D

[Ade George]

I dropped into Balgavies Loch after work today and had an Osprey come and land on the island. Lots of Willow Warblers singing. Looks like the Long tailed Duck there might have moved on. Lots of Sand Martins c60+ and a handfull of Swallows c20+. An escaped Budggie was apparently seen from the hide too.

Whilst at work I had a male Pereg fly over the farmland. Good numbers of Yellowhammers singing plus some Tree Sparrows and Willow Warblers.

[delia todd]

Another visit to Kinnordy this evening.

Loads of Buzzards around - at least 5 in the air at once. Whilst I was watching these another couple saw some Black Tailed Godwits fly in so they set off to the Swamp Hide to see if they could get a better view.

Then another dozen came in. I set off to the Swamp Hide myself meeting the other couple on the way who said they couldn't be seen from there; but thought I may as well see what was about anyway and added Heron and Shoveler to my list.

On my way home I stopped at the far end of the reserve and there they were 27 of them in magnificent summer plumage, right beside the road. I managed a couple of pictures before they were spooked by something - which appeared to be a Red Legged Partridge as I couldn't find anything else to set them off. However, they only flew round a couple of times then landed back in the longer grass.

D

[Steve G]

Good birds Delia. There have been good numbers passing through Fife -both coastal & inland in the last 10 days (there were 33 @ Vane Farm on Sunday).

[delia todd]

Good birds Delia. There have been good numbers passing through Fife -both coastal & inland in the last 10 days (there were 33 @ Vane Farm on Sunday).

Yeah, I think it's the first time I've seen them inland and at this time of year, so I was a happy bunny!

D

[delia todd]

I had to go into Perth this morning and thought I'd come back via Airntully (beside Stanley). Haven't been on that road for years

The first bird I saw was a Yellowhammer, the first of 4. Skylarks seemed to be singing along the whole length of the road. House Sparrows in the village, then Song Thrush, Linnets and Goldfinch.

Also Lapwing, Oystercatchers and Common Gulls in the fields.

Shot down to Murthly (Willow Warbler by the school) then took the Kinclaven road from there.

More Goldfinch, Wren, Linnet and Great Tits. Four Buzzards flying together.

Court Hill, at Ballathie, is now a nature reserve and I saw one nest box but nothing using it while I watched. The hole was at least as big as a tennis ball - any ideas anyone? It's a lovely wooded area and looks very promising.

D

[MacGee]

I took a drive up from Bridge of Allan to Carsebreck today. On my own for once, because Herself was at a Training Day. After negotiating the usual flock of mad sheep, I saw dozens of Sand Martins over Rhynd Loch. Further on there was a female Reed Bunting. These were the highlights, new entries for my year list (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=82340). There were also Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Tufted Duck and skeins of Pink-footed Geese. I felt there were some interesting birds on Carsebreck Loch, but I wasn't able to make them out with my little 6x binoculars.

Michael.

[delia todd]

Hi Michael and thanks - it's good to hear what's around in the south of the County. I haven't seen Pinkfoot for a couple of weeks now.

I know Carsebreck, but whereabouts is Rhynd Loch?

D

[MacGee]

...it's good to hear what's around in the south of the County.Thanks, Delia. We're often in the south of Perthshire (and Fife), so I'll maybe pop in again sometimes—now that I know you're here. I suppose I should start a thread for Stirlingshire.

I know Carsebreck, but whereabouts is Rhynd Loch?The first loch on the walk is called Rhynd Loch. I only know because I always check up names before entering them into The List.

Michael.

[delia todd]

Thanks, Delia. We're often in the south of Perthshire (and Fife), so I'll maybe pop in again sometimes—now that I know you're here. I suppose I should start a thread for Stirlingshire.

That would be superb if you would Michael, I'm sure there's far more than me interested in what's happening there.

The second loch on the walk, beyond the ruined house, is called Rhynd Loch. I only know because I always check up names before entering them into The List.

Michael.

LOL when I said I knew it I knew where it was:brains: but I didn't know the names of the lochs there. I've passed them on the A9 many times and thought they should be worth a look.

D

[MacGee]

I've passed them on the A9 many times and thought they should be worth a look.They really are. But I originally got the two lochs mixed up and Rhynded when I should have Carsebrecked and vice versa. I've corrected the above posts to try to minimise confusion. My apologies.

Michael.

[Ade George]

I had my first Whinchat on a farm just outside Edinburgh. Going to drop into Vane farm to see if the Lesser scaup is still around.

[delia todd]

Hi Ade

I've been looking for Winchat on my patch for the last week - so here's hoping they turn up next.

Didn't know about the Lesser Scaup hmm.... er... maybe. The one at Caerlaverock kept diving so it was rather difficult to actually see it in amongst a hundred Tufties.:'D

D

[Woodchatshrike]

LOL when I said I knew it I knew where it was:brains: but I didn't know the names of the lochs there. I've passed them on the A9 many times and thought they should be worth a look.

D

I went to Carsebreck yesterday and saw Redhead Smew, Drake Garganey, White Wagtail, Common Sandpiper plus loads of other Ducks, Gulls and there must have been at least 1500 pinkies to the east.

[kawwauser]

had my first visit of the year to arbroath cliffs today, i dropped my camera last week and have been working non stop to get the money to get it repaired, seems like i picked the best day, non stop sunshine plus a coastal walk is my favourite combination, between arbroath and auchmithie i had 7 skylarks, 1 heron, 7 stonechats, 5 meadow pipits, four yellowhammer, 2 house martin, 17 gannets, 13 eiders, 18 shags, 12 sitting fulmars, there were many more flying, 2 great blacked gulls, countless herring gulls /guilemots/raz\orbills/ kittiwakes but no puffins, or any kestrels which is unusual, i also saw my first dead whale (warning graphic)

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/139363/limit/recent

not sure what type it was, i climbed down for a closer look but the stench was unbelievable ,i never spotted a single fulmar chick last year so i will be looking out this year

[delia todd]

I met up with BFer Jimmorris starting at Loch of the Lowes.

Mrs Osprey was hunkered down in the nest, just head visible sometimes. The loch itself was very quiet with just a few Mallard, Goldeneye and a pair of Great Crested Grebes showing. Three Buzzards were enjoying the thermals over Butterstone Glen.

Wrens, Chaffinch and Willow Warblers were very vocal. A single female Siskin joined the party at the feeders, along with a Red Squirrel.

As we left the hide I could hear a Cuckoo calling (my first for the year).

On then to Rumbling Bridge, but the hoped for Grey Wagtails were not seen (nor were they at any likely spot during the day). Continuing on the back road to Trochry, we came across a flock of half a dozen or so Linnets and plenty of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Curlew. These were all seen in good numbers throughout the drive.

The bridge at Trochy failed, for the first time, to produce a Dipper, couldn't believe it! And failed to see one anywhere today. Though Jim had seen one beside the campsite at Inver.

The first Swallow was seen at Trochry, shortly after House Martins, and driving towards Amulree the first of two Kestrels for the day. There's a lay-by before dropping down into Amulree (watch the enormous pot hole as you enter it), so we stopped there for a while scoping the skyline for raptors but surprisingly none were see at all.

Through Glen Quaich (seems a popular run this year LOL) we picked up the first of many Wheatear, more Wrens singing in the heather and Jim found his first (of 2) Red Grouse, the first of two Stonechat was seen here as well

Loch Freuchie held Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Greylag and Canada Geese. Here we also saw the only 2 Redshank of the trip.

Climbing up the hill and stopping at every available place we completely failed to find any Ring Ousel. At the small fishing loch we had some Ravens in the distance. Heard, then saw 2 Sandpipers here too (another year tick for me).

A female House Sparrow at Kenmore then a nice flock of Siskins in Glen Cochil with a Little Grebe on Loch na Craig.

A grand day really.

D

[Capercaillie71]

Work took me to Blair Atholl yesterday. What a hardship to have to drive up Deeside, over the Cairnwell, down Glenshee and over the Moulin moor in glorious sunshine without a cloud in sight, and get my mileage paid for! Upper Glenshee, between the ski centre and the Spital was particularly busy with birds - Curlews, Lapwings and Oystercatchers displaying over the grassy flats by the burn, wheatears and meadow pipits flying up from the roadside, several roadside red grouse and two roadside Ring Ouzels.

[delia todd]

Rather too windy to go up the hill today so, as promised, I went to check out the nature reserve at Kinclaven.

A really beautiful walk through the bluebells. The wood is mosly Oak with some Beech and a fringing of Spruce at one end.

As to the birds, well I really found it rather disappointing. Now whether this was due to the time of day 1.30 to 4pm, the wind or maybe a bit too early in the year??? But there really was hardly anything to either see or hear.

The only good 'spot' I had was a very brief back-end view of a Jay.

So... Chaffinch, Blue,Great and Coal Tits, Wren and Treecreeper (heard).

Another thought was that perhaps the lack of water in there may be the problem - there is no water source at all.

D

[MacGee]

I took advantage of a lunch appointment in Perth to go and revisit some of my old haunts in Kintillo, where we first had a home of our own. I even passed our old house, in fact. The front garden that I spent so much time and sweat on, has been completely covered over with gravel.

Anyway, the area was as pleasant as I remembered it, with the bonus that I know a lot more about what I'm seeing than I did back then. Well, it wouldn't be hard. And what a co-operative lot of birds! None of that disappearing into thin air the instant you raise your binoculars. There was any number of Yellowhammers, a pair of Willow Warblers, quite a few male Bullfinches (or a single one that kept following me), including a long view of one feeding on dandelion seeds. Ptui!

Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Greenfinches, Great Tit.

Michael.

[delia todd]

Hi Michael - it can be good re-visiting old haunts.

I've yet to see Bullfinch this year unfortunately.

D

[Ade George]

Everything seems to be feeding hard after the rain yesterday. Had my first yellowhammer carrying food. Alot of other species having young out of the nest. Had a cuckoo calling up Sma Glen. Swallows are busy building in my barn which is always good to see. Otherwise fairly quiet.

[Ade George]

I was near Brechin today and had 2 Red Kites, so if you are in the area keep your eyes peeled. If you do see these birds please phone the RSPB Perth office on 01738 630783. Lots of Swifts over Loch Balgavie.

[delia todd]

I was near Brechin today and had 2 Red Kites, so if you are in the area keep your eyes peeled. If you do see these birds please phone the RSPB Perth office on 01738 630783. Lots of Swifts over Loch Balgavie.

Nice one Ade, one was radio-tagged too, I think you said in another thread?

There's bound to be some on my Patch before too long - can't wait.

I met llendorin at Loch of the Lowes this afternoon. The Osprey female was on the nest and, apparently, hadn't been fed all day. The male came in and swapped places with her so she could go and get her own feast (lazy toad he is:-O )

Siskin and Red Squirrel at the feeder (later saw another Squirrel at Snaigow). We did the Fungarth walk - lots of Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and Wrens. A number of songs I was unable to ID. Greenfinch, Swallows and Great Tit at the farm.

A nice afternoon that, thanks Grahame for your company.

D

[llendorin]

Thank you for sharing the walk with me.

In addition to that, on the Braan walk at the Hermitage, which i did before meeting Delia, there was Grey wagtail, dipper, mistle thrush and all the usual suspects, chaffinch, robins, pheasant, etc, etc

[aythya_hybrid]

spent yesterday/this morning in Speyside, then popped into Pass of Killiecrankie National Trust place on the way back this afternoon. Great views of a pair of Pied Flycatcher using a nestbox between the visitor centre and Soldier's Leap, plus another singing nearby. 2+ Garden Warbler and loads of Wood Warblers. Top quality stuff, haven't been to the area for years (and had no idea pied flys would be so easy).

[llendorin]

Well, i visited my local patch today, Cullaloe (it's a local nature reserve in Fife, used to be a reservoir, now a SSSI for it's rare plants). I don't normally go there, preferring to go a bit further afield, but since i'm off work with a bad back at the moment (but you didn't realise that yesterday, Delia! :-) ) i thought it would be nice to pop round.
The place was so much more lively than the last time i was there. Swallows absolutely everywhere, and for being at the side of the road, the bird song still managed to drown out the car noise (though i still can't tell one bird from another!) Saw a couple of willow warblers on the way to the reservoir, plus the usual suspects, chaffinch, blue tit, blackbird, robin and a mistle thrush.
The loch itself was quite quiet, but quite interesting. The coots were on the loch with their chicks (i counted 4 chicks with the one pair of coots, although i suspect there are more there) and the mallards had their chicks, too (5 of those). Plus the resident male ruddy duck. And of course the usual suspects, the grey heron, a pair of mute swans, at least 5 pairs of tufted duck, moorhen and plenty of coot.

Was only there for a couple of hours, but was a worthwhile little visit.

[kawwauser]

new bird for me today, i was on my to the sidlaw hills today for a walk, while driving past a field just south of kirkton of auchterhouse i startled a skylark which made me slow down, then suddenly a hoopoe took flight, this was at 6.10 pm , it flew along side the car for a few seconds then headed east, i tried to read up on it in my complete book of british birds and its not even mentioned?,nice bird though, on the way to the sidlaws i saw loads of swallows,not been out for a while so it was good to see them, on the sidlaws i saw stonechats/meadow pipits/sedge warbler/wheater/cuckoo the last has been in the same area for a while, the ponds are full of tadpoles and i saw my first mating newts of the year,suprisingly i saw no birds of prey

[delia todd]

Great spot kawwauser but why couldn't you have chased it westwards:'D

The last one (in fact the only one I've seen) was at the Heavy Horse Centre at Glencarse. Can't remember what year that was, but mid-90's I'd think.

