Back at Newburgh with "three Grandkids go Birding" (actually Seals they wanted to see)

Back at Newburgh with the noisy brigade who wanted to see the seals, we encountered all four stages in the Six Spot Burnet Moth life cycle. Newly emerged adults had already mated and laid eggs, Olive found a caterpillar, adults were still emerging from cocoons and Lauren has an adult in her hand.

I've added two Little Tern and two Sandwich Tern photos below as I think they're a bit better than previous ones.

Six Spot Burnet Moth Caterpillar

Six Spot Burnet Moth Cocoon

Six Spot Burnet Moth

Little Tern

Little Tern with its body inverted for a dive but keeping its head still and eyes on the target

Sandwich Tern

Sandwich Tern

Fowlesheugh, Stonehaven tens of thousands of sea birds

Using my DSLR for a change in the hope there would be enough light for "in flight" photos, it could have been much better but I'm happy enough with these.

From the top, Fulmar on nest and flying, Guillemots (in flight with Canon while fishing), a Herring Gull then  Kittiwakes with at least two eggs in the nest, Razorbills, a Rock Pipit and the last photo from Olive's garden which is a fledgling Blackbird which looks to have a pecking injury to its throat. It hopped away when I gave it some raisins so should be OK.

A non-birding trip today to St Andrews

I did however notice these chaps when Olive and I were on our day trip to see St Andrews which appeared busy with graduations going on. The first photo is "Dave the Diver" an injured Red-throated Diver which has been at City Quay, Dundee for more than 2 years. Photographed in the shadow of the Unicorn which is just seen in the photo.
Next is one of the Fulmars nesting on the cliffs at St Andrews followed by a Gannet unusually close inshore who looked to be swimming back to the Bass Rock.
Below again are two separate Grey Herons fishing close to the harbour wall and obviously used to tourists and last a Rook, also very confident and coming close to visitors picnicking near the Old Course Club House.

Arbroath to Carnoustie Coastal Path

A few of the birds seen at the Elliot end of the coastal path and a rare view of Ringed Plover chicks, but can you find them in the photo? From the top a singing male Linnet, adult Ringed Plover, two adult Ringed Plover and two chicks and last one of many Whitethroats who are camera shy.

Mains of Dun and Shelduck Hide, Montrose Basin

Walking down the track and at the Shelduck Hide I was surprised to hear a calling male Cuckoo then see it sitting on the power line before it flew inland towards Bridge of Dun. I also saw four Brown Hares, six Red-breasted Mergansers, five Skylarks, a moth which feeds on nettles called "The Snout" and it also looks like a Whooper Swan has been left behind as last year at the Lurgies when the others migrated north.

Mid-summer at Murton

Still no Dragonflies at Murton but it was dull, Meadow Brown and Ringlet Butterflies are out and Common Blue Damselflies can be seen mating and egg laying on the bottom pond. Some of the Ducks are showing signs of their summer moult and males in particular are changing to "eclipse" plumage. New chicks are appearing around the reserve and the Sand Martin wall which was full of young is now looking empty as they've nearly all fledged. Still couldn't get a photo of the elusive Kingfisher as it flew past at speed!

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Ringlet Butterfly

Common Blue Damselfly female

Ring-necked Drake with Gadwall drakes moulting into eclipse

Shoveler Drake also moulting

A Black-headed Gull chick, the most advanced one I've seen at Murton

These two of three Oystercatcher chicks have only just left the nest platform near this spit

Bees, Buzzards, Damsels and Grebes

Some catch up photos from Murton and Balgavies and an undisclosed site. From the top, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Buzzard chicks and a Great Crested Grebe at Murton with a decent sized fish.

ADBC Field Trip to Glenesk, 17/6/2014

Some of the over 50 species of birds seen on ADBC's trip to Glenesk on 17/6/2014. Birds shown first then a moth, a butterfly, orchids and a red deer.

If you click on the first photo a slideshow will open showing larger versions.

Cuckoo male near Craigoshina

Red Grouse male west of Tarfisde

Song Thrush at Invermark

An unusual pair at Invermark, left a Spotted Flycatcher and to its right a Common Sandpiper

A Spotted Flycatcher near Auchentool taken in a gloomy glade

Swallow at Invermark

A Chimney Sweeper Moth, the first one I can recall seeing, found near Invermark

Small Heath Butterfly in Glenesk

I'll name these Orchids when I can confirm I've got them correct

To be confirmed

A captive Red Deer Stag in velvet at Invermark House, note the ear tags