Sunday 26 November 2017

Spotted Redshank - after a long search

I've been looking for a Spotted Redshank since the start of migration and to my surprise this turned up on Sunday at the Lurgies and was spotted by an RSPB group and I. I stayed longer than normal and into what seemed the twilight and got a fly past just before I would have had to give up. It was too dark to get a photo which really shows the birds features and a second attempt today failed after it disappeared again.

Little Egret and the Stickleback, video click here,

Spotted Redshank which seems to be favouring the burn channel at the Old Harbour car park at the Lurgies. Seen again on Monday when it flew upstream under the road bridge then lost to view


The "resident" female Kingfisher at the Bank of Scotland Hide, Montrose Basin SWT Centre. I'd escaped from the wind and cold, or so I thought. It only got more grim as the day went on and seemed to get dark at 1430!


Twins or a couple, lets hope they're a couple and stay around to breed in the spring. Little Egrets


Ok, the Heron's not in focus, see previous weather excuses, it's just a size comparison photo



Mistle Thrush at Lower Craigo Street in Montrose, I wonder if it chased away the two Waxwings reported there. It was defending the remaining berries from all-comers when I was there briefly



Friday 24 November 2017

Winter at Montrose Basin

After a few days of hell, the weather was dull, cold, windy and stopped me from venturing out. I made a brief visit to Montrose Basin on Thursday where the temperature managed 4 degrees after at start of just 2! All of these taken from distance with my 1.7 teleconverter in use which I'm not keen on but needs must. There's not much going on at present with Pink-footed Geese numbers down to around 7,500, not many Teal or Wigeon to be seen at the Lurgies, but I counted 74 Pintails at Tayock as the tide came in on Thursday.


The "resident" Whooper Swan seems to have become more active with the arrival of real winter weather, perhaps it's having to work harder for food and look for it further. This one is from upstream of the Slunks on the South Esk


This Redwing has been around the path at the Lurgies now for all of November, why move when there are still lots of berries which it's sharing with a host of Blackbirds. It is still very wary and approach is impossible and handheld photos grainy


Today the river was high and dirty after the rains and this female Kingfisher was fishing along the main river and a small side stream. Another Kingfisher is being seen well and daily at the SWT Centre, fishing in front of the centre and on the salt pans where it can be seen from the Bank of Scotland Hide. The centre is on "winter opening" which is Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday and from 10am to 4pm, access to the Bank of Scotland Hide is available and the car park is open most days


This Goldcrest is hanging around at the car park at the Old Harbour and it's origins aren't yet known, and so far we can't get a photo showing any of the numbers on the metal ring. It's not thought to be a bird ringed locally this year

Sunday 19 November 2017

Denlethen Wood, Laurencekirk (and nearby)

A look at a small forest near Laurencekirk where my grandson hopes to find a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I did a short survey of part of the wood where I found a single Buzzard and a Coal Tit. On the neighbouring farmland, especially a newly ploughed field and hedge line a few more birds were seen.

Ellis, your challenge is to find some of these birds, especially the Bullfinches, and your Mum's challenge is to photograph one!


Male Bullfinch, I'm seeing Bullfinches everywhere just now and most have been males in small groups


This Buzzard looks to have a full crop, perhaps it had been following the plough in the field next to the wood feeding on worms


Lots of Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws in the Laurencekirk area


One of a small flock of Fieldfares that had been feeding on berries along a track


At least one Redwing with the Fieldfares but always far off


Yellowhammer in the remains of the sun near sunset


Mallard drakes fighting at Stonehaven beach. There were many squabbles but this one lasted for minutes with the birds in a tight circle chasing and pecking at each other. Unfortunately they remained in the shade of high banks and a footbridge



Drake and duck Pintails, over 40 were at Tayock, Montrose Basin this week


Purple Sandpipers highlighted in the late sun, too much light for the Sanderling in the background


Little Grebe, still about 20 at the Lurgies


On a dull day at Stonehaven this Redshank was about the only colour around


Female Teal at Montrose Basin. Still not seeing many Teal and only had one on my Webs count today at Easthaven


Panto season, "it's behind you". Not as sinister as this looks, the young Herring Gull was landing not stalking

Tuesday 14 November 2017

Sparrowhawk (rub hands down thighs, as Chris Packham)

Just going out and I noticed the silence in my garden and correctly assumed a Sparrowhawk had been. I didn't think it would still be there and be approachable though. I wonder if it was a migrant bird following prey but as it was a 1st winter I don't know if they do migrate but it seems likely?

