Vane Farm

Saturday 19th November

Ah well, another fine day considering the time of year, so it was up we get and away over to Vane Farm in Fife once more to see how the migrations and arrivals were doing, and possibly spy the elusive Sea Eagle.

No fog today going over the Bridge so arrived in good time at the RSPB Visitor Centre at Vane Farm. Usual stop off in the cafe for tea and freshly made hot scones found the place empty. They have a decent viewing gallery as part of the cafe with a few scopes set up so spent half an hour looking out from the comfort of a cup of tea. We could see a bird sitting on a post but it was just too far to be sure, although I thought it may have been a Merlin.

Photo from Stock

Off down to the hide and set up but to be fair not much was happening at all. Skeins of Pink Footed Geese moving from one end of the Loch to the other was pretty much it for the first half hour

 

along with about 20 Pintail at the waters edge with a Whooper Swan. 

In the far pond there was about 50 Curlew feeding in the margin mud.

A man and his three kids arrived at the hide then to cause a bit of enjoyable mayhem, them all being under six. The boy was looking at the Mute and Whooper Swans through my scope when a Grey Heron arrived over in the corner. It spent the next 30 minutes preening itself in front of the web-cam that is installed there.

Suddenly the Merlin appeared proving that we were correct earlier on

That just about done it so I moved back to the Gillman Hide for a look picking up a couple of Goldeneye

and Teal on the way

Not much to see in the hide, however there are a number of feeders installed to the side so it was entertaining watching the Goldfinches, Great Tits, Green Finches and a Dunnock helping themselves

By this time it was starting to get a bit overcast and chilly so it was it time to head up to the cafe for a cuppa and a walk round the well stocked RSPB shop in the visitor centre. Did meet the man and his three kids again so had to show them my photos, which was fine as it is nice to see an interest in ones so young, and they even introduced me to their lovely black labrador.

Sadly, no sign of the sea eagle

Linlithgow Loch

Days hols today with the weather overcast but not at all cold, saw me in the garden topping up my various feeding stations. Almost immediately, a Pied Wagtail,  a garden first, arrived at the seed tray

 along with three Siskin, which made a welcome return.

Nice to see the return of five House Sparrows, after me bemoaning their absence this year
.

The Coal Tits are still in evidence but still no sign of any Robins in the trees.

Walking down to Linlithgow Loch saw the sky getting cloudier, but still a good number of Mute and Whooper Swan

along with the ususal 'tame' Greylags.

Spied a couple of Wigeon on the water, which was a novelty, 

with plenty of Coots and Moorhens feeding away quite happily.

Walking up the path brought my first (and only) Robin so far this year.

Plenty of Mallard at the top of the Loch but not much else.

On turning for home a number of birds arrived whilst I was talking to an old chap walking his dog. This brought a good discussion as to whether or not they were Common Tern , Common Gulls or 1st Winter Black Headed Gulls.

All the evidence pointed towards Terns, orange bills with black tops, orange legs, dark bar on forewing but trailing edge to inner wing, but still could beBlack Headed Gulls

I will send a photo to my mate Bagsy, who is pretty expert on Gulls.

***Update***
Bagsy has agreed with my identification of Black Headed Gulls in adult winter plumage with the exception of the  top bird and the third one down who are both 1st Winter. As always my thanks and beer is on mw when I am next down in the Portland Bird Observatory

A quick walk back brought the sight of a solitary sheep scratching its back against a low branch, then it was home for lunch.

Vane Farm - Fife

Saturday 5th November

Well the Indian Summer has stayed here in Scotland a while longer, so I thought it might be time to pay a visit to the RSPB reserve at Vane Farm, in Fife.

Apparently if you get to the Visitor Centre by 10.00 you stand a good chance of getting a free, freshly made eco-friendly scone.

Still off down the Newton road towards the Forth Road Bridge, and it was displaying the classic fog-bound scene, with just the top of the cable towers visible from the high road. 

Didn't look promising to be honest, especially when the traffic ground to a halt behind an accident.

Still, persevered and it was certainly worth it. The fog cleared and I was treated to a fine view of bright cloudless skies over Loch Leven.

The reports had it that Pink-Footed Geese had been arriving in droves and there had been a Sea Eagle resident on one of the islands for a few days.

Quick cup of tea and a (paid for) scone and it was off down to one of the hides. Not to disappoint, the Pink Footed Geese started arriving in their droves to join the hundreds already there

, in amongst the Whooper Swans.

A solitary Golden eye dived in and out for food while the Coots, Moorhens and Mallards swum about in the morning sun.

Moving down to hide 2 saw me arriving at the same time as a flock ofLapwing who arrived in among the flatland puddles, 

much to the annoyance of the Curlew that were basking in the heat.

The flock scattering heralded the arrival of a Kestrel 

which hovered for a while before shooting away, to allow the Lapwing to return.

All the time there was skeins of Greylag Geese and Pink Footed Geese crash landing on the

loch. 

The Kestrel returned and the Lapwing and Curlew retired a safe distance.

Just as I was about to move back up the trail for a cuppa, three small Roe Deer appeared out of the long grass for a feed.

Back up towards the Visitor Centre cafe, there are a number of feedingvstations which were being visited by Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch

 and some Blue Tits.

Tea on the observation gallery brought views of over a hundred Teal, Wigeon and even a Snipe across towards the Loch.

Suddenly the beautifully horrible sight of a Sparrow Hawk dropping and taking one of the feeding birds woke everyone up from their winter sun induced dosing.

Quick walk round the well stocked RSPB shop and it was time to set course for home.

Great day out but sadly the Sea Eagle didn't make an appearance. Back next week to see if it is about.

Back to Birding

Well after many years away from serious birding, I have decided to come back to my favourite past-time. The reason for this happening was a visit to relatives in Portland, Dorset, where we stayed in the Portland Bird Observatory, a converted lighthouse ran by the BTO.


I couldn't help but get caught up in it all again, after watching Martin, the warden netting and ringing birds, and more importantly chatting with other birders, and getting right into it again.


I met the most fascinating guy whilst I was there called Peter Baker,who writes a daily blog called Bagsy-The Captains Log. It makes fascinating reading, as it charts his travels around not only Dorset, but the rest of the world too, in search of fine wine, fine food and fine birding.


I have been writing an occasional blog called Jacks Life, where I have recorded birding trips recently, but will now use this for all birding thoughts.