Reedbeds, Wetlands, Farmland and Woods

I visited a whole range of habitats this week and continued to see new birds for the year.

On Tuesday I went birding with Stephen and we visited the Tay Reedbeds, Errol, Guardbridge, Letham Pools and the Fife Coast. At least 50 bird species were seen with the star bird being Corn Bunting ....

Letham Pools

 

Poor record shot -  Corn Bunting

 

On Thursday we made a quick visit to Dawsholm Park LNR to check out the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs 'hazel hedge'. It seems to be doing fine and we also got super views of Great Spotted Woodpecker and a family of Song Thrushes.

 

Finally, yesterday, we travelled out to the RSPB Baron's Haugh Reserve with Mike and Judith and were pleased to see, eventually, 4 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper and 1 Dunlin, which suggests wader passage is starting. We also managed to see a Kingfisher on the River Clyde, a Water Rail skulking in the flag iris and two 'ringed' Black-headed Gulls.

 

Green Sandpiper

Skulking Water Rail

'Ringed' Black-headed Gull

 

We also bumped into Jimmy Maxwell at the Haugh and had an enjoyable chat.

 

I feel so lucky that I can enjoy this wonderful hobby with like-minded folk and in such a wonderful country.

 

PS remember you can click on the photos to get a slide show and enhanced view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Public Transport Birding

Since my last post I have been to Musselburgh (by train and bus) and Tayside Reedbeds by bus!

Despite a forecast of rain in the afternoon, I travelled through to Musselburgh on Monday 4 July 2016 by train (to Waverley) and then bus. I started at the River Esk mouth and caught sight of a Common Sandpiper. The tide was slowly coming in and this helped offer good views of summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits and other waders such as Curlew and Redshank. Offshore there were large numbers of Eider and a wee bit further out some Velvet Scoters and a drake Surf Scoter - thank goodness for the 'scope!

Moving past a confiding (or sick?) Carrion Crow ...........

Carrion Crow

 

I headed for the wader scrapes and added Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Knot to my wader list plus Common Tern and various gulls ...............

 

View from hide

 

After lunch, it started to drizzle so I started to head back but not before seeing and photographing this juvenile Cuckoo at the Boating Pond ....

Cuckoo (juvenile)

............ what a surprise! 

Yesterday (7th), we travelled to the Tay Reedbeds - express bus to Dundee and then bus to Errol. We managed a quick glimpse of a Marsh Harrier from the bus as it approached Errol and we hoped that this would be a good omen for the day ahead. Sadly, this was the only harrier that we saw and we failed in our quest for Bearded Tit. It was difficult to get clear open views of the reedbeds but we did find a couple of places where we got reasonable views - a Leighton Moss type tower would be ideal!

 

 

We did see a good number of Reed Buntings and Sedge Warblers ............

 

Sedge Warbler

 

.....and on the walk back to Errol we also got excellent views of Yellowhammer ........

 

Yellowhammer

 

Although the birding was a bit disappointing, the weather was superb and it is always good to visit a new birding location, particularly when it is courtesy of our senior travel card!