Hopefully,the Otter takes a few more Pike out.Have to agree with Ken...thats a big fish.
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Birding at Loch of Kinnordy (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter kinnordyvolunteer
- Start date
Hopefully,the Otter takes a few more Pike out.Have to agree with Ken...thats a big fish.
kawwauser
Well-known member
i was at kinnordy 9.00 am today,what a big difference from my last visits,the whole reserve has burst into life,there was bird calls allthrough the reserve,at one point im sure they were competing to see who can sing the loudest,the trees beside the gullery hide had a gs woodpecker/dunnock/chaffinch/blue/coal tits/robin,the trees between here and the swamp hide had many chaffinch/bluetits,the trees to the left of the swamp hide had 5 reedbuntings,2 males 3 females ,the males were chasing the females,the water in front of the swamp hide had 5 whoopers all resting on the left bank/2 greylags/2 pairs of goldeneyes/6 widgeon/7 teals,plus the rooks were sitting in their nesting tree,a buzzard glided past and spooked a flock of widgeon which were swimming unoticed in the water just in front of the rooks trees,this took the widgeon number up to 18,the gullery hide was ceratainly the best bet today ,just to the left of the hide19 whoopers were siting in the reeds,a low flying jet passed and another 6 flew up from the opposite side and landed with them,the jet passed a couple of times and the whoopers were the only alarmed birds,28 oystercatchers were sitting in the bogbean plus 2 lapwings,1 heron was feeding in the reeds on the opposite side and 1 shellduck was smimming in the channels30+teal were also sitting in the bogbean,2 mutes were swimming in the background along with a small number of tufted/mallards,2 pairs of shovelars were in the channels in the bogbean and in both cases the males were swimming in a circle right in front of the females,another pair were resting nearby,a pair of mallards slowly made their was to the reeds just to the left of the hide looking like they were doing something they didnt want anyone to know about ,4 bh gulls were also sitting on the bogbean,the feeders produced another gs woodpecker plus coal/great tit,robins were singing here and one of them flutterd about my feet,the east hide had loads of tufted ducks 1 male shovelar/1 heron/4 widgeon/3 goldeneyes/3 mutes/some mallards,a cormorant was sitting on the perch in front of the hide,i remember when they put this perch up,the cormorants loved it,it was common to see 2 birds sitting at the same time,suddenly they deserted it,maybe it became unstable,i know it eventually ended up in the water,the coots and moorhens are not showing at the moment i also missed the pintails ,wont be long before the ospreys return plus the other summer birds
pics
whooper just spooked by jet
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/whper4.jpg
jet
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/jet.jpg
widgeon just after buzzard flyover
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/widge5488.jpg
shellduck
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/shelld3.jpg
view from the gullery hide,it was very windy today and the water in front of the gullery hide was still calm even though the water in front of the other hides was stormy
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/kinnordyshd.jpg
pics
whooper just spooked by jet
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/whper4.jpg
jet
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/jet.jpg
widgeon just after buzzard flyover
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/widge5488.jpg
shellduck
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/shelld3.jpg
view from the gullery hide,it was very windy today and the water in front of the gullery hide was still calm even though the water in front of the other hides was stormy
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/kinnordyshd.jpg
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I had a short visit to Kinnordy yesterday afternoon. The Greylag were grazing with two Oystercatchers at the swamp end near the road. There was a large collection of mostly Common Gulls on the water at that end - well when I say water, it appeared that they were standing on ice.
The field opposite the car park was being ploughed and was full of Common and Black-headed Gulls and more Oystercatchers.
I only visited the Gullery Hide: Shovelers were the first to be spotted but it was really quite busy there. With more Common & Black-headed Gulls on the bog bean, along with Mallards, Oystercatchers (who kept flying back and forth, looked like to the field, but also chasing each other round in circles). Then there were the Teal, Wigeon, Coots, Moorhens. I couldn't find any Goldeneye, nor the reported Pintail and Gadwall.
Further out there were plenty of Whoopers (initially hiding in the reed bed opposite) and a few Mute Swans. Several Goosanders too.
Rooks were flying past with nesting material in their beaks and 3 or 4 Buzzards flying over the hill.
D
The field opposite the car park was being ploughed and was full of Common and Black-headed Gulls and more Oystercatchers.
