Whimbrel returning, not long since they went north

The last first and the first last. Still not a lot happening so I'm continuing to photograph what I see at random places near to home. I often leave the house with a plan then turn in the opposite direction at the end of my road. Decisions, decisions.........  Some quality among the photos taken in my garden where I bribe the birds, most of the rest are long shots. Also seen at Montrose Basin today was a first returning Goldeneye drake, a Sparrowhawk, 6 Dunlin and 33 Redshanks which may indicate just how many nest attempts fail.


Another video of perhaps the same Corn Bunting as before, but closer, click here for video

An unexpected Whimbrel from the Lurgies, looking across to the Shelduck Hides

Just too far for my technology and skill

It took to flight as I was photographing a passing Osprey, it looked to have landed at the back of Miss Erskine's Bank

The passing Osprey, it didn't fish at almost high tide with a good going ripple on the surface of the water

While finishing my second Corn Bunting survey on a local farm I saw this Yellowhammer land on the sign and couldn't resist a photo with my Canon SX60 which I carry to help ID of birds seen into the early morning sunlight, at 0600hrs

A Mute Swan pair at Kinnordy with seven cygnets, in comparison to the Keptie Pond birds their breeding success is double or more the Keptie pair average and you'd think they'd have a food and predator advantage. Maybe all the bread affects fertility?

The House Martin nest on my neighbours gable

The adults were coming in about every two minutes to feed the three chicks

This Starling was having a good attempt to eat all of the fat balls

An unusual pose from one of those pesky pigeons

Now six adult Goldfinches have been seen at the same time in my garden but still no chicks and one pair keeps attending their apple tree nest

An adult Greenfinch, and now I've seen three chicks together under a feeder begging for food

Not only plastic (ish) pollution from McDonalds but another waste of precious Helium which surely has to be kept for important uses since we don't have an infinite supply. I recall a Horizon program saying all of our Helium comes, or came from space, and we waste it to sell happy meals.....

A close shot of a Lesser Black-backed Gull

And now the slightly weird and arty shot taken from my garden as was the ballon above. A neighbours grandchild was being entertained with soapy bubbles so my challenge was to get a photo however far away they were, or how small. Honest there is a bubble direct centre of the photo