Pectoral Sandpiper, Forfar Loch

A rare passage bird, a Pectoral Sandpiper has spent a few days at Forfar Loch. The RSPB have this information about it. "They're scarce passage migrants from America and Siberia. A few are seen in spring, but the vast majority appear in late summer and autumn. Young Pectoral Sandpipers from the eastern coast of North America can be blown over the Atlantic by areas of low pressure. It is the most common North American wading bird to occur here and has even started to breed in Scotland very recently."

Pectoral Sandpiper Video, click here

St Cyrus - Wheatear and Whinchat. Montrose Beach, Red-throated Diver

There were 5 Wheatears passing through at St Cyrus and 2 Whinchats along with Pale bellied Brent Geese, Canada Geese, Common Scoter and Goosanders at sea.

Wheatear on the post and Whinchat on the wire

Red-throated Diver at Montrose beach

Ducks and Geese at Balgavies and Montrose Basin

On 18/9/2013 Pink-footed Geese numbers were building up at Montrose Basin and I estimated 4,000 were present with more coming in throughout the day.

A Barnacle Goose amongst the Pink-footed Geese

A Goldeneye at Balgavies in eclipse plumage

Pin-footed Geese moving as the tide came in

I'm sure these are both male Pintail in eclipse plumage, I've been wrong before!

House Sparrow shortage, not at Fishtown of Usan

This one bush has 51 House Sparrows in it and other bushes around probably had another 100!