Arbroath Beach and area

A trip by bike due to car issues and I was pleased to find late Dunlin passing through in breeding colours and to avoid scaring them I took photos from the sea wall, then watched a dog walker breeze by the birds less than 10 metres away without them fleeing. Also here and in order, Dunlin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, a Little Gull and a Whitethroat at Elliot.

Turtle Dove and Garganey Drake

While waiting for an Osprey to turn up and fish at Montrose Basin I spotted a Garganey Drake sleeping with a group of four Teal and to top that on the way home at Usan a Turtle Dove was feeding in the car parking area.

Red-breasted Merganser displaying and calling at Montrose Basin

Whitethroat, Greenfinch and a Wren at Tayock

Forfar Loch, Glenogil and Glen Lethnot

A fleeting visit to Forfar Loch, a walk around Glenogil Estate and a drive through at Glen Lethnot.

Bullfinch male, Forfar Loch

Sedge Warbler, Forfar Loch

Common Sandpipers, Glenogil.

Orange Tip Butterfly on a Bugle (common name) or Ajuga Reptans, Glenogil.

Stoat, Weasel or Mink trap?

Olive says aaahh!

Where's my Mum?

Found her, a Red Grouse and one of around ten chicks following in the long grass.

Grey Plover, Whimbrel and Wheatear

I missed the high tide today at the Wigeon Hide, Montrose Basin and suffered the consequences as these birds below were too far out for decent photos. I'm posting anyway as we don't normally see Grey Plovers in breeding plumage.

From the top, Grey Plover, Whimbrel and Wheatear. Photos at 100 times zoom!!

Isle of May NNR 25/5/2014

A short trip to the Isle of May National Nature Reserve this year due to the tides and a bumpy trip out into a north-easterly but a comfortable return. In a bit of a rush to get around the island I managed these below. My favourite is the Spotted Flycatcher which will be a passing migrant on its way to breed, hopefully somewhere in Angus.

Click the first photo for slideshow.

Spotted Flycatcher

A sad looking Puffin

More Puffins

Gone fishing

Arctic Tern, I wonder if it was this one that drew blood when I was pecked on my head as I walked down the path!

Arctic Tern with a very small sand eel

Guillemots, the nearest is a "bridled variant" which refers to the white spectacle and 10% of Isle of May guillemots are thought to be this variant

Many, many Guillemots

Kittiwakes

Lesser Black-backed Gull

A Razorbill

Making new Razorbills

Virtually all of the Shags on the island are ringed

Rock Pipit with food for its young

One of the Isle of May cliffs

The Harbour at the visitor centre and the May Princess

European Spoonbill, a lifetime first sighting for me, and Olive

This Spoonbill which may be the same one seen last week at Montrose Basin was roosting then displaying at Miss Erskines Bank just after high tide. The Little Ringed Plover was a surprise find elsewhere and Olive asked for the Red Squirrel photo.

Common Terns

Some of 52 Common Terns I counted on the shingle near Annat Bank at the mouth of the South Esk, Montrose. Upstream on the river at the Lurgies two Greenshanks were feeding, I'm not sure if they are a pair breeding or still passing through.

A few photos from the Arbroath area. Also around on the coast and found when doing a survey, 66 Ringed Plover, Curlews and Turnstones still migrating. Reported on 18/5/2014 a Spoonbill at Montrose Basin.

 A female Siskin stocking up on Niger seed in a local forest. Also heard in the same area a Cuckoo calling.

The field this Skylark was in had been grazing and it's possible it's first nest has been destroyed by ploughing.

I had better photos of this Willow Warbler but this one shows an unfortunate Hoverfly in its beak.

Spot the Moth, as yet of unknown species.