Page 6 - Out Birding Spring 2024

At the fine viewpoint which overlooks the estuary of the River Colne a small flock of Brent Geese wasmoving in with the 􏰀de. From the Kingfisher Hide, Avocet, Teal, Shelduck, Coot, Great Black-backed Gull, and Ce􏰁’s Warbler (heard only) but, sadly, no Kingfisher!
The spacious Margaret Hide delivers a wide vista of a newish area of sal􏰀ngs, created by the inten􏰀onal breaching of the sea wall. This area, once grazed, now floods with the 􏰀de, providing an excellent area for waders, geese and ducks to shelter and feed. From here, on the rising 􏰀de, we added to the list: Magpie, Turnstone, Wigeon, Mute Swan, Black-tailed Godwit, Herring Gull.
On the stroll back to the Centre for lunch, we passed the lake again and added Heron, Tu􏰂ed Duck, Jay, Wood Pigeon, Rook, Kestrel. A􏰂er lunch, a small group of us walked into the wooded sec􏰀on of the reserve which, though not prolific in birdlife, provided Great-spo􏰃ed Woodpecker and Chaffinch allowing us to top the list up to 40 birds.
Thanks for the great company of Jonathan, Kerry, Gavin, John and Greg and for Mar􏰀n’s leadership of a good day’s birding.
Peter Mar􏰀n
A Run up the Coast 28 – 29/10/2023
I had to postpone this event by a week because of an unexpected visit by old friends making a rare visit from New Zealand. They had to cancel because of Storm Babet wreaking havoc on the East Sco􏰁sh coast; something I would had to have done for the GBC event, given the amber and red weather warnings in place. As it turned out, the rescheduled dates weren’t much be􏰃er with the winds only reaching severe gale force 9. Just one other person was brave (mad?) enough to join me. George took the sensible op􏰀on of si􏰁ng this event out.
So off we ventured on the Saturday. We thought we would try Cruden Bay first to see if the easterly winds had brought in something interes􏰀ng to this sheltered coastal spot. We went to the harbour and could see a small flock of handsome Long-tailed Ducks si􏰁ng out the rough weather. Then two flocks of small birds flew over our heads calling loudly. Out of context, we struggled to iden􏰀fy them, then the penny dropped; had we been in a forestry planta􏰀on, we’d have called them up straight away as Common Crossbills. What were they doing here when irrup􏰀ons of this species from Scandinavia normally take place in June and July? Our foray through the woods uncovered a few thrushes, some Goldcrests, Blackcaps and a Woodcock.
A report of a Pallas’s Warbler, a 20-minute drive down the coast, provided our next des􏰀na􏰀on, even though it might be difficult to relocate. A􏰂er a long walk through Balmedie Country Park, we found the small patch of trees where the bird had been reported. With nobody else there we searched through the Goldcrests and were rewarded when we re-found the Pallas’s Warbler. For about 30 minutes, we enjoyed in􏰀mate and very close views of this 􏰀ny, brilliant, jewelled Siberian sprite as it fli􏰃ed
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