Terns, Waders and Wheatears, a day at the seaside

While the sun was out I thought I'd try and get photos of birds in flight and maybe find some Little Terns, none of them found but the Common Terns below and I saw some Arctic Terns when it was gloomy. The birds below the terns were all at Arbroath beaches and the Wheatears were a surprise find. Photo four shows what happens when someone throws a ball for their dog towards the terns.

Herring Gull

Ringed Plover

Turnstones

Wheatear

Mediterranean Gulls, I found another one!

A second Med Gull has turned up at West Links, Arbroath, or was it always there??
Also from Victoria Park, Arbroath one of five Ringed Plover disturbed by some dogs!

Photos taken from distance to avoid scaring the gulls which were just behind the paddling pool but they eventually couldn't put up with the tourists and flew away. I note a difference between the beaks and will see if the Collins has any info.

Summer visitors and returning Waders at Montrose Basin

Posted here in alphabetical order including a Little Egret and Whitethroat.

Two of a group of 15 Canada Geese which have been around a few weeks

Still many Common Sandpipers but more spread about now

Greenfinch

The Little Egret photographed from very far away, scared away by a kayaker

An unfortunate rabbit with myxomatosis at Tayock

Oystercatcher at Tayock

Redshank from Tayock Hide

I thought I wouldn't see a nesting Whitethroat where this one is after the bushes it had nested in last year were cut down

Glen Tilt and Killiecrankie

A short break in the Pitlochry area in the extreme heat turned up these, the birds were all hiding from the sun.

From the top, a Marmalade Fly, Scotch Argus Butterfly which was stalking me, Speckled Wood Butterfly , and an unidentified white moth?

Photos from the fog, Little and Mediterranean Gulls

A couple of photos of Little Gulls and a Mediterranean Gull on the beach behind the old night club at Arbroath seafront. Shortly after these were taken I couldn't see anything for the haar that came in. The preening gull in the first photo is a Black-headed Gull, the other two are Little Gulls.

Gannets at Scurdie Ness Lighthouse

There were up to 100 Gannets near Scurdie Ness at one point near high tide but less when I got there. I would have liked more light but am happy with these. The other birds are from the same area or nearby.

Juvenile Common Tern

A very sleepy Dunlin

A Kittiwake with its tea

Oystercatcher

Green and Wood Sandpipers, Murton NR

Two Wood Sandpipers were reported at Murton on Sunday although I only found one, the other having moved but a Green Sandpiper was a better find. The Ring-necked Drake is also still there and numbers of Lapwings, maybe 220 plus. The Green was helpful and stood in front of a white stone but the Wood being a brown bird on a brown background meant only a record photo.

Green Sandpiper and below it a Wood Sandpiper.

Brake testing and birds!

It seemed appropriate to test my new front discs by taking a short spin out to Craigmill Den but in mid to late afternoon it was a bit quiet, perhaps due to the number of people passing through (and screaming). The brakes worked though and cured the wheel wobble I'd felt when braking.

The Buzzard below flew away from the field at the bottom end and the Dipper is the first I've seen in the Den for ages, it looks to be a juvenile.

Lunan Bay and Boddin, low tide and bright sun

Many Six Spot Burnet Moths around just now and the sun brought out the butterflies. Below these an unknown jellyfish, Sandwich Terns and House Martins nesting on the cliffs.

Common Blue Butterfly male

Meadow Brown Butterfly

Not sure what species this jellyfish is?

Sandwich Terns, adult and juvenile

House Martins

Four-banded Longhorn Beetle, Leptura quadrifasciata at Kinnaber

It took a day to ID this which is one of the more colourful beetles around on the sand dunes at Kinnaber.

Four-banded Longhorn Beetle, Leptura quadrifasciata at Kinnaber

Montrose to Kinnaber beach walk, low tide

First a Knot returned from its breeding grounds, one of two around and below an adult and juvenile Sanderling. Some of the photos below these are taken at distance, the low tide meaning birds were far from the tide line or were unapproachable on the tide line. Some videos of these are on the side-bar.

Great Northern Diver 300 metres offshore

Adult and juvenile Sandwich Terns

Six Spot Burnet Moths

Small Heath Butterfly

The Waders start to return...........

Some returning waders and summer visitors. The first is a Mediterranean Gull similar to our Black-headed Gull and usually hangs around with them. This bird may be the same one which spent a few months at Arbroath beaches in 2013.

Bar-tailed Godwits, Balmossie, Monifieth

Common Sandpiper, Montrose Basin

Gannet, Scurdie Ness Lighthouse

Goosander female in eclipse, Lurgies, Montrose Basin

Stonechat juvenile, Scurdie Ness

Whooper Swan, Montrose Basin. Left behind when migration took place, should be in Iceland now