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