Wednesday 31 August 2016

Black Tern, Mediterranean Gull and Little Gulls on the coast and a Hen Harrier in the Highlands

Late posts of some interesting birds, note that it's so rare to get a Hen Harrier photo I've posted some taken at 0730 in the morning so they're not good. I believe the Black Tern is still hanging around Arbroath so I'll look to get a photo when sunny. The last photo below was a fluke which I took when bored and I'm inspired to get a good one or another on the same theme soon.


Juvenile Black Tern at Inchcape Park, Arbroath


Juvenile Black Tern


Mediterranean Gull, Black Tern and Common Tern, Inchcape


Hen Harrier female (ring-tail) Speyside


Hen Harrier


Hen Harrier


It had a look at the Mallards who wern't happy at all


Juvenile Little Gull at Inchcape, Arbroath


Two varaitions of juvenile Little Gulls at Easthaven, the one on the right beside the Black-headed Gull is more advanced into its winter plumage


Ruthven Barracks, Kingussie


Art?? Taken at Cromarty and a close look shows the village framed within the bubble and the buildings reflected in the firth. An unanticipated result which I'll try to repeat elsewhere when it's sunny if Olive will blow some bubbles!!




Thursday 25 August 2016

Curlew Sandpipers everywhere and St Cyrus NNR

A visit to Rossie Spit but not quite at high tide and I benefitted from many of the waders having already left as the tide had ebbed making finding a Curlew Sandpiper much easier. Normally it's a case of trying to keep an eye on a single bird amongst the Dunlin but there were no Dunlin and seven Curlew Sandpipers in the open on the waters edge. On a hot and sunny day it was difficult to know where to go next so I chanced St Cyrus NNR where there were still some birds showing but with many people around the large gull flock at the mouth of the North Esk was kept moving and unsettled.

Curlew Sandpipers video, never close, click here,


Curlew Sandpipers at Rossie Spit, Montrose Basin, six of the seven present. (SX60)


Two of twelve Black-tailed Godwits at St Cyrus


Canada Geese at St Cyrus


One of the adult Peregrines at St Cyrus


Adult male Stonechat at St Cyrus


Juvenile Stonechat


Black-headed Gull J4U3 with its supper at the Old Harbour, Montrose Basin



Monday 22 August 2016

Montrose Railway Station and Tayock Hide

Not a day for photos but I did capture a Greenshank and one of the three Ospreys fishing near the Railway Station in Montrose where the foot bridge provides a good viewpoint.


Greenshank going at speed as usual, Tayock Hide


Paused for two seconds


Osprey Blue CR6 failing to catch the fish it tried for


The ring is visible on the left leg

Wednesday 17 August 2016

Red Kite at Ythan Estuary!!!

Well it is a kite and it's red!!!

Other birds seen at the Ythan, still some terns but less than a week before, only one Arctic Skua but a large flock of mainly Herring Gulls in a feeding frenzy when a shoal of bait fish got caught inshore as the tide went out. The Humpback Whale was seen breaching just south near Blackdog but not by me and later swam north past the Ythan towards Collieston.

Others from Forvie NNR, Fife Ness where I managed to photograph 39 Shag darvic rings, Ringed Plovers just about everywhere just now and Greenshanks and other waders increasing at Montrose Basin. Lastly, peformance cars at Crail.


Red Kite


On a serious note, this Grey Seal at the Ythan has what looks like a piece of plastic stuck around its neck which has caused a huge injury which has cut into its blubber


Gannet at Fife Ness


Second bird quite close inshore


Grey Heron at Sand Loch Forvie NNR


Dark Green Fritillary Butterfly, Forvie




Fox Moth caterpillar, Forvie


Juvenile Ringed Plover at Arbroath


Adult Ringed Plover


Greenshank at Montrose Basin


Tyre destruction at Crail Raceway/Airfield near Kilminning and Fife Ness





Tuesday 9 August 2016

Ruff at Forfar Loch

Forfar Loch gets a few waders each year after the breeding season and non more elegant than Ruff. This one was on the spit at the sailing club along with a Little Ringed Plover. The Long-tailed Tit and Robin chick were both near the feeders at Kinnordy Loch.


Ruff......nice. Olive thought it was weird when I started rubbing my thighs, Chris Packham style





I think its seen me but maybe it was the Buzzard calling that got its attention


In the gloom near the feeding station at Kinnordy


A Robin chick scuttling about on the path and leaf litter


Sunday 7 August 2016

Arctic Skuas - Ythan Estuary Newburgh

I'd travelled to the Newburgh area in hope that a White-winged Black Tern might still be there, it wasn't. Never mind, the back up was the recently sighted Humpback Whale which never showed for the large number of people on the beach either. Fortunately at least three dark phase and one light phase Arctic Skuas were constantly harassing the terns, often close in and sometimes up the estuary mouth where the terns were roosted.
I migh be tempted to go back if the sun shines when I'd hope to get better quality and there must be plenty of small fish around if a Humpback is hanging around to feed the terns/skuas.


Sort this out if you can and you'll see the fish the Sandwich Tern just gave up under pressure from three Arctic Skuas, the 2nd summer light phase one did get the fish


2nd summer light phase bird, easy to pick out from the dark phase ones and easier to get a photo in the poor light


Another Sandwich Tern lost the fish in this one, the skua was briefly in the water this time


Complete with its plunder


the last light phase photo


dark phase Arctic Skua








Thursday 4 August 2016

Black-throated Diver and juvenile Marsh Harriers

I can't say where the Diver was or someone would have to kill me, the Marsh Harriers at Kinnordy aren't a secret though, just elusive a lot of the time. I didn't manage a photo of the three Greyhens on the road during a recent trip but good to see as it's usually the showy Blackcocks.


The photo doesn't do it justice compared to a scope or even binoculars




Juvenile Marsh Harrier






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