π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Friday 12th May 2023 ☁️ 9C ~ Wind NNE @ 2MPH ~ An early start today arriving at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg around 7:30am, a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from the scrub just prior to the dipping ponds as I passed. As I parked at least twenty Common Terns were making a good racket overhead and the usual Tree Sparrows were around the feeders.
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| Two of four Drake Garganey on Starnafin Pools |
I began overlooking Starnafin Pools from the benched area and here I was immediately onto
Temminck's Stint, (2)
Wood Sandpipers, (2)
Little-ringed Plovers and an amazing (4)
Garganey, all drakes! Quite the tally for NE Scotland.
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| Not a morning for the camera but a record of the Temminck's Stint ~ A Scottish tick for me after missing out on a couple of birds seen since I moved up here in 2020. |
Also of note were (4) Roe Deer which seemed to have got through the perimeter fencing on Starnafin Pools and spent the whole time searching for a way out. I did inform the guys in the centre when they arrived so hopefully they've been sprung from their incarceration. Interesting point, if Roe Deer can get in so too Foxes!!
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| One of two Common Cranes ~ Always a pleasure to see them NOT sporting lots of leg bling! |
I spent an hour overlooking the pool with Barn Swallows and a few House Martins skimming for flies and my first couple of Swifts for the year overhead. A couple of Common Cranes seemed to appear from nowhere, one on each side of the perimeter fence and were happily feeding.
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| Pretty sure this is a Grasshopper Warbler. |
A walk to the Dunbar Hide produced Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Skylark, a single Lesser Redpoll and a Corn Bunting singing from the wires. I paused outside the Tower Hide for a scan of the reedbeds, a Willow Warbler singing behind and a Water Rail grated from the reeds below. As I walked along the reeds towards the Dunbar Hide a bird popped up into one of the willows low to the ground, no song, no calls. I only got the briefest of views and actually managed a photo, I'm pretty sure it's another Grasshopper Warbler.
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| Sedge Warbler from the Dunbar Hide |
Another hour in the Dunbar Hide produced
Sedge Warblers at close range, a flyby male
Marsh Harrier and feeding on the low ground at a distance a
Great White Egret. Easily forty or so
Curlew, a few
Oystercatchers,
Lapwings and various counts of
Wigeon,
Gadwall,
Shoveler and
Shelduck.
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| Osprey ~ During my walk back to the centre. |
My walk back to the centre produced a few raptors with Osprey, Buzzard and Sparrowhawk all noted.
A few more images of the morning...
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| One of two Little-ringed Plover ~ I'm told quite the rarity in NE Scotland just a few years ago. |
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| Great White Egret feeding on the low ground from the Dunbar Hide |
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| A Wren banging out his huge song from the Dunbar Hide |
