The Mediterranean Gull at West Links takes top billing, the first this year which I found on Thursday evening.
The Grebe Tragedy refers to an episode I witnessed at Forfar Loch when a paddle-boarder flushed the water birds from the loch. It appears that Angus Alive allow craft to be launched from the sailing club spit, but I couldn't see anything with regard to the nesting season for birds at the loch or on the website.
Great Crested Grebes had built a second nest with two eggs and they still had one well grown chick from their first nesting attempt. All three fled from the nest area, and eventually after some time the adults returned, repaired the nest and started brooding the eggs. One egg may have been damaged when they fled.
The juvenile Grebe found itself some distance away, and instead of returning along a narrow channel, it dived under the weed and never resurfaced! I watched a large area in the hope it would reappear, it didn't, probably tangled in the weeds.
I've emailed Angus Alive with the information above, and asked them to confirm my assumption that it's against the law to disturb nesting birds. I'm sure disturbing the birds was not the boarder's intention, never-the-less that was the result.
Grebe saga part 1 Nest repairs part 2 Brooding restarts part 3 Grebes settled again
Grebe saga part 1 Nest repairs part 2 Brooding restarts part 3 Grebes settled again
Mediterranean Gull Little Ringed Povers, adult and juvenile Common Sandpiper, Old Brewhouse
Found immediately in front of the paddling pool, West Links
Difficult in the strong sun with my P1000 to tone down the white without it burning out the photo
Paddle-boarder directly in front of the viewing platform at Forfar Loch
The Great Crested Grebe nest temporarily abandoned and vulnerable to predation. Difficult to say but this egg could have been cracked when the birds fled, or is it weed?
Not much going on yet at Montrose Basin, although the Redshank numbers are getting significant. The Eider don't appear to have produced any chicks again
Lapwing numbers also beginning to build up
An Osprey flew over high up, going down the Basin, too high to be hunting
Stock Doves are often seen at this time of year on the mud, this one flew past me at the Old Harbour
Another "coffee" garden bird. I take the camera out most times on the off chance something happens, or flies over, never does!
Endless entertainment from the young Starlings which must be the cleanest birds around, they just love the water
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