Tayforth Birding (1 Viewer)

[Stonefaction]

January 1st so I was up early and out before sunrise to see what I could find around Dundee (on foot). Caird Park I managed Siskin, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Mistle Thrushes, 1 Grey Heron, some overflying Pink Footed Geese, plus heard only Redwing/Buzzard/Jay. Fieldfare and Magpie were added on the way to Swannie Ponds where 2 Coots were the best birds. Waxwings were seen on my way to the river, then a pair of Blackcaps on the Scott Fyffe roundabout were a surprise (seemed to be with a small group of Redwings). Linnets, Goosander, Turnstone were seen along the Stannergate to Broughty Castle stretch. 3 Brent Geese were a surprise to the east of the castle, a a Jay in the small local nature reserve was a nice claw-back from the heard-only list. Towards Balmossie, Bar tailed Godwits, Grey Plover and Knot were added as well as an overflying Peregrine and a Song Thrush. By this time I'd met up with my pal, Jacqui, who had found a flock of Waxwings not too far up from the castle, and so we headed to Riverside Nature Park to top of my list (final total 64 - +2 on last year's Jan 1st, and that was around various sites in Angus).

 

[delia todd]

Waxwings are back in Blairgowrie in numbers... at least 200 seen from my flat just now. Jessie Street/Emma Street area.

Why oh why is it so dark!!!!

 

[Gander]

Burntisland

Dropped one of my daughters off for her dance class in Burntisland this morning, then spent my customary hour out on the rocky point at the West end of the beach, while waiting for the class to end.

A lot of the usual suspects present with Herring Gull, Black-Headed Gull, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Cormorant, Bar-Tailed Godwit and Redshank. Also good to see Ringed Plover into double figures, with a lone Dunlin nearby.

Last Winter I had seen a Great Northern Diver off the point. I hoped for a repeat of this, but there were no divers present. Any disappointment though was wiped away by finding two Great Crested Grebe there. A little further out, there were also two Long-Tailed Ducks present.

Other birds present were a Goosander, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, a Curlew, a Heron, a Robin and a Pied Wagtail (Yar).

 

[Gander]

Lochore Meadows

Felt like a change of scene this morning, so first light had me rolling into the car park at Lochore Meadows. I have visited here several times with the family in the past, but never been bird watching here. During the week, there had been alerts to Smew and Pintail here, both of which would be lifers for me.

I set off west along the South shore of the Loch. I soon picked up Tufted Duck and Mallard in the outflow bay. Further out were Mute Swan. Also present in the area were Magpie, Carrion crow and Black Headed Gull.

Working my way along the shoreline, sometimes going off track to explore the promontories by finding little tracks between gorse patches, I soon added Goldeneye to the list. A Cormorant surfaced with a 1 - 2lb Rainbow Trout. It lifted the fish skywards then let it drop head first down its gaping throat.

In the gorse, I found Blackbird and Robin, while in the heavy, grey sky above, several large flocks of what I took to be Pink-Footed Geese passed overhead heading West.

Further along the South shore, I came across a lone Coot and a not far from this bird, a Moorhen. Following the path around a bend, the area between the shore and Whaup Island opened up in front of me. It was loaded with dozens of Coot. In amongst the Coot though, in addition to already listed Tufted and Goldeneye, were Wigeon, a Pochard and several noisy Greylag. A Heron flew low across the water out to the island.

The path now briefly turned North before bending around with the shoreline towards the West again. This now gave me views into a reed fringed corner where something stirred that I had not come across before. There in front of me was my first ever Smew. Red headed and I think probably a female, but definitely a Smew.

Before I could get any closer, a cyclist disturbed the the bird, and it flew off like a rocket back along the South shore from where I had walked. I toyed with the idea of retracing my footsteps to try and relocate the bird, but I still had Pintail to find also, so I headed on.

The trail now took me around the corner that I had located the Smew in and headed North through woodland at the West end of the loch. There were birds evident in the trees, but I was running out of time having to be back home for midday, so I pushed on. Blue Tit and Jackdaw were easily listed though, as was Woodpigeon.

