Trip reports

A bird watching outing

RSPB

Saturday, 19 November 2011

The early morning rain had stopped by the time I was setting off, although the clouds and light mist left me unsure as to what the day would bring. Most of the others were already there when I arrived, including a couple joining us for the first time. Introductions were interrupted as someone found a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and we followed it as it flew between trees, eventually giving us an excellent view as it sat right at the top of a tree. Although we think of Gartmorn as a place for water birds, the woods round the edges are also important. This was shown again when after stopping because I thought I had heard a Little Grebe calling, (which I never did see), we were treated to Treecreeper and Long-tailed Tits moving through the trees.
The gardens next to the house are often productive, and although less so on this occasion we were rewarded by a beautiful male Bullfinch. This area also produced the mystery of the day, with a call being heard which none of us could identify, and we were unable to get a view of the bird. Out on the loch Tufted was the most common duck, but Wigeon, Goldeneye and Pochard were also present. A couple of large skeins of Pink-footed Geese passed overhead, and a group of Canada Geese flew in and landed on the water.
The path around the loch was fairly busy with the usual dog walkers, joggers, etc., so for a bit of quiet I decided to lead the group up the hill to see what we could pick up. The track was very wet and muddy, which made for heavy going, so we all needed a breather when we reached the top. Regrettably there wasn't much to see, although some birds in the distance may have been Redwings. Coming back down to the loch we added Great Crested Grebe, and a Heron which landed up a tree.
Rounding the top end of the loch, we stopped for lunch at the ruins of the old colliery. A few spots of rain fell, but luckily didn't come to anything. Continuing along the north side of the loch, 2 male Goosanders and a single male Gadwall rounded off the wildfowl list, and a buzzard in a nearby tree proved to be our only raptor of the day. Returning to the car park the rain came on again, so we decided to call it at day. Another good outing at a site which is productive at all times of the year.

Hugh M. Conner