I only visited the Gullery Hide: Shovelers were the first to be spotted but it was really quite busy there. With more Common & Black-headed Gulls on the bog bean, along with Mallards, Oystercatchers (who kept flying back and forth, looked like to the field, but also chasing each other round in circles). Then there were the Teal, Wigeon, Coots, Moorhens. I couldn't find any Goldeneye, nor the reported Pintail and Gadwall.
Further out there were plenty of Whoopers (initially hiding in the reed bed opposite) and a few Mute Swans. Several Goosanders too.
Rooks were flying past with nesting material in their beaks and 3 or 4 Buzzards flying over the hill.
D
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
Sunday 8th March
Windy and very cold at kinnordy this morning. It had been snowing in Dundee so i thought there must be some up at the reserve. It was mainly up on the hills to the north.
In front of the gullery hide there were oystercatchers 50+, teal, shovler 10, mallard, coot, tufties, a pair of gadwall, black headed and common gulls. The rooks were busy gathering nesting materials from the surrounding area.
Over to the east, there were both mute and whooper swans along with tufties, mallard and a couple of goldeneye.
I went along to the swamp end where there were teal, mallard, goldeneye, mute and whooper swans, coot, wigeon and sleeping in the reeds i spotted the pair of pintail that have been around for a while.
Other birds seen were reed bunting, chaffinch, bullfinch, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, pheasant, buzzard, crows, woodpigeon, blackbird, robin, wren.
As i passed the swamp end in the car on my way to the west end, i saw that the pintail had emerged from the reeds, so i stopped the car to take a photo but as soon as i got out, the pair flew off, but not before i got a pic of them in flight...see below.
At the west end of the reserve there were a couple of greylags, oycs and lapwing.
Darell
Windy and very cold at kinnordy this morning. It had been snowing in Dundee so i thought there must be some up at the reserve. It was mainly up on the hills to the north.
In front of the gullery hide there were oystercatchers 50+, teal, shovler 10, mallard, coot, tufties, a pair of gadwall, black headed and common gulls. The rooks were busy gathering nesting materials from the surrounding area.
Over to the east, there were both mute and whooper swans along with tufties, mallard and a couple of goldeneye.
I went along to the swamp end where there were teal, mallard, goldeneye, mute and whooper swans, coot, wigeon and sleeping in the reeds i spotted the pair of pintail that have been around for a while.
Other birds seen were reed bunting, chaffinch, bullfinch, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, pheasant, buzzard, crows, woodpigeon, blackbird, robin, wren.
As i passed the swamp end in the car on my way to the west end, i saw that the pintail had emerged from the reeds, so i stopped the car to take a photo but as soon as i got out, the pair flew off, but not before i got a pic of them in flight...see below.
At the west end of the reserve there were a couple of greylags, oycs and lapwing.
Darell
Attachments
kawwauser
Well-known member
i was at kinnordy today,it was sunny but very cold,the black headed gull numbers have increased,they were spead out from the bogbean in front of the gullery hide right along to the swamp hide,the bh gulls calls are now the first calls you hear when approaching the reserve,when i was in the swamp hide a vistor was asking about the otters,i explained i had seen 1 last year in front of the gullery hide,(lifer for me)he then asked what would be the best time to see the otter dusk or dawn,my otter sighting was about mid daytime,roughly 5-10 mins later i spotted (before the bh glls) 3 otters swimming on the far side,it took a while to give an exact point as they were
constantly diving on open water,eventually the visitor got a glimpse of them as they entered some reeds,it turned out to be a very good view as they all surfaced one after another, it was very exciting seeing 3 otters like this but i still remember the damage they done last year, 2 other gull species were present,common and what i think was a small group of 1st year lesser black backed,the lesser bb gulls were siting on the bogbean in front of the gullery hide,the bh gulls were diving and catching something in the water here,the lesser bb gull were chasing them taking their catch and then fighting among themselves for it,one of the chases went right past the hide,the catch just looked like it was just a reed,i put a pic below the lesser bb gull certainly didnt eat it,a report in the book mentions a bittern on the 9th of march,there is still plenty whoopers about and the mutes were marking out their teritory,i also had m/f shovelars,m/f goosanders,m/f goldeneyes,male pintail(swamp hide far side)1 heron,loads of tufted ducks,some teals,rooks buisily building nests,a pair landed on the perch in front of the swamp hide and had a drink pic below,some mallards,lapwings ,oystercatcher,7 curlews flying over,coots ,moorhens,song thrush,blackbird,robin,blue/great tits,chaffinch,great spotted woodpecker,dunnock,pheasant,on my way to kinnordy i passed a mating pair of oystercatchers,this is my first mating pair of birds of the year although i have seen many courtship routines
