The Last Post - 2025

  
Going back in time from Wednesday 31/12/2025, with late afternoon photos of a pair of Stonechats at Auchmithie. I'd gone to see where any Corn Bunting strips were, the one behind the old school house didn't look to have anything the birds could eat, and only 12 Linnets were seen.

 

Previously on Tuesday I didn't find anything unusual at Tayock, the Lurgies or Rossie Spit, where I couldn't see the Dowitcher hidden in the Redshank roost. For the second time this week I saw Catkins already out and outwith the normal seasonal range.

Male Stonechat at Auchmithie

Female Stonechat, paired with the male above

The same male photographed in the low sunlight, the sun's altitude was only 2.3 degrees. Not sure what its got in its beak, I've seen Stonechats with them before?

Greenshank at Tayock

Goldfinch, Tayock

Redshank, Tayock Hide

Early Catkins, also Tayock, I believe they are Hazel given the time of year (January-March date range)

Little Egret feeding at the Lurgies, or was it Tayock...

Blue Tit pulling down on a berry with it's left foot

Shoveler drake photographed from the roadside at Rossie Spit  

Long-billed Dowitcher - Christmas Eve

It's likely that I won't get a decent photo of the Dowitcher in the near future if it continues its pattern of behaviour, the tide level it prefers will be in darkness. The photos below was taken near 1500 hrs, and the video in similar conditions two days earlier. Viewing through mature trees means, often it walks behind the many branches, the dark marks!

Long-billed Dowitcher, Rossie Spit, Montrose Basin

Long-billed Dowitcher, viewed from the roadside footpath, just west of the garden centre on the A92. (56.699116806892235, -2.4836965265054145)

Size comparison with a Godwit

Long-billed Dowitcher, Brambling, Purple Sandpiper and an old Dipper!

   
The previously seen Dowitcher has remained on Montrose Basin (re-found by Dan) this week on Rossie Spit in amongst the Redshank flock. The two of photos below were taken from the roadside when it was on its own, and could be seen through the small gaps in the trees.

Elsewhere I persevered at the Kinnordy feeders and it paid off when a single Brambling appeared, albeit mostly hidden by scrub and in a dark place. A Purple Sandpiper and an often seen Dipper in Arbroath were other highlights. 

Mostly everything else was seen when I was waiting for my car to be fixed or driving around later with the heater at full tilt to dry the areas where water had entered the boot. So far there's no sign of any new leak and the carpets are remaining dry.....

Long-billed Dowitcher (1st winter), seen from the roadside footpath overlooking Rossie Spit, Montrose Basin

Brambling under the feeders at Loch of Kinnordy where the light is very poor, the ground feeding birds are difficult to see due to tree debris

The only Purple Sandpiper at Arbroath Harbour today, 19/12/2025. The other 50 or so must have found a sheltered roost, perhaps somewhere unreachable where lobster creels block the access

This female Dipper was first ringed by Ken Slater on 19/3/2020, originally breeding attempts failed due to predation. I first photographed it in 2021 and have seen it most years, this photo was at the lower bridge at Arbroath Bus Station where the Brothock Burn flows under the inner ring road, A92. Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age 3 years with breeding typically at 1 year. Maximum age from a ringed bird 8 years, 9 months, 6 days (set in 2017)

This Eider is either tame, injured or both. Here casually leaving the beach at Inchcape Park 

Cormorant

Sanderling, also at Inchcape, not common due to disturbance

Feral Pigeon coming in to land on the Signal Tower

Great black-backed Gull, behind the Old Brewhouse

I managed to get a few angles of this Herring Gull's right leg which has a metal ring GF27637, I hope there isn't another number that I couldn't see

A first winter Herring Gull at Victoria Park

Oystercatcher, also at the park/beach

The camera can lie! Pied Wagtail, note the low sun makes the highlighted back look like a different colour, and the shaded part a deeper grey than it looked to the eye

One of about 22 Rock Pipits at Victoria Park, they often are seen feeding on the road and pavements, as well as the strand line on the beach

Only a male Stonechat seen at the ramp at Whiting Ness, probably a female nearby

A Magpie calling in Linton Road (Arbroath), a group of 7 were debating loudly over territory

The long staying Great Egret on the salt pans at the SWT Centre, Montrose Basin

Also a Little Egret

A Treecreeper at Monikie recently

Song Thrush at the Lurgies

Woodpigeon, Monikie

Dunnock

Blue Tit, Montreathmont

and finally a Coal Tit