Arbroath Harbour Cormorant et al

   
A few photos from Arbroath Harbour in-between cloud, drizzle, rain and wind, but helped by the various birds who have become tolerant of the fishermen in the working harbour. It will be a long time before I get Cormorant photos as good as these.

Tagged on at the bottom of this post, an Eider and an arty photo of a Grey Seal with an unusual reflective photo.

Arbroath Harbour Webcam, various views as the camera circulates

A Cormorant was patrolling the harbour edge and seemed oblivious of me sitting amongst the creels, it came so close at one point that the camera started to lose focus

Two Little Grebes, an apparent pair were resting in a dark corner in-between short fishing sessions in the harbour

I can't plan photos like this one as the birds go where they like. Luckily the Little Grebe swam through the reflections of one of the colourful creel boats

This Grey Heron certainly liked AH35, it would fly off if the fishermen were working too close, but always returned

 

Just two Turnstones seen, although I didn't search all of the boats and harbour

Usually the first bird to spot danger and warn every other bird. This Redshank tolerated me as it fed on a boat only a few metres away as I stood behind a lamp-post

A lonely drake Eider at Victoria Park

This Grey Seal (with four eyes) was cruising near the Slunks on a slack neap tide

Waxwings belatedly, Monifieth

   
The first day of 2026 when I thought it worth going out with my camera, the forecast seemed acceptable, but wasn't when I got to Monifieth!

Montrose Port Authority webcam     

I eventually went to see the Waxwings in Monifieth, they were feeding in the bushes between the the Barry Buddon access road inland from the caravan site

This was one of only two photos where the sun lit up the plumage of these colourful visitors

Quite a bit of both ponds at Monikie were still frozen over, the ice free sections didn't have many species or numbers. Perhaps something will turn up, maybe even on Olive's hairdresser day in Carnoustie when my driving skills will be needed!

The Mute Swans and Mallards were taking the opportunity to bath and preen

This is a screen grab from Montrose Port Authority webcam, the camera is situated near the road bridge and looks seaward down the estuary and harbour. It looks like a section of ice surrounds the ship, more clips showed it slowly moving upstream. Or are they pumping out the bilges?

The Last Post - 2025

  
Going back in time from Wednesday 31/12/2025, with late afternoon photos of a pair of Stonechats at Auchmithie. I'd gone to see where any Corn Bunting strips were, the one behind the old school house didn't look to have anything the birds could eat, and only 12 Linnets were seen.

 

Previously on Tuesday I didn't find anything unusual at Tayock, the Lurgies or Rossie Spit, where I couldn't see the Dowitcher hidden in the Redshank roost. For the second time this week I saw Catkins already out and outwith the normal seasonal range.

Male Stonechat at Auchmithie

Female Stonechat, paired with the male above

The same male photographed in the low sunlight, the sun's altitude was only 2.3 degrees. Not sure what its got in its beak, I've seen Stonechats with them before?

Greenshank at Tayock

Goldfinch, Tayock

Redshank, Tayock Hide

Early Catkins, also Tayock, I believe they are Hazel given the time of year (January-March date range)

Little Egret feeding at the Lurgies, or was it Tayock...

Blue Tit pulling down on a berry with it's left foot

Shoveler drake photographed from the roadside at Rossie Spit