Maybe someone else knows.

D

[kawwauser]

hopefully some body will spot it and it will stay for a few days,the courier often reports birds like this

[edenwatcher]

The last one (in fact the only one I've seen) was at the Heavy Horse Centre at Glencarse. Can't remember what year that was, but mid-90's I'd think.

Maybe someone else knows.

D

97 I think. Saw it twice.

Rob

[delia todd]

97 I think. Saw it twice.

Rob

There! I knew someone would know:hi: Thanks Rob.

A run to Kinnordy on Tuesday afternoon - via Aberbrothrie.

Loads of Linnets and Skylarks about. And, seemingly, Yellowhammers round every bend!

I'm sure I heard a couple of Ravens near the golf course, but behind a stand of trees so couldn't see them, just a couple of calls though.

The Osprey looks like she is sitting on eggs, just her head visible.

Heard my first Sedge Warbler of the year at Kinnordy.

D

[llendorin]

Heard my first Sedge Warbler of the year at Kinnordy.

D

You should come to my patch sometime, they're absolutely everywhere there. I hear whitethroat all the time too (but i've yet to actually see one... although a fleeting glimpse today might just have been one, but can't be sure!)
There's 1 sedge warbler that's quite happy to sit in a willow with me right underneath it singing it's little heart out. Was in the same tree for the 2 hours i was there this afternoon.

[Capercaillie71]

Heard my first Sedge Warbler of the year at Kinnordy.



I called in at Kinnordy on Wednesday afternoon on my way home from Edinburgh and thought how strange it was that I couldn't hear any sedge warblers. In fact I think I've only seen/heard one so far this year. There was a blackcap singing near the gullery hide though.

I haven't been to the reserve for years. It isn't quite the same without black-necked grebes right in front of the hide, but still worth a visit. Four Gadwalls at the back of the loch were nice - the first I've seen for ages.

[delia todd]

I called in at Kinnordy on Wednesday afternoon on my way home from Edinburgh and thought how strange it was that I couldn't hear any sedge warblers. In fact I think I've only seen/heard one so far this year. There was a blackcap singing near the gullery hide though.

I haven't been to the reserve for years. It isn't quite the same without black-necked grebes right in front of the hide, but still worth a visit. Four Gadwalls at the back of the loch were nice - the first I've seen for ages.

The Gadwalls weren't showing when I was there. The Sedge Warbler just sang the once but apparently they're more active at the East Hide.

D

[MacGee]

We walked the new path from Burleigh Sands to the Pow Burn yesterday. Pairs of Great Crested Grebe and Gadwall on the water. Looked for the reported Black-necked Grebe, but no luck.

On the loch side of the path there was a Reed Bunting flitting about surrounded by 30 or 40 orange-tip butterflies. We saw a Coal Tit, a Buzzard and on the path itself, lots of Pied Wagtails, Chaffinches and Robins. On the fence there was a Tree Sparrow, another addition to my list (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=850528). Excellent extended views of a Treecreeper on the way back. We thought we heard Sedge Warblers, but weren't sure.

We extended the walk to go and have a look from the site of the old hide. The hide itself has recently been burnt down. (I don't know what it is about hides that incites people to arson.) There was a duck there that looked almost like a Mallard, but not quite. Shorter, finer beak and no speculum. In the end we resorted to calling it a hybrid.

I'll be pleased when the path goes all the way round the loch, but I hope it won't all be as determinedly fenced in as today's section was.

Michael.

[MacGee]

Delia, you mentioned Montreathmont in an earlier post and having just come across this YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFGkHybbK00) about the threat of industrial development there, I was wondering if that has been resolved.

Michael.

[delia todd]

Delia, you mentioned Montreathmont in an earlier post and having just come across this YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFGkHybbK00) about the threat of industrial development there, I was wondering if that has been resolved.

Michael.

Hi Michael

I'm sorry, I didn't know about this. I'd heard about the possibility of a windfarm in the area but away at one end that wasn't (according to my informant) in a 'problem area', at least as far as the wildlife was concerned.

I only get over there a few times a year and don't always bump into the local birders.

hmm seems like I need to do some digging around;)

D

D

[devon.birder]

My wife and I have just come back from two weeks in Scotland and the Outer Hebrides. On the way home we took a detour off the A9 in Perthshire and we were driving down this minor road through suitable Black Grouse habitat. I thought I saw a head poking up out of the scrub so we stopped the car and there were three male Black Grouse. We remained in the car and after about 10 minutes they flew and up came a further 11 male Black Grouse that we had not noticed. They flew across the road and went down in the birch scrub. Fantastic sight. We had seen Black Grouse in two places on the way up but only single birds. Roger

[delia todd]

Hi Roger - thanks for that. I rarely see them, though I've now got a couple on my Patch. Well what I mean by that is I saw a male a couple of months ago and a female the other week

Can you remember where they were - could you PM me?

D

[Icharus]

Hi Delia there was a small flock of Bullfinches in the trees by the tower hide at Lintrathen on Saturday past (26 05 07).

[delia todd]

Thanks for that Icharus.

I'm off to Kinnordy tomorrow afternoon, so I may well go via Lintrathen for a change. I've neglected that loch since the Osprey returned to the pylon.

D

[gordon hamlett]

just back from 2 weeks in the Highlands. Our only stop in Perthshire produced a nuthatch at Killiecrankie NTS and I see from the sightings board that another was reported at loch garten. They're definitely spreading north

Gordon

[Icharus]

Today late morning - early afternoon. Gt Spotted woodpecker flying regularly through car parking area by iron footbridge NO655578
At Rossie Moor Male Stonechat bringing food to nest & indulging in complicated and deceptive flight pattern to enter nesting area. NO645537 In the plantation on the west side of the road a single jay NO640536.

[delia todd]

A Lifer for me this afternoon.

I finished work at 4 and shot across to Lintrathen Loch. A few minutes search, just, produced the Pectoral Sandpiper.B (: I took some photos but doubt if they're any good - not down loaded them yet)

A bit distant for it's size and really quite well camoflaged.

Lots going on there today: Shelduck with about 20 ducklings at least three Common Sandpipers and a Redshank.

Then an Osprey came in to fish right above me.

Heard Goldcrest in the woods and there was a Goldfinch at the top of a pine tree by the car park.

Nice birthday pressie:D

D

[MacGee]

At Carsebreck on Monday, we saw something unusual. A Red Kite was swooping down at something that was just over the brow of the hill. On the first pass, it was flown at by an Oystercatcher, which it took no notice of. The second pass made another Oystercatcher rise up flapping in alarm before settling down again. On the third pass, this Oystercatcher was driven away and the Red Kite descended onto the place she(?) had been occupying. We didn't see what happened then, but I can imagine. I felt sorry for the Oystercatchers, but was also thrilled by the power and beauty of the Kite.

It was a day for raptors. We also saw a couple of Buzzards and a Kestrel on a wire that was there on the way in and on the way out. There were Reed Buntings all over. When I first added one of these birds to my year list (on April 27) I had to look up my book to identify it, but since then I've been seeing them everywhere I go. I also got a couple of new birds for my list: Red-legged Partridge and Sedge Warbler.

We cut it short because my wife was still recuperating from a cold (it'll be flu when I get it) and repaired to the Rapha Centre for coffee and a date slice.

Michael.

[delia todd]

What a great experience that was for you MacGee, those memories live with you forever.

As I said, my pictures were cr@p - this is the best of them

D

[llendorin]

Well, 4getmenot and me went for a wee trip to Loch of the Lowes this afternoon. The female was about the nest, but in general the 2 remaining chicks were more or less left to their own devices (Boy, are Osprey chicks ugly!)
Plenty was to be seen though, besides the Ospreys. On the feeders we had siskin, chaffinch, great tit, coal tit, yellowhammer and great spotted woodpecker.
On the loch we had canada geese, moorhen, mallard and a great crested grebe. A few black headed gulls were flying about, too.

The best part was the Fungarth Walk that Delia had previously shown me. At the very start of the walk we had our first bullfinch sighting of this year. Always a bonus! Janie managed to point out a great-spotted woodpecker while we were about, too... quite chuffed with that, as we normally only ever see them at the feeders. Lots of other birds on the walk, pheasant, swallows, a family of starlings, more yellowhammers, more chaffinch and great tits, too.

All in all, it was a good afternoon, with the bullfinch being the highlight for me.

[MacGee]

We arrived in Culross to find the tide in. A failure of staffwork there. There were some Eider and a Cormorant on the water. In the woods Larks and Meadow Pipits and a young Linnet. I thought I saw a Redstart too, but couldn't swear to it. In the meadows and grassy verges there were lots of butterflies and moths. Painted Ladies, Common Blues and Burnet Moths. On the way back some Rock Pipits, Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Common Gulls. I stared at the Common Gulls for a while trying to get them to be Kittiwakes, but they wouldn't budge. Finally, with the tide going out, a Curlew (Bar-tailed Godwit?) on the water's edge. I'm going to need bigger binoculars.

Michael.

[llendorin]

Well, i went to my local patch, Cullaloe today. All of the usual birds were to be seen. There was tufted duck, mallard, swans (plus 3 cygnets - although they started with 5, seem to have lost 2) coot and herons on the loch. One of the herons appeared to be a juvenile and the other a parent, i assume.
On the approach there was sedge warblers and plenty of swallows to be seen. I got a brief glimpse of a reed bunting and there was a wren just in front of the screen.

I'd asked for permission from the SWT last month to put up some feeders (on the condition that i kept them stocked) and we originally had 2 seed feeders and 1 small peanut feeder. They were all going down, but the peanut seemed the favourite. On monday 2 new peanut feeders arrived (Had ordered them from Haiths, along with a 25kg bag of peanuts) so i put them up beside the original, and moved the seed feeders to a seperate location.
The seed feeders are going down, but i've still yet to see them actually in use.
As for the peanut feeders... today i got the nicest surprise i could have! There was 4 great tits feeding away on the feeders, i turned to look at the herons on the loch and when i turned back the great tits were gone... to be replaced with a great spotted woodpecker! Kinda makes the expense for the feeders seem that little bit more worthwhile :)
I'm a very happy boy today :)

[delia todd]

Nice idea Grahame - good luck with this project

D

[llendorin]

Thanks Delia.

I'll keep you updated with new birds on the feeders, but so far it's more or less the common ones.

On the peanut feeders we've had great tit, coal tit, blue tit, chaffinch and great spotted woodpecker
The seed feeders are a mystery right now... only once have i seen anything on the smallest seed feeder.. a lone great tit. I'm sure there's more to be seen, though!

We're probably gonna be replacing the seed food that we use, anyway... we made the mistake of getting cheap food, which has a pretty high wheat content. We're probably gonna replace it with some of Haiths huskfree mix.

[llendorin]

Well, Janie and I decided to pop along to Vane Farm for a spot of birding yesterday. Little did we know that they were celebrating 40 years on the site and having an open day! The place was packed full of visitors. They'd actually closed off the main car park to all but disabled visitors and opened up a nearby field to use as a car park for the day (And it was pretty full!)
It was good to see so many people taking an interest, though. They had lots of fun things for kids going on, with quizzes, pond dipping, etc. Who knows... maybe some day soon those kids will end up being BF members! :-)
As for the birds themselves, there was still plenty about, despite the huge human invasion. Tufted ducks absolutely everywhere, a few pochard mixed in with them. Lapwings all round the edges, along with a couple of grey herons. If Delia can remember the last trip, she'll recall the greylag geese with the goslings. I can safely say that the goslings made it ok. They're now huge! Won't be long now till they've fledged and gone. There was plenty of reed buntings to be seen at the edges, too.
We spoke to one of the guys from SNH who were there and got directions to their hide on the loch (Again, Delia will remember the conversation with the woman about the hide from the last visit).
Basically, go into Kinross and follow the signs for Kirkgate Park. Once in the park, drive right to the end where there's a graveyard. From there it's about a 500 yard walk along the path to the hide.
The hide is on the edge of a reed bed and there's plenty to see. Again, plenty of tufted duck there. There was also mute swans, black-headed gull, a large number of great-crested grebes, coot, mallard, etc. It certainly didn't disappoint (and it was a whole lot quieter than Vane Farm was!)
Well worth a visit if you're going to vane farm. Nice to have a hide on the other side of the loch, too.
Oh, incidentally... Fife Bird Club had a stand at Vane Farm, so we joined to get access to the hides. Apparently they're gonna be changing the locks to them soon, too.

[kawwauser]

i visited the opsprey nest on the pylon today hoping to see some chicks , but none are showing yet, last week i saw the male come in with a pike,he flew past the nest a good 500yds then turned and flew to the nest, i thought maybe two nests? but with the weight of the fish he is catching its no wonder he has to take such a big flight route

waiting
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/osp3.jpg

landing
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/osp1.jpg

mates
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/osp2.jpg

[llendorin]

Well, Janie and i went to Cullaloe, my local patch again tonight. The aim was to will up the feeders we had there. When we got there, the branch which the peanut feeders were on had snapped (it was dead wood, and i guess gravity got the better of it - add the fact that something had tried to get in to one of the feeders, so confident a squirrel was about)
The seed feeders were fine, but completely empty (and we've still to get a decent glimpse of anyone on the larger of the two!). It didn't take us too long to fix up the feeders and attach them to more sturdy branches, though.
On the loch, the swans were about, as usual, with all 3 cygnets in tow. They're looking pretty healthy, which is good. The loch was pretty empty, though, but we think that's because it's relatively small and the swans will be driving everything away right now. There was still a few coot about including one juvenile, along with a couple of tufted ducks. The swallows were making the most of the suddenly clear weather and were darting about all over the surface of the loch.
We saw quite a few different birds around the reserve, though. There was the buzzard soaring overhead and the kestrel seen near the top of the small hill, hunting for prey. We also saw swifts, a song thrush, plenty of blackbirds, a whitethroat at the edge of the willows for a brief moment and we saw a male redstart. That's a first for me there, which is great! I think we're at 45 species seen there since mid May, which aint too bad going!
All in all, it wasn't a bad hour or so, considering we'd only gone along to fill up the feeders!