Exiting the woods, the path now turned back along the North shore. This proved a disappointing area with hardly a bird to be seen and with no reasons to stop, I was soon approaching the boathouse again, from where I had started. Only a Pied Wagtail was added to the list.

A little earlier (11) than expected, I set off back home. As I slowed down for one of the speed bumps on the park exit road, a flock of Bullfinch appeared in the roadside trees. At least five, but probably a few more, they were gone by the time I got out of the car with the camera. Overhead in the Birch, Long-Tailed Tits flitted about and somewhere in the distance, a woodpecker drummed.

Lochore Meadows can be a really busy place, especially in the Summer, but I've seen enough today to want to return and spend a full day there sometime. Most of the wildfowl were in the south west corner. There is road access to a car park near that corner I believe, and somewhere in there, there is a bird hide. The woods are definitely worth a bit more attention too.

 

[Gander]

Burntisland

Following a dawn patrol of my Seafield patch, it was off to Burntisland for my usual Saturday morning session at the rocky peninsular at the West end of the beach. Seafield had been very quiet, despite the placid high tide. Maybe affected by the overnight frost and lingering mist that blotted out sight of the South shoreline of the Firth of Forth. Burntisland was initially looking to be in a similar condition, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a small group of Goldfinch, I think (without checking my records) the first I have had at this site. I started listing some of my more usual birds for the site, but it was not until I got right out to the point and looked down along the sea wall to the west, that I noted something new. There fishing below me was a Little Grebe.

For a change, I decided to descend of the point and walk along the sea wall. As I headed off along the front of the wall, I could see the Grebe ahead of me, just out a short distance on the water. I tried to creep closer each time it dived, so as to get a decent photo, but although it did not seem bothered by my presence, it managed without trying, to keep a fixed distance away from me. I did get fairly close to a Cormorant though, passing close by it without disturbing its fishing activities.

Reaching the end of the path approaching the harbour entrance, I turned back. Within a short distance, I noticed a couple of birds drifting in towards me. I stopped still and let them do the work for a change. One, a female Eider, drifted away, but the other, a Guillemot, was happy to get quiet close for a few snaps.

Continuing along the wall, I was joined by a Rock Pipit for a while. Another first for me at this site, but it was not to be the last site first of the day. Passing back over to the beach side of the peninsular, a Grey Wagtail made an appearance on the rocks. A nice year first for me to finish the session on.

 

[Gander]

Lochore in the fog.

Returning home from my earlier session at Burntisland, I grabbed a bacon roll and swapped child. My Burntisland sessions although welcome, are just to kill time while one of my daughters attends a highland dance class. Now it was time to take my son on a promised bird watching trip. Two o'clock saw me entering the small car park at the west end of Lochore meadows. I had planned to take him to Seafield, but my brief dawn check out had found Seafield rather bereft of birds, so I decided that a re-visit of Lochore was called for. Anyway, the eleven year olds favourite birds are ducks, so I couldn't go wrong.

If Seafield and Burntisland were pretty misty, Lochore was downright foggy. Starting at the car park, we scanned the garden of the farm cottage. There had been reported Brambling there, and indeed, two other birders standing there, had seen one, but it was not to be for us. What we did find were strong numbers of Chaffinch with Robin, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Greenfinch, Great Tit and Blue Tit mixed in. I'd have stayed for longer to wait on a Brambling, but the boy was impatient to get to his ducks.

Heading away from the car park, we listed Jackdaw sat on the cattle shed before heading towards the loch down the muddy woodland trail.Carrion Crow, Long-Tailed Tit and a Common Buzzard were found in these woods. Where the tail forked, we bore left and quickly found a shelter type hide. Approaching it, I could see a girl with two Husky type dogs sat in there. As I approached the dogs started loudly barking at me. As I entered the hide the girl and the young man with her had to pull the dogs away, and they quickly exited the hide at the other end. There was a strange smell in the air. The couple had been smoking, but it wasn't tobacco as I know it.