pics
rooks having a drink swamp hide
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/rook2b.jpg
song thrush
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/sng3b.jpg
greylag
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/greylb.jpg
lesser blacked gull with prey just snatched from bh gull
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/lsgullb.jpg
constantly diving on open water,eventually the visitor got a glimpse of them as they entered some reeds,it turned out to be a very good view as they all surfaced one after another, it was very exciting seeing 3 otters like this but i still remember the damage they done last year, 2 other gull species were present,common and what i think was a small group of 1st year lesser black backed,the lesser bb gulls were siting on the bogbean in front of the gullery hide,the bh gulls were diving and catching something in the water here,the lesser bb gull were chasing them taking their catch and then fighting among themselves for it,one of the chases went right past the hide,the catch just looked like it was just a reed,i put a pic below the lesser bb gull certainly didnt eat it,a report in the book mentions a bittern on the 9th of march,there is still plenty whoopers about and the mutes were marking out their teritory,i also had m/f shovelars,m/f goosanders,m/f goldeneyes,male pintail(swamp hide far side)1 heron,loads of tufted ducks,some teals,rooks buisily building nests,a pair landed on the perch in front of the swamp hide and had a drink pic below,some mallards,lapwings ,oystercatcher,7 curlews flying over,coots ,moorhens,song thrush,blackbird,robin,blue/great tits,chaffinch,great spotted woodpecker,dunnock,pheasant,on my way to kinnordy i passed a mating pair of oystercatchers,this is my first mating pair of birds of the year although i have seen many courtship routines
pics
rooks having a drink swamp hide
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/rook2b.jpg
song thrush
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/sng3b.jpg
greylag
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/greylb.jpg
lesser blacked gull with prey just snatched from bh gull
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/lsgullb.jpg
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kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
Sunday 23rd March
Its good to see all the waders arriving back on the reserve..redshank, oycs, lapwing and curlew. The black headed gulls are busy nest building while all the other birds are busy getting on with what they do at this time of year.
It was very cloudy when i arrived this morning with a slight breeze which got stronger as the day went on.
I started by going along to the west end to see what was along there. 29 whoopers were busy feeding while there were oycs and lapwing along with reed buntings. As i drove past the swamp end i could see more whoopers, mutes, tufties, shoveler and black headed gulls.
It's the sound of the gulls that you hear first and then the distant sound of the whoopers. Dunnocks, robin, chaffinch, blue tits, great tits and coal tits were around the feeders at the gullery. In front of the hide were gadwall, mallards, teal, tufties, goldeneye, shoveler, oycs, lapwing, coot, moorhen and redshank.
Along at the swamp hide were more whoopers, mutes, gadwall, shoveler, lapwing, oycs, common gulls, redshank, teal, rooks, jackdaws, crows, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, curlew, and cormorant.
I then headed towards the feeding station where i could hear a woodpecker drumming away. Also there were numerous pheasants, dunnock, blackbird, chaffinches and the usual tits.
Off i went for a walk round to the lilly pond to see what was in the area. Pied wagtails, lapwing, oycs, buzzard, woodpigeon, robins, wren and chaffinches were around, but the area of the pond was very quiet. On my way back i saw a few long tailed tits and goldfinches and that was that. As the day wore on, the wind really started to whip up the water on the loch. I went back to the swamp end to get a reading of the water levels and finally managed to see the pintails at the far side. I thought they might have gone, but they are still around.
It was a good day even though it was spoilt a bit by the wind. The Osprey should be returning within the next week to ten days so that will be good to see them back again.
Todays pics are of shoveler, flying in front of the gullery hide, whoopers at the swamp end and a pied wagtail, in the field next to the east hide.
Darell
Its good to see all the waders arriving back on the reserve..redshank, oycs, lapwing and curlew. The black headed gulls are busy nest building while all the other birds are busy getting on with what they do at this time of year.
It was very cloudy when i arrived this morning with a slight breeze which got stronger as the day went on.
I started by going along to the west end to see what was along there. 29 whoopers were busy feeding while there were oycs and lapwing along with reed buntings. As i drove past the swamp end i could see more whoopers, mutes, tufties, shoveler and black headed gulls.
