Spring was in the air - briefly

   
Some signs of spring and the warmer weather to come as insects have started to appear. As for the Yellowhammers, they've run out of food in the countryside as all of the stubble has been ploughed, that seemed to be early this year. As many as seven have been in my garden.

I haven't looked for waders this week specifically, but I didn't see many, just some Curlews, less Redshanks and a big drop in Purple Sandpipers.

I had a short trip to Lunan Bay midweek and found Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Red-throated Diver, Long-tailed Duck and Sandwich Terns (2). There were 8 Puffins at Auchmithie on Friday, and two Corn Buntings to the south.

Two Puffins on a bumpy sea, and offshore, click here for video

A very colourful looking female Yellowhammer which was sunbathing at the top of Olive's garden. The photo is a good likeness in the strong sunlight

The male Yellowhammer preferred my garden

For another year the small colony of Chocolate Mining Bees are in the same sunlit border where they build small nests in the clay like soil. On a walk along the cliff path today we saw many of these in a similar habitat

My first Early Bumblebee Queen of the year

A better view in this photo showing the red tail

Although I might have said this was a Buff-tailed Bumblebee later in the year, this one must be a White-tailed Bumblebee Queen. There were two Buff-tailed Queens nearby and the size difference was obvious, they are very large

Still nine Purple Sandpipers at Arbroath Harbour

Two dull or even grey looking Rock Pipits, this one near the Foghorn, and the one below at Victoria Park

While standing on the beach this Jackdaw walked past me as if I wasn't there, only a metre away as it foraged amongst the tide line. I had to wait till it got further away to fit it in the frame

I can't recall ever photographing a Pied Wagtail in my garden, I got 2 seconds of this one before it flew off

One of the coastal Peregrines which may be a female based on the facial marking and the worn tail. I'm guessing a male would be in peak condition for the breeding season and the female will moult while sitting

This Herring Gull repeatedly dropped and immediately caught what looks like something man-made

One of two Corn Buntings near Auchmithie which looked to be back on territory, but will that change when the crop comes through as tatties!

Goldfinch in Castlesea Gulley

Kittiwakes near Lud Castle, also a few Guillemots, Razorbills, Shags and a single Puffin