Full frame Sparrowhawk video, click here,

Some others including, Waders, Wigeon and a Whitewater Kayaker













Curlew, seen while I was trying to re-locate the White-rumped Sandpiper further along the beach, I didn't find it



Grey Plover, one of six near Hatton and a further five were at Craigmill



Sanderling on another day when the BBC Weather people lied....


Pied Wagtail standing on the ridge left by the tractor which travelled along the beach



These Wigeon at Keptie Pond were photographed near dusk on a slow shutter speed. Four more Wigeon and seven Goosanders were present on 14/11/2017



I'd gone up to the Gannochy Gorge on the North Esk near Edzell on the off chance some salmon would be running but the water was low. My substitute was to be the kayakers coming down the fish-ladder fall but it had a very large tree jammed in it making it unsafe. This guy got back on the water below the fall using a "seal launch" from a 3 metre drop. I remember doing the same in the "good old days"



Thursday 9 November 2017

Long-tailed Duck, Smew and Little Egret

A tip off led me to Kinnaber Links where a Long-tailed Duck was said to be on the river and after the long walk from the Charleston turn off parking I was relieved to find it still there. To start with it didn't venture at all near me despite me sitting below the horizon on the wet sand. Fortunately a walker on the other bank scared it towards me and I got these photos as it flew off upstream. The promised Smew photos are below but given the distance they're nothing but a record. Also today at the Lurgies a welcome return from one of the Little Egrets.

Little Egret video, click here                       Long-tailed Duck video, click here


Long-tailed Duck








Little Egret from the Lurgies


I accidentally deleted a Red-throated Diver photo from Kinnaber so this Lunan Bay one will do!



Smew female ( Red-head ) at Kinnordy, from the Gullery Hide


Smaller than the Goldeneye it has teamed up with


Whooper Swan at the mouth of the Slunks, Montrose Basin



This Coot and others below are from Keptie Pond, taken late in the day recently and while the sun still shone


Jackdaw, eating seed provided by visitors who seem to have taken the advice at the pond and stopped feeding bread to the birds


Moorhen


Black-headed Gull. I'll need a miracle to get a photo of the ring number




Wednesday 8 November 2017

White-rumped Sandpiper, Easthaven

In this birding thing you have to be flexible, and I'm glad I was and got a message before I travelled miles away from Hatton near Easthaven where the White-rumped Sandpiper below had been originally photographed by Joy Cammack with some Sanderling, then identified later by Hugh Bell. Unfortunately, and after sitting for ages waiting for the Sandpiper to appear it was flushed at high tide before it managed to pass by me and have the sunlight on its back. The photos below were the best of the few I got. The story of a photographer's day, even life!
Also seen at the same site were, 2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Woodcock flying past, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits one of which was ringed in Norway this year as a hatchling, and a Sanderling ringed in Orkney.

More photos in the next post including a Red-head Smew at Kinnordy and some from Lunan Bay, Montrose Basin and my late afternoon, end of day site, Keptie Pond

White-rumped Sandpiper near Hatton Sewage Works south of Easthaven


This bird has a diagnostic orange base to its lower bill which can't be seen in this shaded photo but can be when over-exposed to a degree on my PC. The wings also extend past its rump and another photo shows the white rump which gives it the name


One of these Bar-tailed Godwits was ringed in Norway on 29/9/2017, its name is NEV on a yellow flag!


Grey Plover





This Redshank looks to have a damaged beak, almost like it has flown into something and pushed it back. The area at the front of its face looks to have rotted away?


For comparison with the one above


Arbroath, West Links looking to Elliot


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