Mediterranean Gull - and leucistic Herring Gull

I eventually caught up with the Mediterranean Gull found earlier by Graham, it came in at 1930 hrs at West Links, Arbroath as the tide was coming in and about 3 metres. It didn't stay long at all and flew off in the middle of the only video I was able to take.

The leucistic Herring Gull is thought to be the same one I found in 2018 which was either a 1st or more likely 2nd summer. I saw it last year in the same area and it was also reported and photographed at Timmergreens shops in the town last year. Never easy to find but most likely roosts nearby and perhaps with the gulls at Elliot mouth, or on Asda's roof.

Mediterranean Gull video, click here  

Leucistic Herring Gull video,click here
  

Adult Mediterranean Gull with Black-headed Gulls for comparison. Note, it's carrying an injured leg, or is it the black on it's foot that's the problem

Leucistic Herring Gull in less than bright sunlight, shows that it has some greyish pigment on the wing. The darker plumage isn't quite as shown, perhaps darkened a bit by the EV setting in the camera

This one in the early evening sun, I could see that it was the leucistic gull from a long way off as it's so white compared to the other Herring Gulls. I think the EV was at -1, otherwise the bird wouldn't have any detail in the bright low sun

The wings tips show some light grey where the black should be

Black and white together - Magpies, Blackcaps and a Pied Hoverfly

A short trip to Craigmill Den near Carnoustie where there were quite a number of birds singing, especially Song Thrushes. Good to see many juveniles, even a young Magpie later on in Carnoustie. Yes Lorna, it grew that big so quick by eating your baby sparrows!

Juvenile Blackcap in Craigmill Den

Adult male Blackcap

Juvenile Dunnock

Adult male Grey Wagtail

Adult Magpie with juvenile (in Carnoustie)

Pied Hoverfly

Ringlet Butterfly

Ringlet

Song Thrush

Swallow, flying low and leisurely around farm buildings

Willow Warbler

Cute Ducklings for Faith

I'd originally went to West Links beach following Graham's report of a Mediterranean Gull, the tide was full out and people flushed all of the gulls till they left! I ended up at Keptie looking for the Little Grebe, but there were many people making lots of noise, which Little Grebes don't like. Some Mallards broods were seen, none with more than five ducklings, and the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were trying their luck at either a Coot nest or young ducklings without any success. The large carp were active and often cruising at the surface.
Most photos taken using a 2 times teleconverter, unfortunately the light wasn't good enough.

Tufted Duck, Keptie Pond with three of a brood of five

Juvenile Coot which was heard all around the pond begging to it's parent

The Pintail/Mallard drake hybrid moulting into eclipse plumage

The Pintail/Mallard duck hybrid moulting into eclipse plumage

Ringlet Butterfly, first this year

Juvenile Dunnock

A constant under my feeders and in the cage this young Blackbird

Grasshopper Warbler

A showy Grasshopper Warbler which I should really go back to see when the sun's to my advantage. The Barn Owl photos taken from about 260 metres away through a heat haze......  

Grasshopper Warbler, wrong time of day when I could only take photos into the sun

Sedge Warbler

Marsh Harrier female

Adult Barn Owl

Young Barn Owls

Given the plumage on this Common Gull, I suspect it's fallen in the water from the nest, it seems to be doing Ok with adults keeping watch over it

Fox Cubs, Birds and Bees

  
It got a bit dull by the time we got to St Cyrus today but coming across this wee fella and sibling brightened up the day. The lack of sun affected the insect life and we didn't see more than a few butterflies, although one pointed out for us was a Brown Argus.

Fox Cubs watching Olive and I from the safety of their hoose, click here for shaky video


Video of a Great Black-backed 1st summer smashing its way into a partin, click here wind noise left in to hear the chisel like beak at work

A half speed video of Sparrows scrapping at a feeder, click here for video 

A Lesser Black-backed Gull with a cameo from Herring Gulls for comparison, click here

Fox Cub at St Cyrus

Two now

Cygnets at Keptie Pond in Arbroath, the first for a few years, just the two though

Great Black-backed Gull hammering its way into a partin, edible crab on the slipway at Arbroath Harbour

I think this may be an Early Bumblebee given the look and size

Different views of the rescued bee, in a glass with a sugary water soaked tissue

The arty shot, the bee was released back into the garden once it perked up on the sugar water

Lesser Black-backed Gull at Danger Point in Arbroath, the Old Brewhouse area to non Reid Lichties

One of two Little Grebes at Keptie Pond, at least one has been there since December, I didn't see the second bird but it was responding to this one's calls

This photo was in the open as the sun got low, the one above was in the shade and had the shadow removed

Another of Olive's Tree Bumblebees, difficult to know how many are in the nest box as they are all in a cotoneaster feeding

This one needed a bit of TLC and recovered quickly on a cold day

A few Whitethroats at St Cyrus in a brief visit, also Kestrels, Buzzards and both Peregrines were seen flying around. The Ravens fledged two chicks some time ago

House Martins at nest - first attempt, so so

House Martin nest, early evening on my neighbours gable, but I missed the best light while yapping on the phone. The nest is shaded for most of the day, but as the sun goes round and gets lower, there's a brief period when it's lit up enough to get photos. These are brighter than the originals I uploaded but I'll let that go as they've become a bit clearer.

House Martins fighting at a nest on my neighbours gable. I assume an intruder is the lower bird being pecked by the other

A rather dinosaur like beak sticking out of the nest waiting to be fed

There are at least three chicks, that's as many as the small hole has space for so there may be more

One of the adults leaving the nest, I wonder if they go in for housekeeping as all of the feeding seems to be outside

A very large looking gape in this one, the adult has a beak full of what looks like greenfly

One of the many small frogs in my pond sitting on the duckweed, probably no more than 15mm long

This one still has its tail as a few on the surface do

Yet to be identified Wasp. It comes in often to the pond for a drink, today was the first time I had a camera suitable for insects

Very demanding these young Blackbirds

Looks to be well fed