Kingfisher and Snipe, Montrose Basin

One of two Kingfishers on the small burn at the Lurgies and a Snipe sunning itself at the small scrape upstream from the Slunks on the south bank of the river. Note the first Snipe photo only shows half of its beak, the second is to show the full length.

Murton, Dragonflies at last!

It just proves that taking lots of photos can pay off, today thinking I was taking one of a Common Darter female it turned out to be a Black Darter female which I've never seen at Murton before.

From the top, Black Darter female, Common Darters mating, Common Darter female, Common Darter male eating a fly and finally a Ruff which has been present for more than a week.

Click on the photos to see larger view

ADBC joint outing to Barry Buddon Camp

A few of the species seen on a warm but very windy trip to Barry Buddon, the first time I've been if I don't count being escorted off as a youngster by a Soldier with a rifle! Most photos taken at distance.

Click on photos for larger view.

Emerald Damselfly.

A Bar-tailed Godwit with three Oystercatchers

Cuckoo with a grub

An adult (right) and juvenile Dunlin

Golden Plover

Little Grebe and chick

Ringed Plover and Turnstones with a single juvenile Dunlin

Murton Insect Life

Very happy with this Common Darter Dragonfly photo at Murton. Other Murton beasties below that.

Click on photos to view larger sizes but not originals.

Common Blue Damselfly

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Small Copper Butterfly

Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Yet to be identified Wasp

Also to be identified despite a long search

Ringed Black-headed Gull, Gayfield Arbroath

I'll report this Gull and find out where and when it was ringed etc.

Ruff, Snipe, Teal and Turnstone

The Ruff, Snipe and Teal were at Murton near Forfar and the Turnstone at Inchcape Park Arbroath.

Teal

Turnstone

Little Egret, Montrose Basin

I knew this bird had been seen at Montrose Basin recently but had assumed it would have moved on so it was a welcome surprise to see it at the Slunks

Shelduck hide area Montrose Basin. Whimbrel and an aquatic Roe Buck

I've been trying to get a photo of this for some time now, a Whimbrel. This one was at Miss Erskine's Bank some distance away but a series of photos confirmed my ID. The photos were taken on 7/8/2013.

Click on the photos for a larger view/clickable slideshow.

Balgavies Loch

One of this years young Ospreys

Another youngster this time a Sedge Warbler hiding in the undergrowth

A late nesting Swallow

Bumblebees and a Six Spot Burnet Moth

I think this is a Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Red-tailed Bumblebee with either a new or female Six Spot Burnet Moth below

Various unnamed Hoverflies, I'll research them in the winter!

All of these at Montreathmont Forest on an intermittent Sunny day

Butterflies

Peacock, Small Copper and a Common Blue female.

Peacock Butterfly at Montreathmont Forest

Small Copper Butterfly at Boddin Point

Common Blue Butterfly female, newly emerged I think and yet to get full colour and markings also at Montreathmont Forest

Unusual Sighting at Boddin Point, Lunan Bay

I wasn't sure at the time what this bird was and because it wasn't in the habitat I'd seen one before I got it wrong at first. I've tarted up the photo a bit but you can see a Red Kite which was gliding along the edge of the cliffs at Boddin being harried by a Great Black-backed Gull which it was ignoring.

Sandwich Terns, noisy visitors everywhere on the coast it seems just now

This adult Sandwich Tern was being pestered to get lunch and returned with what appears to be a Sprat. The adult later appeared to be trying to get the juvenile to follow it on a fishing trip to no avail. Seen from the new slipway at Inchcape Park.

Click on photos for bigger view.

Arbroath Beach near Inchcape Park

A couple of photos of Waders whose numbers are beginning to increase along the coastline, also seen were Curlew, Turnstone and Common Sandpipers.

Oystercatcher and below a Redshank

Spotted Flycatchers, fledged juveniles

It was difficult to tell how many young Flycatchers were fledged but certainly three and possibly four, they have scattered a bit but still in the area of the nest.