Inner Forth Birding

A couple of weeks back my good friend Grant and I had a day out bird watching at various locations around the Inner Forth area.
We started our trip with a walk along the shoreline between Abercorn and Blackness, benefitting from the shelter of the trees as there was a cold wind blowing in from the Northwest.

Dappled Path from Abercorn to Blackness

Bridge over Midhope Burn

There were plenty of birds singing in the trees, but very few of them popped out to show themselves, so many we had to identify by their song. We managed to recognise Song Thrush, Blackbird, Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Wren and Robin to name but a few.
At certain points along the walk you could get down on to the shoreline and check for any birds on the river:

Grant checking shoreline for birds

Unfortunately there was very little to see on the river or shoreline as the tide was quite far out, we did see a few gulls and a couple of waders.
We did however get some nice views of Blackness Castle and the villages of Limekilns and Charleston on the opposite shore:

Blackness Castle



Fife Shoreline

We decided to walk back to the car and move on to our next location. Just where we had parked the car (near Abercorn Church) we stopped to admire a redundant Victorian post box, which had been put to good use as a plant holder:

Victorian Plant Holder

We stopped at Blackness Beach for a quick al-fresco picnic before moving on to our next destination which was a ponded area that sits behind the breakwater just North of the village of Skinflats.
I like to refer to this area as 'the land that time forgot' but not in a bad way. It is an area that is farmed but not intensively and reminds me of what farms used to look like when I was young. There are still plenty of hedgerows, there are still damps areas which have not been drained where reed beds thrive and there is a mixture of arable and livestock (cattle) farming.
All this adds up to an abundance of habitats for wildlife, so if you are pining for views of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler, etc. this is the place to visit.
The changeable weather had turned to heavy rain when we arrived so we gave it ten minutes to die down a bit (which it didn't really) so we ventured out anyway. After a ten minute walk along a hedge-lined lane we came to the ponds and set up our telescopes under the shelter of a Hawthorn bush.

Ponds behind Skinflats (Grangemouth in background)

It was still raining quite heavy so we were surprised to see so many Swallows and House Martins flying about above the pond feeding on insects. We presumed that there must have been a large hatch of flying insects when the sun was shining brightly just before the rain started.

 

Swallows & Martins at Skinflats Pond

Despite the rain there were several other birds out on the ponds including Great-crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Mute Swans:

Great-crested Grebes

Tufted Ducks

You may be forgiven in thinking that the photograph shows a lovely family of Tufted Ducks on the pond but that could not be further from the truth. What you are actually seeing is one female Tufted Duck (the brown one in the middle) being pursued vigorously by no less than six male Tufted Ducks.
Shortly after this the rain went off and the sun came back out, suddenly everything looked much brighter and shinier and more Spring-like. The flowers suddenly seemed to be more colourful:

Bluebells

Whitebells

Ladybird on Nettles

The trees looked greener and their blossom appeared even brighter:

Crab Apple Blossom

Horse Chestnut Blossom

Pine Cones

 Even the birds started singing ................although they were not hanging about long enough to be photographed. We heard Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap and we also saw Yellowhammer, Robin, Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler.
There were about 3 or 4 Sedge Warblers in the reeds in front of us at one time but I only managed to get a photo of one which was obscured by the reeds:

Sedge Warbler in Reeds

The view over the ponds had brightened up, however the birds on the water had all disappeared into the reeds:

Skinflats Ponds with Longannet PS in background

We went for a walk down a leafy lane which lead to a small woodland in the hope that we might see even more wildlife:

Leafy Lane

Path Through Woodland

Last time I was here I had good views of a Juvenile Buzzard but today all was quiet apart from a few Chaffinches and the occasional Blackbird. In a field on the West side of the ponds we did see a solitary Canada Goose (which I suspect was not really from Canada but a semi-tame version that you get on most British ponds):

Canada Goose in Field

Having enjoyed our visit to the ponds at Skinflats we thought it was only proper that we also visit another popular attraction in this area and view the animals there............................I am of course referring to the famous Kelpies:

Single Kelpie

Rearing Kelpie

Kelpies

If you have never been to see them yet then I strongly suggest that you do...........they are awesome.
I must go back one evening to photograph them when they are spectacularly lit up.

A magnificent day birding, a picnic on the beach and a bit of artistic culture thrown in as well.......you can't whack it!!

Teddyedward