Thursday 26 February 2015

Montreathmont Crossbills, and I got my Lesser Redpoll photo

The Crossbill photos are Ok but the Redpoll was in a tree being blown around so a record shot it is. I've included four Red Squirrel photos at Olive's request and as she helps fill the feeders it's the least I can do.

The last three at the bottom are from Murton and it looks like the Shelduck are coming inland as well as Oystercatchers, Lapwing and Redshank.



1st winter Crossbill (juvenile)

Female Crossbill

Lesser Redpoll


Even the squirrels are looking for Redpoll!







Siskin

Yellowhammer



Mute Swan cygnet, Murton

Shelduck, Murton

Wigeon drake, Murton


Tuesday 24 February 2015

An accidental Kingfisher

I've always wanted a half decent photo of a Kingfisher but didn't want one that had been set up by planting a branch and sitting in a hide, I don't have a hide anyway so was pleased to find a Kingfisher today at Monikie. I got quite close to the bird which was sitting in willows looking for sticklebacks and it caught three while I crept closer, at one point I had one knee in mud and a foot in the water! Despite the sun being low in the sky I'm pleased with these three and others I took.

The eagle eyed viewers may notice the Kingfisher is ringed but that really would be a miracle if I'd been able to read the ring.


Watching for sticklebacks


Spotted one


Just bashed it into submission


Kestrel near Monikie school


Curlew at Inchcape, Arbroath




Song birds from an Angus forest hide

It's my rota week for filling the feeders and the birds were queuing up to get at the food as we filled the feeders, this despite most of them having adequate food in them already. No sign of the Jay or Green Woodpecker and I still can't get a Redpoll photo at the hide but I'm not giving up yet.
A flock of Siskins and perhaps some Redpoll were spooked by a Buzzard on the track but no Crossbills seen or heard in Mondays windy conditions.


Goldfinch

Long-tailed Tit, unfortunately the tip of the tail is cropped!

Red Squirrel with a thorn in its lip?

Robin

Sunday 22 February 2015

Sparrowhawk versus Robin

Despite perseverance and flying around the small bush the Robin was in the Sparrowhawk male in the two photos didn't get it because it didn't panic and try fleeing from the bush.


Looking at the Robin but unable to get into the dense part of the bush it was sheltering in



Saturday 21 February 2015

Auchmithie out of the cold wind, later Arbroath

Hiding at the bottom of the cliffs at Auchmithie out of the cold I got a few photos of birds in flight and although the sea was pretty flat not much was seen on the water. The Rock Pipit and Herring Gull were both at Whiting Ness, Arbroath and the gull was sitting on the same concrete post as always, even the same one last year.


Cormorant

Fulmar

Fulmars

Rock Pipit, Arbroath

Herring Gull T:524 at Whiting Ness



Montreathmont, Murton and Arbroath Harbour

A mixture from Montreathmont Forest, Murton, Keptie Pond and Arbroath Harbour. There was more light than recently getting into the forest so I tried to get flight shots of the Chaffinches who aren't the best at landing on the feeders, more light needed but I'm happy enough.


Blue Tit, Montreathmont

Chaffinch, Montreathmont





Crossbill, Montreathmont

Dunnock, Montreathmont

Siskin, Montreathmont



Goldeneye, Murton






Shoveler drake, Keptie Pond Arbroath


Mute Swan, offshore

Arbroath Inshore Lifeboat





Friday 20 February 2015

Purple Sandpipers at Arbroath, 22 on the beach and 5 on the breakwater

There were 27 Purple Sandpipers at Arbroath today perhaps due to the spring tide, this may have been one of a few roosts available. The House and Tree Sparrows were squabbling over the feeders in my garden as usual which might be why I managed a photo today.

Purple Sandpiper video, click here



Purple Sandpiper, Arbroath


Purple Sandpiper


Sparrow conflict, Tree and House


Tuesday 17 February 2015

Kinnordy, Grey Heron breakfast and Bittern

Although I got very good views of the Bittern, even in the open for a few minutes I'd been far too ambitious with the camera settings and only got record shots. I got on better with the Grey Heron which was considerably closer and providing a bit more action. The grainy Bittern photos first and the Heron firstly with a Pike and then a Perch, it caught four decent fish while I watched and the Pike could have been near a foot long.












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