Brent Geese (dark-bellied) Arbroath

   
My first sighting of 3 Brents was as I drove past Inchcape Park on 29/10/2023, my first thought was "dark-bellied" and that proved to be true, and likely brought about as a result of the easterlies we've had recently. The photos and videos below would have been better had a dog walker hadn't thrown a ball in their direction, for a second time and they flew off. It's a busy park and they must have been flushed often so I think they may return?
Shags also feature here, many have been dying due to their inability to hunt in the stormy seas, some have been found in inland sites, and Montrose Basin had a small influx that seem to be doing well.

Brent Geese, dark-bellied Inchcape Park Arbroath      Brents, at seeing people on the path

Adult dark-bellied Brent Goose at Inchcape Park in Arbroath, flushed by a dog just after this photo

I think 2 adults and a first winter/juvenile

Shag with white ring UEJ at the boatyard slipway, Arbroath Harbour. This bird was seen later hunting upstream on the Brothock Burn at the rear of the Community Centre. Just had a very prompt reply from the ringers, "White UEJ was ringed as a chick on Inchkeith, Firth of Forth, on 7th June this year, and yours is the first sighting of it since."

In fresh, running water which was still running high after more rain

Purple Sandpiper, Arbroath Harbour

Not the same one!

Redshank, Harbour

Flushed by a Great black-backed Gull

Jackdaw at Victoria Park, Arbroath

Rook at Mains of Usan, didn't see much else in yet more strong winds coming off the North Sea

Starling on some decorative Rowan berries

Another Starling at Victoria Park

Six different Rock Pipits were squabbling over a narrow strip of beach at high tide

A dead Shag at Arbroath Harbour, many have died as a result of the huge storms last week and it looks like we're getting more bad weather which might kill any birds left weak. Ringers data below without the many people who reported this bird's location names, they know who they are....

B.T.O. ring: 1494098 Sex: Male 

Darvic ring: WIBU Age: 4 y 

First ringed: 29 May 2019 Ringing location: Isle of May Age at ringing: Pullus 

Number of sightings on Isle of May: 8 Number of sightings off-Isle of May: 21 

Breeding attempts on Isle of May: 3 Breeding attempts off-Isle of May: 0 

29 Sightings