Tuesday 31 May 2016

Late Pintail and Pink-footed Geese

An evening trip to Montrose Basin and two surprise species, a late Pintail drake usually seen in the winter months and a couple of straggler Pink-footed Geese. Also seen two Swifts, a Goosander drake, a Red-breasted Merganser drake, a Shoveler drake and a male Sparrowhawk.
At Arbroath Cliffs, Kittiwakes nesting along with Fulmars and Herring Gulls some of which already have young chicks at the "Mariners Grave"

Pintail out on the Basin mud, for video click here,


Late Pintail drake on Montrose Basin, seen from the Lurgies. Canon SX60 at 104 times zoom.


One of the local Ospreys fishing over the South Esk and the Basin


Another late bird, this time a Pink-footed Goose, one of two seen together



One of a pair of Greylag Geese also around at the Lurgies


Kittiwake at Arbroath Cliffs


Maybe I made a mistake feeding Starlings with sultanas, when I retuned home today around fifty were in my garden




Monday 23 May 2016

Scurdie Ness, Montrose

A walk with Olive down to the lighthouse to loosen up my legs after an early morning Corn Bunting survey which covered 11.35 km. A surprise Short-eared Owl was the first bird I saw on the survey and I did see five Corn Buntings, Yellowhammers, four Grey Partridges and eight Puffins.

There were waders still going through at Scurdie including Sanderlings, Ringed Plover, Turnstones and one or two Dunlin. I'm not sure if the Ringed Plover actually knew I was there as the rock structures provided good cover.


Ringed Plover at Scurdie Ness Lighthouse


Again in profile


Summer plumaged Sanderling


Mixed plumage Sanderlings


Sedge Warbler, singing as usual


Meadow Pipit with unknown caterpillar species..........


This Swallows mate was bringing in nest material which this one watched and criticised, sound familiar!


Sunday 22 May 2016

Whitethroat, could it be called anything else............

A Whitethroat near Montrose Beach and three of the ever increasing number of noisy Starling chicks in my garden.

Starling symphony, click here for video


Whitethroat singing and trying to distract a dog walker away from a likely nest


He's not happy


I've never seen a Whitethroat "parachuting" like a pipit but this one did


The last photo of the "likely lads", more like three craws sittin on a wa'



Friday 20 May 2016

Whinchat to Starling and a few in-between

A bit of a tour today but always cut short due to the constant sharp showers which always seemed to arrive when we'd got far from the car or when I wanted light for a photo


Whinchat, didn't seem impressed with my presence despite my distance so I took this and left


House Martin in Glen Prosen


Swallow nesting in the same area as the House Martin


Osprey hunting at Kinnordy but always too far away or behind the reeds


Lapwing in prime condition and colours


Another swift exit for me after this Yellowhammer popped up from a nest


One of 22 Starling chicks in my garden today, boy was it noisy





Thursday 19 May 2016

Corn Bunting time, Waders still going north and few others from my limited travels this week

Corn Bunting surveys are due to start and a quick recce turned up one and some of the other birds I'd expect to see on the early morning (6am) surveys. Below the birds of the open fields are a few of the waders still going through at Easthaven, most now showing well in breeding plumage. Finally a couple from Craigmill Den and a Sedge at Montrose Basin.

If photos or posts become less frequent it will be because I won't carry a camera doing the surveys and after 4 hours of walking often wet and awkward ground I'll be sitting in Olive's garden drinking beer, if only..............


Corn Bunting, male singing, the sound still heard from a distance away


Linnet


Meadow Pipit


Skylark


First of this years Starling chicks


Ringed Plover and Dunlin


Sanderling in breeding plumage


Turnstone, near to full breeding colours


Another Whimbrel


Grey Wagtail in about the shadiest part of Craigmill Den


Song Thrush singing in Craigmill Den


Sedge Warbler taken into the light at Mill Burn




Sunday 15 May 2016

ADBC Glen Lethnot Trip

The Angus and Dundee Bird Trip today was to Glen Lethnot when we found at least 47 species and from my point of view I had a good day seeing a Black Grouse after not seeing one all year so far. The two missing birds I would like to have seen were Whinchat and Ring Ouzel but I've seen a few Ouzels already and I'll get the Whinchat soon.

Also below are a few birds from elsewhere this past week,


One of two Cuckoos seen together in Glen Lethnot, they may struggle to find enough Meadow Pipit nests to lay in as there are few Pipits around so far


A bit unusual perch for a Red Grouse but not unknown


A singing Chiffchaff on Carnoustie Golf Links


A photo I've tried to get for some time this year, a decent Lapwing in flight shot, taken at Murton NR


Lesser Redpoll at Balgavies Loch


Yet another Red Squirrel photo but this one is a bit different


One of four House Martin nests I'm trying to survey for the BTO. This shows one of the birds sitting on eggs which were laid a few days ago in last years nest. I'd previously watched them clean out the old nest material before settling down to lay and incubate.



Wednesday 11 May 2016

In search of the elusive Glossy Ibis

I eventually found the Glossy Ibis at Montrose Basin today, nobody knew where it went when not near the Shelduck Hide and we still don't as that's where it was. I suspect that it can see approaching birders and walkers when they are some distance away and simply flies away, most likely to the Mill Burn area.

Don't miss the Glenesk birds below the Montrose Basin birds from 11/5/2016, the Glenesk ones were from 9/5/2016 and also seen that day were, Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipit and Cuckoos.

GLOSSY IBIS VIDEO, CLICK HERE,


Scared away before it came close enough for a photo with my DSLR


Another with the SX60, probably at 65 times zoom


My first Whitethroat of the year already nest building with what I think is some spiders silk


Late Pink Foot Geese at the Wigeon Hide, Montrose Basin. 42 present


Roe Deer buck crossing the South Esk at the Lurgies


The Redshank didn't seemed worried by the large mammal


Female Redstart in Glenesk, I like this one


Male Redstart in the same place and likely it's mate


Spotted Flycatcher near Invermark, Glenesk


Wheatear near Lochlee





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