The return of the Auks

A social walk today with Olive who not surprisingly got bored as the good light meant I found many photo opportunities, or was it opportunities to muck up some good photos.............

We started with a walk along to the north end of the St Cyrus NNR where all the usual suspects showed well including, Ravens, Peregrines, Buzzards, a Kestrel, two pairs of Stonechats and a pair of Rock Pipits. We moved on to the north at Fowlsheugh an RSPB clifftop reserve in the hope that the auks had come onshore and found a mixture of at least 5,000 Razorbills and Guillemots with a few Shags and four large rafts of Kittiwakes, maybe 800 birds

Kestrel female at the north end of St Cyrus Beach

Peregrine also at St Cyrus, photo from the designated path

Razorbill at Fowlsheugh, one of perhaps 5,000 auks on the cliffs or the water nearby

Razorbill

Guillemot

Roe Deer from the car park at Fowlsheugh

Purple Sandpipers and a cliff search

Another rescue or perhaps now a recovery at Arbroath Cliffs on Saturday, it's reported today Sunday that an 18 year old had fallen from the cliffs. Most of the time I was at Inchcape Park the Coastguard Helicopter hovered near the harbour and later when at Victoria Park I could see a search ongoing at the cliffs.

Bird-wise, there were 31 Purple Sandpipers at Inchcape, a few Curlews and at least one Dunlin with a black belly, not complete yet. At the start of the cliffs path I could see Skylarks in the field but access was barred by the Polis.

Coastguard Helicopter at Arbroath Harbour

Shannon-class lifeboat Ian Grant Smith on the search. This lifeboat is based at Montrose

Something woke up the Purple Sandpipers briefly for this photo

In this one the light shows purple flashes down the centre of many of the feathers

The Dunlin showing some of its breeding plumage coming in along with a single Ringed Plover at Inchcape

Curlew, its a wonder they don't topple forwards or damage their beaks more often

Smew time, and the Grebes are still around

The drake Smew currently at Kinnordy is as expected a wary bird and it caught me off guard as it appeared from behind the reeds and immediately started to swim away despite any movement or noise from me the only person in the hide. The Red-necked Grebe is still at Lintrathen and although closer is still keeping a safe distance and out of range for photography.

Smew video, click here  (the first part is at half speed, the second across the width of Kinnordy)

Red-necked Grebe video (distant)                          Snipe video, Kinnordy

Drake Smew at Kinnordy, from the East Hide

On its way towards the far bank.....

If only all birds would be as confiding as this Great Crested Grebe which came very close to the New Hide at Lintrathen. This photo was taken in quite poor light but the closeness really helped

The Red-necked Grebe from the New Hide but never close for a proper photo

Despite the high water level at Kinnordy a few Snipe are still feeding on the almost submerged bog bean

Why don't we put feeders where there is some light. Song Thrush at Kinnordy

Lunch for this Great Black-backed Gull at McDonalds in Arbroath

The diseased Woodpigeon is looking worse

Still getting the leucistic Tree Sparrow every day with around twenty of its mates in my garden

American Wigeon in Fife

I made the trip to Birnie and Gaddon Lochs in Fife today in the hope of getting a closer photo of an American Wigeon and I'm happy with these but of course if it had come closer and I didn't need the teleconverter, hey ho

American Wigeon video (HD 25fps), click here

American Wigeon drake doing a bit of feather maintenance

Drake Goldeneye, taken while waiting for the Wigeon to swim closer

The first time I've seen a bird of any interest at my step-daughters and it's in the week she's moving house. I saw this male Sparrowhawk fly into the tree and the gulls chasing it made a racket until they eventually moved it on

Some concern over this Woodpigeon which I believe has Trichomoniasis although not the worst case I've seen. Past birds seen in my garden haven't survived and unfortunately it can be spread to other species. It's the first one I've seen for a few years and since a neighbour cut down some bushes I don't get Greenfinches the other birds more commonly affected

The St Cyrus Ravens and more

My yearly visit to St Cyrus today was a bit earlier than most years due to the appearance of the sun and timing my visit for the morning gave me my best option for helpful light. On my way homeward I dropped in at Montrose, the Basin Centre and Elliot.

Note, the Ravens and Peregrines are viewed from the public path please don't approach and disturb schedule one birds at any time but especially as the breeding season is starting.

The Montrose Basin leucistic Oystercatcher, for video click here  (the 60fps version didn't play well on YouTube so this is the 25fps version)

Raven with nest material

Again

Both of the courting pair

Peregrine

Peregrine on the plucking ledge

Just finished chasing a Buzzard

I didn't stay until a Water Rail showed in the open at Montrose SWT so these two photos will do just now

At one point these Knot were performing like a Starling murmuration, note the lead bird on the extreme right is a Black-tailed Godwit

The leucistic Oystercatcher at Montrose Harbour

Also at the harbour, a Cormorant drip drying

Also there this Curlew which had just smashed up this crab

Grey Heron, upstream of the road bridge at Montrose

Same Heron

Ringed Plover and Dunlin at Elliot, by now the cloud had arrived

Coots fighting on a gloomy day at Keptie Pond earlier this week, a sign of spring??

The only female Goosander in company with eight males at Keptie Pond

Moorhen

Tufted Duck

Ever wondered why we have a mini red lighthouse by the roadside at Elliot, this explains it