I retrieved my son from outside, he having decided aggressive dogs were up to dad to deal with. I thought the rumpus with the dogs would have scared off anything near the hide, so I was pleasantly surprised to find my first 2017 pair of Gadwall feeding away happily on the water right in front of us. Even in the fog we had a good viewing of them. Further away, I was able to make out Teal, Mallard and a large group of Black-headed Gull, and in amongst them I found a pair of Pintail (a lifer for me). The fog was making it difficult to view properly, so we headed off towards the main loch.

At the main loch, we found good numbers of Coot, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye and Mute Swan, along with a single Pochard and a Moorhen. They were all fairly close in, which was just as well in the conditions. My young one had his ducks and was happy, however, with the temperature just over freezing, we were both starting to feel the cold. We moved around the path a little to check out the corner where I had found the Smew yesterday, but were not obliged by a second sighting. The only fish eaters found were a few Cormorants.

My offspring was now feeling the cold more than he was feeling the duck love, so I decided it was time to call it a day while it had still been a good experience for him. We headed back the same way as we had come, adding Little Grebe, Woodpigeon and Wren to the list. Approaching the hide again we re-entered for a final scan. The fog had temporarily thinned out a bit, and to my surprise, quite a few of the ducks had moved to in front of the hide including the drake Pintail. I grabbed a few record shots and we headed off for the car park.

Arriving back at the car, an hour and a half after setting out, my son just piled into the back seat. I gave the cottage garden a last scan. No Brambling still, but a couple of Coal Tits had joined the feeder festivities.

Two happy birders headed home through the fog in time for tea.

 

[Stonefaction]

Paul, your Cormorant in your Burntisland post is actually a Shag. The yellow extending along the bill is a juv. Shag feature. Cormorant only has the yellow at the base.

 

[Gander]

Paul, your Cormorant in your Burntisland post is actually a Shag. The yellow extending along the bill is a juv. Shag feature. Cormorant only has the yellow at the base.

Thanks Barry. That was careless of me. I was focused on the Little Grebe at the time. Just grabbed a few shots without looking properly. I was actually more worried about the Rock Pipit call as the tones looked a little warm.

 

[Gander]

St Andrews and Eden Estuary

Having missed out on Lapland Bunting in Crail over the weekend, due to a work related course, I decided that I was going to go out and find something new to me. Surf Scoter was the prime target, and one had been reported off the North end of St Andrews. This site was also looking good for divers; birds that are resolutely giving me the slip at the moment.

Decision made, I headed for St Andrews. With the rising sun just overcoming the nights darkness, I entered the golf museum car park. As soon as I exited the car, a small flock of birds flew low over my head, landing on the little sandy beach. These turned out to be Linnet, mixed with a few House Sparrow. Also. on the beach was a single Pied Wagtail. On the small cliff below the fish restaurant, four Fulmar sat on the small rock ledges. A single Starling passed by.

Scanning the rocks and water, along with the South end of the West Sands, I quickly added Carrion Crow, Eider, Oystercatcher, Herring Gull and a single Long-Tailed Duck. Further out were rafts of Common Scoter. With scope now set up, I scanned the rafts looking for the reported Surf Scoter, but found neither it, nor a consolatory Velvet Scoter. The only thing mixed in with the Common Scoter were a pair of Great Crested Grebes. No sign either of any divers.

I went back to scanning the rocks finding Common Gull, Curlew, Cormorant and Redshank. Two Rock Pipit flew onto the rocks close to my position.

A fresh raft of sea duck drifted into view from the East. A scan of the birds gave me a sought after lifer. Not my prime target of Surf Scoter, but a very welcome Scaup. In fact, a very welcome eighty Scaup. In amongst the Scaup were another five Great Crested Grebe, but no divers.

My intention was to move up to Outhead then get over to the Eden Estuary centre hide for a couple of hours before the midday high tide. With this in mind, I headed off North along the West Sands road. Towards Outhead, the road was gated off so I stopped and walked over to the back edge of the sands at this point. Scanning with the scope again, I found two large rafts of Common Scoter, eight hundred strong, but again no Surf or Velvet Scoters.

With the heavy grey skies threatening imminent rain and time being short to get to the Eden mouth as planned, I decided not to walk out to Outhead, hopped in the car and headed off to Guardbridge.