It's the sound of the gulls that you hear first and then the distant sound of the whoopers. Dunnocks, robin, chaffinch, blue tits, great tits and coal tits were around the feeders at the gullery. In front of the hide were gadwall, mallards, teal, tufties, goldeneye, shoveler, oycs, lapwing, coot, moorhen and redshank.
Along at the swamp hide were more whoopers, mutes, gadwall, shoveler, lapwing, oycs, common gulls, redshank, teal, rooks, jackdaws, crows, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, curlew, and cormorant.
I then headed towards the feeding station where i could hear a woodpecker drumming away. Also there were numerous pheasants, dunnock, blackbird, chaffinches and the usual tits.
Off i went for a walk round to the lilly pond to see what was in the area. Pied wagtails, lapwing, oycs, buzzard, woodpigeon, robins, wren and chaffinches were around, but the area of the pond was very quiet. On my way back i saw a few long tailed tits and goldfinches and that was that. As the day wore on, the wind really started to whip up the water on the loch. I went back to the swamp end to get a reading of the water levels and finally managed to see the pintails at the far side. I thought they might have gone, but they are still around.
It was a good day even though it was spoilt a bit by the wind. The Osprey should be returning within the next week to ten days so that will be good to see them back again.
Todays pics are of shoveler, flying in front of the gullery hide, whoopers at the swamp end and a pied wagtail, in the field next to the east hide.
Darell
Attachments
kawwauser
Well-known member
40 whoopers feeding at the west end today,the birds were right next to the road and were very wary,another11 were sitting to the left of the gullery hide,3 pairs of gadwall were swimming in front of the gullery hide,other birds seen were shovelar(only males)/teal/mallard/tufted duck/coot/moorhen/mute swan/redshank/lapwing/oystercatcher/1 greylag/carrion crow/jackdaw/great spotted woodpecker/wren/chafinch/great tit/bluetit/robin/black headedgull/commongull/woodpigeon,visability was poor so i couldnt make out any birds on the far side,there is a mention of a great crested grebe in the visitors book,one of the windows in the gullery hide has lost part of the latch and when i opened it i noticed there was no clicking noise,the window seemed stiff enough so i left it open ,about 15 mins later it came down crashing on my head,the window didn,t seem that heavy when i opened it ,anybody any idea when the first osprey sighting was last year?and what was the earliest record
whoopers west end
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/whp2-1.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/wps1.jpg
whoopers west end
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/whp2-1.jpg
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d91/kawwauser/wps1.jpg
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
The Ospreys came back on the 29th and 30th of March last year.
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
Sunday 29th March
The start of British Summertime!!!!?????????? It was brass monkeys at Kinnordy this morning and for most of the day.
My car was clear of frost this morning and the sun was out, but am glad i put the old thermals on. When i got to Glamis, all the cars in the village were frozen so i half expected the loch to be the same. A few patches at the edges but the rest was clear thank goodness. I started along at the far west end where a number of whoopers were situated 37 in all. I had counted another 18 in the flooded field, near roundyhills, on my way to kinnordy. Greylags, oycs, curlew, lapwing, skylarks, reed bunting, meadow pipits and crows were also along there.
I stopped and had a look at the swamp area as i drove past and there were tufties, goldeneye, mallard, teal, mute swans and more whoopers to be seen.
From the car park i could hear gulls, but it wasn 't as noisy as usual. Coal tits, blue tits and great tits were at the feeders while dunnocks and robins waited for the scraps below. From the gullery hide it was quite easy to count the black headed gulls and it was the oystercatchers that were making most of the noise with the gulls and redshank close behind. Shoveler, shelduck, Gadwall, tufties, goldeneye, wigeon, teal and little grebes were also there. It was good to see wigeon after they had done a disappearing act last weekend. There were also mute swans and whoopers in front of the hide.
Coming out of the hide i was greeted with the sound of drumming woodpeckers, boy had they found a good sound post. In fact you could have had them for disturbing the peace!!!
On the way to the swamp hide i saw treecreepers, wren, robin, dunnocks, chaffinch and goldfinch.Not far from the hide, on the left hand side before the boardwalk were the remains of a teal...somethings supper/breakfast.
