Dipper in the Brothock Burn

 A short tour around local sites where I found the the regular territorial Dipper, and while sitting at Keptie Pond looking at an empty Heron nest site, the pair flew in together. More from Forfar Loch, Murton and Montreathmont

Dipper in the Brothock Burn      Dipper again      Lesser black-backed Gull, Danger Point      Female Siskin, Montreathmont      Male Siskin

Female Goldeneye on Forfar Loch

Male Goldeneye

Gadwall drake

One of four Lapwings returning to Murton

Siskin female in Montreathmont Forest

One of a pair of Grey Herons at Keptie Pond landing on their nest site, some courtship followed and nest building will follow, I hope

The long-staying hybrid Pintail/Mallard

Dunnock unusually seen in the open, some have begun their spring singing when they appear less cautious, often sitting in a small tree or bush

This Cormorant was fishing, another was reported dead

This Dipper on the Brothock Burn is at least 6 years old, I have records and photos showing the rings, left leg blue over yellow, right leg pale blue over metal

White-billed Diver at Broughty Ferry

  
On a second attempt to find the White-billed Diver at Broughty Ferry I decided to start at the Stannergate end and walk east to Broughty Harbour. On my previous visit I walked from Broughty Ferry Castle to Stannergate and back with too much kit and no sign of the diver.

Despite some pessimism, a flat sea and an ebbing tide, I picked out the diver a fair way out and directly south of Balmyle Road and Beech Lane. As Olive and I approached the diver obliged and came more inshore and on a few dives close enough to get photos into weak sunlight on "the Silvery Tay".

Yet another rarity to add to Olive's list which includes Black Stork, Glossy Ibis, Grey Phalarope and Ross's Goose....

I've posted a few photos as it will be a very long time if ever, before White-billed Divers to turn up inshore again, not in my lifetime!

Long-billed Dowitcher - with sun on its back!

   
The long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher has stayed faithful to the area behind the Bridge End Garage, "Mops Pool" and Rossie Spit. On Monday it was feeding as the tide rose and being pushed up the ditch as the mud was covered, until it flew with some Redshanks towards the shade off the roadside hill and trees. Not before I managed a few photos and three videos.

Dowitcher - 22 seconds        Dowitcher - 61 seconds        Dowitcher - 47 seconds

Long-billed Dowitcher