Arriving at the centre, I found I had the place to myself. An initial scan revealed Goldeneye, Redshank, Lapwing (220+), Oystercatcher and a single Carrion Crow. On the feeders were Tree Sparrow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock and Robin, with a brief visit from a Collared Dove.

Out on the flooding mud flats, I located Black-Tailed Godwit, Curlew and huge numbers of Dunlin. Further out beyond the Dunlin were Knot, however, I had to be straightened out again on the "Bird Identification Q&A" pages of this forum, so never realised there were Knot out there until I was home and posted the photos.

I did not even attempt to count the Dunlin/Knot flock. There were thousands of them! Every now and again, they would take to the air for a while and do a fair impression of a Starling murmuration.

Teal were also spotted on the water. Also on the water were Black-Headed Gulls, Herring Gulls Common Gulls and a couple of Great Black-Backed Gulls. A couple of Little Grebe were found fishing just in front of the hide. Four Mallards came into view and the bird feeders were visited by a Chaffinch.

With the tide now nearing high, the bulk of the birds were moving away. I thought about a move. Lower Largo was tempting, with a possibility of both Suff Scoter and Divers, however I decided that as a new site for me, it really deserved a full day. Maybe next week. Just after midday, I headed back to Kirkcaldy, but I was not finished as I had my Seafield patch to bash.

 

[delia todd]

A beautiful male Smew at Loch of the Lowes just now. The water is frozen so all the activity is close to the hides or out by the point.

All the other usuals there, including Goldeneyes, Goosander, Swans etc.

The feeders are particularly busy with Woodpeckers, Yellowhammers (certainly two males and a female), Siskin. Other finches, tits, Dunnock, Robin as well as a Squirrel. Deer visible in the woods too.

 

[Gander]

Ruddon's Point & Largo Bay - Part One

I travelled across a heavily frosted Fife before first light, arriving at Shell Bay at about eight. I found the caravan park gate closed (sign says open at nine), but as I kitted up in the top car park, another car rolled up to the gate and the driver opened up the gate. I made the quick hop down to the bay and parked again. This time on the grass verge at the back of the beach.

The tide was well out as I started to make my way along the sands towards Ruddon's point. Black-Headed Gull and Carrion Crow were the first on the list. A Wren dived into the grasses on the dunes. Oystercatcher and Curlew were seen on the sands, and a Magpie called from the top of a tree in the caravan park.

A Stonechat; a striking male, appeared from the grasses. A year tick for me, so a good start. Climbing up off the beach, I started to make my way out to the end of the point. A Robin came to check me out. At the end of the point, I crossed a short stretch of sand and seaweed covered rock to reach a raised grassy patch that would be an island at high tide. En route, I added Pied Wagtail and Cormorant to the pages of my note book. Once on the grassy patch, I set up my tripod and scope for the first time. Scanning the scattered birds off my raised vantage point, I found Great Black-Backed Gull, Eider, Herring Gull, Shag and Common Scoter.

I paid special attention to the Common Scoter, as two of my prime targets were Velvet and Surf Scoter. These were definitely common. Heading back over to the mainland, I followed the grassy track along the west side of the peninsula, giving me good views of the rocks and wet sands below. I quickly added Heron, Mallard and Redshank to my notes, before I was distracted by a bird calling behind me. I turned just in time to see a bird dive into the long grasses. I moved towards the area where I had seen it disappear from site, and as I approached it took off making the same unfamiliar call. It sounded like a rasp. The bird was too fast for me. I got no detail. It looked to be the size of a Redshank maybe, and had light underparts. It was also fast and zig zagged like nothing else.

Returning to the track I continued down it till I found a good vantage point to scan with the scope, a group of birds along side the Cocklemill Burn. There were Knot there along with Bar-Tailed Godwit and Common Gull. Also present were Grey Plover with Wigeon on the sands next to the flowing waters. Out on the sea I found half a dozen Long-tailed Duck.

Moving on, I passed a stand of trees, spotting Goldfinch and Dunnock in the long grasses as I approached them, and joined the coastal path as it headed across the Cocklemill Marsh. Two wooden bridges here enable the easy crossing of the burn as it snaked its way across the marsh. As I approached the first bridge, a flock of Chaffinch took to the air. Mixed in with them were Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit.