From the hide it was the same birds i had seen from the car plus a pair of goosander. I was busy scanning for the pintail and was about to give up, when the male lifted his head above the bogbean on the far side.
I then headed off for a walk round the reserve and saw more treecreepers, yellowhammers, chaffinches, blackbirds, woodpigeons, rooks, crows, buzzards, pied wagtails, long tail tits and bullfinches.
Along at the bridges a woodpecker was trying very hard to give himself concussion without any luck.
Back at the gullery area a treesparrow was high up in the trees only giving me short glimpses.
A cold but sunny day, with lots to see. I checked the Ospreys nest every hour to see if either had arrived but not today!!! Hopefully tomorrow.
Todays photos are of a half concussed woodpecker, flypast of Gadwall, Shelduck and Wigeon and a deer along at the swamp area.
Darell:t:
The start of British Summertime!!!!?????????? It was brass monkeys at Kinnordy this morning and for most of the day.
My car was clear of frost this morning and the sun was out, but am glad i put the old thermals on. When i got to Glamis, all the cars in the village were frozen so i half expected the loch to be the same. A few patches at the edges but the rest was clear thank goodness. I started along at the far west end where a number of whoopers were situated 37 in all. I had counted another 18 in the flooded field, near roundyhills, on my way to kinnordy. Greylags, oycs, curlew, lapwing, skylarks, reed bunting, meadow pipits and crows were also along there.
I stopped and had a look at the swamp area as i drove past and there were tufties, goldeneye, mallard, teal, mute swans and more whoopers to be seen.
From the car park i could hear gulls, but it wasn 't as noisy as usual. Coal tits, blue tits and great tits were at the feeders while dunnocks and robins waited for the scraps below. From the gullery hide it was quite easy to count the black headed gulls and it was the oystercatchers that were making most of the noise with the gulls and redshank close behind. Shoveler, shelduck, Gadwall, tufties, goldeneye, wigeon, teal and little grebes were also there. It was good to see wigeon after they had done a disappearing act last weekend. There were also mute swans and whoopers in front of the hide.
Coming out of the hide i was greeted with the sound of drumming woodpeckers, boy had they found a good sound post. In fact you could have had them for disturbing the peace!!!
On the way to the swamp hide i saw treecreepers, wren, robin, dunnocks, chaffinch and goldfinch.Not far from the hide, on the left hand side before the boardwalk were the remains of a teal...somethings supper/breakfast.
From the hide it was the same birds i had seen from the car plus a pair of goosander. I was busy scanning for the pintail and was about to give up, when the male lifted his head above the bogbean on the far side.
I then headed off for a walk round the reserve and saw more treecreepers, yellowhammers, chaffinches, blackbirds, woodpigeons, rooks, crows, buzzards, pied wagtails, long tail tits and bullfinches.
Along at the bridges a woodpecker was trying very hard to give himself concussion without any luck.
Back at the gullery area a treesparrow was high up in the trees only giving me short glimpses.
A cold but sunny day, with lots to see. I checked the Ospreys nest every hour to see if either had arrived but not today!!! Hopefully tomorrow.
Todays photos are of a half concussed woodpecker, flypast of Gadwall, Shelduck and Wigeon and a deer along at the swamp area.
Darell:t:
Attachments
Text message from Hannah via Darell:
The Osprey is back at Kinnordy.
Great news
D
The Osprey is back at Kinnordy.
Great news
D
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
Saturday 4th April
Grey, wet and very misty at kinnordy this morning when i arrived. It tried to get brighter as the morning progressed but the mist and rain kept rolling in so at about 2pm i called it a day.
I arrived at about 8am and was greeted by the sound of gulls. Had their numbers increased or had the volume of noise just increased from the ones present...it was an increase in volume. A few of the gulls were busy collecting nesting materials, but i fear they wont suceed due to the lack of numbers. I hope i'm proved wrong, but in previous years, before we had success, the nests that did contain eggs were soon emptied by the crows. Lets hope i'm wrong!!!
Other birds in front of the gullery hide included moorhen, coot, teal, mallard, tufties, shoveler, little grebes with nest, oyystercatchers, lapwing, redshank, mute swans and a few whoopers.
