Tuesday, 5 May 2026

Common Terns, Montrose Basin

   
I wondered how a count of the nesting Common Terns could be done as they can't be seen through the protected sides of the raft, and then I found out when they were flushed by people on various craft! From a few photos I counted 73 Terns in flight, they returned quickly once the people realised their mistake.

Elsewhere around the Basin, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, a Wood Sandpiper, Red Kite and still a flock of Pink-footed Geese.




Pale-bellied Brent Goose, seen distantly through the heat haze with a flock of Pink-footed Geese


Black-tailed Godwits


Canada Geese, a different group, the previous one had one with a white head



Gadwall, still a few pairs at the Lurgies



Grey Heron in the Lurgies Burn



Eider pair



Shelduck



Common Terns which were flushed from the Tern Raft by a group of kayaks, boards and an inflatable dinghy. Maybe a "keep your distance sign" and some education required



Whimbrel near the SWT Centre



Stock Dove on the wires at the SWT


Seems to be too many Red Deer on low ground in Glen Prosen area


Willow Warbler



One of the Kinnordy Osprey visitors

Thursday, 30 April 2026

Sea Birds, Bees and Wasps!

A trip along the clifftop at Auchmithie, and more insect life in my garden. Friday looks to be the best day of the week, so I may go looking for Butterflies, namely Speckled Wood, Comma and Holly Blue, or it might be a Whimbrel, or Wood Sandpiper...
 
As per usual, I can't guarantee the identification of some of the insects in the photos, all taken with a Nikon D500 and a 500mm lens. I think I'm reaching the limits as I have to stand about 3 metres from the subjects which are moving non-stop.

The sea birds would be better if photographed from the beach looking up, but that's not where they nest. The Whitethroat photo was into the sun and when I walked back both of them had disappeared.


Common Whitethroat



Yellowhammer male at Castlesea Gulley


Razorbills displaying

Mating

Metaphorically having a cigarette


Fulmars quarreling


Shag


Kittiwakes


Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris Queen


Migrant Hoverfly


Orange-tailed Mining Bee 


Red Mason Bee


Common Banded Hoverfly Syrphus ribesii


Gooden's Nomad Bee


Seven-spot Ladybird


Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly


Spring Epistrophe is the common name, Epistrophe eligans (Latin)


Tree Wasp


Buffish Mining Bee


Early Bumblebee


German Wasp Queen


Tree Bumblebee worker (female)

Saturday, 25 April 2026

Secret Garden - Mine

Despite a cool breeze and temperature of only 10 degrees centigrade, I was able to see an Orange Tip, Holly Blue and Small White butterflies in my garden on Friday. I didn't have a camera for the Orange Tip and stalking it with a phone just flushed it! 


Only the second Holly Blue Butterfly I've seen in my garden, I'll be better prepared for a good photo for third one


Small White Butterfly


Common Carder Bee


Greenfinch male


Blue Tit


Coal Tit


Tree Sparrow


Rook


Chaffinch male


A squadron of these Feral Pigeons visit my street, I'd rather have Collared Doves 

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