Bullfinches and Goosanders

Some photos from Forfar Loch where I did find an Otter, it dived out of sight never to be seen again or to be photographed. Many of the other photos were rushed as we had Olive's daughter's Cavapoo with us and both of them seemed to be in a hurry to get round the loch. Something about the cold! Later I went to the beach where it was cold and the tide was out, so I went to my fallback site for late afternoon, Keptie Pond.

I just read this article about SNH (nature.scot) and the number of licences issued to Kill Ravens,  click here for the Birdguides article  Now waiting for an SNP canvasser to turn up to be interogated about this, and Werrity.

Google still seems to brighten the posted 1200 pixel files?? These have been darkened to look like my blog originals which reflect the colours and darkness of the original photos. I'll try and find a simple solution....

Female Bullfinch in the bright sunshine near the Witch's area, Forfar Loch. Look up the story of the Forfar Witches, it tells a story that looks like the manipulation of young un-educated women, plied with drink!

The male of the pair not far away, it was a richer colour in the shade

Not many Gadwall on the loch in the strong wind, this one was in front of the old centre building

The only Redwing I saw and it was buried and blurred in a tree

Many Woodpigeons at different places around the loch and the same for Magpies

Blackbird female feeding on the berries where the Fieldfares and Redwings should have been

There were at least 40 Mute Swans dotted around the loch with many at the the west end

Now at Keptie Pond and free from Alfie the Cavapoo, but not from the many dogs being walked around the pond. There were 5 drake Goosanders and 7 Wigeon as well as the usual birds exepected

The Goosanders are still wary, little wonder as 2 of the dogs appeared to be stalking them

Moorhen at the feeding station

Drake Wigeon, would make a good photo if I went earlier in the afternoon

Same here with the female Wigeon, which was in the only light making it over the rooftops

A young male Blackbird who has adopted my garden

One of the 30 to 40 Black-headed Gulls at Keptie, it had just fallen through the melting ice

One of the three Tree Sparrows who are daily visitors in my garden