Eden Estuary News (1 Viewer)

[edenwatcher]

Forgot to mention the guillemot yesterday morning.
This morning stunning views of a fishing otter for all the family from before breakfast until I left for work (and possibly beyond).

Rob

 

[gus guthrie]

was sitting watching a spotted Redshank at Guardbridge hide this afternoon, tide was coming in nicely pushing waders up towards the point.....when a Fife Ranger came in and said I had to get out as he was locking it up.....if Fife council wanted someone to put off people from going there they picked the right bloke for sure !

 

[Stonefaction]

Have heard similar from a few folk now, Gus.

 

[edenwatcher]

Surely the key code means there is access at all times? Given the rumours concerning the ranger service be careful what you wish for!
Two spotshanks last night (ad and juv).
Definite signs of winter with the first 6 pinkfeet last night and a goldeneye this morning. Also this morning a wheatear and 4 drake tufted ducks.

Rob

 

[gus guthrie]

Surely the key code means there is access at all times? Given the rumours concerning the ranger service be careful what you wish for!
Two spotshanks last night (ad and juv).
Definite signs of winter with the first 6 pinkfeet last night and a goldeneye this morning. Also this morning a wheatear and 4 drake tufted ducks.

Rob

Hi Rob, the ranger made it more than clear that we had to get out of the hide as he was locking it up. I was also under the impression that was why a code was used on the hide, obviously not.
It's certainly changed times from when I used to pop in before the Rangers started running it as a nine-to-five operation.

 

[Stonefaction]

On Saturday and Sunday the hide operates solely on the keypad system, as the rangers don't come to open or lock up, I believe, so there is nothing really to stop anyone sitting in as long as they like. Monday to Friday (or maybe Thursday) it's a different story with the ranger unlocking/locking the door around about the stated times.

Since the rangers took over the running of it, it just isn't the same place (feeders going unfilled, variety of food for birds appears to be down to just peanuts when they are re-filled, vegetation in front of the hide having to be trimmed back by visitors to be able to see the area directly in front etc). And if, as I suspect, the ranger in question is the one I think it may be, he doesn't appear particularly interested in what birds/wildlife are around either, being more concerned about locking up than whether there is anything of note around.

My experience of Fife Countryside Ranger Service compared to the Dundee Countryside Ranger Service is night and day with the Dundee ones full of enthusiasm for the countryside/wildlife and Fife's full of enthusiasm for getting home for his tea (there was a young ranger a while back who was enthusiastic and interested but he seemed to disappear as quickly as he arrived).

 

[gus guthrie]

On Saturday and Sunday the hide operates solely on the keypad system, as the rangers don't come to open or lock up, I believe, so there is nothing really to stop anyone sitting in as long as they like. Monday to Friday (or maybe Thursday) it's a different story with the ranger unlocking/locking the door around about the stated times.

Since the rangers took over the running of it, it just isn't the same place (feeders going unfilled, variety of food for birds appears to be down to just peanuts when they are re-filled, vegetation in front of the hide having to be trimmed back by visitors to be able to see the area directly in front etc). And if, as I suspect, the ranger in question is the one I think it may be, he doesn't appear particularly interested in what birds/wildlife are around either, being more concerned about locking up than whether there is anything of note around.

My experience of Fife Countryside Ranger Service compared to the Dundee Countryside Ranger Service is night and day with the Dundee ones full of enthusiasm for the countryside/wildlife and Fife's full of enthusiasm for getting home for his tea (there was a young ranger a while back who was enthusiastic and interested but he seemed to disappear as quickly as he arrived).

It is the same Ranger....have met him on a couple of occasions now and he certainly appears to have no interest in birds at all, just wants to lock up and get home......not much of an attitude for a job like that.
It's a real shame, used to be a great place to visit, plenty of banter and good birders. If you look in the book now it certainly doesn't get so many visitors now.

 

[edenwatcher]

To be fair it has always been run by the rangers, it's just that Eck would open/close the centre because he was in all day, every day. Ranald is not a hard core birder but he does have an interest in birds and a real commitment to reserve management. Unfortunately Fife Council does not seem to share this ...
Think in terms of budget cuts before blaming Ranald.
The previous ranger is an outstanding birder, ringer and all round top bloke, who saw which way the wind was blowing...