I went along to the swamp hide to find 5 whoopers, shoveler, tufties, black headed gulls, lesser black backs, common gulls, mallard, teal, moorhen and coot. At ten o'clock the Osprey appeared and headed for the east end. It came back to the swamp end ten mins later and got alot of attention from the crows and gulls. I then saw in the mist, a group of sandmartins. They were darting all over the place and then every so often they would all come together for a while and then disperse again. A bit further over to the west i also saw a pair of snipe displaying along with curlew and more redshank.
There were 20 or so whoopers along at the west end along with some greylag geese, oycs and lapwing. Skylarks and reed buntings were also in abundance, all over the reserve.
Also at the swamp hide was the sound of water rail which was also the case when i went back to the gullery hide, at both sides. I looked to the left of the hide to see one skulking in the reeds, looking for food. Hopefully that wont be the last i see of them this spring/summer.
Other birds around today included dunnock, goldfinch, yellowhammer, chaffinch, wren, woodpecker, robin, crow, rook, jackdaw, buzzard, blue tit, great tit, heron and cormorant.
Todays photos are of a male tufty, osprey and a fly past of a pair of greylags.
Darell
Grey, wet and very misty at kinnordy this morning when i arrived. It tried to get brighter as the morning progressed but the mist and rain kept rolling in so at about 2pm i called it a day.
I arrived at about 8am and was greeted by the sound of gulls. Had their numbers increased or had the volume of noise just increased from the ones present...it was an increase in volume. A few of the gulls were busy collecting nesting materials, but i fear they wont suceed due to the lack of numbers. I hope i'm proved wrong, but in previous years, before we had success, the nests that did contain eggs were soon emptied by the crows. Lets hope i'm wrong!!!
Other birds in front of the gullery hide included moorhen, coot, teal, mallard, tufties, shoveler, little grebes with nest, oyystercatchers, lapwing, redshank, mute swans and a few whoopers.
I went along to the swamp hide to find 5 whoopers, shoveler, tufties, black headed gulls, lesser black backs, common gulls, mallard, teal, moorhen and coot. At ten o'clock the Osprey appeared and headed for the east end. It came back to the swamp end ten mins later and got alot of attention from the crows and gulls. I then saw in the mist, a group of sandmartins. They were darting all over the place and then every so often they would all come together for a while and then disperse again. A bit further over to the west i also saw a pair of snipe displaying along with curlew and more redshank.
There were 20 or so whoopers along at the west end along with some greylag geese, oycs and lapwing. Skylarks and reed buntings were also in abundance, all over the reserve.
Also at the swamp hide was the sound of water rail which was also the case when i went back to the gullery hide, at both sides. I looked to the left of the hide to see one skulking in the reeds, looking for food. Hopefully that wont be the last i see of them this spring/summer.
Other birds around today included dunnock, goldfinch, yellowhammer, chaffinch, wren, woodpecker, robin, crow, rook, jackdaw, buzzard, blue tit, great tit, heron and cormorant.
Todays photos are of a male tufty, osprey and a fly past of a pair of greylags.
Darell
Attachments
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
Some photos from todays visit to Kinnordy. Report to follow later.
Two, of Osperys with two different pike... the second one was a struggle to get out of the water.
Black Tailed Godwits
Otter family out for some sunshine
Darell
Two, of Osperys with two different pike... the second one was a struggle to get out of the water.
Black Tailed Godwits
Otter family out for some sunshine
Darell
Attachments
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
It was a fantastic day for bird watching yesterday. Though quite chilly first thing, the sun was out and so were the birds.
I started along at the west end and found three black tailed godwits feeding beside some greylags. Also there were oycs, lapwing, curlew and some whoopers.
Along at the main reserve i heard there had been 34 godwits on saturday in front of the gullery hide. I had to content myself with the three at the west end and three opposite the gullery hide. As you saw from the photos, the colours were fantastic.
Other birds outside the gullery were shoveler, teal, goldeneye, coot, moorhen,
gadwall, little grebes, heron, reed bunting, mute swans, whoopers, redshank and black headed gulls.
I went along to the swamp hide and added goldfinch, chaffinch, linnet, yellowhammer, dunnock and blackbird to my list. Teal, mallard, shoveler, goldeneye, redshank, wigeon and another pair of little grebes.
The Osprey came in and went off with a good sized pike so i thought it would be a while before it returned. Just before i headed off for a walk i heard tree sparrows high up in the fir trees next to the gullery boardwalk. We then watched as three chased each other from tree to tree.
