Wednesday 20 November 2019

Nae Scoters, loadsa Dolphins

Tuesday and another attempt to get good Black Scoter photos and/or video. Failed due to a very flat sea and all of the scoters were dispersed across Lunan Bay, mobile and distant. High tide on Thursday is around 0900, and more motion from the strong wind may bring the birds back within reach of a scope, if not a camera.

Twenty Bottlenose Dolphins gave me someting to do while waiting for the uncompliant Scoters.



I think this is an adult with a calf given the apparent size



The best photo I could get of unpredictable and often distant animals


Not that far out and the water can't be that deep. One breached just behind the surf line, I would guess they were hunting flounders. The closer they come the less likely it is to get the photo when they're mobile



The only birds that ever came close in during an hour of watching, 4 Long-tailed drakes with one duck



If you stand still and the beach isn't busy, why would it be at one degree centigrade! a Red-throated Diver will come inshore for a look



I could only stand the cold at Lunan Bay so long but it wasn't much warmer at the Lurgies where 2 Little Egrets and about a dozen Little Grebes were the only things of interest. I like the light on this Grebe and it's as it looked to the eye, the whole basin had an unusual dim glow, if that makes sense



Near the end of the day and far too late for photography I had a quick look at Arbroath Harbour and despite it being busy with returning lobster boats there were a few birds of interest. This female Long-tailed Duck didn't want the leave the harbour and although it stayed central the late sun helped to get a photo


Happy looking species



I took this photo to show the Shag's diving techique not knowing it had a darvic ring, looks like green, FBB but could be FPB, FPP, FBP. I'll check today and try to get it sitting on the slipway as they often do


Metal ring on the left leg





Rock Pipit in the last bit of light, it looks used to people in the working harbour, and was hanging around an angler perhaps hoping for some crumbs from his tea



The Herring Gulls are happy to pose on the boats, this was close enough that this was all I could get in the frame. I feel another look when the day is brighter for some flight shots and Great Black-backed Gull photos




No comments:

Post a Comment

Search Blog

Blog archive