Backwater Dam and Angus lochs

   
Working down the page, I started at Backwater Dam where Ravens, Buzzards, Kestrels, Goosander, Cormorants, and Mistle Thrushes were seen but not photographed in the early morning gloom. I walked up the Hill of Bellaty to look for the Great Grey Shrike but no sign of anything except two Kestrels. I did get rewarded for that with the Crossbill find below.

Lintrathen had large numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Mallards, Goldeneye and roosting Herring Gulls, with a Raven calling near the new hide.

Kinnordy was mostly frozen when viewed from the Gullery Hide, I didn't get to the Swamp and East Hides due to the high water level.

Although I didn't spend long at Fofar Loch, just a look at the east end, 68 Gadwall were counted, good numbers of Tufted Ducks, Goldeneye, Coots, Moorhens, Teal and Wigeon. Before I could take any photos something flushed nearly all of the birds which I suspect was an Otter, but I can't rule out a Peregrine.

I had a quick look at Murton where the water levels are still very high, perhaps even more than my last visit which I thought was a record high. From the car park hide there were 80+ Wigeon, a few Teal and 4 Goldeneye. No birds were visible on Buddy's Loch but its possible there were birds in front of the Gladstone Hide end.

Just the one video from Backwater Dam, filmed on a tripod at 80 metres, a Kestrel looking for a target, Kestrel

Note, be careful if parking at the roadside at Backwater, many large lorries were taking away logs, best to stay off the verges which are soaked and soft

Crossbill at Backwater Dam which was flitting around small trees with around 11 Bullfinches

Crossbills, at least three were with the Bullfinches

Male Bullfinch

This is the way to see a Red Squirrel, high in a pine with a cone in its mouth

This is the usual view most people see, and like bird feeders cleanliness through regular washing out and disinfecting isn't done often or even at all

Beaver Lodge

Some serious environment manipulation here

This large tree looks like its days are numbered and will fall towards the footpath

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Kinnordy

Long-tailed Tits

Magpie at the car park, Forfar Loch

Some are shy but at this time of year a few people will scatter something for them to eat, and the Magpies know it

Kestrel at Arbroath Cliffs

Searching out voles in the vegetation between the cliff footpath and the cliff edge

It's not unknown to see an odd Fulmar at this time of year but on Thursday there were at least 8 between Whiting Ness and the Mariners Grave. There will likely be more at Auchmithie and Red Castle, Lunan Bay. They won't always be on these sites and disappear from time to time, one pair were on a nest site at Mariners, staking a claim?

Most of these are a bit grainy as the light went and the rain started

There were 19 Purple Sandpipers not far from the Ness, most likely some of the ones that roost at the harbour through high tides. Photo from the cliff path

The flock of  Whooper Swans near the Doocot at Upper Dysart, south of Montrose were reduced to 9 birds on 9/1/2023 when I went south, 2 hours earlier there had been 14. It looks like one of the family groups had left