Anyhow, spotted redshank again last night and 88 canada geese this morning.

Rob

 

[Stonefaction]

Rob, when Eck was opening/closing some of the regulars were bringing in food for the feeders which was stored in the kitchen and put out when necessary. Budget played little part in that, but the birds benefitted.
However, a perceived lack of "approachability/friendliness" from the ranger possibly means that instead of someone saying - "if I bring some food for the birds can you stick it in the kitchen for me", they decide not to bother. A wee bit more "customer service" from the ranger(s) might bring back some sense of that Guardbridge hide "community". I don't know anyone with a kitchen key now, so the ranger is the only option for leaving food with.
By engaging with the public using the hide (- even asking "Seen anything good?" or "if you're lucky you might see the kingfisher/otter/osprey/sea eagle"), the user "experience" is improved for joe public and the Ranger service get a better reputation. A win/win situation - at zero financial cost.

The hide gets a lot of visitors from all over the place, not all "proper birders" but if they appear interested I will generally chat away, pointing out interesting things and offering answers to any questions I can answer. 99 times out of 100 I'll get a big smile and a "thanks" when they leave. I do similar at my own patch (Riverside Nature Park). I'm not employed by either council but I want folk to get the same enjoyment from visiting that I do. Enthusiasm can be contagious and if I can encourage someone to come back to either place then I've achieved something relatively worthwhile. A wee bit of that attitude from the ranger(s) wouldn't go amiss.

Gus, a lot of visitors don't actually sign the book (even some regulars come and go without sticking their names in the book), although there can be days when you sit all day and not see another soul.

 

[Raptorboy98]

Went over to the hide today and the place was deserted but as soon as we went in, the hide seemed to get busier as the day went on. It seems like not alot of the people read the sign about asking for the code, bang on the door a bit and presume its closed. Although the man on the automated line does speak a bit fast. And Barry, thanks for recommending the site, I managed to see my first Kingfisher close up and was able to see an osprey catch a fish (only seen that before at Kinnordy).

Apart from those I was able to see Lapwings, Redshanks, BH Gulls, a Buzzard, Curlew, 4 Greylag Geese, Cormorants, 6 or so Goosanders (or possibly mergansers?), 2 Magpies, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Whooper Swans, a Shoveler and some Rooks. Also does the code for the hide change?

Glen

 

[Stonefaction]

Glen, the code stays the same (it has only changed once since the coded entry system was put on, so if you go back take a note of it with you). Well done on seeing Kingfisher and an Osprey fishing. Both are specialities of the site at this time of year.

Your 4 Greylag Geese may have been 3 Chinese Swan Geese and a Greylag Goose which aren't actually wild birds but which were apparently owned by the pub and which roam around the river in that area. (There is a chance that your birds weren't these though). I have a photo here....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stonefaction/6063225080/

...which shows the feral geese. The lead one has a noticable "knob" above the bill, which is how they apparently got their name (looks like a Mute Swan's forehead). The Greylag is the top bird of the four in the pic.

Goosander and Red Breasted Mergansers can both be seen from the hide, though it tends to be Goosanders at this time of year, and as far up the river as the hide or beyond. Goosanders look "tidy" and Mergansers looks "scruffy". Another thing to look for is the hook at the end of the bill. On Goosanders it is quite obvious and hangs below the line of the bill, whereas on Mergansers the bill appears to come to a straight end with no downturn. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[Raptorboy98]

Yes, they were the Chinese Geese (and one greylag), I thought something was odd about the bill and someone did mention in the hide something about feral geese. Thanks for the info about the goosanders/mergansers ill take a look at their beaks next time im up there.

 

[edenwatcher]

Things are steady rather than spectacular at the moment. Loads of gannets feeding off the estuary mouth, with lots of this year's juveniles. Still canada geese moving through, with over 60 on Sunday. I heard, but failed to see, another flock of pinkfeet go over yesterday morning - I was preoccupied with emptying crumbs out of the toaster which had just caused the electricity to trip ...
There was a huge influx of teal yesterday - over 300 - with a few pintail mixed in. Wader diversity is still disappointing, though there were the first golden plovers of the autumn on Sunday and a notable increase in godwits this morning.
Perhaps the most remarkable showing has been ospreys - 5 together on Saturday and 6 were reported yesterday. I also saw a white-tailed eagle out towards the estuary mouth on Saturday which flew off north towards Tentsmuir.

