12a - JANUARY to DECEMBER 2010 BIRD SIGHTINGS (NON ANGUS)

Post by **Mark Caunt** » Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:49 pm

Out of Angus Bird Sightings for JANUARY to DECEMBER 2010

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:12 pm

Sunday afternoon drive from Inverkeilor to Spittal of Glenshee and back in the gloaming.Went to get my first Ptarmigan and failed again,over 100 Red Grouse and near 1000 Red Deer.Some lovely views of blue hare right up on the tops,6 in total,plus 5 Ravens and a Carrion Crow

Gordon Linton · Post by **Gordon Linton** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:25 pm

Sunday February 7th, White Tailed Sea Eagle at Burleigh Sands, Loch Leven at 12.30pm, it was sitting on a sand bank for about an hour.

Hannah Morton · Post by **Hannah Morton** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:28 pm

Dipper now been seen on the burn several days running.

Raven seen in the area a couple of times recently

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:40 pm

Great Grey Shrike showing well at forestry commision carpark just west of Rhynie in Aberdeenshire, also plenty Crossbills.

Capercaillie · Post by **Capercaillie** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 9:55 pm

Morton Lochs - Tayport Sunday 28th March 2010

In forest on way to hides - Buzzard, goldfinch, siskin, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, great spotted woodpecker, treecreeper, blackbird and frogs on the move.
North Loch - 80+ teal, mute swan, 11 greylag, 1 canada goose being very aggressive, 5 dabchick, 3 coot, mallard, tufted duck, heron, 1 kingfisher. Flock of 100+ wood pigeon flying over loch.

Neil Young · Post by **Neil Young** » Mon Apr 05, 2010 1:32 pm

Several Chiffchaff calling on Alyth Golf Course yesterday am

Neil Young · Post by **Neil Young** » Tue Apr 13, 2010 9:19 pm

First Swallow of the year (for me) flying over my garden in Alyth tonight.

dave b · Post by **dave b** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:45 pm

THURSDAY 22ND APRIL 16.15

9 SANDWICH TERNS ON FORESHORE OF STONEHAVEN BAY

ALSO SIX LONGTAILED DUCK ON BAY

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:07 pm

Popped to Stonehaven for an hour about 16.00, 24/4/10.30+ longtailed ducks amongst the eiders.1 great northern diver,a dozen or more gannets fishing and 2 bottlenosed dolphins.

Neil Young · Post by **Neil Young** » Sat May 01, 2010 7:43 pm

2 swift today (Sat 1st) near Kinclaven, Perthshire.

KevH · Post by **KevH** » Mon May 03, 2010 3:36 pm

03/05/2010 13:20hrs. A pair of Whitethroats near Inchcoonans, Errol, Perthshire. Lots of singing and great views. Photograph placed in photo section.

Alex Smith · Post by **Alex Smith** » Tue May 04, 2010 7:06 pm

SUTHERLAND 1st - 4th May

just back from weekend hillwalking in the far north Highlights included pair of merlin , pair of black throated divers , numerous red throated divers , male cuckoo , ptarmigan , wheatears plus visit to Handa Island including great skuas and both phases of Arctic Skua

Stunning scenery and great weather although still cold and snowed overnight on the higher peaks

I would recommend to any who have never been

Neil Young · Post by **Neil Young** » Sun May 09, 2010 1:02 pm

First Cuckoo of the year last night (8th) at Drumderg Wind Farm, near Alyth.

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Sun May 09, 2010 9:33 pm

Whilst fishing I was treated to a lovely days birdwatching as the fishing wasn't too good.The walk up to the river through the parkland saw goldcrests and crossbills.On the river were goosander and common sandpiper.Tracking by the river showed roe deer and badger had visited,saw the roe deer but left before badgers woke up.

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Sat May 15, 2010 9:55 pm

Glen Quaich,Perthshire,went looking for grouse,but none seen.Did see a red kite and a cracking view of male cuckoo near Kenmore.

Alex Smith · Post by **Alex Smith** » Sun May 16, 2010 10:16 am

Sat 15th May Butterstone

Walk up from Butterstone to the lochs further North

Red Grouse , 3 Black Grouse , Jay , Chiffchaff , Willow Warbler , Oystercatcher , Curlew , Buzzard ,Kestrel
Pair of Osprey

John Paul Allon · Post by **John Paul Allon** » Mon May 24, 2010 4:33 pm

Monday 24th May.

New Sand Martin colony at Gourdon/Bervie.

An opportunistic group of Sand Martins have taken up residence in a landslip caused by last winter's storms. The site is @ two thirds of the way along the old railway track to Gourdon from Bervie Bay car park. The nesting holes are behind & to the left of the hanging strainer post. Lots of Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Linnet, House Martin, Swallow & the odd Swift are also present as well as sea & shore birds.

John Paul.

HarryB · Post by **HarryB** » Tue May 25, 2010 8:18 am

Our first brood of House Sparrows (3) being fed by both parents on 5/05/10 and (2) newly fledged Dunnock, being fed by parent birds on 22/05/10. Seen in our back garden in St Cyrus.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Mon May 31, 2010 6:57 pm

Had a trip up the east coast today and picked up a couple of new birds.
King Eider on the Ythan estuary at Newburgh and a Lesser Whitethroat at Rattray Head. Many thanks to the people I met at Strathbeg for showing me the latter.
Other nice birds today were;
Little Gull, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, Wheatear, Dunlin & Tree Sparrow.

ravers · Post by **ravers** » Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:48 pm

Common Crane at Largo Bay for the second day.

Hannah Morton · Post by **Hannah Morton** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 4:37 pm

I've seen juv grey wag on the burn at Alyth the last few days.