Oh yeah... we also heard a bird which we aint heard there before... in simple terms, it sound like an old-style telephone ring. It went Ring-ring, but then we never heard it again. I'm certainly open to thoughts on what that was!

[Ben Nevis]

i visited the opsprey nest on the pylon today hoping to see some chicks , but none are showing yet, last week i saw the male come in with a pike,he flew past the nest a good 500yds then turned and flew to the nest, i thought maybe two nests? but with the weight of the fish he is catching its no wonder he has to take such a big flight route

waiting
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/osp3.jpg

landing
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/osp1.jpg

mates
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/osp2.jpg


Nice shots.Please keep us all updated on their progress ?:t:

[Icharus]

Early morning text message announced the presence of a Roseate Tern at the ternery on the shore by the Glaxo site. It had been spotted by the guys guarding the nesting site. Their dedication is admirable!!
Nipped down and sat in the cold, the wind and drizzle but was eventually rewarded when the bird settled on the shore to preen. Little tern chicks now venturing out of their nests - great to see these birds nesting on local beaches again.
Roseate tern is a lifer for me. Great start to the week. Off to work now.

[llendorin]

Well, i've had a very busy (and very good!) birding day today.

I went to the Morton Lochs this afternoon, which was full of life. There was a couple of goldfinches on the drive to the loch.
There's a dabchick nesting in plain view of the hide on the south loch, which is nice. Quite funny to watch the male chasing anything and everything away... including a juvenile dabchick. I wonder if this is an attempt at a second brood?? Saw sedge warbler and willow warbler on the way to the south hide, and heard woodpeckers in the trees (but never saw them).
The red squirrels were about on the way to the north loch. There was one with a pine cone as big as his head in his mouth!
There was plenty of robins, wrens and great tits about on the way to the north hide. On the loch itself, it was pretty much all the usual suspects. Tufted duck, dabchick, mallard, greylag goose (Down to 2 goslings now, but they're almost indistinguishable from the adults, so will be gone soon), herons (6 in total, and 2 of those were obviously quite young)
On the drive back to the main road we had yet another heron (in the pig field, which had flooded!), mistle thrush and yellowhammer.
There was young frogs absolutely everywhere on the paths there, too.
The interesting part about the trip to the morton lochs wasn't bird related... it was a bat! Hunting, in the middle of the afternoon, just in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes! First time i've ever seen one in proper daylight. I guess since the weather has been so bad the past few days, it was forced to come out during the day to hunt. I never realised how translucent the wings are on them. Huge difference between daytime and dusk/dark!

In the evening i met up with Janie (4getmenot, for those that don't know) and we went to Cullaloe, as we have a habit of doing on a monday evening. The swans are still about with their 3 cygnets, as was several coot and 1 juvenile (which is pretty close to fledging by now, i'd say) tufted ducks, and the return of the ruddy duck (Haven't seen him there for a few weeks now). I also got me a lifer! My first ever Kingfisher!. I'm one VERY happy boy tonight! :-)
The buzzard was also about tonight, along with sedge warbler, blackbirds, wren, swift and swallows.
Janie also got her fix for the day there, too, with the sighting of the roe deer on the hill, which she's been trying to see for ages (I've seen them there a couple of times, but she has always missed them)
All in all, it was a very good day and i'm now tired, but happy :-)

[llendorin]

Well, today was another interesting day for me.
Went to the Scottish game fair with Janie today. Wasn't much in the way of birds about (not surprising for the number of guns and gundogs in such a small space!) but there was a good few sand martins which could be seen on the river. Looks like they're still nesting there, too
There was also a couple of oystercatchers about, but that's about it.
The main point of the game fair was a chance to test out and try different types and brands of binoculars at the same time. That turned out quite fruitful - i now have a pair of Minox BL 8x42's.

So, we decided to test them out proper this evening and went to Cullaloe. The timing must have been perfect (or the binoculars exceptionally good - which probably aint far off the mark) It had just stopped raining after a particularly heavy downpour when we headed along there. It just seemed to be the night for warblers along there. Straight off the bat, we had a sedge warbler parading right in front of the car... before we'd even got out! We had chiffchaff and willow warbler in amongst the willow scrub, and on the return we had whitethroat. There were also Reed buntings, robins, blackbirds, greenfinch, both song and mistle thrushes to be found.
The buzzard was on the telegraph pole next to the car park when we arrived, and quickly swooped off. Swallows were diving about all over the place.
On the loch itself there was the usual suspects of coot (including one juvenile) the mute swans (including 3 cygnets - they get bigger every visit... and i go there 2 or 3 times a week!) and a lone tufted duck.
It was a good trip, and the binoculars excelled themselves for me (although don't get me wrong, the old ones weren't bad for the price... the new ones cost more than double the amount!) and the sheer number of warblers was really quite impressive... they were all over the place, singing their little hearts out tongiht! :-)

[kawwauser]

i passed the osprey nest on the pylon last week and saw the male land with a large pike, he sat for about three mins then flew west carrying the pike, the female also flew the nest but landed in the field below the nest, she returned carrying a large branch to the nest, i only learned about this pair last winter so dont know a lot about their breeding success but it doesn,t look good, hopefully im wrong, on a lighter note while driving along the tealing to auchterhouse road yesterday a young swallow which looked like he was taking his first flight flew towards my car while i was driving, he was struggling to keep his balance and looked sure to be embedded on my grill, i hit the brakes and automaticly checked my rear view, there he was still flying erraticly but still flying ,he/she went right under my car and managed to keep off the ground ,i was very impessed

[delia todd]

i only learned about this pair last winter so dont know a lot about their breeding success

The nest wasn't in use 2 years ago, but they fledged one chick last year.

Well done on missing the swallow though!

D

[kinnordyvolunteer]

There are two youngsters this year on the pylon. Kinnordys local pair also have three this year which is great. Should be good in a few weeks time when they all start to fish at the loch.

[delia todd]

I had what I call a 'good Osprey day'

First the pylon with mum and the 2 youngsters visible.

Then off to Kinnordy and 3 came in to fish.

Got some pictures too

D

[kawwauser]

i passed the pylon about 11.30am today, i had my scope with me for a change and saw two well fed youngsters, when i last passed on the 26/06/07 the chicks must have been lying really low

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/ospreytwig.jpg

thats why i thought it might be bad news, as i said earlier this is the first breeding season i have watched this pair the fact they have two nearly flown chicks makes it even better

[delia todd]

I had to go into Perth today and fancied some exercise, so called in at Quarrymill.

Loads of Wrens and Blackbirds and 2 sightings of Dipper (I'm sure they were different birds). A couple of Treecreepe (heard more though), Blue and Great Tits and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Lovely lunch there too!:-O

D

[kinnordyvolunteer]

I went up to Backwater reservoir this morning after being informed yesterday that there were Black throated divers at the reservoir. I thought about going last night when it was nice and sunny but decided to wait til this morning. Pouring with rain...i soon wished i had gone up last night.

I went over the dam to the car park at the end of the road. Had a quick look from the car with binoculars before getting wet in the rain. I saw what i thought were the shapes of divers so quickly set up the scope. Lo and behold, by the time i'd set it up, those shapes had gone!!! I scoured the water for a good ten minutes with no reward but just as i was about to give up, i had another look and found three divers swimming along together.Although they were quite distant, you could still see the black and white stripes. I had been expecting to see two, so another one was a real bonus...first for the year!! Anyone wanting to see them...the co-ordinates for the reservoir are NO 252538. Good luck

[llendorin]

Have you ever had one of those 'WOW' days on your local patch, when absolutely everything just seems to be there at the right time? I've just had one of those days at Cullaloe. I went along with my mother, who was determined she wanted to get some shots of some butterflies (particularly the dark green fritillaries found on the reserve) It was still a bit overcast after heavy rain overnight and this morning, so i was doubtful she'd have much luck
We got there to hear the sound of the little stream sounding like a torrent as it ran through the three pools and out the other side. A rather dull, plain day to start us off with only a couple of sedge warblers, a blackbird flying past, swallows overhead and a lone dunnock near the gorse.
We walked up the steps to the meadow bit at the top so that me mum could try for her butterflies. How wrong i was with those! Up on the initial piece of meadow there was meadow brown, ringlet, 6 spot burnet moth, 1 dark green fritillary and the first common blue butterfly we've seen on the reserve (and that includes the local member's group who were here on saturday specifically to track down butterflies!)
On the path to the willow screen we managed to see a male blackcap flitting in and out of one of the willows, whitethroat all over beside the path and in the trees, my first wood warblers on the reserve (No.1 new species for the visit) As we were getting closer to the little conifer plantation, the warblers were darting about all around us, they were everywhere! Even heard us a chiffchaff. As i entered the conifers, i was struck by the sheer volume of tits that could be seen. There was great tit, blue tit and coal tit in large numbers all over the place. Also saw a treecreeper a little more than half way up one of the pine trees (No.2 new species to the reserve seen this visit). We got to the screen to see the usual suspects on the loch. There was coot, moorhen, the swan family, a lone grey heron and a couple of mallards. There were also sand martins and swallows swooping about. My mum disappeared to go see if she could spot more butterflies while i stayed at the hide/screen
The feeders were crowded with blue tit, great tit, chaffinch and a juvenile great spotted woodpecker. I heard a big splash on the loch and saw a male dabchick had just arrived (No.3 new species for the reserve) It's just a shame i didn't see it flying. I've never seen a grebe in flight before!
As i turned back to the feeder, i noticed there was now a male siskin on the feeders (No.4 new species for the reserve) I didn't think they were big fans of peanut feeders, but i'm not complaining at the visit! Might have to consider a nyjer feeder for the finches, though.
I went to join my mum looking around another part of meadow to find yet more great tits on my large seed feeder. It's pretty unusual for me to see anything using this feeder. I normally just fill it up without knowing what is using it. There were also a couple of willow warbler flitting around the trees and singing away.
When i went back to the screen, the juvenile woodpecker had been replaced with an adult male and the siskin had gone (much to my disappointment - very colourful, pretty bird!)
I stayed there for a bit while my mother decided to go back to the original meadow in search of more photos.
When i decided to move along and catch up, again, wood warblers seen around the trees on the way back (How could i not see them for 2 months then see 4 or 5 in a single visit?!), a male reed bunting was sitting at the top of one of the bushes, singing his little heart out and 4 swifts were flying overhead.
Back at the car park, there were another couple of sedge warblers, a pair of goldfinch flew past and a good 4 or 5 linnet could be seen on the hill behind the reserve.
All in all, it was a spectacular visit - and to have 4 new species sightings for the reserve was great. Admittedly, i'd always thought most, if not all of the species would be about, but i hadn't actually seen them

[kawwauser]

had the whole day to myself today,so made the most of it, after reading delia,s report about the dippers i remembered i havent seen one this year, i also have yet to photograph one, so i headed for Quarrymill, first time ive been here and what a beutifull place it is, i heard more birds than i seen due to the foliage ,i spotted one dipper just short of scone, it fished in the shaddows so i had to drop the camera speed to 30 which meant a grainy pic,
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5787.jpg
i also spotted a grey wagtail again a first this year
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5796.jpg
this place is on my winter list, the dipper looks like a good bet,
i then took the backroads towards dundee passing many farms, the swallows were sitting on the telegraph wires and seemed to be deep in thought,(maybe they know something we dont know?)
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5826bb.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5820b.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5822.jpg
i then took a two hour hike up the sidlaws, i saw young stonechat/whinchat/whitethroat/buzzard,i also came across this wren chick,
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5868bb.jpg
on the east side of the hill i came across a young cuckoo being harrasssed by some meadow pipits,
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5874b.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5873bb.jpg
the cuckoo flew west showing its brown back which if i didnt know was a cuckoo id have sworn sparrowhawk,
shortly after this there was a sound of thunder from the clouds but no sign of lightning, the whole area went quiet apart from me jumping about getting my camera gear ready for a lighening strike, but it never happened, i did manage a couple of menacing pics

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/Picture080.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/Picture081.jpg

after running from the sidlaws i headed towards the river tay at invergowrie,
just after the reedbeds start i noticed ten herons sitting in a field
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5893.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/IMG_5897.jpg

first time i have seen this amount of herons in one place,i also spotted a single jay,the clouds were still menacing at this time and when i looked at this pic i thought (somebodys nuked eden estuary)
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/Picture083.jpg
there was very few butterflies on the sidlaws and the high pond has only waterboatmen insects, i never seen any kestrel young which is unusual for this time of year, the buzzards are doing well with a single nest rearing four young , the foxes are also multiplying ,dont know what they are eating , there was a rabbit cull by the goverment a few years ago and now there are no rabbits on the sidlaws,i heard some reed buntings east of the car park but never seen them, i really enjoyed my day out today apart from the thunder

[edenwatcher]

i also spotted a single jay,the clouds were still menacing at this time and when i looked at this pic i thought (somebodys nuked eden estuary)


Fortunately not! |:D|

Rob

[kinnordyvolunteer]

Yesterday morning the "Angus and Dundee Bird Club" had arranged an outing to Murton Wildlife Trust Reserve. Arriving at 10 o'clock, we had a guided walk from head of reserve, Al Borland. It has only been open for a couple of years and seems to have some really good potential. Give it a few more years and it will be a great place to go along to. At the moment they are concetrating on wetland birds, but i think in fifteen years or so, when all the trees planted have grown, it might be completely different. May be not so good for waders then.

