Kinnordy Loch

On a blustery day with sunshine and showers we saw, Mallard, Shoveller, Teal, Widgeon, Coot and Swans well out on the loch. At the feeders there were, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Robin, Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tits. Some of the male ducks seemed to still be in eclipse producing some unusual colours and initial questions about their identity when seen on the camera screen.

Kinnordy on Friday 28th

For balance I posted beauty and the beast. Olive liked the Long-tailed Tits and I found this Common Toad on the path.

I know feeder photos aren't as good as natural ones but these birds don't stay around long enough to get many photos.

The lack of light on the feeders seems to have caused a bluish tinge to the photos but I've decided not to tamper with them.

There were about 8 birds and they only stayed about 3 minutes, worth seeing though.

Last of the Butterflies this year?

Who would have thought that this almost black butterfly would turn out to be the peacock below.

A bit ragged and pretty torpid but it did later fly into an area where it could spend the winter.
This was the only butterfly I saw today and a single red admiral yesterday.
Nearby to this one I saw a late common darter dragonfly which will probably be the last this season.

Autumn divers at Montrose Basin

A speculative photo of roosting waders caught these Goosander, one male and two females near to Mops Pool.

This Red-breasted Merganser was up near the Slunks and kept its distance.








This Heron was up near the Boat Pool.

Still hunting Autumn Migrants and good light at Montrose Basin

Taken at Mops Pool at Montrose Basin, on close inspection there are Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Cormorant, Redshank and what appears to be a leucistic Oystercatcher in front centre left.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Tayock complete with a worm in its beak.

These two Greenshank briefly appeared close to Tayock Hide but must have spotted me move and flew off.

The Greenshank with the Bar-tailed Godwit had something wrong with one leg and hopped around as well as standing on just one.

Often over-looked as they are so common, this Redshank was feeding in the rain in front of the Tayock Hide.

Arbroath West Links, feels like winter arrived today.

Ringed Plover on the beach behind the old bathing pool at Arbroath

I'm not confident to identify this but have asked the experts for help. I'll update this if I get an answer. Thanks to Nicola who suggested a Grey Plover which I've looked up and agree. I had thought it was a poor angle and made it look like a longer beak fore-shortened.

Victoria Park and Danger Point, Arbroath

Heron easily visible and photographed without leaving the car, it was freezing outside.

Oystercatcher, the thick billed version which feeds on molluscs unlike the thin billed which feeds on log and other estuary worms.

Just behind The Old Brewhouse this Rock Pipit was dodging the lapping waves trying to find something to eat.

Montrose Railway Station

I arrived too late for decent light so settled for a view and a rabbit which was just over the sea wall. There were Curlew, Eider, Redshank, Shelduck, Great black backed gulls and more but too far away in the gloaming.

Montrose Basin at Tayock, Burn and Hide

I managed to confirm my earlier sighting of Bar-tailed Godwit and got some decent pictures of an Oystercatcher, juvenile Shelduck and a Curlew. The first picture below was the result of a Kestrel kill. I've experimented more with the ISO settings on the camera and made a point of going where the sun would light the subjects. I just need the birds to learn what I need.

Kestrel Kill!

I'd disturbed a Kestrel near the path and when I investigated I found the remains of this poor mouse, it's skull and face. I'm sure I heard that Sparrowhawks like to eat the brain of a bird first, perhaps Kestrels are the same with mice?

Bar-tailed Godwit at Tayock and possibly Black-tailed as well

Bar-tailed Godwit, confirming the previous days post where the photo was poor.

Feeding in the Tayock Burn, slightly turned up beak.

Shorter legs than the Black-tailed Godwit which also has a straighter beak.

I can't see a barred tail and the beak seems straight, maybe these are actually Black-tailed Godwits I have compared photos and these look longer legged, I'll go with Black-tailed for now.

Tayock Hide

 Curlew at Tayock

Oystercatcher

Juvenile Shelduck

Montrose Basin in between squalls on September 19th

Poor photo from a distance on a dull day, but is this a Bar-tailed Godwit?

Pink footed geese moving due to the incoming tide

Pink foots and Shelduck washing and preening before the tide swamped the Tayock Burn

 Pink footed geese roosting on the tide

Redshank, Shelduck and I think Knot beside the Tayock Hide

Arbroath Harbour

A lucky shot of a Guillemot diving, taken from the breakwater at Arbroath Harbour. It was a calm day and the birds actually came in to me, I suspect the anglers may throw them scraps.

This Guillemot was preening

A Razorbill for comparison

Great Black-backed Gull

Young Herring Gull

Female Eider Duck

Starling with a broken ankle, it may lose the foot

St Cyrus Beach on a blustery day

The high water line is covered in what looks like forestry waste, many pieces have saw cuts but not new.

Three photos of the same Wheatear which was flitting along the beach in front of me. There were a few White Wagtails up at the hide at the mouth of the North Esk, young Guillemots and various gulls.

As seen from Balgavies Hide

Apparently Blue YD had started his migration when I took this photo so I'd conclude this is his Dad. He's got what looks like a decent sized trout, indicated by the red flesh, smaller fish are usually pale fleshed.

This young Blue Tit appeared at the hide, still fluffy and yet to get full colours.

This I imagine is one of the two young Herons from the nest to the left of the tree, the other was stalking in the reeds just out of shot.

Murton Common Darters and Blue Tailed Damselfy