Tayforth Birding (11 Viewers)

[Scozmos]

October 30th 2023
I almost forgot! Went up to the reservoir on Monday, it was a beautiful day for a change so couldn't miss the opportunity for a nice walk. The walk up the track revealed almost nothing, although there are the usual suspects down around the house, it wasn't until we'd had our picnic up at the bench and walked on through the first gate that things started to change, mid afternoon, probably around 2 o'clock, we were chatting to a couple up from Leeds about the walks in the area when, behind them, over their heads a White-tailed Eagle drifted out of the tree line on the hillside! Didn't look like the juvenile I'd seen a few weeks back as it seemed to spot us and do U turn, showing off its tail feathers which looked whiter than the rest of it, then disappeared over the crest, four very happy people Jo hadn't seen one before either.
So, we walked on to the second gate, turned back, straining for any more glimpses and spotted a Buzzard on one of the dead trees on the same hillside.


On past the picnic bench again, where we did see a few Chaffinch and Coal Tits and then a GSW flying back up the reservoir in the trees.
As we rounded the bend, a Crow / Raven was having a go at something in the sky up ahead, looked like a Kestrel, I grabbed a good few shots as it went by but, I'd left the 1.4x converter on the lens so the shots were poor.

As I turned following the Kestrel flight, I spotted a Red Kite cruising further up the hillside, day of the predator!

The Kestrel passed by again heading down the reservoir, obviously hungry?


For this of a photographic ilk, hand holding a 150-600mm with a converter and trying to track a bird!?
Anyway, turned out to be a quieter but exciting walk, second eagle sighting last month

 

[mummymonkey]

Around a dozen waxwings on the tallest tree behind Rosslyn House in Perth. Just added to my window list!
Been there all morning.

 

[Scozmos]

November 4th 2023 Took a wander up to the reservoir this morning, there was a possibility of no rain so, what the heck? I was up there by 8:30 and not a soul around, lovely and there was a fair amount of activity, albeit common birds. Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Coal Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Crow, Kestrel, Bullfinch and Common gull by 9 o'clock and a fair way up the track. I added Raven, Wren, Cormorant, Robin, Grey Heron, a good sized flock of Crossbills, first flock I've seen, around 15 birds, another Grey Heron, Stonechat & Goosander just after passing through the first gate but at 10:35 I spotted a different bird flitting along the fence down by the water's edge, Great Grey Shrike! Much excitement for me. I've heard a lot of people talk about the Shrike sightings up here and not seen hide nor feather until this morning.
The light was terrible but, I worked my way slowly down the bank, keeping an eye on it until it disappeared into a couple of bushes, dammit. Much standing still, listening and staring, nothing.
Back up to the track and carry on.
I walked up around the top corner to the signpost, turned and headed back, through the rickety gate and there it was again, on the fence down in the corner.
One thing I have noticed from this event is that my lens is filthy!

I watched it work its way along the fence, towards the top of the reservoir then disappear.
Much excitement for me, walked back down with a spring in my step spotted quite a few Bullfinches, Long-tailed Tits & a couple of Goldcrest.
A good sized flock of Thrush-like birds flew overhead at the car park but that was it, still smiling here.
Another flock of Bullfinches flew up from a puddle on the road back, around a dozen birds.
Quite glad I decided to head up today
Slowly ticking off the life list.
I'd also walked up the hill next to the new logging road to watch a large herd of Red Deer in the next glen, lots of Stags bellowing and posturing.

 

[delia todd]

Nice one Scoz.... and great pictures of him too.

Well done on your Lifer lad.

 

[Scozmos]

And thank you @delia todd

 

[Ian Bell]

Brilliant and l understand your excitement.The joys of birding 👍👍

 

[burnie]

Great report Scoz, were the Red Deer still rutting?

 

[Scozmos]

Great report Scoz, were the Red Deer still rutting?

A lot of calling, posturing and running about, no real conflicts, LOT of does there 👍

 

[mummymonkey]

Around 50+ this morning at Riggs Road in Perth, across from Lidl.
Very flighty.

(Cross posted in Waxwings thread)

 

[delia todd]

Now want them across the road from Lidl in Blair LOL.

I did manage to see a few on a rather distant tree from my sittingroom window over the weekend... poor pictures though, sadly.

What a horrid day it is today!

 

[burnie]

Single Black Redstart on the riverside in Broughty Ferry this morning.

 

[delia todd]

My friend was talking to a couple this morning who told them they'd seen a Little Egret in the remains of the flooding at Coupar-Angus at the bridge over the River Isla.

 

[Stonefaction]

Nice surprise above Broughty Ferry this afternoon...... a ringtail Hen Harrier. My 155th species of bird from within Dundee this year (my target was 145 and I thought I'd struggle to get that). I was looking up because of the nacreous clouds and spotted it circling a little east of the castle. It drifted off eastwards as I watched it. Photos aren't particularly great but it is my 2nd in Dundee in 2 years - equalling my total for the same species in the Angus Glens over the course of 14 years! EDIT: Added a few bird & nacreous cloud photos.

