Another day in paradise - mibees aye, mibees naw

Another day along the coast but not without disturbances. I hate to think what a summer without foreign travel will look like in the countryside and on the coast. Oh, and I forgot the dogs and kayakers at Lunan Bay, as seen below.

"Not wise" to take to the sea and clearly without the skills and knowledge required, click here  fortunately no rips were present

Another day in paradise, click here

Eiders at Victoria Park Arbroath which were getting ever nearer

They were even displaying

More were flying in

Then a guy led his dog down the closed steps, the end of the Eiders visit was instant

I counted 49 Pintails from the roadside near the SWT Centre, I'd gone there as the guy below had flushed everything from Rossie Spit

He continued his walk and flushed all of the birds from Rossie Spit to Rossie Mills. Texting as he went, "there were loads of birds here but they all flew away"

Surely Arbroath Harbour would be safe from disturbance, and it was. The gulls are used to the fishermen, many of whom feed them with old lobster bait

An unusual pose from this Great Black-backed Gull sitting on the west breakwater

Same gull

Herring Gull scratching as it flew by

One of three Turnstones roosting on a boat

Pied Wagtail female on the Brothock

Pied Wagtail male, appeared to be with the one above

Rock Pipit feeding and bathing in the Brothock Burn at Arbroath Harbour

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