Trip reports

Outdoor Meeting:TAY REED BEDS AND VANE FARM

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Sunday, 14 June 2009

We met outside the Inchture Hotel on a pleasant morning. Hannah Morton, of the RSPB Scotland, recently promoted Site Manager of Kinnordy and of the reed beds, met us there and led us down to the reed beds proper.

As the Tay Ringing Group were working the beds, it gave us a rare opportunity to see Bearded Tits [or Reedlings] close up in the hand, although many were in little cloth bags awaiting the BTO ring. It seems to have been an excellent breeding season. Hannah spoke to us about the management of the reed beds and we were surprised that reeds were sent down to Southern England to be used for thatching, as well as to Glen Lyon. The rough reeds are pelleted and used for fuel.

We were then led through the reed beds, feeling like Fawcett of the Amazon, pushing our way along a very narrow muddy path through the reeds which towered over our heads. We were almost netted in the mist nets ourselves! We popped out on to the high bank and immediately saw our first Bearded Tit in the wild so to speak. He was most obliging, perched for a while on top of a reed with a mouth full of food, before Hannah moved us on to give the nesting bird some peace.

Along the reeds we saw many birds of the smaller kind, Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, Robin, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Whitethroat etc. There were larger birds there too, notably an Osprey with a fish, and gulls down on the river. Walking back to the cars we saw Linnet, Wren, Willow Warbler and Chaffinch.

With thanks to Hannah we left for Vane Farm in Fife. This was a mistake at this time of year as there was little on offer. Mind you, there was excellent carrot cake and coffee in the café. Although there was a fair number of species they were all in penny numbers and it was a long way to go for a bag of the usual for this time of year. Can't win them all!
About 45 species were seen in the two locations.

Rodney Payne