Shag, Little Gull and Sparrowhawk

   
I ventured out of the house in a small break in the dreich weather to see what was going through at West Links, Arbroath. Not much as I dodged the showers, but I found a Shag trying to feed on the tideline of rocks, and a single Little Gull.

As I sit looking out a window at home I can see the largest count of Tree Sparrows in my garden this winter, over 20. I might try to get some video, but they may not stay if the Sparrowhawk in the last photo below keeps patrolling.

Shag, very close inshore where there was less motion and turbulent waves

I've never seen a Shag do this before, as it worked its way along the tideline

The only Little Gull seen during a 30 minute search

It has something in its beak which was taken off the sea without landing

Not that uncommon to see Robins on the beach and rock armour in winter

Cormorants were very mobile and clearly finding fishing difficult

Despite the cold windy conditions this surfer was always in control on messy waves

The latest re-sighting of a male Sparrowhawk in my garden, it allowed me to walk within 8 metres before deciding to fly off

East Haven Webs Survey - January 2026

   
Birds from my Webs (Wetland Bird Survey) seen on Monday when the beach was less busy than weekends are. It was a bit dull and gloomy, but perhaps better than it would have been on the preferred date, Sunday.

The video below from Forfar Loch was filmed in mist but I've managed to adjust the gamma, which has improved the original. A drake Pochard was still at Rescobie on the same day (Monday).

Ring-necked drake and Scaup both males at Forfar Loch - together , click for video

Grey Plover

Redshank, Grey Plover and Turnstone

Dunlin

Redshanks

Wigeon drake left, duck to the right

Sanderlings

Meadow Pipit

Stonechat male

Carrion Crow

Arbroath Harbour Cormorant et al

   
A few photos from Arbroath Harbour in-between cloud, drizzle, rain and wind, but helped by the various birds who have become tolerant of the fishermen in the working harbour. It will be a long time before I get Cormorant photos as good as these.

Tagged on at the bottom of this post, an Eider and an arty photo of a Grey Seal with an unusual reflective photo.

Arbroath Harbour Webcam, various views as the camera circulates

A Cormorant was patrolling the harbour edge and seemed oblivious of me sitting amongst the creels, it came so close at one point that the camera started to lose focus

Two Little Grebes, an apparent pair were resting in a dark corner in-between short fishing sessions in the harbour

I can't plan photos like this one as the birds go where they like. Luckily the Little Grebe swam through the reflections of one of the colourful creel boats

This Grey Heron certainly liked AH35, it would fly off if the fishermen were working too close, but always returned

 

Just two Turnstones seen, although I didn't search all of the boats and harbour

Usually the first bird to spot danger and warn every other bird. This Redshank tolerated me as it fed on a boat only a few metres away as I stood behind a lamp-post

A lonely drake Eider at Victoria Park

This Grey Seal (with four eyes) was cruising near the Slunks on a slack neap tide