Black Tern, Arbroath

There is a Black Tern currently at Arbroath Harbour today (31/8/2017) found yesterday by Graham. It along with the many other terns can be mobile and even manage to spook themselves. This can mean the Black Tern can suddenly appear or disappear depending on its new landing place, or in my case it flew towards the other terns roosting in front of the Old Brewhouse.

Also below a Kingfisher at the Lurgies and terns, a butterfly and Swallows at Kinnaber on the links and beach where another Osprey flew along and fished on the North Esk estuary pool.

Black Tern juvenile at Inchcape in Arbroath, seen from parking at the sewage pump house between the Signal Tower and Gayfield. (Canon SX60 into the sun)

One of at least three but likely more at the Lurgies. Much brightened up after the photo was taken into the shade. I don't have the patience to sit to get the stunning photos many take!

Feed me!

Aye Ok!

Adult Swallow taking a break from the feeding duties

Willow Warbler, not invisible in a tree for a change but on the path at Kinnaber Links

Red Admiral Butterfly, underwing view

A vast beach and a lonely wee Ringed Plover at Kinnaber

Common Tern juvenile juggling with a large fish

Head first maybe

One of the few unsuccessful dives, they were even dropping fish without retrieving them

Common Tern juvenile

Black-headed Gull

Even the Great Black-backed juveniles can catch fish just now, there's so many of them in the shallows

Black-tailed Godwit, tame, hungry or just friendly

Occasionally I come across a bird which isn't concerned with humans approaching and on Monday a Black-tailed Godwit at the Old Harbour, Montrose Basin was one of these. Myself and two others stood only 10 metres from the bird as it fed on the mud near the harbour, I'm guessing it was hungry after its migration flight south. Further up the path while stalking the ever distant Little Egret every bird took to flight at the approach of a juvenile Peregrine which kinda ended photography for a while.
Nearby three Kingfishers flew past and a Water Rail could be seen occasionally in the reeds, later an Osprey spooked the waders again.

I'm posting six of the Black-tailed Godwit as I don't expect to get many better photos while the birds are still in breeding plumage

Sunlight bringing out the colour as the Godwit catches yet another lugworm

The Little Egret and all of the gulls and waders took to flight when the Peregrine flew in

Before the panic the Egret had caught a small flounder in its favourite channel

Juvenile Peregrine

Fox, Lizards, Little Gulls, Purple Sandpiper and supporting cast

A bit of a round up from late in the week and a big surprise to find a young male fox hunting in daylight and aware that I was watching from about 30 metres away. When I first saw the fox it looked to be carrying a bird which I'm afraid looked like a young Water Rail. The photos range from St Cyrus to Arbroath Harbour and some were even taken when it wasn't raining.

Fox catching a Bank Vole at the Lurgies, click here for video

Viewed from the path at the Lurgies, Montrose Basin

It's looking straight at me but happy that I wasn't a threat

Ears up having heard a vole moving

The attack, this one failed

Goosander also at the Lurgies

In a brief shower, they were happy to stay near if I stood still

Greenshank, this one was a bit more relaxed at people walking along the path

Sedge Warbler in the shade of the reeds where I was looking for a Water Rail

Common Lizards at St Cyrus, I should have stopped for a better photo but someone was needing a coffee

One of a few Little Gulls with the Common Terns at the sewage pump station at Inchcape Park, Arbroath. Hiding behind the many motor homes stops the birds being spooked, until a dog comes along

Little Gull

I've seen this Purple Sandpiper at Inchcape mostly on the west breakwater for a few weeks now, still the only one

Redshank, with Purple Sandpiper preening

Turnstones

Guillemot, oiled on a day when there was a bit of a storm but looks like it could recover if it doesn't ingest too much oil

Common Tern

Feeding time for the young tern but another shower starting for me trying to keep the camera dry

Collared Dove feeding on the strand line, I think a pair hang around the Signal Tower Museum

Redshank clamped by a Cockle!!

One more from the mist on Tuesday and something I've seen before but never photographed.

A Redshank with a Cockle clamped firmly on its toe, seen flying more than once and hobbling around in the shallows. I hope the Cockle releases its grip soon before the toe rots and drops off.

I thought it was an entangled stone at first but one toe is clamped by the Cockle

Wader time soon at Montrose

The wader numbers at Montrose Basin are building up just now with large numbers of Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Redshanks and Dunlin and today 29 Black-tailed Godwits, a few Knot, Greenshanks, Ringed Plover, Curlews and a few days ago the Water Rail below.

Water Rail adult, Montrose Basin

Same bird in even less light

Greenshank in the mist on Tuesday at Tayock, Montrose Basin

Redshank at Tayock showing a moult yet to be completed

One of 29 Black-tailed Godwits at Tayock near high tide

There are around 600 Canada Geese on Montrose Basin just now

I can't find a Roseate Tern so this Common Tern with the reflected pink light from the buoy will do