Having crossed the marsh, I headed down onto the beach. Here I found Linnet along the front edge of the dunes. Out on the sands, Dunlin became evident.

I headed west along the expanse of the Largo Bay sands. The early morning cloud cover had dissipated, with a bright sun now glaring across the calm waters. In the distance I could see a rocky break in the sands, a mile later, after an energy sapping trudge over the sand, I approached these rocks. Up on the dunes I could see an old WW2 pill-box, so I climbed up to it. I found a sigh that informed me that I had arrived at my planned destination of Dumbarnie Nature Reserve.

It was time to replenish my energy, so I broke out the buttered Bara Brith from the rucksack. As I did so, a Song Thrush flew overhead. I also set up the scope again, and started to scan the sea surface beyond the rocks at the foot of the dunes I was now perched on. I quickly spotted four birds, but took a while to make out the heavy beaks that identified them as Razorbill. It was while scanning these birds, that something else came into view. Something that got me very excited.

 

[Gander]

Ruddon's Point and Largo Bay - Part 2

So, as I scanned the Razorbill off Dumbarnie, another bird came into view that immediately grabbed my attention. In fact, there were five birds that drifted into view, but one in particular that got me excited. The other four looked like Common Scoter, but there was something not quite right. The bird that really grabbed my attention though was the one with a distinct white face mark above the bill. And even at the full x60 range of my MM3, I could see that there was a lot of colour in the beak. Already, I was thinking Surf Scoter, but I hardly dared believe it.

The birds were drifting closer, so I kept the scope on them. I knew I needed to get a better view of that beak to allay any self doubt. Slowly they edged closer. Then one of the birds next to my potential Surfie, had a flap of its wings. In the now brilliant winter sunshine, the white wing bars that declared it a Velvet Scoter were very evident. I remembered that the Velvet Scoter should have a sturdier neck than the Common, and right enough, when checked, all four escort birds had that thicker looking feature. Another one had a flap and again white bars were evident. Definitely Velvets, and from what I've read, Surf Scoters seem to prefer their company to that of the Commons.

I still needed a better view, so I took a risk. I took a bearing on the group of birds using a wind turbine at the Leven end of the bay, then I descended off the dunes with the scope. I headed out towards the tideline across the area of flat rock and compacted sand in front of me. Now a couple of hundred yards closer, I set the scope up and started scanning along my taken bearing line for the quintet. I found them fairly quickly. That white face and colourful beak now all the more evident. The bird had a bit of a flap and no white wing bars showed. It certainly wasn't a Velvet. Then the bird turned side on to me. There it was. Still at distance, but very evident. A great big honk of a coloured bill. Now I was absolutely sure. I had my first ever Surf Scoter.

As I continued to watch, another bird came into view. Initially I thought Red-Throated Diver, but I soon realised it was actually a Great Crested Grebe. It did remind me though that I had more targets to find, so with midday approaching, I started to head back along the sands towards Ruddon's Point. Before I left however, I did note the distinct song of a Skylark coming from behind me in the dunes and a scan of the seaweed covered rocks at the waterline revealed Turnstone.

I don't know if it was the Bara Brith (a fine food for hikers) or adrenaline from finding my Surfie, but there was definitely a spring in my step as I pushed along the sands. The walk back was uneventful, and it was only as I approached the Cocklemill Burn that I was able to add a new entry of Ringed Plover to my list.

I now headed back along the caravan park road to the car, gave Shell Bay a last unproductive scan, then drove off towards Kilconquhar village. I parked up at the village and headed off towards the FBC hide. On the walk to the hide I addedBlue Tit to my records, but every thing seemed very quiet in the field and woods. The weather had made a quick change, with heavy cloud cover brought in by a cold, freshening wind.

