A first visit to Montrose Basin this morning for sometime and in the early gloom, firstly at the Railway Station where I could see around 30 Pintails amongst a group of Wigeon, a large flock of Pink-footed Geese (many had left to feed nearby) and various waders and ducks.
I moved on to Mains of Dun where I saw virtually nothing other than Rooks, Jackdaws and Crows.
Later, in Arbroath I went back to the harbour to see if the Long-tailed Duck had stayed, and to video the Eider in the previous post. Both were there but the Long-tailed Duck, a female was lying dead on the boatyard slipway alongside a male bobbing about in a slick, neither looked to be injured, no blood or damaged feathers. I'll never know know what killed them but I'd probably put some money on it being polluted water, especially the surface scum.
Dead Long-tailed Ducks!?? Rescued Eider Mediterranean Gull at 125 zoom Little Egret
Mediterranean Gull left, Black-headed Gull right, seen roosting at low tide behind the Old Brewhouse
A Long-tailed Duck male bobbing about in a slick of diesel and bilge water in Arbroath Harbour. I wonder if the diesel destroys the ducks natural waterproofing and poisons them when they try to replace it?
and just a few feet away, another Long-tailed Duck a female, yes the one in the previous post
Rock Pipit
Turnstone
Fifteen minutes at Keptie Pond in Arbroath. I've taken many photos of this Pintail/Mallard hybrid before but never when it was bathing and preening
Just one male Goosander today
Black-headed Gulls
pity about the long tailed ducks ,the female looked healthy enough in your other post
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