Mandarin duck, and Snow Goose (sighting only)

The cold weather has kept me from making many trips yet, I had decided I could see/find most birds at anytime this month but on better days!

  

Photos from Mains of Dun, Wigeon Hide, Lurgies and Keptie Pond. Other sightings include the Snow Goose, (by the roadside at the top of Rossie Brae, Montrose) Twite, Jack Snipe, Snipe, Redwing, Meadow Pipit and Skylark.

I'm trying a slightly altered template to save time, it may take a few posts before I settle on one. Past posts should remain unchanged (?)

Female Mandarin at Keptie Pond in Arbroath. I think the drake was present but hidden on the island

This photo gives an idea of size when compared with Mallards and Black-headed Gulls

The Pintail/Mallard hybrid only appeared as I was leaving and had probably been skulking on the island

Just a single Fieldfare on the Wigeon Hide track at Montrose Basin

One of around 40 Curlews in front of the Wigeon Hide

Two of nine Grey Partridges flew from the trackside 

I thought this male Sparrowhawk had gone, and may have moved since this photo, as a female has been chasing the Feral Pigeons. Olive had Herring Gulls disputing food on her roof, thought to be a pigeon stolen from the female!

Two Whooper Swans on Miss Erskine's Bank, but too far away on one of the very cold days

Very few Little Grebes seen at the Lurgies

Curlew

Dunlin

Dunlin

Lapwing

Buzzard

Goldeneyes, male and female

Greylag Geese at the Lurgies

A Stock Dove photographed into a snow laden sky

Winter Moth and Montrose Basin Wildfowl

Photos from a windy day visit to Montrose Basin, followed by Keptie Pond, Ethie, Victoria Park, Arbroath Harbour, my garden, and a moth in my kitchen....

BTO 2024 Successes, click here for their video

A Winter Moth that Olive welcomed into my house

Goldeneye female at the Lurgies, Montrose Basin

Red-breasted Merganser

Goldeneye male

Grey Seal

Dunlin

Lapwing

1st winter Common Gull

Teal drakes, almost at my feet!

Little Egret

Greenshank

Black-headed Gulls squabbling at Keptie Pond, Arbroath

Coot

Wigeon drake still in moult

Tufted Duck drake

Grey Heron roosting on the remains of this years nest

Herring Gull at Victoria Park, Arbroath

Black-headed Gull

Great black-backed Gull Arbroath Harbour

Purple Sandpiper, one of 55

The Sparrowhawk has returned, and the only bird in my garden today

Wren at Ethie mains, near Arbroath

Pheasant shoot at Ethie

One man and his dog, and shotgun

Foxes, Pochard, Whooper Swan - videos

Videos from the last few days, filmed on various cameras, one very close to the subject, the Sparrowhawk, others further away on a Nikon Coolpix P1000. 

I think I have two foxes coming to my garden, the face markings appear different, probably my frequently seen Vixen, and a dog Fox not seen so often.

I wonder if the Whooper Swan has avian flu, its head and neck movements look similar to those of Pink-footed Geese which had the disease.

Sparrowhawk filmed on a trail camera, click here to view      Pochard drake at Monikie Country Park      Whooper Swan, the Lurgies, Montrose Basin      The frequent visiting Fox, a Vixen      Query a dog Fox, not a frequent visitor 

Historical photos seen elsewhere.

Hunting at the Lurgies a few years ago

Fox cubs at the entrance to their den in a gorse bush at St Cyrus