Third Time Lucky

One of our favourite bird-watching haunts is Montrose Basin and the best time to be there is a couple of hours before high tide in the Wigeon Hide at the far end of the basin to watch the tide drive the birds closer to the hide. With high tide today at 13:26, leaving Perth at 10:00 should get us in position in time, plus there was the added advantage of taking a trip up to Netherley to see whether third time would prove lucky for the Great Grey Shrike Hunt.

We were a little later than planned into the hide as we took a detour to see the Mute & Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese that were feeding in one of the fields on the reserve. So by the time we arrived the tide was fairly high and the birds relatively close. Nothing terribly unusual, just great views of ducks (Shelduck, Wigeon, Shoveler, Pintail, Eider) and waders (Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew , Lapwing). The waders in particular putting on a fine show, flying around as the tide kept moving them on. Today's photo being of one of those flights of Dunlin.

Next stop Netherley and Mrs L says there's a bird in the top of that tree, it was a long way off, but we got a record shot before it flew off. Then just as I went off to the car for our picnic Mrs L found it again, far closer on a telegraph wire. We've let RCB have the privilege of blipping the Great Grey Shrike - third time lucky indeed.

The Dunlin flight is even more impressive in Large.

I've back blipped our Winter Gathering Weekend:

Friday Community Spirit
Saturday A Wee Tune
Sunday Contingency Plan
Monday Taking Down a Two Man Tent