King Eider time again

I was a bit late this year seeking out the regular King Eider drake which spends the summer between the Ythan Estuary and the Blackdog area and had to search along the beach from Murcar to find it. It was a perfect plan though as the American White-winged Scoter seen in 2016 had been reported near Blackdog along with a Surf Scoter drake and after some perseverance, actually a lot, I got all three birds. At the Ythan I did get some Little Tern photos and a later visit when there's more chance of Skuas is on the cards, although the Little Terns may be gone the Sandwich Terns feeding young on the beach make a perfect target for the Skuas.

King Eider walking on the beach, for video click here,

King Eider being flushed by a jogger, for video click here,

King Eider drake which had been flushed into the sea by a jogger so it was extremely far away from my perch on the top of the dunes. (Photo with the Canon SX60 at 104 times zoom)

Just before the jogger event

One of six Little Terns which seemed to only be seen when it was raining or they were on the far bank

I'd waited a long time to get these hence I'm posting all three photos

Arctic Tern, there are many more of these than Little Terns and as the tide went out a couple started feeding close to the old wreck on the beach. If I return I'll plan my trip for when the wind is off the sea as these birds were always shaded as they flew into the westerly wind

I only took this photo of an Eider to test the camera settings and found it had a green ring AU which has been reported to the ringers

It wouldn't be an Ythan trip without Grey Seal photos

I'd be confident that there could have been as many as 1,000 seals on the north shore at high tide. These are only a small portion I could fit in the long lens

Looks like this Herring Gull at Whiting Ness, Arbroath has just noticed the ring. This gull has been seen at the same place for a number of years and is approachable as it's used to people throwing food from their cars. (SX60)

A Stock Dove seen on the wires on the track down to Lunan Bay on Saturday night when I went to see the Surf Scoter there. (SX60)