On a walk along the coastal path from Elliot in sometimes quite dense haar we did eventually see some birds, bees and butterflies in some sunlight. The first photos had me puzzled, I've never seen a Common Tern in this stage of plumage before and understood that young birds stay in their wintering grounds till adulthood, nobody told this one.
The juvenile starts moulting into adult plumage in its first October; the head, tail and body plumage is replaced first, mostly by February, then the wing feathers. The primaries are replaced in stages; the innermost feathers moult first, then replacement is suspended during the southern winter (birds of this age staying in their wintering areas) and recommences in the autumn. In May to June of the second year a similar moult sequence starts, with a pause during primary moult for birds that return north, but not for those that stay in the winter quarters. A major moult to adult breeding plumage occurs in the next February to June, between 40–90% of feathers being replaced. Old primary feathers wear away to reveal the blackish barbs beneath. The moult pattern means that the oldest feathers are those nearest the middle of the wing, so as the northern summer progresses, a dark wedge appears on the wing due to this feather ageing process
Common Terns with what the Collins describes as a 1st summer Common Tern, "scarce in Europe". The adult birds were giving it a verbal roasting and eventually drove it away into the haar
I'll have a look to confirm that this is a 1st summer, photos of similar birds from people who know would help
This is the 1st summer bird (confirmed by research and a wise birder)
Small Blue Butterfly between Elliot and Dowrie. Our smallest resident butterfly is easily overlooked, partly because of its size and dusky colouring, but partly because it is often confined to small patches of sheltered grassland where its sole foodplant, Kidney Vetch, is found. Obviously this isn't on Kidney Vetch, it's the caterpillars that feed on it (I was told)
Tree Bumblebee in Lorna's garden, in Carnoustie. Her Mum thought she was only one with them, they've nested in her bird box. I've yet find where/if they have a nest at Lorna's
White-tailed Bumblebee I guess with some confidence, on the coastal path
Yellow Shell Moth near the old Dowrie site
Dunlin, perhaps a failed breeder, photographed in heavy mist at Hatton
Everywhere I go there are Reed Buntings just now, and there's always a male standing guard
A misty shot of a Ringed Plover, I found four likely nesting pairs. If you disturb Ringed Plovers just walk on, they don't get much peace on beaches due to walkers and dogs. Some areas no longer have any nesting due to disturbance
Lots if Rooks feeding on something in the strand line seaweed
I have to photograph flowers when Olive's with me. Perhaps she's trying to say something.....
I thought all of these were snails in a ditch at Hatton, but now I'm not so sure