Birds seen yesterday: Mute Swan, Redshank-lots of young too, Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Little Grebe, Large colony of Sand Martins, Greylag Geese, Kingfisher, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Coot, Mallard, Ringed Plover.

We had been hoping to see Little Ringed Plover but they were hiding from us.

The reserve is open to the public on most days, with a large car park. It is situated on the A932, a couple of miles east of Forfar on the road to Arbroath.
We finnished our tour at 12.30 and went across the road to the Kookaburra restaurant for lunch. Well recomended!!

I then decided to go back to Backwater reservoir, with camera this time, to see the Black Throated Divers. One minute i was driving in lovely sunshine and round the corner i bumped into a horrendous down pour. I eventually got to the reservoir but alas no divers. I did see redshank, ringed plover, oystercatcher, mistle thrushes, lapwing, meadow pipits, chaffinches, common gulls, great crested grebe plus youngster and quite a few common sandpiper.

Apart from the rain later on, and not seeing the divers, it had been a really good days birdwatching.

[Capercaillie71]

I took the day off work today, so that my wife and I could go hillwalking (we've given up waiting for decent weekend weather). After a promising forecast a few days ago, the weather was now looking a bit dodgy in Aberdeenshire, so we headed over to a Perthshire hill that was a favourite of mine when I was hillwalking regularly - Glas Tulaichean in Glen Shee.

A Raven and a couple of Red Grouse were the highlights of the trip over the Cairnwell pass from Braemar. At Spital of Glenshee we drove up the private road to the Dalmunzie Hotel where there is parking for hillwalkers (£2). From the hotel, it was a pleasant walk up Glen Lochsie along the remains of a 1920s narrow gauge railway. A Kestrel was hunting the heather slopes above and a Buzzard flew high over the Glen. At Glen Lochsie Lodge (now a ruin) a Grey Wagtail flew up the burn and just beyond the lodge we flushed four Ring Ouzels off a patch of short grass - they flew across the glen and landed on boulders on the far side. There was also a family of Stonechats here and a few Wheatears.

From the lodge there is a landrover track that rises steadily to the top of the mountain by a long, broad ridge. About half way up there was a Raven feeding close to the track, and a little further on, we found a Golden Plover. At the summit (3 hours from Dalmunzie) we were right on the boundary between some ominous looking clouds to the north and much brighter weather to the south. The Cairngorms to the north were capped with cloud, while to the south we could see as far as the Pentland Hills, south of Edinburgh. We returned by a different ridge, with fantastic easy walking on a short, springy carpet of heather and crowberry. About 200m below the summit we found two of the tamest Mountain Hares I have ever seen. I think they were young ones and they approached closer than 10m. As we walked away from them, there was a loud croak and a flurry of white wings as we flushed a Ptarmigan. It settled a short distance away and we were able to get reasonably close, but it was much more wary than most Ptarmigans I've seen - perhaps it had young nearby.

The final descent back to the hotel was reasonably uneventful - I found the remains of a red grouse nest (with one unhatched egg) in the heather, and there were more Grey Wagtails, Stonechats and Wheatears in Glen Lochsie on the walk out.

I would never go hillwalking solely to birdwatch, but it's always a bonus when you see a few interesting things.

[delia todd]

What a super day you had - thanks for posting the report here.

Gosh though, I wish I was fitter - I've only been part way up that glen along the railway line. It's certainly a lovely area.

There seem to be more birds there than on my Patch at the moment LOL

D

[kawwauser]

i went on an eight hour trip today starting with the east hide at kinnordy then lintrathen/ backwater/ reekie linn ,finishing on a four hour hike on the sidlaws, kinnordy gave me my first water rail chick ,:t: i also saw a grey squirrel,:eek!: the marsh harrier flew past just as i was leaving ,on the way to kinnordy (sorry i got a bit carried away with the water rail chick) i noticed the osprey chicks still in the nest, i passed a family of yellowhammers dusting themselves on the road just before the pylon,
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_5922.jpg
i also spotted a single jay in the same place ive spotted it at least five times,
i was looking for the divers at lintrathen but never seen them, i saw a great crested grebe plus a few swallows, at backwater i was hoping for an osprey but it was very quiet,there was a few common gull young and some mistle thrushes, goldfinches,plus a young lapwing with a damaged wing,
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6029b.jpg
at reekie lynn i was hoping to get a dipper but whe i arrived this is what was at the parking area
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6066.jpg

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6070.jpg

unbelievable:C
the rubbish bin was also full and beer cans were floating in the water,

just west of peel farm i thought i had spotted a rarity among some red legged partridges but it was not to be
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6055.jpg

the sidlaws produced a few different species
two kestrel adults one fighting with an adult buzzard, two adult buzzards one fighting with a kestrel, seven young buzzards from two nests, stonechats still acting aggressivly , one red grouse, one male reed bunting , two whitethroats, one robin, and a very distant short eared owl, i also saw my first ladybird plus damselfly of the year, cuckoos are very regular here and last week i got a pic of one on a tree with a meadow pipit
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_5873bb.jpg
still no kestrel young though and no sparrowhawks this year, the fox dens still smell occupied and deer are still present

[Ade George]

I had a Quail singing on a farm 5 miles SW of Brechin yesterday. I will try and get around the rest of the farm to get a count of birds soon. They have had upto double figures in the past.

[kawwauser]

never got out today so i decided to show my local patch, this is the sidlaw hills which i walk 52 years of the year rain or shine,i usually do a 2 hour walk but if i see something interesting it could stretch to 10 hours, just north of dundee the sidlaws used to be a part of a shooting estate which meant some grouse but not much else ,certainly no raptors, it is now a public walk area with picnic tables on the lower regions, this has actually worked as most of the picnickers/ dog walkers only walk from the car park to the first table then return, birdlife on the sidlaws has really boomed , i regulary see six different raptors
buzzard/kestrel/sparrowhawk/tawny owl/barn owl/short eared owl
jays and foxes can now be seen,

the patch

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6139.jpg
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6159.jpg

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6147.jpg

the high pond which has newts /frogs/insects

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6121.jpg

looking south towards fife tentsmuir is on the far left

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6133-2.jpg

this is where the stonechats/whinchats are roaming
http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=IMG_6098.jpg

[delia todd]

Great to see where you go, Kawwauser. Is that Craigowl Hill? I can see that from the top of my Patch - I'll give you a wave next time I'm up there:-O

I think you've pinched my Whinchats :-C but nice to know there are some around at least

which i walk 52 years of the year or does it just feel like that;)

D

[kawwauser]

it is craigowl delia, the views from the summit are great but for wildlife you are better walking around the west side, the whinchats are doing well i saw young from three nesting pairs in one small area

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=Picture075.jpg

there is also one pair of wheaters which breed close by,
i saw my first young sparrowhawk of the year today, it was fighting with a adult female over food, there was a lot of screeching and both fell to the ground, ,one took off immediatly followed by the other a few seconds later

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=sparrowhawk.jpg

the prey was left on the ground, looking at the beak i think it was a young pigeon

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=deadpigeon.jpg

a few walkers are reporting sightings of an eagle but i think what is happening is that the buzzards are flying very low at the moment because their chicks are still not flying, close up the buzzards do look very big which is causing the confusion

[Peewit]

Hi Delia and everyone here.

I loved reading this thread and hearing all the different stories of all the areas close to my heart. All the wildlife comes to life here too, and some of what has been seen - well I am amazed here. :-O
The feeling that it gave me was that I was walking around the areas and they where well described. I loved to know everything here, and how all the photography was achieved too. :-O

It brings it all back - lovely Edinburgh (hope it is not homesickness here) :-C

Saying that, I have moved to Bedford (5 months ago), England (no regrets there either), but will always enjoy hearing what is going on, on this thread about my homeland.:t:

In short I have lived in Edinburgh most of my life (except the last 5 years) moved to Fife for a while. Then moved to Falkirk, Stirling, Brechan and then Aberdeen. So I have been around the block a bit over the past 5 years or so.:t:
I also love Perth as it a beautiful place to visit and enjoy. I see that you come form Blairgowrie, and yes that is a beautiful place too. Visited there lots of times, and the reserves that you mentioned too!! :t:

Will look out for any new information here now, as it is interesting to read. Sadly cannot contribute, as I am on the other side of the border now! :-C

Thanks

Peewit.

[delia todd]

Hi Peewit and thanks for your kind comments.

I'm so pleased you're enjoying reading of our doings up here.

Going about I'm really pleased to hear (and see) so many Yellowhammers around just now - they seem to be everywhere at the moment.

D

[Peewit]

Hi Peewit and thanks for your kind comments.

I'm so pleased you're enjoying reading of our doings up here.

Going about I'm really pleased to hear (and see) so many Yellowhammers around just now - they seem to be everywhere at the moment.

D

hi Delia

The comments are well justified here. ;)

Like you, I love Yellowhammers, and they are great additions to observe at the birdtable too. Had a lot of them at Stirling, while living in our farmhouse. They love eating all types of food from the birdtable. They have a memorable song too!.

It is good to hear that they are in abundance at the moment now too.:t:

I miss the Red Kites we had while living in Stirling, and I have mentioned them in other threads. They where being looked after so records where kept of their whereabouts. I remember I had to keep the sightings secret too. I wonder how they are now?

Oh well we live in wonder o:)

Peewit

[Ade George]

There are now upto 5 Quails singing on the farm that I had had the single bird on. Near House of Dun, I had a Merlin, a few Bullfinch and lots of hirundines on the move today.

[aythya_hybrid]

Nice work Ade, 5 Quail is pretty sensational for anywhere in the UK...... I've had Quail twice in Fife but that's my lot for Scotland.

[kawwauser]

i did my weekly walk on the sidlaws this afternoon and it was very quiet, one buzzard, two wood pigeons, one crow,and a hedge sparrow, the clouds were threatening to burst all afternoon maybe this had something to do with it, on my way back i heard this birdsong , not sure of the id but i havent heard it here before, its in avi format, ignore the heavy breathing (two hour hike) and the video ,i first thought it was on the ground but it was in the trees,

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/?action=view&current=song433.flv

[aythya_hybrid]

quite hard to hear but that sounds like a chaffinch contact call.

[Peewit]

quite hard to hear but that sounds like a chaffinch contact call.

I think it is a Chaffinch too. It has the one note, two note call (my interpretation of it) o:)

[Woodchatshrike]

There was a nice Male Marsh Harrier through going south at Carsebreck on Friday.

[delia todd]

On the way up to my Patch is an area I call 'Migrants Corner' - it's been quiet there but today I saw loads of mixed finches and thrushes, also a Treecreeper.

D

[Woodchatshrike]

Loads of Ospreys to be seen at Loch Leven at the moment and the Marsh Harrier still at Vane.

[Capercaillie71]

Just in case anyone missed this thread, some great pics of one of the Fife White-tailed Eagles:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=94523

[kawwauser]

went on my usual trip to the sidlaws today, on the way there i saw three buzzards sitting on bales of hay hunting voles/mice/ also saw numerous swallows sitting on telegraph lines, on the sidlaws i saw five buzzards in the air at once, plus one kestrel sitting nearby, a few wrens were jumping about but what caught my eye was the young stonechats, they were just learning to catch insects and were jumping about in the ferns ,perching on the top of the ferns they were puzzled by the flys which were at times almost touching the birds head, i photographed the adults of these young earlier this year, and its good to see their offspring are nearly adults

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/chat2.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/chat1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/Picture062bc.jpg

[Ben Nevis]

Nice pics.

[Peewit]

went on my usual trip to the sidlaws today, on the way there i saw three buzzards sitting on bales of hay hunting voles/mice/ also saw numerous swallows sitting on telegraph lines, on the sidlaws i saw five buzzards in the air at once, plus one kestrel sitting nearby, a few wrens were jumping about but what caught my eye was the young stonechats, they were just learning to catch insects and were jumping about in the ferns ,perching on the top of the ferns they were puzzled by the flys which were at times almost touching the birds head, i photographed the adults of these young earlier this year, and its good to see their offspring are nearly adults
[/IMG]

hi kawwauser

Seeing all the birds that you have on this trip must have been something else. I have just moved away from the countryside recently.
One thing I miss is the Buzzards, their mewing, and their daily presence, (from where I stayed in Aberdeenshire)

I love your pictures of the Stonechat Juv. What a lovely bird. The flies in the photo, buzzing around, and are very apparent too.

Stonechats are high on my list of favourite birds now :-O

[delia todd]

Had to go into Perth this morning and was reminded of Kinnoull Hill recently so thought I'd take a run up there. I've not been there since the mid-70's when I actually saw a Capercaillie there.

It was a superb day, clear blue skies, wall to wall. Before I left the car park I'd seen a Buzzard enjoying the thermals and heard a Jay squawking.

There's a whole myriad of paths wandering through the woods but I headed straight up (and up and up) to the view point at the top.

Great Tits and Chaffinch were flittering about in the trees and ther whoosh a Sparrowhawk shot across the path right in front of me. I was to see him (or another) a little further along. There were a couple of Crossbills too.

Red and Grey Squirrels were also seen in this section.

The view from the top is fantastic. Sitting with a cup of coffee I could hear a Wren singing away, then a Robin came to see what I was doing.

I moved on then towards the castle where I had my lunch. Two Buzzards, juveniles I think, were chasing each other round and round.