Arriving at the hide, I set up the scope, then as quietly as possible, I gently raised one of the hatches so as not to disturb any birds in front of the hide. There were no birds in front of the hide. What greeted me was a sheet of ice. And of course the only ice free water was as far from the hide as it was possible to get, and it was there that the loch's waterfowl were gathered. I stayed for half an hour, logging Mute Swan, Teal, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and Coot. A Woodpigeon flew over the waters, but it was very subdued there with no sign of the Gadwall and Scaup logged over the weekend in the hide record book. After half an hour I headed off. I still wanted to try for Divers at Lower Largo, but even at two PM, the light was noticeably deteriorating. On the walk back to the car, I added a Grey Wagtail, Blackbird and Great Tit to the list.

On the drive to Lower Largo, I added Starling and House Sparrow to my spots. Parking up at the sailing club car park, I could see the sea was roughening up rapidly as the wind got stronger. It was also feeling a lot colder with the increase of chill factor. Scanning the water from the car, I was close to calling it a day, when I noticed an unfamiliar bird behind a small bunch of Eider. I crossed the road from the car park and set up the scope on a concrete drain cover platform at the back edge of the beach. Tide was now well on its way to high, and I noted that if I was to go for a wander along the Lundin Links, I'd have to go through the village as the beach was blocked off in sections by the rising waters.

I started scanning for the unidentified bird. I'm not sure I ever found it, as my initial impression from the car with the binoculars was of a brownish bird. What I did find however, were my first ever Red-Throated Divers two of them. Difficult to view in the choppy waters, but good enough views to be sure. Two L-T Duck were also noted nearby.

The cold was getting to my bones now, so I called it a day and headed home. Along the road I found a last entry to my list in a couple of Rook. My list for the day is only just over fifty, with quite a few common birds missing, but I view the day as a total success with two lifers. I love the area and although I have been slow to pick up on its Winter potential, I'll not be slow to return in the future.

 

[Stonefaction]

Paul, your Redshank sized zig-zagging bird sounds like it could have been a Snipe. When flushed they give an almost Jay-like alarm call which might fit your 'rasp' description. Also, with Surf Scoter the large rectangular white patch on the back of the neck is a great way to pick one out at distance (possibly easier than the bill depending on conditions).

 

[Gander]

Thanks Barry. I'll have a listen to some snipe call and let you know.

The Surf Scoter was coming at me head on, apart from the odd side view, but I,ll look out for the neck patch next time.

Thanks again. :t:

 

[Gander]

Thanks Barry. I'll have a listen to some snipe call and let you know.

Checked out the Snipe call and that was my bird. Thanks again. :t:

 

[Gander]

And even at the full x60 range of my MM3,

Whoops. That should have read x36. |:$|

 

[kawwauser]

i had a very close encounter with a little egret at Morton lochs today at 3.30 pm,the bird was feeding right under the Christie hide,as it moved several feet to the right I opened the window and the bird flew a short distance and landed on the sand bank

 

[Gander]

Out for a duck!

Waking early this morning, I decided that I had just enough time for a dash to Gaddon Loch near Ladybank. While offshore, I'd been monitoring reports of an American Wigeon present there, but the reports dried up a few days ago. Worth a try though I thought.

I arrived at the car park next to the adjacent Birnie loch before eight. Heading straight for Gaddon in the steady drizzle, I carefully scanned every duck I could find, paying special attention to the Wigeon. All Wigeon however were of the Eurasian variety. Other duck present were Mallard, Tufted and Goldeneye. As I progressed around the loch, the rain was now getting heavy, but finding a bush with five fine Bullfinch in it lifted the spirit greatly. No birding trip with a Bullfinch in it is a failure in my book.

Reaching the path that divides the two lochs, I decided to to head the long way around Birnie despite the weather. I was soon rewarded by really close views of a couple of Goosander. A little further along, I found another four Bullfinch.

Nearing the car park, I found a fork in the path. Taking the left hand path it took me out on a short peninsula to a locked up hide. There was not much on Birnie, but looking back along the shore that I had just tracked along, I saw a large flock of small birds. The way they flew across the tops of the trees, they looked like a cloud of midge on a summer day. The cloud descended and the birds dropped into a tall birch.I was two far away, and too ignorant in identification to recognise what these birds were. I could see they were small, and there was easily over fifty. I thought maybe L-T Tits, but there was no sign of long tails. There seemed to be a hint of yellow at distance, but I knew I had to get closer to make an ID. I headed back to the main path and headed back towards the where the birch stood. Sadly, I found it empty of birds.

