Thursday 30 April 2020

The biggest gull in the world - Great Black-backed & co


Hands up from your editor. Posts in late March and early April appeared to lose their photos, or some photos. I now know that I deleted them in my Google Drive to make space for the very large videos created with my P1000, I record in 4K UHD 3840 by 2160.

I've just deleted the errors in the assumption that nobody reads old posts and that there was nothing rare or unusual in them.

Yesterday's birds from Arbroath, a look at gull differences, there's quite a number at the harbour when they see the lobster boots come in.

Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Danger Point Arbroath, click here for video

Great Black-backed Gulls, Arbroath Harbour, click here

Pied Wagtail preening, Brothock Burn, click here for video

Woodpigeon eating leaves high in a tree on the railway embankment, Arbroath


I can't figure this photo, it's a Great Black-backed Gull in front of a Herring Gull and yet they don't appear significantly different in size/length. I suppose the different pose and perhaps a male Herring and female Great Black-backed could be the answer. Photo from the Brothock mouth at Danger Point



Lesser Black-backed Gull in the same place



Great Black-backed photographed across the harbour from the Oil Pier


Immature Great Black-backed Gulls on the West Breakwater, from the Fog Horn area at "the back o' the heeds"



Lesser Black-backed at Keptie Pond



Grey Wagtail at the old "blue toilets" building



Pied Wagtail in the same spot



I think this is a Mallard/Tufted hybrid which has managed a brood at Keptie. She has around six ducklings and a young Mallard drake in company with her. I've seen a number of these most years on the pond and they seem slightly better at keeping the ducklings alive! She's the same size as an adult Mallard.




UPDATE!


Hands up from your editor. Posts in late March and early April appeared to lose their photos, or some photos. I now know that I deleted them in my Google Drive to make space for the very large videos created with my P1000, I record in 4K UHD 3840 by 2160.

I've just deleted the errors in the assumption that nobody reads old posts and that there was nothing rare or unusual in them.

Back to normal from today, what is normal nowadays?

Wednesday 29 April 2020

Leaning on a lamp post (George Formby)


On exercise at Arbroath Harbour, and "coffee birds" seen while sitting on my back step waiting for my slave to make the coffee. Yes, I will be in deep trouble now and thirsty later! All photos with the portable and covert P1000 which really enjoys the bright light at the harbour, and there's lamp posts and creels to brace and keep the camera steady. The VR built in also does a good job.

Media, appropriate to today's storyline, click here

more video soon........



Eider drake in the outer harbour at Arbroath



The duck Eider which was feeding on crabs and mussels



Two young Herring Gulls which were giving the Eider female a hard time by trying to steal its food every time is resurfaced after a dive



There were 57 Great Black-backed Gulls in and around the harbour, mostly immatures with a few adult pairs



Ring numbers sent to ringer, yellow 146:M



Also sent, yellow X:135



Grey Wagtail on the Brothock which was flitting about the rocks catching insects



House Sparrow from the back step



A "brightened" Starling which was on my cage in the shade of a giant Cotoneaster



Still wary this Blackbird, and keeping a second male at bay



I'm obliged to photograph Olive's Goldfinches since she makes the coffee! 



Saturday 25 April 2020

So I asked the small gull it's name - Kittiwake



Back to the coast again and Arbroath Cliffs where I've found a spot where nobody goes and I can sit in peace without distancing. It's also out of earshot of the many barking dogs at Victoria Park (everywhere actually). The only brief disturbance I had, was when a young lad stood at the top of the cliffs and shouted to the Kittiwakes and Gulls to "shut up" a number of times. Should these people really be allowed out on their own? 

If I can get a cold but bright windy day with a strong easterly I might get some of the species that are usually too far out passing by. I'll have to put the fleece back on if I do!



Kittiwake at Mariners Grave, doing the shake thing they do when coming into the nesting area after a spell at sea


One of last years young, yet to moult into adult plumage











These Razorbills can put on a sprint when they're coming into the cliffs, and sometimes I can catch them as they go by



A number of S-h-a-g-s and Cormorants were flying north but always too far out at sea. Further again were Gannets also northward. Three birds near the start of the cliffs are ringed, something for another day


I took this just to confirm they were Red-breasted Mergansers, turned out to be two pairs and three Guillemots!


Fulmar plumage can be variable and the intermittent light can make dark birds light and light birds dark








This was a deliberate shot where I just wanted the Herring Gulls head, fortunately it was in the sunlight which gives it more emphasis against the shade on its body


The beast, a near adult Great Black-backed Gull, I'm seeing quite a number of these around the Arbroath coastline just now


Herring Gull, 3rd calendar year


Always the last bird to get their photo taken, this one as I started the trek back home


If it flies past then take a photo, one day it will be something unusual or even rare


I really need to set up something more natural if I'm going to get the Greenfinch photo I want


Same here for Olive's beloved Goldfinches 



Thursday 23 April 2020

Hercules Den - Willow Warbler


I've talked about parks and paths which are near to housing and how busy they get, and that not everyone appreciates or cares about the rules. Today, 3 young women looking at a phone (?) with a number of kids playing on swings out of shot. Also 3 young men biking in a close group, 2 families stopped and blocking the path and too close together, a couple who arrived in two vehicles, again too close, and of course dog walkers brought together through dogs tangled up leads. I ask you!

The birds don't care though and I found my first Willow Warblers and confirmed a Grey Wagtail pair was where I thought. I doubt I'll be back and will use short travel as a "reasonable excuse" required to avoid the fools and keep us safe.

Grey Wagtails under a railway bridge, click here for video


Willow Warbler, the first I've seen this lockdown


Displaying to a another just out of shot


One of a pair underneath a railway bridge where they nest every year


Three young women looking at a phone (?) with a number of kids playing on swings out of shot


I've now taken to flower photos to keep Olive happy





Wednesday 22 April 2020

Yellow Wagtail and Wheatears


This post covers Tuesday and Wednesday, 21st and 22nd April, and visits the beach and fields behind the dunes at either side of East Haven.

Wednesday, the field which used to be dune grasses near Hatton Sewage Works. Its been ploughed which has left a dry sandy surface and today it attracted many species. A Blue-headed Wagtail and 15 White Wagtails had been reported on Tuesday when I was at the southern side of East Haven. A Yellow Wagtail had been seen at Carnoustie earlier. Today I stopped looking at White Wagtails after the Yellow appeared from nowhere and I spent some time trying to get photos and video of a very mobile bird. Also in the field, Wheatears, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Linnets, Pied Wagtails, Oystercatchers and a single Whimbrel.

Tuesday, I covered East Haven to Westhaven and had a good selection of birds, highlights were 5 Whimbrel, around 100 Knot and same number of Bar-tailed Godwits, also my first 4 Swallows and another Sandwich Tern, and Gannets fishing out at sea.

Yellow Wagtail at Hatton, click here for video

White Wagtail, click here for video

Pied Wagtails in conflict, click here for video


Yellow Wagtail female.











Most likely the settings of the camera that's causing this Wheatear to look so stunning











White Wagtail, the only usable photo, but to be fair they are wary and you can't get close. I took many rump photos as an ID aid


Meadow Pipit


These male Pied Wagtails were having a standoff


Reed Bunting male, at least three along the field edge and one or two females


Not the world's best flight photo but currently I'm only carrying the less conspicuous P1000


This Whimbrel was in front of the ditch that flows on to the beach at the car park in East Haven


From the far side of a big field and through a heat haze, it still shows the size and colour difference between the Whimbrel and the Curlew. There were 4 Whimbrel alongside 7 Curlews just south of the village at East Haven




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