Following the 'Nature Trail' back down the hill, was really pleasant. At one point the trees were alive with birds and I managed to pick out Blackbird, another Robin, Blue Tits and then Goldcrest.

A Dunnock and heard Collared Dove finished off my trek.

D

[llendorin]

Well, today i had to go to my local patch, Cullaloe to attend the advisory group meeting (Just to discuss things going on, plans for the reserve, etc) and saw a few things of interest.
There was a few buzzards later on, Kestrel was hovering over the hills at the back. PLenty of gulls were flying overhead.
We found out for the first time that the male swan on the reserve (Successfully bred this year for the first time, raising 3 cygnets) was ringed, so after a bit of work, we identified the ring. A quick phone call later reveals that he was ringed as a cygnet just outside Edinburgh. It's always good to know where the birds have come from. There were plenty of tufties, mallard, wigeon, coot and moorhen on the loch, with swallows darting in and about, too.
The feeders had the usual suspects of great tit, blue tit, coal tit, chaffinch and great spotted woodpecker.
There were several warblers about, and at least 2 chiffchaffs were calling. Both chiffchaff and willow warbler were seen.
Bear in mind, when there's a group of 10 people traipsing through the reserve, i wasn't really expecting to see much, let alone anything of significane.
Most importantly, and most impressively was the one bird we saw near the start of the trip. We'd just climbed to the top of the steps where the old dam was when a BIG bird flew in. At first we all thought it was a large heron, but we were very wrong! Once the binoculars were trained on the beast, it was clear to all that we had ourselves our first ever sighting of an East Coast WHITE-TAILED EAGLE! It flew over the reserve and landed in the field opposite. It sat there for a few minutes, then flew off to the far end of the field, where it sat on a post (and frankly looked almost as big as the trees on either side of it!) We collected the tag information and this will be sent off. A stunning bird and a very very special sighting! Definitely unexpected!
I wonder if i'll ever see it again?

[delia todd]

Hi Grahame... you must be thoroughly made up about the WTE great news for your patch.

Apparently there's been reports of one on the Angus coast the last few days too.

D

[kawwauser]

i was planning on a day in glen doll today but the cloudy weather put a stop to that, i had a poor day last week at kinnordy mallard/mute swan/song thrush so ive decided to wait till the feeders go up to return, in fairness i had no scope or binos with me ,but im looking to buy a pair of lightweight good quality binos any suggestions?they have to be lightweight and under £200,i headed for the sidlaw hills just after nine and on the way saw loads of swallows sitting on lines, i never saw any flying, must be saving energy for that long flight , i saw two buzzards perched on telegraph poles but never seen any on the bales of hay, im thinking maybe the voles/mice have sussed the situation out and went to ground, last week every field with bales had buzzards in it, i saw one kestrel hunting near the roadside and two red legged partdriges running along the road at auchterhouse, at the base of the sidlaws i heard a lot of chattering from the stonechats and decided to investigate, turns out they have abandoned the ferns on the high ground and are habiting the gorse bushes at the bottom. i never noticed this spot before and it looks promising, there is a small open area surrounded by gorse bushes plus it has several dead bushes which are used as perches, i sat for a while watching the chats but couldnt get close enogh for a decent pic,here is the area
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/scrubland.jpg

the birds were using the branches rather than sitting on the gorse

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/stne2.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/stne1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/stne3.jpg

one of the pics on close inspection maybe a ignorant male reed bunting

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/stoenreed.jpg

a willow warbler also made a brief apperance

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/w1.jpg

once on the top the sun came out and i took these two pics first looking north

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/sid1.jpg

second a stiched photo(2) of the area at the top which few people bother to venture

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/sidlawspanobb.jpg

the only bird i saw at this height was a solitary red grouse,the high pond has just been inhabited by damselflies even though the vegetation is pretty poor

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/dams1.jpg

once i get my new binos ill maybe spot more birds rather than rely on my eyesight

[delia todd]

It must have been nice to see all those Stonechats Kawwauser.

What a lovely area it is up there, really looks beatiful with the heather out.

D

[MacGee]

... im looking to buy a pair of lightweight good quality binos any suggestions?they have to be lightweight and under £200Can you say a bit more about what you're looking for? The Opticron Verano 8x32 (http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/opticron_binos/opticron_index_fs.htm) is about the best lightweight roof you can get for around £200 (I know you said 'under' but the extra £20 will be well worth it). If you can stand a bit more size and weight, the Opticron HR WP 8x42 (http://www.gadget-bag.co.uk/product_details.php?id=2833) is probably the best quality binocular you can buy for under £800.

Michael

[kawwauser]

they will be solely for birdwatching but must be lightweight because i carry camera gear, the pair i use now are about thirty years old and ive never felt the need to change them, but since buying a digital camera plus lenses im now looking to lighten the load and could go £50 above the £200

[llendorin]

Take a look at the Minox BL series. They are extremely lightweight (just over 600 grams for the 8x42 model) and have very good optics. When compared with the RSPB's top binos and the Nikon Monarchs, they come out tops in a recent review, yet they're cheaper than both. Take a look at the minox thread in the binocular section. Plenty of info on them there. They come in at just over £200 (the 8x42s are £229 at warehouse express) so should just be in your price range. Have to admit, i love mine to bits.

[kinnordyvolunteer]

I went for a walk at the lurgies this afternoon and then went along to the SWT visitors centre.

At the lurgies we saw treecreeper, little grebe, goosander, curlew, greenshank, kingfisher, goldeneye, linnet, blue and great tits and herons. There were also alot of mute swans, with one pair looking after 8 cygnets.
An Osprey was could also be seen on its usual perch.

There were also lots of geese around the area. There were between 2 + 3 hundered over in the direction of Duns dish and when we got to the centre, there were a few thousand over at the north east corner of the basin. Many were starting to take to the air as the tide continued to make its way in.

Also in the basin were lots of eider duck, cormorant, razor bill, guilliemots, black tailed godwits, oystercatchers, lots of herons and a single white egret over towards the lurgies.:t:

[Ben Nevis]

Sounds like a good day.Dont think you shall see much more of the Osprey this year.

[Peewit]

Hi everyone

I hasten to say that I have got a bit left behind on this thread, as Scotland is dear to my heart in many ways :-C

So I will try to catch up from my last posting, and if I leave anyone out, it is not meant not to be personal at all. So I will take postings from my last post on this thread ;)

Hi Delia: Just to say I enjoyed reading your post about Perth and all what you did see in your travels

To see a Jay and a Crossbill was a feat in itself. From what has been said, it sounds although the Jay are quite noisy characters.
Crossbills are super birds and to get an opportunity to see one is a great experience, and it is based on pure luck of the moment.
The one I have seen a Crossbill myself was while I was on a visit to Callander, while walking in the forested reserve at the back (name slips my mind at the moment). It was a while ago.

It is just the thoughts and enjoyment of seeing birds in their full glory. ;)

Hi Graham

Again a lovely report to read and what you say about ringing cygnets makes me think it should be compulsory for all young birds in this case (I have not worked out if the cygnets in Bedford Park have been ringed or not).

As to see a WTE that is quite a find. You must have been over the moon with that find. A great addition to your bird list. :t:

Hi kawwauser

Again, I am in awe of all your photos that you have taken, and your interest in your subject at hand.

I love your photo of the Warblers. Super shot and I loved that a lot. It made me smile.
Having said this I loved all your pictures and the time you have taken to get the best of your subjects.

Have you managed to find the bins you want yet?

Hi Kinnordyvolunteer

Shame on me that I have never visited the area you have mentioned here. I hide the blushes and hang my head here in shame. :-C

To go to the Lurgies, and see a Treecreeper, Little Grebe and a Kingfisher was again, a super find. I remember seeing a Kingfisher in Edinburgh once a long time ago.

All in all it sounded although you had a great day out and have collected some good memories of the experience you had on your trip.

Lovely reports all around :t:

I hope I have manged to fit everyone in here. :eek!:

[kinnordyvolunteer]

I popped into Vane Farm this afternoon at about 3.30 and found three whooper swans in the bay infront of the first hide. Has anyone else seen any around yet? I don't remember seeing them quite this early before.

[kawwauser]

25 fieldfares yesterday at lundie, 22 lapwings,loads of swallows,plus flocks of starlings

[Peewit]

I popped into Vane Farm this afternoon at about 3.30 and found three whooper swans in the bay in front of the first hide. Has anyone else seen any around yet? I don't remember seeing them quite this early before.

Hi nonvolunteer

A great find for you.

I have never seen Whopper Swans yet (except on books), and I look forward to that day to see them.

25 field fares yesterday at Lindie, 22 lapwings,loads of swallows,plus flocks of starlings

Wow a good collection here. It is good to see that Swallows are still hanging about here. Lapwings are beautiful to look at, and their calls are lovely to hear. Of course the lovable Starlings - we cannot be without them and their characteristics

I thought Field fares are birds which live in other countries over a lot of our British Summer. They are very pronounced with their calls, so their calls are are unmistakable to the accustomed ear

I remember seeing flocks of them in Stirling, Scotland. I understand that they mix with Redwings/Thrushes a lot. I remember seeing a lot of them in Stirling over spring. Their call is not the most attractive to hear at all. That is part of them and makes them the bird that they are.
Then towards to end of spring April/May they seemed to disappear into the blue.

I wonder what this stray group of Fieldfares where doing back in Great Britain.

Yes, of course it is getting close to our Autumn/Winter months again. So now they are back again. So hello, we are one again.

They very handsome birds to look at, and worth a good look at.

Regards
Kathy

[kawwauser]

peewit ive never heard the call of the fieldfare but after reading your comment i checked my bird book and it says sounds nasal,ill make a point of hearing one this year, the only ones i have seen are migrants usually in fields in the winter,they are usually in a mixed flock of thrushes, it was good to see so many starlings they are not as numerous as they used to be ,i couldnt get a pic of the fieldfares as the light was bad, i was struggling to see them through my thirty year old binos, im going for the minox 8x42s and should have them within two weeks ;)i did manage one pic of a young swallow who was calling to be fed ,every time an adult flew over it opened its mouth and called, http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/swallow.jpg

[llendorin]

i was struggling to see them through my thirty year old binos, im going for the minox 8x42s and should have them within two weeks ;)

Good choice! :) I love mine to bits and wouldn't be without them!

[Steve G]

On Saturday afternoon (22/09/07) I was in the Fife Bird Club hide at Fife Ness. Three days before there had been a good showing of Sooty Shearwaters close inshore & I hoped for more. Sadly the shearwaters did not show & apart from a few distant Arctic Skuas & a couple of distant Black Terns there was nothing unusual.............until a lone goose flew by heading from north to south a few hundred metres offshore. Not sure of its provenance as there have been a few Pink-foot & Brent Goose arrivals but it was nonetheless very unexpected.

[delia todd]

What cracking pictures Steve.

I was at Lintrathen for a couple of hours today. En route about 14 Canada Geese in a stubble field at Peel Farm - more, (over 60) at Lintrathen.

Seemed quiet to start with, the usual Mallards and Coots. A pair of Mute Swans with 3 cygnets.

Then it came on to rain, so trying to see what was at the far side became tricky in the poor light. However, eventually made out Wigeon - couldn't see any Teal though.

Just one pair and a single Great Crested Grebe. Eventual a Moorhen came out of the reeds beside the hide.

Popping outside for a puff, the tree above became full of Long Tailed Tits, with a few Blue Tits. After they had gone a Treecreeper came in.

Whilst still out there I could hear geese but couldn't see through the trees. Once back in the hide a skein of about 14 Pinkfoot flying round and round the other end - then joined up with another bunch - all flying off SW.

Still searching the sky I happenned upon a flock of around 100 Lapwings.

D

ps all the trees on the hill behind the new hide are being felled

[kawwauser]

i had an unexpected free day today so i decided to head for lintrathen looking for field fares, it was very windy and cloudy,on the way i stopped at kinnordy hoping for long tailed tits on the feeders, the birds had totally emptied the feeder, i saw several mute swans ,mallard, one great tit ,three blackbirds, i heard one robin at the swamp hide plus saw the one between the gullery hide and the east hide, he landed an arms lenght from me and i couldnt change my lense quick enough to catch him, this is twice he has caught me out, there was a solitary heron sitting behind the island in front of the swamp hide,http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/heron-1.jpg

the vegetation is changing colours,swamp hide view
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/kinn77.jpg

between kinnordy and linthathen i had a cracking view of a kestrel, it was flying right next to the road focusing on the field below it, it was about seven feet above the field not hovering , and never noticed me for about twenty secs, i also saw three flocks of goldfinches, at lintrathen the only birds i saw were canada goose, three herons, two buzzards, and what i think were fieldfares , they flew from a field and headed west , one great black backed gull sat on the building at the backwater resevoir, the number of swallows was well down on my journey, when i returned to dundee i went to the seashore looking for waders, 1 redshank, three oystercathchers, and loads of imature black headed gulls, http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/bhgull99.jpg

[delia todd]

News from Kinnordy on the Angus forum is that a Guillemot was found there today - alive, just!

I don't know what the outcome is though.

