Tuesday 15 December 2020

Here comes the sun (little darlin)

   
At long last a sunny day and no major wind, consequently any interesting birds at Montrose Basin were dispersed around the shoreline and few were seen. The Lurgies had 3 Goldcrests, a small flock of Redwings, 14 Goldeneyes, a female Sparrowhawk and a Little Egret. Another Little Egret was at the Bank of Scotland Hide which is deteriorating as a place to see birds, and certainly photographers will be disappointed with the pools silting up and with plants growing through them.
I returned to Arbroath and had a quick look around the harbour where a 5.5 metre high tide was near to the top of the harbour wall. The main interest were Purple Sandpipers, but I didn't venture round for a photograph as the Redshanks wouldn't let me near. Three videos below. 

 

Cormorant in Arbroath Harbour



Curlews at the Lurgies, Montrose Basin



Grey Seal in the South Esk 500 metres upstream from the Basin



Herring Gull at Arbroath Harbour



A bit of a stooshie between the adult and the 1st winter bird



I think I counted 23 Purple Sandpipers, or was it 26. You can count the yellow dots I used and left in!



Redshanks sitting out the high tide well away from the waves surging over the breakwater



The same Redshanks from the Lifeboat slipway and not into the setting sun



What's left of a Feral Pigeon that a female Sparrowhawk killed in Olive's garden. That's now three different Sparrowhawks in less than a week, the female, an adult male and a young male 


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