Peregrine, Carnoustie

   
Just a few photos from around Arbroath and Carnoustie, with a couple of AI constructs added showing the popular new cycle-way

Goosander fishing for Perch at Murton NR      Goldeneye drake, Monikie CP

Peregrine 1st winter seen flying over Carlogie Road in Carnoustie in heavy cloud and rain

I've still got this Sparrowhawk male visiting my garden but not as often, and I have never seen it make a kill

Dog sick slime mold, recently there were 8 small patches on my lawn. It doesn't appear to cause any problems and only occurs at this time of year when the ground and air is wet

The new cycle-way which bisects Arbroath which took 77 weeks to construct

This part is in front of Gayfield Park, home of the "Mighty Red Lichties"

Both photos by Gemini which couldn't seem to understand "two cars wide, ten cars deep"

Weird bubbles and Common Snipe

   
Mostly photos from my Webs Survey which left me wondering where Dunlin, Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwits and Grey Plovers were. I think there was a lot of activity over the weekend at East Haven which might have affected the birds, or is it the warm unseasonal weather?

Videos below from a few places and dates, click to view, all UHD except the Vixen

Common Snipe at Stannochy      "Godwits in the mist"      Little Egret and weird bubbles      

Golden Plover flock emerged from the mist      Red-necked Grebe (centre) Lunan Bay      Little Egret fishing      

My current Sparrowhawk      Distant Green Sandpiper, Slunks      Vixen in my garden (3rd winter)

One of two Little Egrets seen at East Haven while doing my Webs Survey

Female Stonechat

Carrion Crow with a Buckie, the local name for an Edible Periwinkle Littorina littorea

Curlews

Redshank

Wren

Redshanks

Oystercatchers, Turnstones and a Curlew that didn't get the email about which direction to look

Grey Heron on Keptie Pond with a small Perch, a fish that were introduced into the pond many years ago

Sparrowhawk 1st winter male in an apple tree, in my front garden 2 metres from the pavement

Purple Sandpiper at Arbroath Harbour. Health and Safety prevented getting the whole bird in

Montrose Basin as the mist started to clear around midday! The Steeple is in the centre 4 km distant

Long-billed Dowitcher - Montrose Basin

A Long-billed Dowitcher, a first for me and after a few days in difficult sites at the basin it conveniently settled at Tayock in the northeast corner and viewable from existing viewpoints. The only issue was the harsh sunlight shining directly from behind the bird. It may have been possible to get behind it, but it's likely that it would be flushed when the Redshanks signalled an exit stage right!

Other photos from the Lurgies, the Bank of Scotland Hide and a very cocky Sparrowhawk that sat tight as I took my gear out of the car only 8 metres away. It only flew off after I approached, but was back again within 5 minutes.

UHD videos at the link below with a Grey Plover, Velvet Scoters and Common Scoters, click to play


Long-billed Dowitcher into sunlight      Long-billed Dowitcher part 2      Grey Plover, Lurgies     

Velvet Scoters Lunan Bay     Common Scoters distant Lunan Bay      Lunan Bay north

Long-billed Dowitcher

Sparrowhawk in late afternoon sunlight

On a windy day the Great Egret was sheltering in the salt pans

Just a small number of  the Pink-footed Geese that left to feed in the stubble fields

These Pinkies were heading towards St Cyrus

Late in the day at the Lurgies at least 40 Cormorants flew inland to roost

I've noticed many of the Whooper Swans have low numbers or no juveniles, not so long ago they'd have 2-4 and most pairs would have youngsters