HarryB · Post by **HarryB** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:14 am

The Peregrines at St Cyrus NNR have now three fledged successfuly fledged young.
The young birds have been on and around the cliffs for over a week now and are presently being taught how to handle prey.
One of the adult birds deliberately damages a prey species e.g. pigeon and then allows one of the young birds to attempt to catch it in the air. Well worth watching (unless you're the pigeon!) We have even seen this being done with a Fulmar, which presumably runs the risk of the young Peregrine being oiled. Perhaps that's also part of the training.
The birds are easily seen from the path which runs along the bottom of the cliffs. Stopping at the bench with the fire beaters nearby, is as good a place as any for seeing the birds.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 9:00 pm

went camping with my daughter for a couple of days, highlights were;
capercaillie & crested tit at Aviemore, slavonian grebe at Ruthven Loch, Hen Harrier in perthshire, Great Skua,Puffins & Gannets at Troup Head, Marsh Harrier at Strathbeg & Little Tern at Ythan estuary.
Alex already planning a trip for next week !

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:42 pm

2 NEW BIRDS FOR ME TODAY AT ROSSIE BOG IN FIFE.
3 GREEN SANDPIPER & A PECTORAL SANDPIPER, ALEX DELIGHTED AS THIS TAKES HER TO A LIFE TOTAL OF 200 SCOTTISH BIRDS AT 11 YEARS OLD, CATCHING UP FAST ON HER OLD MAN.

HarryB · Post by **HarryB** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:10 pm

Congratulations to Alex!!

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Jul 25, 2010 8:52 pm

ALEX AND I WENT NORTH TODAY AND MANAGED TO GET THE 4 SPOONBILLS FEEDING AT THE WAULKMILL HIDE ON THE YTHAN RIVER AFTER SEVERAL PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS !
TIDE WAS WELL IN SO NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF WADERS AROUND.
WE THEN HEADED UP TO STRATHBEG WHERE WE FOUND RUDDY SHELDUCK (7), GREENSHANK (12), AN OSPREY AND SEVERAL BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.

HarryB · Post by **HarryB** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 6:50 am

Hi Alex and Gus,
Congratulations on the birds you are both finding. It's always a pleasure to read how well you are doing.

Richard Maurins · Post by **Richard Maurins** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 12:53 pm

Saturday evening on the Tummel river by the "shingle" area,whilst fishing I was treated to two obviously inexperienced Merllins chasing Sand Martins.The Sand Martins were still visiting their nests in the river bank.So I guess it was experienced Sand Martins against young Merlins and the Merlins went hungry.Clever little fliers,both of them.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Aug 08, 2010 10:00 pm

Went camping with my daughter for the weekend to Newton Stewart in Dumfries & Galloway.Highlights of our trip were;
Nuthatch, Willow Tit, Red Kite, Whimbrel, Black Guillemot, Peregrine, Ruff and hundreds of Manx Shearwater really close inshore at Corsewall point ( fantastic sea watching spot opposite Ailsa Craig )
Wonderful place to visit and will certainly go back.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Tue Aug 10, 2010 11:09 pm

Went across to Angle Park gravel pit in Fife tonight.
Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked duck, Garganey ( couldn;t work out what it was ! )
also 20+ little grebe ! and over 50 coot. brilliant place, well worth a visit.Very near Rossie bog & Birnie and Gaddon Lochs.

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:07 pm

2 ospreys fishing on the Isla river between Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie this morning. Also present were a flock of about 100 Canada geese.
approx 20 long-tailed tits working the trees along the river too. Seen lots of these birds recently in fairly large flocks, biggest group was on Egnomoss 2 days ago when I counted 26 in a group.

HarryB · Post by **HarryB** » Tue Sep 07, 2010 7:31 am

Hi All,
We visited the office at St Cyrus NNR (National Nature Reserve) yesterday and Jo (the temporary manager) told us there is also a group of them there, accompanied by a single Greylag.
Presumably all of these birds are returning from their moulting area in the Beauly Firth, where they have been reported as gathering every year for a long time now.

Howard Ray · Post by **Howard Ray** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 10:08 pm

6th and 7th September 2010 Greenshank and Ruff

An unusually large number of Greenshank - 19 in a loose flock, plus 2 Ruff, together on the large embanked freshwater pool just west of Port Allen, at high tide. GR NO 249210. Close approach possible behind a tall waterside screen of vegetation. Some photos taken with Finepix 18x zoom snapshot camera (apologies for quality) but it wasn't possible to get all the birds in the frame together.[attachment=1]DSCF0238.JPG[/attachment]

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:54 pm

2 Black Terns still at Findatie on Loch Leven today at 2pm.

Charles Rough · Post by **Charles Rough** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 3:33 am

i was in the eden centre hide today (mon) lots of waders ,curlew sandpiper/ruff/knot/black talied godwit/dunlin/redshank/lapwing/ringed plover, a dunnock with a nasty looking growth on its forehead was feeding below the feeders,a peregrine flew over and spooked all the waders into landing closer to the hide,nearby morton lochs has a green sandpiper (not seen by me) but i did have greenshank/redshank/litle grebe/kingfisher

Hannah Morton · Post by **Hannah Morton** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:51 am

A flock of about 60 waxwings at Burnside in Alyth around 7.30am today.

Hannah Morton · Post by **Hannah Morton** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 12:04 pm

A flock of about 50 waxwings on Kirriemuir - Blairgowrie road, just before 5 ways roundabout at 9am

84 Whoopers, 80-90 Greylags and several hundred pinkies in a field at Hallyards

gus guthrie · Post by **gus guthrie** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:24 am

hooded crow at Balbrogie road-end on the forfar-coupar angus road about a mile east of coupar angus.