The usual suspects were present on my walk...blue tit, great tit, coal tit, woodpecker, wren, robin and dunnock. On my way back, at the first bridge i heard the sound of my first willow warbler for this year and right enough, in the bushes next to the bridge it was busy looking for food. I didnt get a decent enough view to get a photo...maybe next week. Also on my way back i saw a pair of long tailed tits and a couple of bullfinches. On my return to the gullery area, a siskin was helping itself to the peanuts.
We were busy looking at the gadwall when all the gulls went up and over to the reeds on the far side. A few moments later we saw an otter, soon to be joined by another two. I was busy watching them and at the same time watching the little grebe crouch low in her nest, as the otters went by.
Not long after the otters had gone an osprey appeared and had a couple of attempts at a fish, without success. A second osprey appeared at the east end which seemed to urge the other one to have another go at the pike it had been trying to get. This time, it was successful but not without a terrific fight. It really struggled to get the pike out of the water and even more of a struggle to get some height to get back to the nest.
The godwits hung around for the day and there were still 20 whoopers around the reserve. I wonder whether they will stil be there next week.
Other birds seen were crow, rook, jackdaw, buzzard, skylark, meadow pipit, pheasant and woodpigeon.
A lovely spring day, lots of birds along with the otters and numerous deer.
Darell
I started along at the west end and found three black tailed godwits feeding beside some greylags. Also there were oycs, lapwing, curlew and some whoopers.
Along at the main reserve i heard there had been 34 godwits on saturday in front of the gullery hide. I had to content myself with the three at the west end and three opposite the gullery hide. As you saw from the photos, the colours were fantastic.
Other birds outside the gullery were shoveler, teal, goldeneye, coot, moorhen,
gadwall, little grebes, heron, reed bunting, mute swans, whoopers, redshank and black headed gulls.
I went along to the swamp hide and added goldfinch, chaffinch, linnet, yellowhammer, dunnock and blackbird to my list. Teal, mallard, shoveler, goldeneye, redshank, wigeon and another pair of little grebes.
The Osprey came in and went off with a good sized pike so i thought it would be a while before it returned. Just before i headed off for a walk i heard tree sparrows high up in the fir trees next to the gullery boardwalk. We then watched as three chased each other from tree to tree.
The usual suspects were present on my walk...blue tit, great tit, coal tit, woodpecker, wren, robin and dunnock. On my way back, at the first bridge i heard the sound of my first willow warbler for this year and right enough, in the bushes next to the bridge it was busy looking for food. I didnt get a decent enough view to get a photo...maybe next week. Also on my way back i saw a pair of long tailed tits and a couple of bullfinches. On my return to the gullery area, a siskin was helping itself to the peanuts.
We were busy looking at the gadwall when all the gulls went up and over to the reeds on the far side. A few moments later we saw an otter, soon to be joined by another two. I was busy watching them and at the same time watching the little grebe crouch low in her nest, as the otters went by.
Not long after the otters had gone an osprey appeared and had a couple of attempts at a fish, without success. A second osprey appeared at the east end which seemed to urge the other one to have another go at the pike it had been trying to get. This time, it was successful but not without a terrific fight. It really struggled to get the pike out of the water and even more of a struggle to get some height to get back to the nest.
The godwits hung around for the day and there were still 20 whoopers around the reserve. I wonder whether they will stil be there next week.
Other birds seen were crow, rook, jackdaw, buzzard, skylark, meadow pipit, pheasant and woodpigeon.
A lovely spring day, lots of birds along with the otters and numerous deer.
Darell
Attachments
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
I think it was a young otter at the back....they were out of the water and gone in a flash.
