Herons 47 - 6 Ruff (Montrose Basin)

   
Now six Ruff at the Slunks as seen from the Lurgies path. Black-tailed Godwit numbers are increasing and being found across the Basin, and the Heron roost is growing, so much so that some have moved elsewhere.

A gull roost at Whiting Ness in Arbroath held over 400 birds, mostly Kittiwakes where adults currently outnumber juveniles, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were in smaller numbers.

Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls favour the Danger Point roost and take turns to bathe and preen in the Brothock Burn outfall. Two Grey Wagtails remain just upstream, no Dippers were seen but they'll not be far away, certainly the Bus Station and upstream of Morrisons.

Further along Victoria Park Sandwich Terns were roosting, but I'm yet to see terns at Inchcape Park, the roost has diminished almost to nil since the campervans invaded.

Now that the local schools are back, Gulls and Terns roosting near the paddling pool at West Links will see less disturbance and hopefully numbers will rise soon. Waders also use this area and are more prone to leave and not return, perhaps a weather change will keep people at home and give them peace to feed.

UHD video's at these links,

Ruff at Slunks      Ruff's further away      Black-tailed Godwits, Maryton 

Greenshank, Maryton      Heron roost, Maryton      Grey wagtail, Danger Point (Old Brewhouse)

Ruff at the Lurgies opposite the Slunks, too far still for a photo

Minutes before I took this photo some of the original 47 Herons had flown off

Some Lapwings are settled enough for photography from the Lurgies path, that will end once the duck and geese shooting starts at the end of the month. 

"In Scotland the many duck and three goose species that can be legitimately shot have an open season running from 1st September to 31st January. On the foreshore this season is extended to 20th February." The "many duck" include RED and AMBER listed species, an example is Pochard where they have become a rarity in Angus

A Grasshopper on the cliffs path at Arbroath, no butterflies in the wind and no Gannets seen at sea 

Little Gull with a Sandwich Tern at East Haven, seen on my Webs survey

Two Little Gulls as seen in the video above

Just the one Whimbrel sleeping on the rocks as the tide came in, surely a few more were in the 160 strong flock of Curlews flushed from the field near the houses at East Haven