Where's the wildfowl?

Maybe it's the climate changing, maybe it's the vast numbers of dog walkers, many who let their dogs run free, or is it something else that's reduced the species and numbers of wildfowl on the shallow lochs in Angus.

 

Missing this year so far are Goosanders, Forfar Loch used to hold anything from 60 to 100+, Keptie Pond currently have none. No Smew in Angus this year and ages since we saw an adult drake, no inland Slavonian Grebes or Red-necked Grebes, even the numbers of Teal and Wigeon at East Haven have fallen short this year.

Below are some photos from Monikie and Forfar Loch, it was hard work finding some of the birds and they're the common ones!

I think I'll be posting garden birds next, my Yellowhammers have returned alongside the Tree Sparrows, the frogs are ready to spawn and the cocky Rooks, now eight some days, have found the fat balls.

It's not all bad news, chocolate prices should start to fall soon, a pity we can't run the economy and cars on "Twirls".

Greylag Goose at Monikie

Goldeneye drake

Mute Swan

Great Crested Grebe

Lesser black-backed Gulls

Great Spotted Woodpecker in Montreathmont Forest

Singing loudly to Olive.....(at Forfar Loch)

Cormorant fishing close in