Long-billed Dowitcher - Christmas Eve

It's likely that I won't get a decent photo of the Dowitcher in the near future if it continues its pattern of behaviour, the tide level it prefers will be in darkness. The photos below was taken near 1500 hrs, and the video in similar conditions two days earlier. Viewing through mature trees means, often it walks behind the many branches, the dark marks!

Long-billed Dowitcher, Rossie Spit, Montrose Basin

Long-billed Dowitcher, viewed from the roadside footpath, just west of the garden centre on the A92. (56.699116806892235, -2.4836965265054145)

Size comparison with a Godwit

Long-billed Dowitcher, Brambling, Purple Sandpiper and an old Dipper!

   
The previously seen Dowitcher has remained on Montrose Basin (re-found by Dan) this week on Rossie Spit in amongst the Redshank flock. The two of photos below were taken from the roadside when it was on its own, and could be seen through the small gaps in the trees.

Elsewhere I persevered at the Kinnordy feeders and it paid off when a single Brambling appeared, albeit mostly hidden by scrub and in a dark place. A Purple Sandpiper and an often seen Dipper in Arbroath were other highlights. 

Mostly everything else was seen when I was waiting for my car to be fixed or driving around later with the heater at full tilt to dry the areas where water had entered the boot. So far there's no sign of any new leak and the carpets are remaining dry.....

Long-billed Dowitcher (1st winter), seen from the roadside footpath overlooking Rossie Spit, Montrose Basin

Brambling under the feeders at Loch of Kinnordy where the light is very poor, the ground feeding birds are difficult to see due to tree debris

The only Purple Sandpiper at Arbroath Harbour today, 19/12/2025. The other 50 or so must have found a sheltered roost, perhaps somewhere unreachable where lobster creels block the access

This female Dipper was first ringed by Ken Slater on 19/3/2020, originally breeding attempts failed due to predation. I first photographed it in 2021 and have seen it most years, this photo was at the lower bridge at Arbroath Bus Station where the Brothock Burn flows under the inner ring road, A92. Typical life expectancy of bird reaching breeding age 3 years with breeding typically at 1 year. Maximum age from a ringed bird 8 years, 9 months, 6 days (set in 2017)

This Eider is either tame, injured or both. Here casually leaving the beach at Inchcape Park 

Cormorant

Sanderling, also at Inchcape, not common due to disturbance

Feral Pigeon coming in to land on the Signal Tower

Great black-backed Gull, behind the Old Brewhouse

I managed to get a few angles of this Herring Gull's right leg which has a metal ring GF27637, I hope there isn't another number that I couldn't see

A first winter Herring Gull at Victoria Park

Oystercatcher, also at the park/beach

The camera can lie! Pied Wagtail, note the low sun makes the highlighted back look like a different colour, and the shaded part a deeper grey than it looked to the eye

One of about 22 Rock Pipits at Victoria Park, they often are seen feeding on the road and pavements, as well as the strand line on the beach

Only a male Stonechat seen at the ramp at Whiting Ness, probably a female nearby

A Magpie calling in Linton Road (Arbroath), a group of 7 were debating loudly over territory

The long staying Great Egret on the salt pans at the SWT Centre, Montrose Basin

Also a Little Egret

A Treecreeper at Monikie recently

Song Thrush at the Lurgies

Woodpigeon, Monikie

Dunnock

Blue Tit, Montreathmont

and finally a Coal Tit

East Haven Webs Survey - December 2025

   
Mostly birds from my Webs (Wetland Bird Survey) seen on Saturday when I thought it was a bit dull and gloomy, but perhaps better than it would be on the preferred date on Sunday. That has been proved to be true and I've had lights on for most of today at home.

Little Gull at East Haven, it was catching flies blown upwards over the dune edge with another bird 

A bit stormy on Saturday when I did my Webs and most of the waders had congregated on the thin band of sand before the spring tide covered it. The Sanderlings weren't phased by the conditions

There were 98 Sanderlings and 2 Dunlin in this photo

Sanderlings and Dunlin just before they were flushed by a dog running freely on the beach

Bar-tailed Godwit

Turnstone

Not a common sight in winter at East Haven, four Meadow Pipits were feeding near the strand line in poor light

Rock Pipit

Male Stonechat, I haven't seen the female for some time

One of two Grey Herons present

This adult male Sparrowhawk was an infrequent visitor to my garden, the 1st winter male is seen most days but the wee birds appear to mock it from the bushes

A male Goosander on a dull afternoon at Keptie Pond in Arbroath

Black-headed Gull

Moorhen, a bit of colour on a winter day near dusk

Tufted Duck

A very short look in Arbroath Harbour on the same day as above didn't produce anything unusual other than two Cormorants. The sea was coming over the breakwater and I didn't want a soaking for the sake of another wader photo