RAF 1-0 Alex, a change from dogs!

   
A foolish attempt to get video of Long-tailed Ducks at Lunan Bay failed due to the state of the tide, out, and poor light. I did see the Roe below but you'll know it wasn't great when I resorted to scenery!

Murton wasn't any better especially after a huge low flying plane flushed everything. 

An adult Roe buck at Lunan Bay

This young Roe buck was with the adult above, both in velvet

Song Thrush singing its heart out near the dunes

Sanderlings, you've got to love them

Intermittent weather, there's a surprise in Scotland

A weird and wide Rainbow which seemed to have something to do with the cloud and low sun

Red Castle as seen from the roadside, I think it looks like Doctor Who's mate K9

Gadwall at Murton NR where water levels are very high and waders are few

C-130 Hercules

Blue Tit at Montreathmont

Male Chaffinch

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Female Siskin

Frog spawn and calling frogs

A recent photo from the Old Harbour at Montrose Basin, fairly early morning on another dull day

Sparrowhawk female - a la carte, or offal

   

I've said before this week that I'm not getting many birds in my garden because of a female Sparrowhawk, which admittedly I hadn't seen often. Then today it appeared and took another Feral Pigeon, which it pinned down in my fresh water tray. Olive thought it was trying to drown the pigeon. Before I could get a photo it flew to the top of the garden, back to where it ate the last pigeon. Here's a few photos and video taken from an upstairs window which needs cleaned, saying that, and given the conditions I can't complain.

I'm not describing any of these even though I don't find them gruesome, some may, but it's nature and we just employ butchers to do our dirty work!

Sparrowhawk SFW version (less gruesome), click here for UHD video  

Sparrowhawk video 2, also in UHD, click here  

Sparrowhawk video 2 in HD for slower connections, click here for video  

9 million dogs - 3 million leads

   
Regular readers will know, especially if they're birders, that dogs and bird conservation doesn't mix.

Below are three photos taken at Musselburgh by a guy surveying/counting the large numbers of roosting waders, he'd recorded nearly 2,000 birds until this happened. Birds resting while the tide was in, waiting to get back to feeding to keep them going through the next night, and build up some reserves for migration.

Here's a useful video for dog owners who care, click here  and there are many more out there