Smew Redhead at Kinnordy Loch

A slightly better Smew video this time taken at Kinnordy from the East Hide on 26/10/2015. Apparently it left the far away bank and came closer after we left to get stuck in a ditch at Backwater Dam, thanks to the young woman with the Land Rover who pulled the car out.
Note, I'd pulled onto the verge to let a lorry past and the front nearside drive wheel sunk while at the same time the rear nearside also had found a wheel sized hole!

Smew at Kinnordy video, click here

Smew Redhead, East Hide Kinnordy

Golden Plover Kinnordy

Peregrine juvenile, Kinnordy

The Great Escape, Balgavies

Smew, Redhead at Balgavies

No photo of the Smew at Balgavies on Saturday 24/10/2015 but I'll try again for one and a better video than the one at the link below if it stays around.

Smew video, click here

Weekly round up, Sun, Sea and a slightly weird Blackbird

Photos from Easthaven where I do my Webs, my garden, Victoria Park in Arbroath, elsewhere in Arbroath, Monikie and Carnoustie where I found a pair of Grey Partridges next to the high school.

Bar-tailed Godwit video, click here

Bar-tailed Godwits, two of thirteen seen while doing my Webs Count at Easthaven on Sunday, it was a grim day for photography and Olive had her gloves on!

A grey Blackbird currently visiting my garden, best seen when compared with a male and female also around.

There were 678 Golden Plover at Victoria Park Arbroath on Monday, counted on a set of stitched photos. Some shown here.

This Grey Wagtail flew out of the very small ditch at the roadside which flows along the north wall of the Cliffburn Hotel Arbroath.

It was a choice between this Mute Swan and a distant female Teal at Keptie Pond Arbroath this week.

Now from Monikie, one of the many Black-headed Gulls on the Island Pond.

A juvenile Coot preening near the anglers boathouse.

There were around 15 Little Grebes on the North Pond but I just couldn't get one to come close, I'm happy with this one though.

Also at Monikie, one of the many Mallards who have started courtship already.

I believe this behaviour and soaring in the wind in pairs must also be a courtship/bonding thing?

Curlew in the low and orange sunlight at Carnoustie Beach.

Calling as it went, you can see its tonsils, do birds have tonsils?

Another of the waders at Carnoustie, one of 11 Ringed Plovers.

One of two Rock Pipits which landed quite close, just shows "if you stand still" and "walk slowly". Yes I know you can't do both at the same time!

Turnstone in front of where the old paddling pool was at Carnoustie, which was where all of the sunset waders were.

Black Grouse, I like it when a plan turns out as intended

The first three from the Glens and the Buzzard and below all at St Cyrus. The Blackcock was one of 7 seen from the car with 4 more further away, the photos and video were affected by the car vibration but I couldn't risk turning it off in case they flew away.

Blackcock video, click here

Blackcock, in an Angus Glen

Red Grouse

Red Kite P8, Angus

A Buzzard being harried by around 12 Jackdaws, 11 cropped out

Common Scoters unusually close in, well at least for Scoters

Peregrine, Woodpigeon remains further along on a plucking stone

Female Stonechat

Male Stonechat

Snow Goose at last and the boys are back - Tree Sparrows

The Snow Goose was found by Gus near Montrose and photographed and filmed in dull conditions from a long way off. Also in poor light some action from the Grey Heron's at Keptie Pond, Arbroath and a Chiffchaff and Goldcrest from Lunan Bay. Finally, "the boys are back" refers to Tree Sparrows returning to my garden today from their summer holidays.

Blue phase Snow Goose

Tree Sparrow

Calling to a second bird

Just caught a small roach

I got too close

But it came back

Chiffchaff

A lot of these wee fellas around just now, a sign of a hard winter, or poor summer?

Snow Goose or is it No Goose

The search for the Snow Goose failed, perhaps it's with the 20,000 Pink-footed Geese on "Goose Road" nearby. I was lucky to see a Short-eared Owl being chased away by Crows at Mains of Usan and found "my own" Yellow-browed Warbler in Montrose but couldn't get photos of either birds. Most of the photos below were taken at distance other than the Grey Partridge which with 19 others sat motionless hoping I hadn't seen them.

Two Barnacle Geese with Pink-footed Geese near Usan Smiddy

The third Barnacle in the flock spooked by a car horn, why do that?

Two fishermen, little and large

Grey Partridge, I never usually get this close

Kestrel flying from wires at Mains of Usan

Kingfisher seen fishing on the Lunan, with a Stickleback in its beak

One of 40 or so Linnets at Mains of Usan

Red-breasted Merganser at the Lurgies, note the lower bill appears broken

Starlings, not counted but I'd say over 300 in the photo and more out of shot at Mains of Usan

The field a couple of days ago looked like the the area around the post, a lush green. Now the Pink-footed Geese have eaten virtually all of the winter cereal over most of the field except near the road and the posts.

Montrose Scaup and ringed Starling

A few photos from Montrose, two at the SWT Centre and two from the beach area where a collection of Starlings includes many locally ringed birds. The latest count of Pink-footed Geese was 57,000 and in amongst a group of 1500 I found 7-12 Barnacle Geese.

Very distant Barnacle Geesee video, click here

Scaup video, click here

Drake Scaup swimming past the SWT Centre

Collared Dove from the centre window

Starling

Starling yellow 12, I'm sure I've reported this one before

Grey Plover and Little Egret with flounder

Just the one Little Egret seen today at the Lurgies, Montrose Basin but a brace of Grey Plover were also around and a rarer sight at this end of the basin. Later but not by much two Common Cranes flew in but were seen flying south at 1900.

Grey Plover

Just lining up the flounder it had disturbed with its feet

Now with a flounder shaped bulge in its neck!