I headed back to the car park. Scanning the Wigeon on the grassy bank, I again found no American interloper. I was running out of time as parental duties called, but I took another ten minutes and again started to head around the path that circles Gaddon. Not too far though, just far enough to scan the area the American Wigeon had been reported in.

As I moved along the path, I found another couple of Bullfinch. Close enough to not need the binoculars to get a good view. With a last scan of the water completed, I turned and started to head back to the car. It was while walking back along the path, that I found a Goldfinch. Then another,. Then another and another. The bushes were suddenly full of Gold Finch.A few L-T Tits were also mixed in, but I now had a good idea what the large flock of small birds observed earlier were.

I drove away having blanked on the American Wigeon, but I couldn't be disappointed with my wet, but bird filled morning.

 

[Gander]

Outhead and Eden Estuary - Part 1

As first light dawned, I rolled into St Andrews. My target for the morning was Outhead, but I couldn't resist pulling into the Golf Museum car park for a quick scan of the sands and the little bay below the fish restaurant.

In the car park, birds were queuing up to get on my list. Herring Gull, Rook and Carrion Crow sat on a metal handrail, watching me carefully as I exited the car. It was chilly in the stiff breeze. Only a couple of degrees above zero had showed on the cars digital air temperature display. It felt colder.

Down on the sands, I could see Oystercatcher and BHG with more Herring Gull. Turning away from the sands I headed down the wet beach below the restaurant. Fulmar were making a racket on the cliffs. Down towards the tideline, Mallard and Eider were present. Oystercatcher, Curlew and Redshank also made their first appearance of the day. It was while checking out one of the Redshank, that I first detected another wader sharing a tidal pool with it. I was fairly sure, but distance and the glare from a low early morning sun was making things difficult. I edged closer, then closer again. I edged sideways to change my viewing angle. I edged right into a rock pool, but the integrity of my hiking boots held. Eventually, after a bit more edging, I was able to confirm the yellowy green legs that I sought as confirmation of a Greenshank.

Delighted with my good start, I headed back to the car and moved off towards Outhead, but not before I listed a Great Black-Backed Gull. As I drove slowly along the road that runs North between the golf course and the dunes, I found a Woodpigeon and a Reed Bunting. Parking up where the access road was gated off, I shouldered Scope and tripod before continuing North on foot. I instantly became aware that I was surrounded by birds. Firstly by the tumultuous song and then by the rising, falling and flitting about of my first (visual) Skylarks of the year. A Stonechat also made an appearance.

Reaching the end of the road, I made my way up onto the dunes. There below me were the sands of the outer Eden estuary. There were birds at the rivers edge and on the sand bars exposed by the low tide. I descended down onto the beach and set up the scope. Knot was the first new entry on the list, although the counts for some of the commoner birds listed earlier, continued to mount up. In amongst the Knot though, I found some Plover. They were at distance, and in the now bright sunshine, they looked to be to have a golden hue, but analysis of the photos by those more knowledgeable than I, has indicated Grey Plover

The birds may have been soaking up the winter sunshine, but I was stood in the refrigerated shadow of the tall dunes, and my bones were starting to frost up. Time for a move. I headed out across the soft sands towards some birds out on the water.

Edit - A few photo of the Outhead area added.

To be continued

 

[Gander]

Outhead and Eden Estuary - Part 2

Crossing the wet sands, I approached the edge of the River Eden. I set the scope up again and started scanning the birds out on the water. More Eider were present, but also the first Common Gull of the day.

Scanning the channels between the sand bars, I quickly found another couple of new list entries in Goldeneye and Long-Tailed Duck, both of which I got some really good views of.

My main targets of the day were Brent Goose and Shelduck. The Brent Goose would be a lifer, and the Shelduck I had never seen up close before. There was no sign of them here, so it was time to move. I now headed back to the front edge of the dunes, and started to head west, then curved south, following the natural line of the dunes edge. As I made my way along, I kept a close eye on the sands and river to my right. It was at the waters edge, that I found three of my favourite wader - the Sanderling.