D

[llendorin]

Well, i've been working hard on my local patch this week.
Just to give a bit of background on the site - Cullaloe used to be a reservoir with a south and (smaller) north loch. The south loch was drained in 1986 and the water level was lowered on the northern loch. The north loch is designated an SSSI for the semi-rare Mudwort plant, which used to flourish during the annual drawn down during the summer months (more water drank/used).
Since the reservoir is no longer in use, the annual draw down of water has to be artificially created.
That's what i was doing on Tuesday. There's a simple reservoir lock which can be opened to let a large portion of the water out, which i did at 1:20 on tuesday afternoon. (although obviously it's taken 3 days for the water level to really go down and it was still draining when i left this afternoon)
Since then, the difference in birds has been totally amazing! I have to admit, i'm more happily shocked every day i go along at the moment.
On Tuesday, before i lowered the water level i did a quick count of the birds on the loch. There was 5 mute swans (the 2 adults and 3 cygnets, which i suspect will now winter there and get kicked out by mum and dad in the spring), 5 moorhen, 8 coot, 14 mallard, 8 wigeon and 12 teal.

When visiting today, there is a slightly different picture. The birds on the loch today were: 5 swans, 19 moorhen, 19 coot, 39 mallard, 33 wigeon, 60 teal and 1 heron - not to mention a few crows hanging around the edges! That's a huge difference in the number of birds on the loch.
We're hoping over the next little while we'll get some passage waders in and maybe even some less common ducks. Who knows!?

Elsewhere the reserve was more or less as normal. The Goldfinches have started flocking together into a small flock of about 15 birds, the woodpeckers are still on the feeders, the bullfinch family is still seen pretty much daily.

If you're in the area in the next month or so while the water level is lowered, it really is worth a visit! For such a small place, the number of birds is pretty much phenomenal!

[llendorin]

Went to my local patch again today to see if any waders had arrived. There was a small flock of about 30 lapwings, but that's about it. Still several wigeon, mallard, teal, tufted duck, coot and moorhen on the loch right now. There was over 250 birds present when i was there this afternoon.
There was a female woodpecker on the peanut feeders, as always and several great tits, coal tits and chaffinches joined it intermittently.
The Robins are in full song on the reserve right now, with at least four or five territories being claimed from what i heard and several wrens were seen hanging around near the dead trees (which i'd cut down two weeks ago)
The bullfinches are still around, with 3 males seen this afternoon and we've a small flock of 10-15 goldfinches on the reserve right now, too.
I did see something that struck me as a little unusual today, though. I'm assuming it was either a chiffchaff or a willow warbler (Couldn't get close enough to get a really good look with the bins, and it had gone by the time i returned with the scope) and it was behaving extremely territorially. A small flock of 7 or 8 long-tailed tits arrived at the same tree it was on, and it chased them off individually. The same with a couple of blue tits. It even got to the extent that it chased one blue tit to another tree, then chased it off from that one, too. I've never seen a warbler behave quite like this. Has anyone else? Is it a common thing?

[delia todd]

Couldn't believe my eyes this afternoon coming home from work.

I took the back road from Alyth to my Patch and a blooming Magpie flew across the road.

About 12 years ago I saw two in a field at the top of Glen Isla and another a couple of years ago at Lundie.

D

[Steve G]

Confined to the local area today (Culross/Valleyfield in West Fife).

Before leaving the garden I had a brief Willow/Chaff hanging around the feeders with some tits -didn't get a good view but seemed quite bright with a conspicuous supercilium so probably a late Willow.
A brief visit to the local Co-op in High Valleyfield provided some late hirundines (both Swallows & House Martins) feeding over a tarmac area adjacent to the local community centre -lots of small flies about. Locally this is always the last place where the hirundines linger; very strange -perhaps the microclimate favours good fly numbers.

Then took a walk through Valleyfield woods -the highlights were 3 Jays (a scarce bird in these parts) and 2 Kingfishers together on the upper Bluther burn.
I then walked down onto Valleyfield lagoons. Had a Grey Wagtail & another Kingfisher at the burn mouth. Torry bay held a few Wigeon, Teal & Mallard with better numbers of Shelduck & 5 Great Crested Grebes. The high tide roosts in the bay & on the sea wall held between them a total of 9 Greenshank with lots of Curlew, Redshank & Oystercatchers. Also a few Razorbills about -auks are not everyday birds this far up the Forth. A single hunting Kestrel & a group of 5 Buzzards on a thermal was the only raptor interest (to think that up till 20 years ago I had more chance of a Rough-legged Buzzard than a Common Buzzard in Fife -now it's our commonest raptor by far).

In the late afternoon I nipped along to Crombie Point on the opposite side of Torry bay from my morning walk. The tide was out & the waders were widely scattered though there was a mixed flock of Redshank & c40 Golden Plover roosting on some seaweed-strewn rock. It was pleasantly warm with no wind whilst the backround buzz of insects was more in keeping with high summer -then all hell broke loose. The Golden Plover burst into the air with a straggler lagging behind the main flock. The cause of the stramash became obvious when a Peregrine appeared in pursuit of the single Goldie. The plover climbed high with the Peregrine following closely behind -the Goldie's predicament did not look good but, as the Falcon 'power-flapped' to close the distance the plover suddenly turned & dropped down low over the sea -the Falcon had too much momentum & was unable to follow, it headed on upward & disappeared 'into' the sun.
After that the remainder of the afternoon should have been an anti-climax however a group of 5 juvenile Gannets flying by heading down the Forth kept interest going (Gannets are rare this far up the Forth except in September/October when juveniles stray up, sometimes in good numbers). There were also a few terns still about -c10 Common Terns & two groups of two Sandwich Terns the second duo of which seemed to be an adult & a juvenile bird. The adult caught a fish which quickly set the juvenile off with noisy squawking -unfortunately this attracted the attention of an Arctic Skua which must have been sitting on the sea in plain view. I don't know how I missed the Skua as the water was almost flat calm -however the Skua didn't miss the tern & after what seemed only a half-hearted chase the fish was ditched for the Skua to retrieve.

All in all not a bad day's birding really. Perhaps I should do the local patch a bit more often! ;)

[delia todd]

Anyone know where the Bairds Sandpiper is?

D

[Woodchatshrike]

Anyone know where the Bairds Sandpiper is?

D


It was at Loch Leven but unfortunatly it was on a corner of the reserve which was highly sensitive.

There were two Ross's Geese in the Kirkgate goose roost this morning.

[delia todd]

It was at Loch Leven but unfortunatly it was on a corner of the reserve which was highly sensitive.

There were two Ross's Geese in the Kirkgate goose roost this morning.

Oh well! I probably wouldn't have recognised it anyway:gh:

Ross's Goose now, might just manage that LOL be nice if they held on a bit as hoping to take Ant there on the Thursday before the Bash.

Any chance you can keep me posted as to what's about that week?

D

EDIT: Anyone about then, fancy meeting up?

[llendorin]

I could pop along on thursday, though i'll need to leave about 2:30pm to head off to work.

[delia todd]

I could pop along on thursday, though i'll need to leave about 2:30pm to head off to work.

Oooh great Graeme... we can have a mini-Bash before the biggun!

D

[llendorin]

Sounds good to me, especially as i'll sadly be missing the biggun! :-(

What sort of time are we looking at for thursday?

[delia todd]

What sort of time are we looking at for thursday?

umm... 10ish? Could perhaps get there a wee bittie earlier but will have a late night the night before.

D

[llendorin]

That sounds fine to me. Any earlier than that and i'd be struggling to get out of bed! :)

[kinnordyvolunteer]

I went up to Glen Clover around lunchtime today but there wasn't much to be seen. There were a number of shooting parties on the hills which didn't help although, it did mean alot of pheasants and red legged partridges were airbourne rather than scurrying around in the undergrowth.

Jackdaws, rooks, crows, common gull, kestrel, robin, 7 long tailed tits, blue tit, dunnock, chaffinch, pied wagtail and fieldfare were the only other birds i saw.

Darell:t:

[Woodchatshrike]

Common Scoter still on Loch Leven on Sunday. Only 4th Site record! The Ross's flew off South West. I fear they were flying south as they have not been seen since.

[Woodchatshrike]

The Ross's have flown up to Montrose. We've still got two Curlew Sandpipers here. That is well late!

[llendorin]

Went down to my local patch today for a bit of a look about, once the fog had started to lift. There's plenty of activity going on right now.
Starting from the car park, there were a couple of male pheasants about (Who narrowly avoided getting run down!) a couple of robins and some blue and great tits.
On the path towards the loch there was more robins, blackbirds, great tits, bullfinches, dunnocks, wrens and yet more pheasants. I also saw my first Jay of the year flying across to the woodland opposite the reserve.
On the loch there was the usual suspects. Plenty of teal, wigeon and mallard, 2 herons and several coot and moorhen. They've now been joined by a group of approximately 50 black-headed gulls, too. The loch is getting pretty full of life now!
A female sparrowhawk flew across the loch while i was watching, which drove all the gulls up into the air!
On the return there were a couple of buzzards to be seen flying over and the usual crows and pretty much all the species mentioned previously.
I did see 2 Curlews flying towards the loch as i was returning to the car park, too.
I'm surprised at the lack of thrushes and the like, the berry eaters. The rowan and hawthorn trees and bushes are laden with berries right now, but there doesn't seem to be anything going near them. I would have thought there would have been some activity by now!
The feeders are getting remarkably quiet, too. Only a single chaffinch and a single blue tit seen at them while i was visiting. It's gone from having to fill the feeders every 4 days to now doing it every 3 weeks (good for my wallet, though!)

[Capercaillie71]

Just got back from a conference in Crieff and came back the scenic route, by Dunkeld and Braemar. Driving down Strathbraan, I encountered five male black grouse right by the roadside in a grass field near Ballachraggan Farm. They looked really out of place as they were quite some distance from the nearest moorland or trees, so much so that at first glance I thought they were black pheasants. I was kicking myself for not having a camera with me as they were only about 20 metres from the road and weren't bothered when I stopped.

Later on at the Glenshee ski centre there were three red grouse pecking around in the gravel in the car park.

By the way, does anyone know how many Jackdaws roost at the Crieff Hydro? I don't think I've ever seen such a big flock before (must have been a few thousand) - a very impressive sight.

[delia todd]

After a good visit to my Patch with Ant this morning we moved on to Lintrathen.

There seem to be large numbers of everything. Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Pochard, etc, etc but there were just loads of Pinkfeet Geese, picture attached of just a small part of them. Also quite a few Greylag.

A WOW moment when a Peregrine flew over and put everything up... think Ant was quite impressed!

D

Edit: sorry forgot the photo!

[kawwauser]

i visited lintrathen today hoping to see geese but there was none,plenty of ducks plus one little grebe,

on the way there i passed several buzzards siting near the roadside,as soon as i slowed down they took off as usual

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/bzzrda.jpg

just past the area where they are cutting down the trees i witnessed some buzzard behavior i have never seen before,
the buzzard was sitting on top of a cut down tree and didn,t fly off when i stopped,i took a few pics but wasn,t happy with the exposure as the background was hard to expose against the dark bird,i changed the settings got the bird in frame then suddenly it flew straight at my car ,it came within three feet then returned to its perch,it made no calls during this and it was all over in seconds,iv,e been very close to buzzards on the sidlaws but have never seen this

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/b1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/b2-1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/b3-1.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/b4.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/b5.jpg

as it got closer the camera lost focus

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/b6.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/b7.jpg

[MacGee]

There was a pheasant shoot on the other side of Carsebreck Loch yesterday, so instead of doing my usual walk, I followed the track around the edge of Rhynd Loch. A couple of Buzzards were circling in the air and parties of Whoopers flying low over my head. There were quite a lot of birds on the loch. Mute and Whooper Swans, (lots of) Wigeon, Teal, Little Grebe, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck, Cormorant. And amongst the swans, in a bay on the far side (it's always the far side) a Black Swan. My first thought was that it must be a melanistic Mute, but I got a good long look at it through the binoculars, bright red beak and all, and am convinced it was a true Black Swan. Looking it up afterwards I read in Collins that, '...introduced, self-sustaining populations exist in Britain...'

Michael

[llendorin]

Well, I've had a very good day at my local patch today.

I was given time off work for a 'volunteering day'. I was originally supposed to be going to the SWT's National Convenor's Day, but that got canceled, so i decided to spend the time on my local patch.
When i got there i met the local bird ringer, who was just setting up his net. Luckily i had my trusty (Ok, normally useless!) camera with me and a few shots are shown below. The net was set up just in front of my peanut feeders, so a fair few birds were captured and ringed. There were a couple of Robins, a single Coal Tit, a plethora of Blue and Great Tits and 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers - 2 males, 1 female
There were several other birds to be seen where the netting was going on. There were large flocks of both Siskin and Long-Tailed Tits and a small group of Goldcrests
On the loch itself, there was much the same usual suspects. There were Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Mute Swan, Coot and Moorhen. There was also a visit from a Grey Heron for a while and on a couple of occasions a Sparrowhawk was seen flying past the edge of the loch, causing the Woodpigeons in the trees to fly off.
There were a fair amount of other birds to be seen in the woodlands, too. There were Chaffinch, Blackbird, Redwing, Song Thrush and Fieldfare

The main reason i was supposed to be on the reserve was to do some coppicing work. There is an area on the reserve which has always been known as the 'snipe bog' as it used to have Snipe wintering there in large numbers and there were even reports of them breeding on the reserve. Unfortunately, the willow has encroached rather heavily on this area and I decided to make a start on clearing it, to try and bring this habitat back. To my shock, though, i managed to flush 3 Snipe from the area when i was walking through it! It really is great to know that they're still about, and hopefully with the work being done this winter we'll get them back in even greater numbers!

All in all, it was a good day, although a bit of hard work and my back is now killing me.
Hopefully I'll have my blog (see signature) updated shortly with a little video of one of the great spotted woodpeckers being ringed.
Edit: Blog aint processing the video, sadly so can't show it i'm afraid.

