An afternoon visit to Arbroath Cliffs looking for any early sea birds returning, courting couples were renewing bonds, some squabbling over nest sites, and a serious and long Herring Gull fight.
No further sign of any Iceland Gulls at Victoria Park and Danger Point, but a high count of 41 Purple Sandpipers on the breakwater.
Shag courtship part 1 Part 2, Courtship going well Part 3, Love on the rocks
It was Valentines day and this pair were settled and occasionally beak tapping to re-affirm their bond
Then this happened, the noisy neighbours, or more likely a challenge for the nest site as there were ten Fulmars and usually only two or three sites used in the Mariners Grave
In the late afternoon sunlight before heavy cloud killed the light
Shags, the two on the left were displaying and even preening each other, then the middle one appeared to lose interest and decided the other one might be the one! While looking for a means to separate the sexes, which I couldn't find, a paper I read suggested that the crest size may be a sign of health and condition. Maybe the larger bird with the large crest was waiting for a similarly equipped partner?
Herring Gulls having a serious fight on the fallen sandstone at the bottom of Mariners Grave, it lasted around 15 minutes
Another but younger Herring Gull as I walked back to the car. If you want to ascertain it's age, have a look at Gull Research Organisation, click here
There were around 25-30 Curlews feeding in a oilseed rape field at the start of the cliff path
Rock Pipits again all along the park, often feeding at the roadside
I put this in to show the 41 Purple Sandpipers that were sitting on the west breakwater at Arbroath. The yellow dots are my counting aid to stop me double counting
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