kawwauser
Well-known member
i was at kinnordy this morning,my days outing was almost a non starter ,i was driving along the coupar angus road running through birkhill at 8.45 am when a red squirell decided to cross the very busy road,vehicles heading in both directions had to brake and swerve,i missed the car in front of me by inches,the squirell scampered into a garden unaware of the chaos it had created,i passed the ospreys nest on the pylon and 1 bird was resting on it,this is my first of the year,kinnordy gave me my first swallows,i checked the area at the west end to see if the godwits were there but had no joy,lapwings/oystercatchers/whoopers,were there,the weather was very overcast and the small birds in the trees were hard to see but there was ceratainly lots of them,there was a mute juv sitting in the water at the boardwalk and it didnt bat an eye as i walked past,2 adult mutes were feeding noisily just a couple of feet in front of the swamp hide,there was another 2 adults at the lily pond,i only counted 2 black headed gulls sitting on nests at the gullery hide, a big difference from last year,but i supose its the end result that counts,even 4 chicks would be better than none,it took me 2 visits and half an hour to spot the little grebe on the nest,ill have to bring my scope next time,still plenty of teals /tufted ducks/mallards about,i also had 1 shellduck/1 male shovelar/coots/moorhens/3 redshanks/1 curlew/2 herons/1 goldeneye/male and female reedbunting/wren/robin/2 great spotted woodpeckers/2 greylags flying/ jackdaw/rook/woodpigeon/chaffinch/dunnock/3x tits/2 brown birds which i couldnt id,there was a broken tufted duck egg on the path just past the east hide ,there was 3 hares in the surrounding fields and due the the bad lighting i got quite close,i heard the waterrail at the east hide but it never showed itself
pics
juv mute
adult mutes feeding
robin
hare
pics
juv mute
adult mutes feeding
robin
hare
kinnordyvolunteer
Darell Berthon
It was sunny and chilly when i arrived at 5.45 this morning to start a wader survey and webs count.
I started along at the east hide and saw redshank at the waters edge, 6 female goldeneye, tufties and a couple of black headed gulls. It was then along to the gullery hide where there were mallard, tufties, teal, redshank, lapwing, little grebes, 60 black headed gulls and oycs. It was quieter along at the swamp hide with lapwing, more redshank, tufties, shoveler, mute swans, heron and teal.
I then went along to the westend where i sat for a while to see where all the waders were. Lapwing, oycs and snipe drummimg above my head along with curlew on the far side. Also along there were teal, shoveler, gadwall, mute swans and 4 whoopers. Skylarks, pied wagtail, linnet, reed bunting and water rail to be heard but not seen.
I then headed back to the main carpark and headed out for a walk round the reserve. Willow warbler, wren, robin, woodpecker, woodpigeon, pheasant, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, siskin, blackbird, greylags, skylarks, treecreepers, chaffinch, goldfinch, buzzard, crows, rooks and jackdaw were seen either on my way or way back.
All this and it wasnt even ten o'clock yet!!
Later on in the morning, a pair of shelduck appeared at the east end and they then joined four others who were sitting in the field, opposite the swamp hide. Eventually they all came down on to the loch.
Four little grebes could now be seen from the gullery hide and then 20+ pinkfeet flew overhead, a flock of 30+ common gulls appeared along with 3 lesser black backs before one of the ospreys made a very brief appearance. The black headed gull numbers increased from 60 early on to 200+ by late morning, but none seem to be trying to build nests.
At about 2pm i called it a day. I went along to the westend again to get some photos of the new highland cattle calfs.
Darell
I started along at the east hide and saw redshank at the waters edge, 6 female goldeneye, tufties and a couple of black headed gulls. It was then along to the gullery hide where there were mallard, tufties, teal, redshank, lapwing, little grebes, 60 black headed gulls and oycs. It was quieter along at the swamp hide with lapwing, more redshank, tufties, shoveler, mute swans, heron and teal.
I then went along to the westend where i sat for a while to see where all the waders were. Lapwing, oycs and snipe drummimg above my head along with curlew on the far side. Also along there were teal, shoveler, gadwall, mute swans and 4 whoopers. Skylarks, pied wagtail, linnet, reed bunting and water rail to be heard but not seen.
I then headed back to the main carpark and headed out for a walk round the reserve. Willow warbler, wren, robin, woodpecker, woodpigeon, pheasant, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, siskin, blackbird, greylags, skylarks, treecreepers, chaffinch, goldfinch, buzzard, crows, rooks and jackdaw were seen either on my way or way back.
All this and it wasnt even ten o'clock yet!!
Later on in the morning, a pair of shelduck appeared at the east end and they then joined four others who were sitting in the field, opposite the swamp hide. Eventually they all came down on to the loch.
Four little grebes could now be seen from the gullery hide and then 20+ pinkfeet flew overhead, a flock of 30+ common gulls appeared along with 3 lesser black backs before one of the ospreys made a very brief appearance. The black headed gull numbers increased from 60 early on to 200+ by late morning, but none seem to be trying to build nests.
At about 2pm i called it a day. I went along to the westend again to get some photos of the new highland cattle calfs.
Darell
