Dunnock with a growth, Mandarin Duck, and Mediterranean Gull

   
A strange juvenile Dunnock with a growth of a type I've never seen before, usually growths would be grey wart like and near the eyes, and sometimes feet. I haven't been feeding in the garden for months, and would say most neighbours I'm aware of have also stopped. Maybe the young Dunnock, recently fledged was just unlucky.

Through a local BTO contact and BTO scientists, the Dunnock was deemed to have Avian Pox. For anyone interested, this link explains which birds are affected and more;  Avian Pox in Garden Birds

Keptie Pond currently has a female Mandarin Duck, and when I was there on Thursday a Mediterranean Gull was bathing and two Pond or Yellow Bellied Sliders, a type of aquatic turtle were sunbathing.

Click the links below for video 

Dunnock with growth 1        Dunnock 2        

Juvenile Dunnock with a growth on its face, it looks healthy and is feeding in my garden now for a few days. Its beak is normal and the videos show it can see past the growth to see food

I've passed photos and video on to the BTO, and when I get an answer I'll add it here and perhaps in a new post on its own

Male Sparrowhawk, sitting above a feeder that's been empty for at least two months, not far from where the Dunnock was seen....

Large Yellow Underwing Moth, saved from the strimmer

Marbled Beauty Moth, phone photo

Mediterranean Gull, an unusual visitor at Keptie Pond in Arbroath

The Mandarin Duck (female) that's been at Keptie Pond for for nearly a week

Standing on one of the plastic pipes which carry water pumped from an old well, it works well to stop weed taking over

Pond or Yellow Bellied Sliders

Juvenile Razorbill at West Links, appeared to be on its own

One of three Mediterranean Gulls at West Links