Monday 30 November 2015

Glenesk, Glen Mark and Lochlee

Hardy little birds these Dippers, this one on the River Mark on a day after some light snow cover. Also seen in Glen Mark were two Woodcocks, one in trees as expected but the other flew from the snow covered heather. The Kites may be a pair and I think one is the same bird I've photographed before. Other birds seen were Black Grouse, Kestrel, Bullfinches, Buzzards and Mistle Thrush.


Dipper on the River Mark near to Queens Well


Glen Mark


Mount Keen


Looks to be the same Red Kite I've seen before in Glenesk


With a friend or mate?


One of eight Long-tailed Tits at Invermark


In Invermark car park


Thursday 26 November 2015

Snow Bunting at Out Head, Eden Estuary, Fife

Just the single bird (of any species) on the beach today at Out Head and a wee bit timid for a Snow Bunting.

Snow Bunting video, click here


Snow Bunting





Isle of May from Anstruther

Wednesday 25 November 2015

This weeks videos............so far

Four video clips at the links below which I've eventually got round to sorting out and a couple of stills which i believe are both from the Canon SX60. The Owl videos are getting better but still no really good one.

Short-eared Owl, Kinnaber

Red-throated Diver, Lunan Bay

Grey Plover, Kinnaber

Odd Pink-footed Goose, Usan


Grey Plover, Knot and a Dunlin at Kinnaber


A Grey Heron on what looks like a nest at Keptie Pond, in November!


Tuesday 24 November 2015

Kinnaber Links and North Esk Estuary

A surprise Arctic Skua and another Short-eared Owl, this time at Kinnaber where the habitat suits them. On the beach were Grey Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, and Knot. At sea, Mergansers, Wigeon and Red-throated Divers with some Whooper Swans and Goosanders on the river.


Arctic Skua, Kinnaber


Arctic Skua, North Esk estuary


Sanderling, Kinnaber


Sanderling


Short-eared owl, Kinnaber


Short-eared Owl, near the bothies at Kinnaber


Saturday 21 November 2015

Short-eared owls, they keep on giving...........

A very busy Elliot today with visitors and photographers from further afield chasing the five Short-eared Owls around the golf course and dunes. My plan and it worked was to sit still in my car and let the owls come to me, and they did. At one point one was about to land on my roof-rack when at the last moment it must have seen me and changed it's mind, banking just in front of the windscreen. I did see some interaction between two birds and for the first time one of the so-called "young ones" which surely must be a runt as it's noticeably smaller than the others?










Views, with the intention of inspiring Lorna and Lauren

I'm trying out this new layout and posting some views for two acclaimed artists I know in the hope they'll go out and better my efforts. Taken with various cameras when I was but a lad!


Probably taken with a fast shutter to emphasise the colours


At Boysack Mill


Forfar Loch, camera at foot level


Arbroath harbour, taken on a very old camera, again from feet level


Elliot lagoon


The Foghorn, Arbroath


Glen Lethnot


Carnoustie Beach


West links, Arbroath


Shelduck Hide, Montrose Basin


The Slunks, Montrose Basin






Friday 20 November 2015

Sunshine on a Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl sitting on a post at the green-keepers sheds at Elliot Golf Course. Photo taken from the car as I drove along the track.

Change of layout, comments please if it doesn't work on your device.
Photos now posted cropped to 1200 pixels but should display larger in the blog. Blogspot shrinks full size photos whatever I do.





Wednesday 18 November 2015

Short-eared Owls still at Elliot

Only 30 minutes today when it didn't rain in Arbroath, fortunately just when the Short-eared Owls were hunting. I have another photo of two together just over the 18th green, good views from the 19th hole I'd guess!

Multiple Snipe at Kinnordy video, click here


Just in case there was any doubt about where the Owls are..........


I was spotted but it didn't fly off


On the 18th fairway





Kinnordy, Lintrathen, Lurgies and back to Elliot

The weather is changing and the water levels on the lochs are rising and the time for winter wildfowl has arrived. The Snipe at Kinnordy remain in large numbers but it can't be long till they move towards the coast.

Snipe at Kinnordy, click here

Shoveler drake, click here,


A Shoveler drake which came in very close to the Gullery Hide at Kinnordy when I was the only fool still there in the gloom and cold.


Some of the 220 Snipe even ventured closer.


High ISO but modern cameras seem to handle that well.


One of only three Whoopers around.


A Goldeneye from the elevated hide at Lintrathen.


This Little Grebe was so close sometimes I couldn't get a photo through the grasses below the hide.


One of around twelve Fieldfares up the Lurgies path.


This is surely the largest salmon I've ever seen a seal with, just before I clicked it submerged slightly hiding the full length of the fish.


One more of a Short-eared Owl at Elliot where it's been reported that one of the Owls has killed a Kestrel!


Not just Owls at Elliot, there are at least four Stonechats and some Reed Buntings. There will also be some Snipe but I'm leaving them in peace.




Monday 16 November 2015

Short-eared Owl again but in sunlight, hooray!

Still two Short-eared Owls around at Elliot near Arbroath, dog walkers say there were four. Photos from 0830 to 0915 in low sun on Monday 16/11/2015.

Still not a good video, here














Search Blog

Blog archive