Trip reports

LOCH OF SKENE AND DUNECHT ESTATE

Saturday, 22 November 2008

There was an inauspicious start to the outing. At close to start time there were only four people in the car park, very poor for midweek outings these days. Then a large group of cars arrived and the numbers swelled to nineteen, a very good number for midweek. It transpired that most people had read the instructions about where to meet but a small number, including the leader [me] had gone to the wrong location. Initiative prevailed and we all managed to get together.

The weather was bright but cold and before we left the car park we had picked up seven species and another sixteen at the lochside alongside the car park. As happens with a large loch all the birds seem to congregate at the far side of the water making telescopic identification and much discussion an absolute necessity.

So within fifty metres of the car park we had had good views on land of Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Robin, Starling, Buzzard, Common Gull.

And on the Loch were Whooper and Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Greylag and Pink footed Geese, Mallard, Coot, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Shoveler and Little Grebe.

On with the walk through the lovely early winter setting of the tree-lined policies of the Dunecht House Estate. This is a favourite walk and eyes were strained and necks cricked to find and identify birds amongst trees. It was quite a lengthy stroll with frequent stops and cries of "it's a --------" or maybe not as the case may be. Anyway a good time was had by all and by two o'clock tummies were rumbling as the end of the walk and lunch-time approached.

As we started eating I said "We haven't had a Red Kite today, so after lunch we'll go to another site where we can possibly see one". As if on cue a Red Kite appeared immediately overhead and did a low level circuit of our group. With bright sunshine everyone was assured of excellent views.

The other new species seen on the second part of the walk were [in order of sighting] Siskin, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Grey Heron, Dunnock, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant, Treecreeper, Jay, Bullfinch, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Moorhen, Song Thrush, Rook and, of course, the Red Kite.

A total of 43 species, not bad for a winter morning.

Bob Littlejohn