Tearing myself away from the joyful Sanderling, I continued on. As I progressed, Balgove bay opened up in front of me. A quick scan of its exposed sand flats revealed one of my prime targets. There walking around were five Shelduck. I tried the edging closer thing again, but they were not having it. Each time I tried to close the gap, they just, in relaxed manner, increased it. As I viewed the Shelduck, another bird came into view in the foreground. Focusing on this new target,I found myself in the company of more Grey Plover. Also out on the sands, I found a multitude of Dunlin mixing with the ever present Knot and Oystercatcher. Further along the beach there looked like there was a small burn running on to the sands. Here I found my first Wigeon of the day.

I decided to head back now. There was no sign of the sought after Brent Geese, so I wanted to try the mud flats upstream of the Guardbridge road crossing, before heading for the Eden centre to see in the high tide. I made my way up onto the edge of the golf course and made my way through the dunes, only adding a Wren to my list here.

Approaching the car, I bumped into the warden who looks after the Eden Centre and Outhead reserve. We chatted briefly, and he advised me that of late, the Brent Geese had been hanging around the bank opposite Outhead point. I advised him that they hadn't hung about for me, so I was off to the centre. He advised me it was closed for the next hour or so, due to a school trip taking place there with the RSPB. That wasn't going to be a problem though as I still had my detour to make upstream.

I headed out of St Andrews and five minutes later I was parking up at the Eden Centre in Guardbridge. I headed off the road bridge, crossed it, then crossed the road. I now headed up the muddy footpath signposted Kincaple Den. A little way along this path, there are good views of the mud flats where the river bends away from the path. It was from this path that I viewed a flock of over one hundred Pink-Footed Geese passing overhead. This after I had added Little Grebe to the list back at the bridge.

Out on the flats and on the river, I found a few of the usual suspects in gulls and ducks, but no Brent or any other geese. In the tree above me, a Great Tit seemed to be hurling abuse at me. Far out, I also found a new entry at the water's edge - Lapwing mixing with large numbers of Redshank and the odd Curlew. A single Bar-Tailed Godwit also made it into the notebook, as did a pair of Teal.

It was now quarter past twelve. I'd been told that the school party would be leaving the centre at twelve, so I headed back. Walking though the park, I easily found a Robin. Entering the centre, the kids were gone, and the only occupants were the two young ladies from the RSPB who had hosted the young ones. They soon left leaving the place to myself.

Setting up quickly, I started to scan the flooding flats. A large flock of Common Gull were present with Herring Gull and BHG mixed in. There amongst them though, I found my first (onshore) Lesser Black-Backed Gull of the year.

I now turned my attentions to the waders. A flock of Black-Tailed Godwit were very evident. One of their number however, really stood out. Not only was it the only one well advanced in attaining its summer blush colouring, but it was also sporting colourful garters on its legs. Two plastic rings, a red on the left and a yellow on the right, sat above its knees. I am making enquiries to see if I can find out where this bird was ringed.

At the feeders, Tree Sparrow and Blue Tit were busy. A lone Dunnock patrolled the ground below the dispensers.

As high tide got ever closer, more Shelduck started to appear. The final count from the centre was ninety one. Good numbers of Wigeon and Teal also appeared, with Mallard also present. Mute Swan formed a group in front of the old paper mill. Plenty of wildfowl, but sadly no sign of Brent Geese.

A male Goosander headed slowly up the river and a Wren made a brief appearance near the feeders. A flock, nearly a hundred strong, of Lapwing passed overhead.

Suddenly, the peace and quiet was shattered as a large transport plane flew low over the army airfield. Birds rose from every quarter, and very briefly, for a matter of seconds, a group of Brent Geese rose from the far side of the grassy peninsular opposite the centre. As quickly as they were up, they were down again and out of site for the rest of the session, but I had my Brent Geese. An hour later, they still hadn't reappeared from their hiding place. More birders had now arrived, but they would never have guessed that the geese were anywhere in the area, no matter that close and right in front of them.

I left at three, only adding a Coot and a Sparrowhawk to the list.

A great day in a great place. I'll certainly be returning soon and hopefully, will get some prolonged views of those Brent Geese.