Local Outing Report
RSPB
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
24 local group members gathered on a fine day, and although the light wasn't too clear at first it soon brightened up, affording us some excellent shore- and sea-watching. The mouth of the Esk was a profitable starting point. The waterfowl seen were great crested grebe, mute swan, shelduck, mallard, wigeon, tufted duck, eider, velvet scoter, long-tailed duck, goldeneye, gooseander and red-breasted merganser. There were several waders; oystercatcher, grey plover, turnstone, dunlin, redshank, bar-tailed godwit, curlew, and several types of gull; black-headed, common, herring and great black-backed. Our list at this point was completed with blackbird, carrion crow, starling and house sparrow. It was difficult to move away from such a hot-spot. However, continuing round the seawall the in-coming tide provided us with ever clearer views of these birds. The sea was calm, and this made spotting birds on the water easier. We added Slavonian grebe, gannet, cormorant, razorbill and pied wagtail to our sightings, and were delighted with the hovering and skimming activity of a little gull. This uncommon bird held our attention so well that even those who had been hinting that it was nearly lunchtime forgot their hunger. A pair of twite also gave us close clear views as they flitted between fence and ground. Even though it was by now near to high water the scrapes were eerily empty. A sparrowhawk had been spotted, so perhaps this had made the birds wary. However, grey heron, teal, lapwing, wren, magpie, jackdaw and bullfinch were around. Returning via the boating pond we saw pochard, and on the ash pit, a little apart from the flocks of gulls (including a lesser black-backed gull), at least 27 ringed plover, nestled down in shallow scrapes. Looking up, we saw hundreds of geese making their way towards the coast, in huge, ragged V formations.
A few of us extended our day's birding by continuing to Morrison's Haven where we had a flock of goldfinches. But even more rewarding was a red-throated diver, just 80m in front of us, in good light and on calm water. Wonderful!
(Val Donaldson)