 

[delia todd]

Lovely sighting of the harrier Barry!!

Also well done getting pictures of the clouds. I was driving and unable to stop sadly. I've never seen these before - knew they'd have a name!!

 

[burnie]

We saw the cloud/rainbow effect at the back of the Arbikie distillery at lunch time today, also saw around 50 Curlew in the old rhubarb field on the northern edge of Arbroath, never seen so many other than at the Montrose basin.

 

[MJB]

We saw the cloud/rainbow effect at the back of the Arbikie distillery at lunch time today, also saw around 50 Curlew in the old rhubarb field on the northern edge of Arbroath, never seen so many other than at the Montrose basin.

Is the 'old rhubarb field' the flattish field opposite Tarry Road which joins the Montrose Road? Many decades ago, that was where Lapwings would roost in winter...
MJB

 

[burnie]

Is the 'old rhubarb field' the flattish field opposite Tarry Road which joins the Montrose Road? Many decades ago, that was where Lapwings would roost in winter...
MJB

That's the one, often see waders on there, but not Lapwings

 

[delia todd]

Two Red Kites displaying over the old Swiss Cheese Shop in Rattray (the road to Braemar in case you don't know it). It sits at the junction of Hatton Road and the Braemar Road.

I'll get one as a window tick yet!!!

Happy Christmas folks.

 

[Gander]

I have not strayed too often from my Kinghorn/Seafield patch this year, but this morning, I felt that a winter visit to the St Andrews area could be productive. I have a friend who I have been introducing to bird watching this year, and he was able to join me, so with reports of Smew, Crossbill and Hen Harrier at Cameron Reservoir, we decided that that would be the best place to find him (Eric) a bird that he had not seen before.

Arriving just after it had become light enough to see anything, we noted ten Whopper Swans feeding in fields on the way into the reservoir. Parking up at the car park, we found that most of the waterfowl were concentrated at this near end of the water. Good numbers of Goldeneye, Wigeon and Teal were seen, but Tufted Duck, although present, seemed strangely depleted, as seems to be the case everywhere I've been this year.

Of our target birds, I was very hopeful of finding Smew and Crossbill, but Hen Harrier is a bird that has eluded me for years, despite scouring many a glen. We were still at the car, when I heard a commotion behind me. Turning I found three birds flying across the fields in close attendance to each other. Two were Carrion Crows, and they were endeavouring to drive off the third bird which was a raptor. Initially I thought Sparrowhawk, but instantly knew that this bird was too big and long winged. Then the bird wheeled in the air and dived before swooping up again, in a successful attempt to lose its Corvid escort. It was as it swooped up, then headed south past the Cameron Kirk, that I clearly saw the white rump, and remembered that Hen Harriers have white rumps. I had my lifer, as did Eric, who had not had to wait the six years I'd been chasing one!

We did a circuit of the reservoir, but Smew or Crossbill were not to be found. To be honest, with Hen Harrier found, I was not worrying about Smew or Crossbill. Call me shallow, but that's the way it was!

From Cameron, we headed for Kinshaldy, but not before we found Great Spotted Woodpecker, a bird I had not realised would be a second lifer of the day for Eric. We headed through Tentsmuir, then leaving the car at Kinsdhaldy car park, we tried to get down onto the beach. This proved problematic due to extensive flooding between the dunes, however with a bit of a diversion towards the south, we managed to get around the waters before heading north along the front edge of the dunes. Our target here was another lifer for Eric in the shape of Snow Bunting, and I buoyed with Hen Harrier success was thinking about the possibilities of Shore Lark, although none have been reported here for a few years.

It is always an energy sucking tramp through the soft sands of this beach, and we were approaching the lagoon area, when I said to Eric, that maybe we should have continued south from Kinshaldy. The words were hardly out my mouth, when a small flock of birds flew out of the dunes, and landed on the beach. Nine Snow Bunting, and Eric's third lifer of the day had been found.

We came back to the car park along the forest trail, but Crossbill were again not evident, and with the light noticeably depleting, even at only 14:15 hrs, we called it a day, but a good day.

 

[delia todd]

Well done on your Lifer Paul!!! And very well done finding so many for Eric too.

You know my first visit to Fife for birdwatching ... way back. We'd gone to the hide at Guardbridge. We'd not timed it quite right as the tide was coming in, so someone said had we seen a Red Head. And gave us directions to Cameron Loch as it seemed to be called then, even though it was a reservoir.

After quite a bit of searching we found her out in the middle, no pictures in those days. Was it the male that had been reported? as back then when I went, it was a favourite haunt of a female?