The uncertainty over on whether this outing would actually happen – with the leader no longer stranded on Fair Isle! – ten SOC members met at Findhorn Bay LNR car park. After a quick exchange of news with Gordon McMullins and Richard Somers-Cocks, dedicated patch-workers of the Bay who had already seen some species of note out on the flats, the party drove to the “Back” (i.e. Moray Firth) Shore to look at the sea. Unfortunately, with a fierce, cold, north wind and high seas, this proved to be an eye-watering experience. Some distant Gannets, a few Common Eiders and one or two Common Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks flew past but we quickly resolved to move back to the Bay and conditions slightly more conducive to bird-watching.
By this time the tide had come further in and some, at least, of the birds were recognisably close from our vantage point. Small numbers of Pink-footed Geese were present although a dawn start would have been necessary to see the thousands which roosted here overnight. As well as Mute Swans some Whooper Swans were identified when they deigned to remove their heads from under their wings – we suspect they had just migrated in from Iceland. Mallards and Wigeons abounded but we were unable to pick out the Shovelers reported earlier or the Pintails which now winter here in big numbers.
By this time the tide had come further in and some, at least, of the birds were recognisably close from our vantage point. Small numbers of Pink-footed Geese were present although a dawn start would have been necessary to see the thousands which roosted here overnight. As well as Mute Swans some Whooper Swans were identified when they deigned to remove their heads from under their wings – we suspect they had just migrated in from Iceland. Mallards and Wigeons abounded but we were unable to pick out the Shovelers reported earlier or the Pintails which now winter here in big numbers.
Many waders were too distant for confident identification but Curlews, Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwits were seen clearly and a flock of Golden Plovers was well illuminated by the low sun. A Sparrowhawk was noted by one observer who was looking the other way but as the tide rose birds moved away rather than towards us and we decided to move to the River Findhorn. A large car park, with a height barrier, gives access to a pleasant walk along a wooded riverside where we were out of the cold wind. On this occasion few birds were to be seen or heard here – in April/May it is full of singing Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps – and we admired (?) the forests of Japanese Knotweed and occasional, menacing stems of Giant Hogweed. An orange blob on a rotten log turned out to be a Slime Mould called Tubifera ferruginosa (literally – “iron-coloured tube-bearer”) – who says the SOC have eyes only for birds?
Tubifera ferruginosa - a Slime Mould (Sue Seright)
Eventually we emerged from the trees and crossed a dry ditch where we were warned to be careful on future visits to be aware of the tide. A Goosander flew upstream and landed on the river but we dared not advance across the saltmarsh to the advancing tide-line – just as well as, by the time we regained the “dry” ditch it was already infilling rapidly and one member had to be piggy-backed across by a welly-wearer! A lesson well learnt for future visits to this site.
"Advancing tide strands SOC party" (Pete Gordon)
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