The Ranger Service is in a bad way, at Fife SOC we have made an FOI request to try to find out what is going on.

Rob

 

[edenwatcher]

Superb views of the otter again last night, with 2 white-tailed eagles visible at the estuary mouth.

Rob

 

[Stonefaction]

At the Leuchars airshow today. Plenty of Meadow Pipits and Swallows passing through. A few Skylarks around too. Best bird seen was the Snipe that appeared over the crowd when the pyrotechnics were exploding noisily mid-afternoon. Didn't manage a photo unfortunately owing to a combination of erratic flight/too many heads in the way/gale force wind blowing me around.

 

[Raptorboy98]

Went for a look at the Guardbridge hide but it was closed! :C Can I get this straight, I thought it was open from 9-5 on weekdays and all day on weekends. And why does it have to be locked anyways, would kids trash it or something. Anyway went and had a look for half and hour when the tide was retreating. First bird I saw was a Kingfisher I disturbed when I walked over. Also saw a Buzzard, that flock of the Chinese and Greylag Goose, 3 Goosanders, Mallards, 2 Grey Herons, Redshank and some swans in the distance hat I couldn't determine the species. Also saw Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Great Tit and Blue Tit at feeders. Finally my mum thought she saw a Sparrowhawk when I was looking at the feeders.

 

[Stonefaction]

It is closed on the day of the airshow to stop it being used as a shelter to watch the show for free. With the Ranger not working weekends there will have been no-one to unlock it, so it will have stayed locked all weekend. Christmas and New Year are the only other times it is locked up, I believe.
There is a danger that if it was left unlocked (without the keypad) that it would indeed get trashed. Apparently someone was recently sleeping rough in one of the hides at Morton Lochs, and as the Guardbridge hide has both power/heating and a toilet it would make a rather more upmarket place to sleep.

 

[Raptorboy98]

Thanks for the info, one more question, where can you get the Eden Estuary newsletter, the one outside the hide, online?

 

[edenwatcher]

Newsletters appear here:
http://www.fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk/news_46.html

Over high tide on Friday Sue saw little egret (117). Apparently it took exception to the planes and has not been seen since.
Like Barry I saw plenty of visible migration on Saturday - mostly swallows and meadow pipits, but also house martins, a sand martin, a couple of pied wagtails and a grey wagtail. Other Saturday highlights were a couple of ospreys, a few ringed plovers and a ruff.
The air show seemed a bit lack lustre this year - possibly a result of the wind.

On Sunday we hosted a Big Sit for the Fife branch of the SOC ...

Rob

 

[edenwatcher]

The last time we hosted a Big Sit was back in September 2008 and featured such goodies as lesser yellowlegs and honey buzzard.
I was not optimistic for this year, as frankly the birds have not been about - particularly waders. Weather was mixed with some heavy showers early afternoon, but the visibility remained excellent throughout the day - a key difference compared with 2008 when scanning downstream was not fruitful due to heat haze.
Early highlights were great spotted woodpecker and whooper swan (we are now down to 1 bird), together with 2 song thrushes - often tricky in September. Visible migration was not as good as the previous day and I failed to see any wagtails, though a single sand martin was a bonus. A peregrine caused an early commotion and then a sparrowhawk over Leuchars (which brought up the 50) flushed out a mistle thrush. This was a belated addition to the year list (118).
As the tide came in a goldeneye came into view and both greenshank and spotted redshank (3 individuals) appeared. A skein of pinkfeet came over and house sparrow was species number 60.

Knot, snipe (including 4 over the house) and golden plover were seen and as the rain cleared I picked up a couple of fulmars at the estuary mouth. The clear conditions enabled me to pick up a common scoter heading north and it then became clear that a number of pleagic species had come into the estuary including some gannets, at least 3 guillemots, a razorbill (119, first for some years), and 3 red-throated divers (120). It was a particularly high tide yesterday afternoon, giving good views of kingfisher (121) for all the family. A great crested grebe and a couple of ringed plovers gave us a record equalling 72 species - despite failing to see 4 species recorded the previous day. These included osprey (a fine time for the last one to disappear!).

Rob