[catkom3]

Hi folks,five or six weeks ago I spotted a Buzzard in a tree,nothing unusual there,but then I noticed it had a blue wing tag with number one in white,then again today,not far from where I saw blue number one I saw another tagged Buzzard,this time a white wing tag with number eleven in black,picture quality is grime,but I took them with my phone camera,

[Capercaillie71]

Hi folks,five or six weeks ago I spotted a Buzzard in a tree,nothing unusual there,but then I noticed it had a blue wing tag with number one in white,then again today,not far from where I saw blue number one I saw another tagged Buzzard,this time a white wing tag with number eleven in black,picture quality is grime,but I took them with my phone camera,

The buzzards may have been part of the project mentioned at the bottom of this page:

http://www.scottishraptorgroups.org/news.php?month=8&year=2007

There is an email address for reporting sightings

[delia todd]

The buzzards may have been part of the project mentioned at the bottom of this page:

http://www.scottishraptorgroups.org/news.php?month=8&year=2007

There is an email address for reporting sightings

er... well it should be there Paul... but it seems to be missing - at least I can't find it:gh:

I'd better start taking more notice of my Buzzards then, Catkom

D

[Capercaillie71]

er... well it should be there Paul... but it seems to be missing - at least I can't find it:gh:

I'd better start taking more notice of my Buzzards then, Catkom

D

It was still there when I just checked the link Delia, but this is what it says:

Central Scotland RSG Study on Common Buzzard

This study aims to look at the dispersal of Common Buzzards from a long term study area in the Doune/Callander/Aberfoyle area of West Perthshire. There are two discrete habitat types - commercial forestry and farmland. During the winter of 2006/07 40 adult Buzzards were marked with a white wing tag with black letters/numbers on the right wing. During the summer of 2007 c90 young Buzzards were tagged with a white tag with black numbers on the right wing and a blue tag with white numbers on the left. Reports of marked birds should be sent to david.anderson'at'forestry.gsi.gov.uk

[delia todd]

It was still there when I just checked the link Delia, but this is what it says:

Central Scotland RSG Study on Common Buzzard

This study aims to look at the dispersal of Common Buzzards from a long term study area in the Doune/Callander/Aberfoyle area of West Perthshire. There are two discrete habitat types - commercial forestry and farmland. During the winter of 2006/07 40 adult Buzzards were marked with a white wing tag with black letters/numbers on the right wing. During the summer of 2007 c90 young Buzzards were tagged with a white tag with black numbers on the right wing and a blue tag with white numbers on the left. Reports of marked birds should be sent to david.anderson'at'forestry.gsi.gov.uk

grr... my firewall was blocking it... strange it allowed all the other links to be shown though:stuck:

I don't understand 'puters;)

D

[catkom3]

Hi Delia/ Capercaillie thanks for the link,I've sent David Anderson an e-mail and a map to pinpoint where I saw both birds,I had mentioned it to RSPB but at the time they knew nothing about tagged Buzzards,yes Delia best to keep an eye on the Buzzards,I thought I was seeing things,just wish those photo's came out better

[kawwauser]

done a late walk on the sidlaws today 3 buzzards which looked like they were settling down for the night 2 flying woodcocks on the top of the wooded hill plus 2 calling tawny owls,1 at the bottom 1 on top of the wooded hill

[llendorin]

So, yesterday we decided to go to Lochore Meadows for the day. Not a place I’d normally visit for the purposes of bird watching (It’s too full of people – dog walkers and fishermen!)

There wasn’t really much to see upon arrival at the car park, but it was a nice enough afternoon, so good for a walk, which was the main intention for the day.

As we started on the walk, as expected the Mallard started chasing us around near the park centre, assuming that we’d be feeding them. Wrong! I don’t tend to feed the ducks at these places. There’s more than enough people who do that already. A quick scan around showed that besides the mallard there were a few Black-headed Gulls and a couple of Mute Swans. As we carried on walking, we saw another Mute Swan and a couple of Tufted Ducks as we reached the channel between the mainland and Tod Island. Just past this we saw a Sparrowhawk fly across and into the trees on Tod Island. At this point we decided to wait for a minute or two to let some men and a young boy past (mainly because the young boy was on a bike which had a horn and he was keen to use it!). Another quick scan of the water showed a Cormorant and a couple of Goldeneye. As a result, there wasn’t much to be seen on the way round until they veered off towards the riding stables. All that was really seen were a few Blackbirds, a Robin or two and a Wren. As we moved further on, it got a bit quieter, and with less people about, there was invariably more to see. When we got to the point where we joined the single track road there were several Redwing, Blackbird and Chaffinch to be seen in about the hedges. There were Siskin flying overhead in small groups, too. The walk around the woods and to the nature reserve was pleasant, with lots of Robins and Wrens calling out. Along the way, we saw a small Goldcrest not six feet away from us, so we sat and watched it for a minute or so until it got scared off by a group of three women coming the other way. Along beside the path in the wooded area of the nature reserve, there is a small ditch. Part of the ditch was full of water, part of it was dried up. In one of the dried up parts we noticed a Short-tailed Vole scurrying about, no more than four feet away from us, yet completely oblivious to our presence. What a great sight!

As we crossed the bridge, a quick scan towards the loch showed another Mute swan and two Little Grebe.

We decided to take a quick visit to the hide to see if there was anything about on the large pool and it was actually quite busy. There were Teal, Wigeon, five Whooper Swans, more Mute Swans, Goleneye and Mallard and a Grey Heron was standing at the edge. We stayed there for a few minutes, just watching the birds go about their lives.

We were getting a bit cold by then, so decided to move on. There were yet more Blackbirds, Robins, Redwing, Chaffinch and Wrens in the trees, this time joined by several Blue Tits and a few Fieldfare and Song Thrush. A few scans of the water produced a Great Crested Grebe and another Sparrowhawk flew overhead as we neared the woods (It flew towards Moss Island). In the area in front of Moss Island, several Moorhen could be seen along with more Tufties and Goldeneye. There were also five or six Pochard here, which is always a good addition to a bird list

The rest of the walk was much of the same until we got near the large people populations. There were several Magpies flying about. When in a small group of woods, I could hear Bullfinch and eventually we saw them. There were four, comprising of two males and two females. And just as we were finishing up for the day as we were beginning to lose the light a Kestrel flew in and landed on a nearby tree. Some great views of that one!

Other birds seen were Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon and a small flock of Jackdaw went overhead.

I’m surprised how good an afternoon it turned out to be. It’s not a place I normally consider, but I guess because it was a weekday it was relatively quiet, so there was more to be seen. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though and I think I’ll be doing it a little bit more regularly!

I've attached a wee map showing the route taken. The route is the red line :-)

[Capercaillie71]

I was at a meeting in Perth today, and out of the window I saw a flock of 15-20 pinkish-looking, starling-sized birds land at the top of a tree about 300 metres away, next to the Caithness Glass roundabout. They stayed for a couple of minutes before flying down the motor mile towards the town centre. Too far away to be sure of ID, but worth a look if anyone's in the area. Don't know if any waxwings have been recorded here already yet.

[kawwauser]

3 buzzards/2kestrels/1female sparrowhawk/1 woodcock/3wrens on the sidlaws late today

[llendorin]

I decided to try something i should have done a long time ago today. I live in Dalgety Bay, in Fife, and although i knew the 'bay' itself was quite good for Shelduck from memory, i haven't actually been there in years. Considering it's only 15 minutes walk from me, i've very little excuse!

My memory was correct, though. When i arrived, there was at least 50 Shelduck in the bay, surrounded by several Black-headed Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. The tide was not far off full, but there was still plenty of wader activity to be seen. I know that it could be excellent at low tide, since the mud stretches quite a bit back. Getting it closer to the high meant the birds were closer to me, and closer together, which is nice. There was approximately 400 Turnstone, about 80 Redshank, 30 or so Oystercatcher, the best view i've had of a lone Snipe out in the open and a couple of Curlews. There was also the obligatory Grey Heron.
A Sparrowhawk flew over about 15 minutes after i arrived, causing the birds to all fly up into the air. What a brilliant sight!
There's some woodland just off the shore, where there's a small rookery, so i saw plenty of Rooks, a few Carrion Crow, a couple of the dreaded Magpie and several of the smaller birds, including Wren, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Blackbird. There was also a lone Rock Pipit on the shoreline.
Since i was having a fair amount of success in my home town, i decided to move onto St David's Harbour, another little bay around the town. I added a few birds to the list for the day, including Eider and Great Crested Grebe. Again, there were plenty of gulls about and a good few Oystercatcher and Redshank.
The real surprises for the day for me was a small flock of 8 Twite and a lone female Reed Bunting! Definitely not what i was expecting to see! Well worth it, though!

Dalgety Bay is one of those really under appreciated places for bird watching and i have to admit, i've more or less ignored it myself (Though i won't be from now on!). It's a shame, really, because it clearly has a lot to offer. The deterrent of being right next to, or in a town is still there for most people, though, which is probably the main reason why the area isn't regularly looked at.

[llendorin]

Don't you just hate when you're not sure what it is you've seen and there is nobody about to help with it?

I went along to fill up the feeders at Cullaloe today (Got the boss on site tomorrow, can't have him seeing half empty feeders!) and for the third time this month I've seen a bird i can't be totally sure I'm right on!
I'm 90% sure there's a female Lapland Bunting on site, and has been there for the best part of a month... well, I've seen it three times during that time, anyway. I just can't be positive! I've seen it twice in the bushes and trees along the path, and once in the trees near the feeders.
Sadly, none of my contacts were available to come along at short notice to see if they could confirm my thoughts or no, so it'll have to stay with the big ? over it's head. Very frustrating, though! Would definitely be a lifer for me, and as far as I'm aware, it would also be a first for the site.
Here's hoping it stays around till February and puts in an appearance when you guys are about!

I'm not quite willing to add it to my list, because there is that little bit of lingering doubt that I'm potentially looking at something else. The books I've got seem to indicate that it has a paler, more white, breast than a Reed Bunting and the head pattern is more clearly defined, which definitely seems to be the case for this bird. I've still got the doubt, though... If I'd seen one before I'd probably be more confident, i guess.

[cam85]

if you want to see Red Kites travel to the Village Braco and take the Braco to Comrie road over the moorland.I viewed 6 Red kites up there also Buzzards,Kestrels,Sparrowhawks and Short eared owls.

[cam85]

ive been to these places and they are the best sites in perthshire for birds of prey.Try the sherrifmuir road also very good.

[delia todd]

I'm glad you found your way here Cam.

I haven't seen Short Eared Owls this way for a long time now.

From your other post I see you're beside Glenquey... I didn't used to see much in the way of birds when I was there (mind I wasn't really a 'birder' then). I can only remember Mute Swans and Reed Buntings.

D

[catkom3]

Hi cam85,keep your eyes and ears open when your up there,good chance of hearing/seeing Cuckoo,I've heard them often

[Woodchatshrike]

There was a Green-winged Teal and up to 5 Scaup at Findatie, Loch Leven yesterday Plus drake Smew at both Kirkgate and Vane Farm (2 Birds). There are also a number of Red-breasted Mergansers around the Kirkgate. There was also a Greenshank on St Serfs. Good birding considering most of the birds cleared out during the cold weather and when the water levels rose last week.

[Woodchatshrike]

There was a Green-winged Teal and up to 5 Scaup at Findatie, Loch Leven yesterday Plus drake Smew at both Kirkgate and Vane Farm (2 Birds). There are also a number of Red-breasted Mergansers around the Kirkgate. There was also a Greenshank on St Serfs. Good birding considering most of the birds cleared out during the cold weather and when the water levels rose last week.

The Teal had repatriated to Vane Farm flood yesterday.

[kinnordyvolunteer]

After work this morning i decided to go up to montrose to see if the avocet was still around. I didnt check tide times or find out if the bird was still there but had that gut feeling that the bird was probably gone and the tide would be out...surprise surprise...the tide was coming in and the avocet was still ther First time i've seen one in Scotland. Stil to be seen from Rossie Spit. The lutistic Oyc was also in attendance.
Darell:t:

[kingofit]

Did anyone take part in the RSPB garden bird survey this weekend?

The weather was lovely by us today (between Abernethy & Newburgh) and the highlight was the appearance of a family of long tailed tits at our bird feeder as I was surveying! A tree creeper turned up as well in a Rowan tree and our pair of great spotted woodpeckers weren't going to miss out on the extra survey fat cakes either!

cheers

[delia todd]

Hi Kingofit and welcome to Bird Forum from all the Staff and Moderators

I couldn't do the Garden Watch unfortunately as, living in a flat, I don't have a garden, . Thanks for letting us know what you saw though. Long Tailed Tits are right up there at the top of my favourite birds... you're so lucky to have them in your garden

Keep an eye on the Scottish Bash Discussion Thread (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=62547) we try and arrange a few meetings through the year and you'd be most welcome to join us if you can manage.

D

[kingofit]

Great stuff Delia.

I'd love to come along if possible - will keep an eye on things.

Your avatar is a bird I know very well having spent hours watching them fish...but that is another story for another time ;O)

cheers

[delia todd]

Great stuff Delia.

I'd love to come along if possible - will keep an eye on things.

Your avatar is a bird I know very well having spent hours watching them fish...but that is another story for another time ;O)

cheers

As I say you'd be welcome. The next one is the 9/10th February in the Forth Valley, but we're planning on starting at Scone Palace for the Hawfinch.

Hey Darell, I see you've been twitching:-O Is that Avocet a first for Scotland do you know?

D

[kingofit]

Hawfinches at Scone sound great - have never seen them.

I'll be in touch.

cheers.

