Trip reports
Outdoor meeting: FORFAR LOCH & LOCH OF KINNORDY
Mike Richards (rspb-images.com)
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
We made our way to the loch where there were numerous Mallards, many with families ranging from ducklings only a few days old to fully grown juveniles. A few Pochard and Tufted Duck were swimming some distance out and, after some discussion, two Gadwall were agreed and added. On the loch, too, were large numbers of Coot, again with many young ranging from fluffy chicks to fully grown; some coots were still building nests ands others sitting on eggs. Near one nest, in a fallen tree close to the water edge, a Common Sandpiper afforded a brief view to a few members. Later, by the Boat Club at the far end of the loch, everybody got good views. Other birds at this end of the loch were a single Pink-footed Goose, Herring and Lesser Black-back Gulls, Carrion Crow, Moorhen [also nesting], Mute Swan, Swallow and House Martin. A small brown bird flitting in and out of the reeds proved to be a Sedge Warbler.
Everybody had excellent views of a pair of Great Crested Grebes with three young, sometimes sitting on the back of one of the parents. Eventually three Little Grebes were found out in the middle of the loch. A few Cormorants, some drying their wings, loafed at the water's edge.
On the way round the loch towards the viewing platform, we got a singing Wren, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, a probable Garden Warbler, Dunnock and Yellowhammer. Woodpigeon, Greenfinch and a single Collared Dove were added to the list.
As we approached the Boat House a pair of Mute Swans with eight well-grown cygnets were sighted, quite an achievement to raise so many. After several Reed Buntings were heard singing, several singing males were seen, some in the tops of trees which were obviously good positions from which to declare their territories. Three Lapwings flew over and, as we reached the spit at the Boat Club, Craig was lucky enough to see a Kingfisher fly away.
As mentioned earlier, good views of Common Sandpiper as well as Pied Wagtail, Swift, Swallow and House Martins were seen from this viewpoint. On the way back to the cars Great and Blue Tit and Song Thrush were seen.
Lunch and comfort stops were taken before most of us carried on to the RSPB Reserve at the Loch of Kinnordy. Here we were greeted by two summer wardens who said we had missed an Osprey by half an hour. However we did not have to wait too long before it appeared again in the distance, made several circuits in the middle distance then settled on a post. Also present were Mallard, Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Swallow, Swift, Woodpigeon, Willow Warbler and Reed Bunting. Two young Shelduck took several moments to identify but a pair of Garganey caused considerable debate and, in the end, there was some scepticism about their true identity. We visited all three hides, adding Sedge Warbler, Buzzard and although the typical single note call of a Bullfinch was heard on several occasions the bird itself could not be found.
Up to this time the weather had remained fine but as we reached the car park it began to rain. Attempts were made to put telescopes on the Osprey nest described to us by the warden. Eventually through the ever heavier rain and gathering mist we found a ghostly outline of the nest, out on the horizon, with a bird sitting at one side. By this time the rain was torrential so we thanked Eric and Rodney for an excellent day's bird-watching, with a list of about forty-eight species, then made our way home. Several of us broke the journey at Peggy Scott's for refreshments and the realisation we had not recorded any Chaffinches or Starlings.
Margaret and Richard Cinderey.