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