18 - JUNE 2011 BIRD SIGHTINGS (ANGUS)

[Mickey Mellon]

23/06/2011 Letham Grange early this morning family of Long Tailed Tits on branch of tree 2 adults and 5 young.
Walk along St Cyrus cliff side trail Sedge, Whitethroat, Stonechat, Dunnock, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, plenty of Fulmar on the cliffs at nests, Buzzard diving into long grass, never emerged so think got rabbit. Found a Magpie near wooden bridge and told office and they say they have not had one down there before. No sign of Winchat

[Bob McCurley]

June 23rd 11-20am. SLAVONIAN GREBE - Seen from Stewart Hide and

Gladstone Hide at Murton Wild life Reserve Forfar NO 493512

[Ian Hay]

Just had a sparrowhawk attacking a House Martin nest about 6 inches from my nose though the landing window. Quite a sight, it managed to damage the nest but the chicks survived, for now.

Ian

[srgreen]

This was on Birdguides tonight, no further details............SRG
24/06/11 Quail Bridge of Dun 15:00
two flushed from oilseed rape field on path between car park and Shelduck Hide NO588675

[Mark Caunt]

Date & Time: Friday 25th June 2011 7:00pm
Species: Quail, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow
Details: There are now 2x Quail calling in the wheat field between Gilchorn and Cauldcots. Thats off the A92 Arbroath to Montrose Road.
One was calling as before just behind the bungalows located at 655 476 (see map link). The other one is calling more distantly in the fields on the opposite side of the road.
Both can be heard from the same spot by standing/parking on the road.
MAP LOCATION: 'CLICK ME'
Always a good spot for Corn Buntings and Tree Sparrows in this area also.

[Clive McKay]

The Corn Bunt at Errol represents a major range expansion for the species - either from Fife or Angus (perhaps more likely the former where the population is doing better than in Angus). If anyone can find out whether the bird has a mate or nest, this would be very interesting.

Cheers

Clive McKay

[Barry Farquharson]

Clive

I originally heard (but didn't see) the Corn Bunting singing from the edge of the field between the houses and the fenced 'garden' area, on the left going down Gas Brae, just south of Errol on April 29th. When I saw it on Monday past, it was singing from the large oak tree where the track levels off at the foot of Gas Brae. It would appear to have established a territory (or appears to be loyal to a rather small area). Would it be singing at this time of year if it had a mate/family?
I don't get to Errol too often, but I have notified the Perthshire recorder of the bird on both ocassions.
Photo here....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stonefacti ... hotostream

Barry

[Barry Farquharson]

Saturday June 25th

Up early and down to Riverside Nature Park, Dundee again. This time to try and catch the tide coming in. Managed to add 5 new species to my list for the new park - Common Gull, Stonechat (a juvenile), Long Tailed Tit (small group with juveniles), House Sparrow and Bullfinch ( a pair).

Full list of species for the park was -
Mute Swan*, Shelduck, Mallard, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Curlew, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin*, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Long Tailed Tit, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Lesser Redpoll*, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer.
(birds marked with a star were seen on a visit PM).

Headed to Arbroath for a spot of seawatching from the cliffs. A bit disappointing but some nice birds and photo opportunities anyway.
Eider, Gannet, Shag, Kestrel, Oystercatcher, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Kittiwake, Puffin, Guillemot, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer.
(includes birds seen on walk to/from cliffs).

Back to Dundee and a second trip to the Nature Park. Not so many birds around, but cyclists, dog walkers and children/babies may have played their part in the apparent disappearance. Did add Lesser Redpoll, Mute Swan and House Martin to the birds seen in the morning. Heard Sandwich Tern, Reed Bunting and Willow Warbler also.

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Good to see that the bushes in front of the hide were trimmed back, improving the view immensely. Thanks to Dundee Council for that. When the tide was well out, mid-afternoon, there were some promising winding channels through the mud where the burn makes its way to the river. When the waders start to appear in greater numbers, the raised view over this should hopefully be a big plus.

[Bob McCurley]

June 25th. 11am BLACKCAP Female - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER 1 WHITETHROATS 3 WILLOW WARBLER 2 - GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER 2 All recorded in Craig Mill Den - In total 18 species seen in Den . Healthy signs of successful breeding.

[Clive McKay]

Hi Barry

Thanks for the additional details - and the cracking photo. Yes, Corn Bunts are busy breeding at the moment (they're very late breeders) and will continue through to the end of July, so there's a chance that this male may have a mate. The male acts as sentinel for the female when she's incubating and foraging for food for her chicks (he does very little chick-feeding until the chicks are very large). While ever the female can hear him singing away on his wire or bush, she knows that there are no predators around, and she can get on with the task of flying back and forth to the nest with caterpillars for the young. When the male utters a harsh "zik" call (like a Dipper), she knows that something is amiss, and she stops what she's doing until she gets the go ahead from the male again. So if you're back at Errol, keep an eye out for a female flying about over the fields -usually within 100 m of the male. They like to nest in the middle of tall barley and wheat fields.

Having said all that, the chances of a male AND a female turning up so far away from the next nearest breeders at the same time is probably slim...

Look forward to hearing of any further developments.

Cheers

Clive

[Grant Balfour]

Had a look at the area of quarry which can be viewed from the road.
Black headed Gulls have been successful in breeding - counted 72 juveniles. Coots (3) nesting on one of the pools. Several Sand Martin colonies established.

[Bob McCurley]

June 26th. 9-45am QUAIL 3 Birds Calling and one seen in Flight at - Gilchorn/ Cauldcots Farm Road off
A92 Arbroath / Montrose Road at NO 655 476

June 26th. ARCTIC SKUA 1- MANX SHEARWATER 3 Seen in Lunan Bay from Redcastle Hide.

June 26th SMALL BLUE BUTTERFLY 2 and DARK GREEN FRATILLERY 1 seen on Barry Buddon

[gus guthrie]

grasshopper warbler singing round the back of Kinnordy loch this evening. To north of small stone bridge on path round the loch, visible from path. Very same spot as last year !
Lot of swifts tonight and 2 young Tawny owls and an adult in trees beside path.
Watched a large dog Otter attack and kill a juvenille goose tonight out in front of the gullery hide, another goose appears to have been mauled as well.He was out yesterday as well in front of Gullery hide eating a fish in the back pool.
Both Marsh Harriers were hunting and 2 ospreys as well. Female Sparrowhawk came through and there were Water rail at Swamp & Gullery hides.

[Mark Caunt]

Date & Time: Monday 27th June 2011 - 10:45pm
Species: Quail
Details: Quail invasion continues...another Quail calling in the field south of Derachie bungalows on the Noranside to Memus road.
MAP LOCATION: 'CLICK ME'

[Bob McCurley]

June 28th 1910hrs. SPOONBILL 1 At Montrose Basin as reported via AGV Angus and Dunded Bird Club Members Mobile Text Grapevine . Bird found by Dennis McCulloch at 2pm I saw it at 1910hrs, between the Lurgies and Maryton Ditch NO 681567

[Grant Balfour]

Date & Time: Monday 27th June 2011 - 09:40pm
Species: Quail
Details: Quail calling in a field near the old railway track between Powmouth and Farnell (NO648569).