Trip reports

OUtdoor Meeting : ARBROATH

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Thursday, 21 May 2009

Just eight members gathered on a lovely sunny morning on the esplanade at Arbroath. High tide did not help at all and few birds were squeezed in between the tideline and the prom. Oystercatcher was there, a pair of Sandwich Terns and a Herring Gull greeted the party. Shorebirds were there, Swallow, Starling and Crow.
Off to the north end where a little more was happening. Eider, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron, Linnet, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Rock Pipit, and Gannets offshore. A pod of dolphins just off the rocks gave splendid views.

Leaving the cars we started on the cliff walk, where the wild flowers bloomed, brightening our path. A kindly passer-by alerted us to a pod of three porpoises just offshore and beyond them more dolphins could be seen. Just some auks offshore, Guillemot and Razorbill.

Rock Pipits parachuted down all along the cliff. We came on a Sand Martin colony on the cliff face where they were busy building nests with spit and mud. Just beyond, the old Raven's nest had been taken over by a pair of Fulmars. They looked ridiculous perched on the top of this huge nest. Kittiwakes were building above the Herring Gulls and Shags decorated the rocks while Feral Pigeons found holes to nest in along the sandstone.

Leaving the cliff path we made our way across the huge industrial farm of East Seaton. Many Skylarks kept us company, while fat Woodpigeons grazed across the field.Little of note until we came across a Sparrow on a house. House Sparrow? No, it was a Tree Sparrow cunningly disguised! Just shows you should really look at a bird not glance. One corner of a rape field held a lot of Sedge Warblers all singing their hearts out. Further out in the crop were Reed Buntings swaying in the breeze. Some of the typical garden birds hopped around West Seaton where we had hoped for Redstart.

Time to refuel and a stop at the café at Arbroath. Greatly refreshed it was off to West Woods of Ethie for Green Woodpecker. We saw Mistle Thrush and Great Tit, Buzzards and Wren, but we did not see the Green Woodpecker. We got very close and their harsh alarm calls startled us but apart from movement in the canopy that was all we saw. Nice woods though, open areas of beech and close areas of both conifer and deciduous trees.
Species seen 43.
Rodney Payne