Glaucous Gull at last!

   
 (Still trying out my latest lens)

At long last for this winter, I found one of the white winged gulls on the beach at South Street, Arbroath, the rarer Glaucous Gull. Second only in size to the Great Black-backed Gulls which are always there at this time of year. Unfortunately the Glaucous didn't hang a round and it disappeared. One found today at Girdle Ness, Aberdeen is likely the same bird, less than 50 miles as the Gull flies.

I also saw a number of other gulls on the beach at Arbroath. The most common species were Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Herring Gulls are the most widespread gull in Scotland, and they can be found along the coast and inland. Lesser Black-backed Gulls are slightly smaller than Herring Gulls, and they have a black back and wings with a white belly.

After leaving the beach, I visited Keptie, where I saw three Chiffchaffs. Chiffchaffs are small warblers that are common in Europe. They are migratory birds, and they arrive in Scotland in the spring. Chiffchaffs are insectivores, and they eat a variety of insects, including flies, mosquitoes, and aphids.

Text was part written by Google's Bard tool, I say part as it simply guessed and made up about half of what it produced, it's still in the Beta stage.

Glaucous Gull, South Street, Arbroath, click here for video      Less zoom better quality, preening

Glaucous Gull 2nd winter, found on the beach at South Street, Arbroath

With a Herring Gull for size comparison

With a Great Black-backed Gull

Herring Gull in the Brothock outfall

On the beach behind the Old Brewhouse

There were six Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Saturday

One of three Chiffchaffs at keptie Pond on Friday

The Pintail x Mallard drake

Tufted Duck numbers appear to have increased, or maybe it was just that they were in one flock on Friday

Tufted Duck female

Wigeon female

Some of the thirty Redshanks still at Arbroath Harbour

A male Reed Bunting found at Elliot when I was trying to relocate the Glaucous Gull. It appears to have gone north as one was reported on Saturday at Girdle Ness, Aberdeen

This Robin was hopping around amongst the lobster pots at the harbour