2015 Year Review

A look back at some of my photos throughout 2015, some rarities, some even photos taken with some skill, or was it all the kit I bought! All are photos chosen because I like them and are displayed in the order taken over the year with some months having more entries than others.

I couldn't decide on video favourites so have included links to ones which were popular on my YouTube pages. Please click the links below for clips in High Definition. The Swans are from 2014.

Mute Swans fighting over ownership of Keptie Pond, Arbroath

Harlequin Drake, Seaton Park, Aberdeen

Black Stork juvenile, Loch of Strathbeg

Harlequin Drake on the River Don in Seaton Park, Aberdeen

Kingfisher at Monikie Country Park, Angus

Red Squirrel, Montreathmont Forest, Angus

Kestrel near Monikie Country Park

Scaup drake on the Island Pond, Monikie Country Park

Snow Bunting on the beach at Largo Bay, Fife

Bewicks Swan, Newburgh, Fife

Marsh Harrier, Kinnordy Loch, Kirriemuir

King Eider drake at Newburgh, Aberdeenshire

Stoat at the Lurgies, Montrose Basin

Goshawk, Glenesk

Red-necked Phalarope, Elliot, Arbroath

Garganey pair at Murton Nature Reserve, Forfar

Swift, and they are very, at Keptie Pond, Arbroath

Dipper chick on the Brothock Burn, Angus

Stoat, one of four playing in the puddles at Elliot Golf Course, Arbroath

Stonechat, Easthaven, Angus

Bottle-nosed Dolphins at Fishtown of Usan, near Montrose

Swallow on the Brothock Burn at Arbroath Harbour

A returning Sanderling at Montrose Beach

A Knot also returning from breeding, at Montrose Beach

Great Skua flying past Fishtown of Usan

Black Stork juvenile at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg

Bank Vole in Montreathmont Forest

Pied Flycatcher on a foggy day at Mains of Usan, Montrose

Ruff in a stubble field corner near Brechin

Pale-bellied Brent Goose on the beach at the Craigmill Burn outflow, near Carnoustie

Goldcrest, Carnoustie Golf Links

Little Egret, the Lurgies, Montrose Basin

Grey Partridges near Mains of Usan, Montrose

Black Cock in an Angus Glen

Great White Egret at Kinnordy Loch

Otter swimming in front of the viewing platform at Forfar Loch

Short-eared Owl captured from the car at Elliot, Arbroath

Arctic Skua at Kinnaber Links, Montrose

Crossbill female in Montreathmont

Waxwings and a male Sparrowhawk

There were three Waxwings preening in a tree opposite Guthrie Brothers Garage in Montrose, just next to the roundabout at the east end of Newhame Road. There looked to be enough berries for them to stay at least one more day on 29/12/2015.

The Sparrowhawk flew in to my apple tree twice in an hour on one of the dull days this week but never got any of the feeding Greenfinches or Tree Sparrows, too many eyes watching I think.


Waxwing video from Montrose, click here

Waxwing

Same Waxwing

Male Sparrowhawk

Monikie and some from one of my NEWS surveys

Olive wanted to go for a walk so Monikie seemed suitable, after all it has a drake Smew, Pochard, Kingfisher and others. First thing in the morning I'd done one of my short Non Estuarine Wetland Survey sectors at Inchcape, Arbroath at low tide, a section which is effectively the west breakwater. I repeated the survey again at high tide when there actually were birds around! (virtually none at low tide)

Smew drake video, click here,

Pochards at Monikie video, click here,

Pochard, female left followed by a drake right

Grey Heron, although it was in the shade it let me get quite close

Mistle Thrush

Rock Pipit

Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath

Sunrise at around 0845

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Latest but maybe not last attempt at a good Smew photo!

The sun shone for a while today but the Smew was still sticking to the middle of the North Pond or least-ways away from people around the edges.

Monikie Smew Drake in a bit of sunlight, click here

 

Flying in after being disturbed, still in the centre of the pond as the blurry photo maybe shows

Not as white as you'd think

If you stand still at Monikie one of these will come in.

Also at Monikie.

Sanderling at Elliot, no Short-eared Owls showing though, it was windy but the greenkeepers haven't seen one since last week.