The waders are returning, well a few so far at Montrose Basin and area

Struggling with too much light on some of these today at Scurdie Ness and the Lurgies, Montrose

Green Sandpiper, Lurgies, photo from a distance then it was scared away

Greenshank, Lurgies

Purple Sandpiper (juvenile?), Scurdie Ness

The Sandwich Tern is being hunted for its fish by this juvenile Black-headed Gull

Sandwich Tern

Velvet Scoter heading south to Lunan Bay

Canada Geese, Lurgies

Last Gannet photo for a while!

Dolphins to Swallows via Terns and Kittiwakes

Just sit on the rocks at Fishtown of Usan and wait until something flies close enough for a photo, it seemed simple but the weather again was overcast with some drizzle. I'd also been challenged to get a photo of a Swallow flying over the Brothock Burn at Arbroath Harbour which I'd thought impossible unless it was sunny.

Swallow near the "blue toilets"

A different Swallow

Pied Wagtail juvenile

Pied Wagtail

Dolphin at Usan, maybe 20 in three groups

Adult but at least two young ones seen

Kittiwake, Usan also many young ones around

Sandwich Tern, Usan

Cormorant, Usan

Rock Pipit, Usan

Jackdaw at West Links, Arbroath (while I was looking for the Med Gull)

Arctic Skua and Gannets at Lunan Bay

While on a picnic with grandkids at Lunan Bay on 24/7/2015 this Arctic Skua flew in from the south, briefly approached the roosting gulls and terns before they chased it off. The Gannets were feeding successfully offshore at low tide but I'm hopeful of finding some nearer the beach elsewhere for some close action.

Arctic Skua, 2nd summer

Arctic Skua, 2nd summer

Original photo before crop from around 400 metres away

Gannet, 200 metres out to sea

One of around 12 fishing in the bay

Spotted Flycatchers at Invermark

There appeared to be at least 5 adult flycatchers and perhaps 2 juveniles although they were much less visible and more were probably waiting to be fed in the area near the car park at Invermark. The strong winds meant sightings of other birds in the area of Lochlee were limited to 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Wheatear juveniles and 10 Mistle Thrushes in a flock.

Photos taken in very harsh light looking into the shade.

Juvenile

Some "nice" gulls for Claire and Ellis!

Some of the"nicer" gull species which don't terrorise Aberdeenshire housewives, I've never seen any of these raking in bins or chasing small boys, and never spoiling washing!!

Kittiwakes first then a mixture.

Black-headed Gull juvenile

Common Terns on a salmon net, yes we still kill wild salmon, bizarre!

Gannet

Guillemot with fish

Fulmar

Eider drake

Eider duck

House Sparrow juvenile

One day of summer, hope it's not the last

At last a warmer brighter day, just couldn't find much and the Great Crested Grebes nesting in front of the Leisure Centre in Forfar have lost their nests, all five of them due to the loch rising after the rain.

Carrion Crow, Forfar Loch

Goldfinch, Forfar Loch

Knot, amongst the gulls and terns at Arbroath

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Arbroath

again....

Common Tern and a 1st Summer Guillemot from Montrose

Not much new about just now but I found this Guillemot interesting and had to check the books. Still looking for a good Arctic Tern photo but need both Terns and light together.

Seen off Scurdie Ness

also at Scurdie Ness

missed the entry

Photos from my volunteering weekend

A busy weekend with two Webs counts (Wetland Bird Surveys) and the last day of my hide rota and I fitted in a short trip to Victoria Park, Arbroath and Auchmithie.
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Little Gulls at Easthaven, click here

Little Gulls, Easthaven

Knot, Easthaven

Mediterranean Gull to Black-headed Gull comparison

Mediterranean Gull, Arbroath

Curlew, Arbroath

Sandwich Tern, Arbroath

Whimbrel, Curlew and Redshank, Victoria Park, Arbroath

Female Corn Bunting, Auchmithie area

Common Blue Butterfly, Murton

Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper, in the gloom

Red Squirrel, Murton

Siskin, Montreathmont

Yellowhammer, Montreathmont