Trip reports

Outdoor Meeting:SCONE PALACE AND VANE FARM

Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)

Sunday, 22 February 2009

A fully subscribed group of twenty led by Trevor gathered at Quarry Mill Woodland Park car park at 10 o'clock, the main objectives of the day being the Hawfinches resident in Scone Palace grounds and Smew and Scaup observed in the past week at Loch Leven. Conditions for birding were good. There was a hint of spring in the air, mild and sunny, but with a sharp drop in temperature in the wind to remind us that it was still February.
The car park at Quarry Mill provided a promising start to the day, with Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, and also Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Curlew, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and Herring Gull.
Dunnock

We then condensed into a smaller number of cars for the short journey to Scone Palace. Observed at the entrance to the grounds were Grey Heron, Buzzard and Greenfinch, and a Song Thrush was heard. Hawfinches have been seen here by club members before, but not today. Trevor told us that the lady living in the nearby cottage frequently sees Hawfinches on her bird table.

Proceeding into the park and heading towards the Palace, we passed the area of open ground where last year the periodic take-off and landing of a helicopter had more or less ruined good birding. No helicopters this year, and our first Hawfinch [male] was spotted by Hilary close to the Palace, followed closely by another [probably female] characteristically perching at the top of the tallest trees. Jayne very accurately described them as "like Chaffinches on steroids". Also seen were Pied Wagtails and Jackdaws. Leaving the Palace behind and heading into the open woodland, three more Hawfinches were observed and a very handsome male obligingly perched at the top of one of the highest trees and remained there for some excellent telescope views. Bill Robertson also took the opportunity to shoot some excellent video with his 650mm camera, which he showed at the following Tuesday's indoor meeting. More Hawfinches were heard but not seen. Also seen were Treecreepers, Coal Tits, Siskins, Bullfinches, a solitary female Kestrel, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Lunch was taken by the river, but only Oystercatchers and a Dabchick were evident.

We then headed off for Vane Farm and found the car park almost full. Luckily many of the cars belonged to people walking the heritage trail and the visitor centre was not as full as was feared. Recent sightings at Loch Leven had included a Smew and Scaup, and Trevor advised walking along the Loch rather than visiting the hides to see them if still present. None was seen, but there was a variety of other species on and adjacent to the Loch including Shelduck, Tufties, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Mute and Whooper Swans, Pink-footed Geese, Cormorants, Lapwings and Great Crested Grebe.

Most of these were far out on the Loch necessitating telescopes for good viewing, but we had excellent close up views of Pochard and Goosanders by the loch side. A solitary Peregrine was seen soaring above the wooded cliffs which run along the Loch. At the hides we saw Teal and Coot and two Mallards enthusiastically mating reminded us that spring was very close. Back at the visitor centre a variety of tits and a Goldfinch were evident.

All in all, a total of 43 species seen or heard, including excellent views of Hawfinches which was for me the highlight. The profusion of snowdrops in Scone Palace grounds is also worth a mention. The day was concluded by tea and cakes at the visitor centre, with the added entertainment of Trevor and Rodney attempting to communicate by walkie-talkie, unaware that they were sitting at adjacent tables.
Nick Williams