[Woodchatshrike]

First winter Glaucous Gull at Loch Leven yesterday afternoon. It was loafing at Kirkgate point for much of the afternoon.

It was the first record on the site since 16th/17th October 1971. A genuine patch mega. Far better then the Baird's Sand!!!

[Woodchatshrike]

Forgot to mention that a there is a pair of Smew at Vane farm and a Slavonian Grebe at Burleigh Sands.

[delia todd]

First winter Glaucous Gull at Loch Leven yesterday afternoon. It was loafing at Kirkgate point for much of the afternoon.

It was the first record on the site since 16th/17th October 1971. A genuine patch mega. Far better then the Baird's Sand!!!

Forgot to mention that a there is a pair of Smew at Vane farm and a Slavonian Grebe at Burleigh Sands.

Sounds like we might have a good start to the next Bash then.... thanks for that

D

[Ken Hall]

Hi Delia

sorry to but in. There were two Avocets on the Ythan (at Waulkmill) a couple of years back, feeding almost right at my feet

cheers

Ken

[delia todd]

Hi Delia

sorry to but in. There were two Avocets on the Ythan (at Waulkmill) a couple of years back, feeding almost right at my feet

cheers

Ken

Hi Ken... how you doing?

Thanks for that... I seem to have missed them (or perhaps my memory is not so good:-O

D

[Ken Hall]

and just to complete the story...... went to Montrose today and saw the Avocet. Eventually. I've just had a look in the NE Scotland Bird Report, and I see there has been one at Strathbeg annually 2000 - 2005.

regards,

ken

[Woodchatshrike]

As I say you'd be welcome. The next one is the 9/10th February in the Forth Valley, but we're planning on starting at Scone Palace for the Hawfinch.

Hey Darell, I see you've been twitching:-O Is that Avocet a first for Scotland do you know?

D

Avocet are an annual Vagrant to Scotland particually in early spring. There is even a Loch Leven record. Vane farm, Mid May 2002. I saw it but it was found by some visiting Americans.

[delia todd]

Avocet are an annual Vagrant to Scotland particually in early spring. There is even a Loch Leven record. Vane farm, Mid May 2002. I saw it but it was found by some visiting Americans.

Thanks.... time I got one then:-O

Is there much around the loch just now?

D

[kinnordyvolunteer]

There was one at Guardbridge around this time last year and there have been sightings of them in the Tay Estuary around the Invergowrie area and i think there were up to three birds....about 5yrs ago apparently!!

First for me in Scotland and a good TWITCH!!!!!

Not sure if its a first for Angus though. Will find out for you!!

[llendorin]

There were even 2 avocets at Killconquhar in 2002, apparently!

Good question from Delia... how high is the water at the pools at vane farm, and is there much to see, or are we better off try the kirkgate hide first?

[edenwatcher]

Also 4 on the Eden in 2004.

Rob

[Woodchatshrike]

There were even 2 avocets at Killconquhar in 2002, apparently!

Good question from Delia... how high is the water at the pools at vane farm, and is there much to see, or are we better off try the kirkgate hide first?

I don't really bother with the hide. I scope from the cemetry. There is'nt anything rare about but there are hundreds of common gulls roosting there because the water is so high and all the common ducks apart from Shovelor. The Glaucous Gull was seen again yesterday at Burnside just to the south of Gateside on the Kinross/Fife border yesterday. We assume it is the same bird that roosted here a couple of Sundays ago.

I understand that there are a good number of Hawfinches in reasonable size flock in the Lime tree avenue at Scone. Maybe as many as 30.

I don't know where the geese are hanging out. All my survey blocks have been blank this year.

Rossie Bog had 60 Whoopers yesterday. There were only a couple of hundred Greylag at Angle park yesterday and 1000 or so Herring gulls but no white wingers.

Vane will undoubtably have a Smew or two plus down the road at Findartie there a few Scaup hanging out.

[delia todd]

Thanks for that report Jeremy... if you don't mind I'll copy it into the Bash thread.

It looks like we might be lucky with the HawfinchB (:

D

[Woodchatshrike]

Good news also there is an Adult Lesser Scaup to the north of Castle Island with the large Pochard flock. There is also a pair of Rb Mergansers, Ruddy Duck and Pintail there.

[kawwauser]

i have had to make a journey over to fife two weeks in a row,i had some waiting time and managed to get some birdspotting in.tayport harbour had 2 pairs of red breasted mergansers plus a cormorant feeding ,the field on the right just before guardbridge had 25-30 curlews about five feet from the road,
a small flock of geese(not sure which species)flew over gaurdbridge just after a jet flew low,on the way to st andrews i saw a very dark plumaged buzzard sitting by the roadside at the rugby fields,it was still sitting there on my return 45 mins later,at st andrews i saw a nice pied wagtail which was very pale in colour (maybe a first year?)

i had to travel to glenrothes today and managed to fit in loch leven
no smew

but plenty pochard/teal tufted duck/goldeneyes/some buzzards,heron.jackdaws,mute swans,tits/robin,flock of lapwings,plus best of all 3 magpies

some pics

merganser/tayport harbour
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/goosander-1.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/goosander2.jpg

unknown geese guardbridge
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/geese-1.jpg

pied wagtail st andrews
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/wagtail.jpg

flock of lapwings leven with a strange bird above them
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/lap.jpg

tufted duck leven
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/t6uft62b.jpg

[delia todd]

Great action pics of the Mergansers, Kawwauser. The geese have got to be Pinkfeet erm... haven't they;):-O

Lovely weather for a run today.

I had a long overdue run up to my Patch today and on the way was a large flock of finches - very flighty but seemed to be mostly Chaffies and Linnets (these at what I call Migration Corner). Further along a flock of about 30 Fieldfare.

On the way back, again at Migration Corner, a Kestrel and more finches, this time I picked out a Brambling with them.

D

[Woodchatshrike]

There was a nice juv Greenland Whitefronted Goose just south of Kinross yesterday. Very nice indeed. The drake Smew is at Vane and the Lesser Scaup was reported also yesterday.

[Woodchatshrike]

i have had to make a journey over to fife two weeks in a row,i had some waiting time and managed to get some birdspotting in.tayport harbour had 2 pairs of red breasted mergansers plus a cormorant feeding ,the field on the right just before guardbridge had 25-30 curlews about five feet from the road,
a small flock of geese(not sure which species)flew over gaurdbridge just after a jet flew low,on the way to st andrews i saw a very dark plumaged buzzard sitting by the roadside at the rugby fields,it was still sitting there on my return 45 mins later,at st andrews i saw a nice pied wagtail which was very pale in colour (maybe a first year?)

i had to travel to glenrothes today and managed to fit in loch leven
no smew

but plenty pochard/teal tufted duck/goldeneyes/some buzzards,heron.jackdaws,mute swans,tits/robin,flock of lapwings,plus best of all 3 magpies

some pics

merganser/tayport harbour
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/goosander-1.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/goosander2.jpg

unknown geese guardbridge
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/geese-1.jpg

pied wagtail st andrews
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/wagtail.jpg

flock of lapwings leven with a strange bird above them
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/lap.jpg

tufted duck leven
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/t6uft62b.jpg


I think your strange bird is a starling.

[kinnordyvolunteer]

There are are 12-14 starlings in amongst the lapwing.

[Woodchatshrike]

2 Lesser Scaup today from Kirkgate park and a Slavonian Grebe from Burleigh.

[Woodchatshrike]

Great Northern Diver Today at Kirkgate first of all then between Vane Farm and St Serfs.
Aonther rarity being only the forth site record. We've had a great run this year so far!

[kawwauser]

i was over fife way this morning,tayport harbour had 1 male red breasted merganser,1 cormorant,1 little grebe being harrased by the herring gulls,guardbridge had many curlews ,i also saw buzzards,kestrel,oystercatcher,starling,great black backed gull,on the way to st andrews i passed the same dark buzzard as last week sittng on the same post(is it glued there?)on the opposite side was a lighter plumaged bird,st andrews had heron ,eider,1 rock pipit,plus sitting fulmars,i also noticed two pairs of crows siting next to nests,in the afternoon i headed for tullybackart,the loch had 2 pairs of calling coots,some mallards and a small group of goldeneye, the surrounding trees produced buzzard,kestrel,great tit,coal tit,robin,goldfinch,jackdaw,i noticed the wind turbines near delias patch from tullybackart they stand out a mile,ill try and get a pic next time im there
pics
little grebe swimming fast tayport harbour
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/lgrebe-1.jpg
herring gull tayport harbour
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/hrng2.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/hrng1.jpg

mute swan tayport pond(not sure of the name)
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/mswan2.jpg

oystercatcher guardbridge
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/oys.jpg

[catkom3]

Anybody seen any Osprey at Lindores yet,I know it's early,but I saw one yesterday just north of Orwell farm,it was heading for Loch Leven,coming from the direction of Lindores.

[delia todd]

I saw your earlier report catkom. I'll keep a look-out up this way

D

[delia todd]

There's a new Yahoo Group for Perthshire Birders here (http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/perthshirebirds/)

It's run by Richard Paul, the local Atlas Organiser.

D

[Ben Nevis]

Whats the neme of the hill on the home page Delia ? Is Schiellion or something like that ? Looks impressive anyway.

[delia todd]

It certainly looks like Schiehallion to me Ben

Great picture isn't it.

D

EDIT: it's a bit more than a hill, though LOL that be a Munro:-O

[Ben Nevis]

It certainly looks like Schiehallion to me Ben



EDIT: it's a bit more than a hill, though LOL that be a Munro:-O


Sorry but I call all Mountains... Hills.I dont know if it is a bad habit,or a Scottish thing ?

[Ken Hall]

Sorry but I call all Mountains... Hills.I dont know if it is a bad habit,or a Scottish thing ?

This brings back memories. In my climbing days, many moons ago, we always referred to "a day on the hill" meaning going climbing, or just walking, in the mountains. We never used the word mountain, that was reserved for places like The Alps or The Himalayas or The Andes - proper mountains. Maybe this says something about the Scots attitude to life. Funnily enough, one particular hill always went simply by the name of "The Ben". A clue. It's near Fort William. B (:

[Ben Nevis]

This brings back memories. In my climbing days, many moons ago, we always referred to "a day on the hill" meaning going climbing, or just walking, in the mountains. We never used the word mountain, that was reserved for places like The Alps or The Himalayas or The Andes - proper mountains. Maybe this says something about the Scots attitude to life. Funnily enough, one particular hill always went simply by the name of "The Ben". A clue. It's near Fort William. B (:

and also the name of a BF Member...!

[kingofit]

Anybody seen any Osprey at Lindores yet,I know it's early,but I saw one yesterday just north of Orwell farm,it was heading for Loch Leven,coming from the direction of Lindores.


Hi catkom3


I know exactly where the Osprey's that fish at Lindores loch nest (in a tree 150 yards from my house!) and they are not back yet.

They usually come back at the end of March (the last week).

I will let you know when they are back. Last year they successfully raised 3 chicks!


cheers

[Kuldoode]

Hi Guys,

I thought i would start adding my tupence worth to the collection of reports.

My local patches are Birnie Loch, Gaddon Loch and the Lommond Hills ( more so West Lommond ).

Today i visited the Birnie where i seen :-

Goldeneye - 2 M , 6 F
Tufted Duck - 5 M, 4 F ??
Blue Tits - 15
Red Breasted Merganser - 1 M , 3 F
Mute Swan - 3
Mallard - Lost Count
Pied Wagtails on Raft - 15
Wigeon - 2 ( i think )
Great Tit - 4
Large flock of finches, mixed chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Linnet ( about 30 in total )

Time : 4pm
Date : 24 th Feb
Weather: Sunny and chilly, very little wind

Guys, i was contemplating creating a fife forum, purely for fife bird sitings and news, would any of you guys be interested ?

regards

Andy

[delia todd]

Hi Andy,

You had a good day there. I've only been to Birnie once it's a lovely place isn't it

D

[malgos]

I had a ride along the Glen yesterday ( 13 miles ) over the Hydro road to Killin and then back over Ben Lawers. Saw a flock of about 12 Lapwings which are the first i,ve seen in the glen this year and Oystercatcher are back on the river. There were a number of Buzzards in the air enjoying the sunshine nearly all were threesomes presumably two males and a female in courtship display. Brown hares were showing very well in the fields at the end of Glen Lyon again presumably pairing up prior to mating and a huge number of red deer stags on the Lochs estate.
Malcolm

[delia todd]

over the Hydro road to Killin

Hi Malcolm

One of my favourite drives ever up here. Is that road always open now? I know there are gates on it which used to be locked on occasion.

D

[llendorin]

Guys, i was contemplating creating a fife forum, purely for fife bird sitings and news, would any of you guys be interested ?

regards

Andy

I've been considering a separate Fife forum for a while, actually. There are quite a few of us Fifers about and there is a fair amount on offer.
After all, my local patch(es) are Cullaloe, Dalgety Bay, occasional trips to the Morton Lochs, Lochore Meadows, Townhill Loch
Then Ofc there's the sea watching at Fife Ness, the Isle of May (though that's debatable if it's actually considered Fife or not, though!)
And as you said, there's Birnie and Gaddon, Lindores, the Lomond Hills, etc, etc.
Might just be worth doing. Any other thoughts on this one?

[delia todd]

How's the neck doing Grahame... and the car?

D

[llendorin]

The car isn't going - it's been written off, sadly.
I'm going to go put the deposit down on a new one this afternoon.

The neck is ok now, though still having a few issues with the back. I'm supposed to be back at work tomorrow, though, so we'll have to see how that goes.