Wood Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtails and a bonus Mediterranean Gull

 

  
It seemed like a good idea to go to Hatton to try and get some photos of a Wood Sandpiper, after all it was sunny with a light breeze. That wasn't the case when I got there. However, after struggling to find any of the birds I wanted, and photographing many butterflies and insects, I did see the Wood Sandpiper feeding along the margin of a small stinky pool. There had also been a report of four juvenile Yellow Wagtails and I did get brief glimpses of two as they flew in to drink on the pool at the Hatton railway crossing gate.

Mediterranean Gulls have also arrived along the coast between Carnoustie and Arbroath and I guessed one might be on the roof at Jumpin Joey's at high tide, one was but there's sure to be more on the evening roost.

Videos below including a Ruddy Shelduck from Montrose Basin on Wednesday.

Wood Sandpiper close up, click here        Wood Sandpiper feeding, click here   

Mediterranean Gull        Ruddy Shelduck preening        Ruddy Shelduck swimming

Wood Sandpiper photographed in a brief gap in the heavy mist, this was just light mist

This gives a good indication of the size if you're familiar with Dunlin

The pool is used by cattle, and you can see it's not very pleasant looking

There were two Yellow Wagtails but they weren't feeding, just flying in very infrequently for a drink and never close enough in the conditions

The other yellow bird around, a Yellowhammer in the strange misty light

I digress here, this Mediterranean Gull adult was sitting on the roof at the rear of Jumpin Joey's at West Links, Arbroath, seen on my way home

Female Common Blue Butterfly

Another one

I seem to recall that second generation Green-veined Whites often have quite yellow wings

Eristalis arbustorum (Plain-faced Dronefly)

Eristalis arbustorum (Plain-faced Dronefly)

Eristalis arbustorum (Plain-faced Dronefly).

Lot's of insect identities are confirmed by this view. I won't be " closely examining the genitals" as mentioned in books!

Yet another Meadow Brown Butterfly. There were many hiding in the dunes at Hatton, they didn't like the wind which was also bringing in varying levels of haar. Only a few Ringlets and most of the Common Blues were females.