East Haven Webs Survey for May

   
Webs again (Wetland Bird Survey BTO) where birds using the beach at East Haven and inshore waters off the coast are recorded, not all birds seen on the beach such as Greenfinches and House Sparrows they are not recorded. Some species appear on my lists that were included before the system changed some years ago.

Note, at some point I accidentally switched from Auto focus to Manual and I had to delete what would/could have been good photos. I'm not saying "I'll never do that again" I'm getting old and my mind wanders....

Goldeneye female near its nest on Loch Garten

Yellow Wagtail near East Haven, the only photo I managed of the male of a pair seen due to my incompetence. The bird was near enough the focus point by chance, not skill

Tree Sparrow, the photo taken before I nudged the Auto/Manual which led to many photos being out of clear focus. It was on the wires at the car park

Meadow Pipit with Craneflies

The Swallows were collecting mud from a field to build their nest

House Sparrow, many of them are seen in the brambles that grow along the railway line in the village

Redpoll, from Loch Garten. This was an orphan photo while visiting Kingussie

The wind was keeping the butterflies in sheltered areas, including this Small White

Sandwich Terns announced their arrival with their distinctive calls, around 17 were there with a few Common Terns

Grey Heron, this photo confirms they are just a bag of bones and feathers

19 Ringed Plover, as expected when they were flushed by walkers they continued their northward migration flight, 4 Dunlin remained along with 3 Turnstones. I could hear a single Whimbrel calling but couldn't find it as it flew away with the Curlews

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.

Black-tailed Godwits summer plumage      Shelducks "courting"      Pale-bellied Brent Goose, distant in heat haze

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

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)