At Montrose Basin, and always a bit later than other ducks and saw-bills, the Red-breasted Mergansers always put on a bit of a show - if not disturbed. The birds below were flushed before I could get a video of their courtship display - yes a dog again...
There were still at least 30 Red-throated Divers at Lunan Bay, 14 Shags, 8 Fulmars, 2 Long-tailed Ducks in summer plumage, lots of Kittiwakes, razorbills, Common Gulls and Herring Gulls. Behind the dunes on the north side very little was seen in the cold misty conditions, no warblers with a singing song thrush the highlight.
Male Red-breasted Merganser upstream from the Slunks on the Lurgies, South Esk
A courting group of males and females
And then a big dog barked at them!
Farewell and not re-found
A few Eider pairs were around near the Old Harbour, I hope they succeed in breeding. Numbers seem to be falling and ducklings are now few and far between. Apparently the Mussel beds are disappearing, their main diet. I noticed that green weed was already growing on the mud, perhaps a sign of nitrogen enrichment?
A lone male flew upstream to where a pair were and was immediately chased off
Eider female (duck)
One of many Kittiwakes seen at Lunan Bay, this one was preening in the Lunan where it meets the sea. Large flocks were out at sea, perhaps 160 birds close in and more in the distance
A gentle looking bird
Showing off the black legs which gives them their full name, Black-legged Kittiwake
There were many immature Common Gulls picking food from the surface of the sea, these two hade been bathing in the Lunan
A male Shelduck, not a common bird at Lunan Bay
Song Thrush, singing loudly in the car park
Back home before I set off for the day, an Eupeodes luniger Hoverfly, common in my garden and the first I've seen this year
This one took a bit of looking up, despite that I see them every year, a Tapered Drone Fly - Eristalis pertinax. I forget insect names from year to year and often find my ID's from previous years were wrong...........
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