Gastronomic Outing

Alarm set for 6:30, out by 7:00 on the southbound platform of Montrose Station at 8:20, not to catch a train but to get a view of the Geese in Montrose Basin. They've just had their first record of a Ross's Goose, a North American species, rare in the UK and in the last few days it's roosted on the Basin before heading off to feed with the Pink-footed geese around 9:00. The other recent record for Montrose Basin is the number of Pinkfeet - 65,000. So our task was to find one Ross's Goose among 65,000 Pinkfeet - it took us about two minutes, helped by the fact that the Ross's goose is a pure white goose while Pinkfeet are dark grey.

Time for some breakfast, which we had at the local Tesco - rated 1/5 (if that). We then had a wander to Scurdie Ness to do a bit of sea watching and lookout for the possibility of rarities blown ashore by the easterly wind. Not much luck on the bird front, but we did see a "big fish", it'll be either a dolphin or porpoise but not yet checked which. Lunch was alfresco, Friday's pizza - rated 3/5. We then headed back for coffee and cakes at Tesco - rated 2/5.

Next stop was the Wigeon Hide, overlooking the west end of Montrose Basin to catch high tide which brings the birds up close. Just like our visit on 25th April it coincided with a Wetlands Bird Survey (WeBS) monthly count and once again it was an education to be in the same hide as such knowledgeable birders. Although they were telling us that the goose count was performed in the morning when the geese were roosting, they counted only 58,000 Pinkfeet and NO Ross's Goose, somehow none of their counters had seen it, but when we showed them our photo it was duly added. Mrs L had also spotted and photographed five light-bellied brent geese, which were also additional to their count.

For our evening meal we stopped at the photographed Bervie Chipper, about two miles south of Brechin on the A90 - Two jumbo breaded haddock, chips and a cup of tea - rated 4/5 the gastronomic highlight of a long day - and NO it wasn't the pensioner's special before you ask.