Twelve folk met at a very misty, murky Munlochy Bay overlook where we piled into three cars. Due to a very high tide we high-tailed it through the middle of the Black Isle towards Udale Bay. A few Fieldfares and a couple of Redwings were balancing on telegraph wires as we passed. It was difficult to assess the state of the tide at Udale hide as the mist was even thicker – however the Pink-footed Geese were in full voice. Alice was waiting, and we proceeded to Ivy Cottage carpark, Jemimaville hoping the ducks and waders would be closer in. A pair of Mute Swans was spotted on our journey and a Canada Goose was identified through the mist, with a lone Slavonian Grebe. Unusually we had no sighting of the flock of Scaups which were too far out. Returning to Udale hide, the tide was pushing the birds up towards the land. We were rewarded by Redshanks, Dunlins, Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwits, a single Knot and Lapwings, with Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser and the ever present and noisy Pink-footed Geese. The bushes/tree provided Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Meadow Pipit, Red Kite and Yellowhammer and a single Snipe zigzagged from the sedge. On towards Kirkmichael church, we detoured to Mark Finn’s garden with his spectacular bird feeders and logged up 15 more species – good numbers of Greenfinches, tits, Tree Sparrows, Siskins, Bullfinches, a Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk. A wander across the stubble gave Skylark but sadly no Grey Partridge.
Female Velvet Scoter (Philip Wilson) and looking into the murk (Mary Galloway)
From Cromarty harbour we spotted Eiders, Long-tailed ducks, Razorbills, Guillemots, Shags and at least six Rock Pipits and one Meadow Pipit. Starlings were perched on a tree but one bird we had surprisingly NOT seen was a Wood Pigeon. However, we finally spotted some in the village plus a Collared Dove. Rosemarkie shore gave us Cormorants, Red-throated Divers and a female Velvet Scoter. Avoch area gave us Goldeneye and Little Grebe. Most folk then departed as it was getting more and more murky, but the four from Fortrose/Rosemarkie finished the day with a quick visit to Chanonry Point and logged Turnstone, a Pied Wagtail and Ringed Plover to make the final count of 74 which was surprising for a day where jizz and call of birds were mainly the identifiers.
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