Bird Observations Day to Day.

Monday 5 January 2009

A Brand New Year.


First Trip of the Year. Fife Coast and Dundee.

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Great Spotted Woodpecker


We took our first birding trip of the year on Friday 2nd January with a friend. It was one of those rare days when everything well almost went according to plan. We left here on a clear very cold morning for our first site on the route, unfortunately there was a regatta going on so there were no ducks about but that just one of those things. We then backtracked a bit to a woodland site and the first bird we saw was a Great Spotted Woodpecker which can sometimes be hard to see. As we strolled along the woodland path we saw the usual woodland species you would expect to see. There was a little stream running along beside us and low and behold a lovely Dipper bobbing away as it sat on a rock. Although it is very cold just now to go way for a days bird watching it is easier than the summer as the bare trees are a great help. Back to the car and on for a few miles to a very quiet little lane when our friend had seen Tree Sparrows in good numbers a week or so ago They did not disappoint they seem to be sitting there waiting for us there were 14 in all which for this species nowadays is really good as there numbers are way down just now.
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King Eider.

We then headed to the coast at a place called Elie as we had word of a King Eider being seen there. Now there's a bird to see. We have seen them on previous occasions but not for some years. We had a little walk to get to the waters edge but again there he was sitting waiting for us, we could not believe our luck what a great start to the year.
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Iceland Gull.


Back in the car again and onward to Anstruther a lovely little fishing village where we had again had word of an Iceland Gull and believe it of not we were told it was sitting over the north wall and guess what it was, this was turning out to be a great day out. After a quick and I mean quick lunch break off we went again this time towards Dundee where there was another rare gull this time a Ring Billed Gull. Must just say our friend of many years had planned all this for us and put in a lot of work for us it was so good of him and very much appreciated by us.

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Ring Billed Gull.
All photo's today are from the internet not mine unfortunately.

7 comments:

  1. You did have some nice sightings on your trip. That lovely fellow with the different colored beak is one I'd not seen before. Isn't nature just the most beautiful thing. So glad your trip was a good one. 'On Ya'-ma

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  2. What a lovely trip out you had joan.I just love th epictures of the birds."Happy New Year" once again to you and yours.Thankyou for sharing your journey with us.Take Care God Bless Kath x

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  3. Joan sounds like you had a lovely and rewarding trip out ~ The pictures are beautiful ~ That King Eider is just lovely ~ Ally x

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  4. What a brilliant day out Joan. The photographs are superb...I was just teher wandering along with you along the coast...especialy the stop at Elie !! Wish I had seen these lovely birds.
    Thanks for sharing
    Much Love Sybil xx

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  5. Hi Joan, I`m glad your birding trip went well. I`ve never seen a King Eider before so I`ll look out for it. I often see Spotted Woodpeckers at work. The last time is was drilling for insects on a telegraph pole...lol! :o)

    Love Sandra xxxx

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  6. The bird pictures are just beautiful!

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  7. Beautiful pictures Joan and I got to see a few new birds as well. Thanks!

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About Me

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Hi, I'm Joan I live in Scotland with my hubby of 48 years. We are both retired and enjoying life to the full well nearly. We are always out and about doing this and that. We love the countryside and do a bit of birdwatching and even twitch from time to time. We also visit art galleries and hubby does a bit of watercolour painting. Me I read a lot mainly thillers. I have been been keeping a journal for over five years over on AOL but we are being thrown out so this is my new home.

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