Marsh Harrier - Summer visitors arriving, winter ones almost gone

A visit to a few of the Angus Lochs and I was surprised to see not one but two male Marsh Harriers and a newly arrived Osprey fishing over Kinnordy Loch. Further inland near Lintrathen I found my first Wheatear of the year, acting on a tip from another birder. Also a few of the remaining duck species, the ever cute Long-tailed Tits and a drone flying over Murton NNR

Mucked up with the harrier after I'd turned the dial too far in the rush as it flew past!!

Marsh Harrier male, one of two seen at the same time

Hunting over the reeds

Osprey fishing at Kinnordy, ringed white LN and caught a small Pike just after this

Wheatear male near Lintrathen, first of the year for me

Teal drake at Kinnordy, only a few left

Long-tailed Tit near the car park at Murton

Wigeon drake at Murton

Drone pilot flying a drone at Murton NNR, but why hide in the far corner instead of using the car park?

Peregrines mating at St Cyrus, and a Glaucous Gull at Gourdon

I could have made a better job of these photos from St Cyrus had I bothered to take my tripod but being a lazy sod I didn't. The female is still encouraging the male to bond/mate and when ready she shuffles into a space and crouches which the male responds to.

I didn't stop to see the Iceland Gull just north of St Cyrus, instead I went on to Gourdon where a Glaucous Gull 1st winter bird is showing well and even came in for a look at one point, although it may have been more interested in the clam boat which had just berthed.


Glaucous Gull at Gourdon, preening on the harbour wall, click here for the video,

Ravens at St Cyrus, click here for video,

Kittiwakes at Arbroath Cliffs, click here for video,

Peregrines mating

Glaucous Gull 1st winter at Gourdon Harbour, much bigger than the sitting Herring Gull

It looks like it could swallow a bowling ball

Curious, it came in very close

Eider drake displaying and calling, also near in at Gourdon

Eider duck

Roe Deer near the centre at St Cyrus

Peregrines making new Peregrines!

I was waiting for a bit of sunlight for a photo and passing the time by filming a female Peregrine sitting on a cliff in Aberdeenshire when its partner flew in and mated. Afterwards she appeared, at least to me to eject his contribution then go on a high speed "celebration" flight around the cliff-tops.
Also Murton, Montreathmont and St Vigeans photos.

Peregrines mating, for video click here,

Also at the same site a visiting Red Kite being seen off by the male of a pair of Ravens

Variable light, but this a wee bit better

A quick retreat with the camera in case this actually turned out to be rain

It's my island, an ongoing series of disputes over the very small island slowly appearing at Murton NR. The water needs to recede quickly as everything wants a piece to nest on

Incoming

The Black-headed Gulls were having a go at everyone including this young Herring Gull

Song Thrush in front of the car park hide at Murton, also a pair of Long-tailed Tits flying back and forwards and nearly through the hide windows

Now five Siskins at Montreathmont Hide

One of a very few remaining Teal at St Vigeans where the farmer is having the flooded field drained which will mean no more winter ducks and waders

Sixteen high ISO photos from a week of gloomy weather

The best at the start and then some of the rarer visitors and finishing off with some photos from Montreathmont Forest taken during my visits to check and fill the feeders. As you can see the Goshawk wasn't seen on one of the dull cold days this week.

Latest videos including Iceland Gull, Puffins and Green Woodpecker, click here,

Goshawk, thought to be a 2nd plumage bird, another photo showed the upper wing to be brown

Goshawk

Iceland Gull 1st winter, Forfar Loch

Some of the Puffins still have dusky heads, not fully moulted into breeding plumage

Five of nineteen seen near Auchmithie

Fulmars near Auchmithie

Keptie Pond, Arbroath 

Grey Heron with a rather ambitious branch for nest building

Tufted Duck, lured from the water by seed, someone obviously knows not to feed bread

Tufted Drake with a serious look

Montreathmont Hide

Dunnock in the gloom below the feeders

Goldfinch, not many around probably due to the mild winter, finding plenty of food elsewhere

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Siskin female, this one and it's mate below seem to be the only Siskins coming in

Siskin male

Yellowhammer, on the feeder for a change instead of picking at the seed the others throw away

Corrie to Coast and a few birds inbetween

A few photos from the last period of decent weather spanning from Easthaven where I did my Webs count on Sunday through to Glen Clova where the recent floods have taken a toll on the bank at the car park and the bridge upstream from Moulzie which has been destroyed. Access to Bachnagairn is now along the south bank of the river joining the track from the ford at Moulzie, this route isn't a structured path and is for the sure footed.

Frogs courting, Ravens in pairs and a Peacock Butterfly, the first true signs of spring.

Looking west from the footbridge at the top of the riverside path which starts at the west end of the car park and picnic area at the Ranger Centre, Glen Clova

The first Common Frog we've found this year, mum I think

I think this one's a male and was in a pool with about a dozen more

The only spawn we found

Golden Eagle adult which was never close and flying above the tops

Same eagle admiring its domain from on high

What was the bridge upstream of Moulzie where the footpath crossed

The Kinnordy Loch Black-headed Gull raft, not pretty but if it works then perhaps other rafts could be placed in the areas not visible from the main hide

First and last Red Squirrel photo unless I get something very unusual

Wigeon drake at Kinnordy

One of eight Stock Doves seen near Easthaven while doing my Webs count

Cormorant in breeding plumage at Easthaven