Hooded Crow (variant?) - in Angus in summer!!

Eventually today we got some light so I went at first to Montrose Basin as the tide was rising and then to Usan where I'd seen a reported Hooded Crow which is a rare bird in Angus and usually only seen in winter here. I've had a comment saying it's not a proper Hoodie which may be true but it's very close if it isn't.

At the Basin there was a single Canada Goose, a female Red-breasted Merganser, an Eider crèche and some very late Pink-footed Geese, eleven birds in flight. In the video below the photos it looks like the Eider has a huge number of young but there were five adult ducks looking after the ducklings and the average brood would only be about five or six.

A couple of photos but the videos at the links below the photos show so much more.

Hooded Crow at Mains of Usan but very difficult to get near to. In this photo I'd used the cover of the derelict cottages to sneak up but even then never got close enough.

Eider duck at Usan, presumed to be a non-breeder or failed this year

Hooded Crow video, click here

Eider duck creche video, click here

Shelduck video, click here

Canada Goose video, click here