[Pluvius]

I was staying with my sister in Dalguise at her Bed and Breakfast 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/...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 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/...p/photo/135243

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

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/...p/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/...cat/500/page/1

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/...cat/500/page/1

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/...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]

Originally Posted by 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

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.