Trip reports

Coach outing report

Sunday, 5 June 2011

We were welcomed to Loch of Kinnordy by Kim Ross, assistant RSPB warden on the Reserve. She had offered to be in Gullery Hide for the duration of the visit to speak to each of our 3 groups as they visited that hide, and explain the work that has been done at Kinnordy and their future plans. She was also a great help in directing us to the birds seen from the hide, including the nesting site of the marsh harriers, right in front of us. Sadly, the harriers only put in brief appearances that morning, but many people did see them. The water rail was also typically shy; however 2 were heard in the reeds beside Gullery Hide. Kinnordy has 3 hides, and interesting open scrub and woodland, and this gives a range of habitats. The most notable rarity of the day was a great white egret, a first for Kinnordy. We enjoyed watching the mute swans being very protective of their cygnets, as were the mallards and coots with their chicks. However, the black-headed gulls have not had a good breeding season as their nesting colony had been reduced to 2 birds by otters. Also seen on the loch were, grey heron, gadwall, shoveler, wigeon, pochard, tufted duck, oystercatcher, lapwing, redshank, curlew, lesser black-backed gull, sedge warbler, reed bunting, and, showing off their flying skills, swift, barn swallow and house martin enjoying a feeding frenzy.
Moving between the hides we had very good, close views of blackcap, whitethroat, willow warbler, great tit, blue tit, and treecreeper. Some also saw a spotted flycatcher. Our Kinnordy list included woodpigeon, wren, robin, blackbird, jackdaw and carrion crow. A very satisfying morning's birding.
Moving on to Murton Nature Reserve we paused for lunch, some taking advantage of the tearoom and home-baking, while others used the variety of hides and benches overlooking the pools, or being entertained at the sand martin nesting colony. After lunch we met up to enjoy both Murton's birds and wonderful variety of wild flowers. We saw a lot of the birds on our morning list, but added quite a number to be excited about. We had hoped to see little ringed plover, and were very pleased to do so. At one point we had an excellent opportunity to compare the little ringed plover beside a ringed plover. The black-headed gull colony was doing much better at Murton, with lots of "leopard-spotted" chicks. The various flooded quarry pools also gave us little grebe, cormorant, greylag geese, teal and moorhen. Looking towards the hills behind Murton, we had possible sightings of golden eagle and red kite by 2 of our very experienced birders, and a large number of common buzzard. Murton is proud of being a pioneer in the design of nesting facilities for sand martin, and we so enjoyed being close to these birds that it was difficult to move on. Continuing on the walk we added skylark, pied wagtail, and in the more wooded area, great spotted woodpecker, song thrush, coal tit, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, yellowhammer, house sparrow, and dunnock. Rook and starling were also seen, making a respectable total of 60 species for the day.

(Val Donaldson)