edenwatcher
Well-known member
Yesterday, with Sue and the boys away in the Lake District for a few days, I made the pilgrimage up to the NE to see the greater yellowlegs (it would have been rude not to!).
Arriving at Strathbeg I found that the bird was showing nicely from the visitor centre feeding busily. Often in rather sticky mud, its legs looked less than yellow at times! Other highlights included 3 whooper swans and a rather unexpected hooded crow. Just as I was about to leave, TWM of this parish arrived with news of a Ross's goose that he had found at Rattray. After admiring all the tree sparrows outside the visitor centre I headed off to Rattray and successfully located the goose, feeding amongst a flock of pinkfeet. As I was taking some dodgy record shots it took off with a small party of pinkfeet and flew towards the lighthouse. As I had already turned the car I headed on towards Peterhead.
As I approached the town I saw a large group of gulls on the Ugie estuary so I stopped to take a look. I immediately picked up a glaucous gull (a very white 2nd winter) and two Iceland gulls (probably 2nd and 3rd winter). As I had lunch watching them I was approached by another birder on a whistlestop tour of the northeast who pointed out an interesting 1st winter gull in the river. At first glance it looked a candidate for dark Kumlien's/Thayer's and I took a few reocrd shots. Subsequent perusal through the scope rather suggested a very pallid herring gull due to large size and hefty beak. I moved on to the harbour where I saw another three Iceland gulls plus some kittiwakes and 3 bull grey seals.
My final port of call was the Ythan where I had spectacular views of the drake king eider down to less than 20m. The whole eider flock was remarkably confiding except for when dogs were present (often, as plenty of people were there to see the large gathering of common seals). Two sandwich terns completed what had been an outstanding day out.
Rob
Arriving at Strathbeg I found that the bird was showing nicely from the visitor centre feeding busily. Often in rather sticky mud, its legs looked less than yellow at times! Other highlights included 3 whooper swans and a rather unexpected hooded crow. Just as I was about to leave, TWM of this parish arrived with news of a Ross's goose that he had found at Rattray. After admiring all the tree sparrows outside the visitor centre I headed off to Rattray and successfully located the goose, feeding amongst a flock of pinkfeet. As I was taking some dodgy record shots it took off with a small party of pinkfeet and flew towards the lighthouse. As I had already turned the car I headed on towards Peterhead.
As I approached the town I saw a large group of gulls on the Ugie estuary so I stopped to take a look. I immediately picked up a glaucous gull (a very white 2nd winter) and two Iceland gulls (probably 2nd and 3rd winter). As I had lunch watching them I was approached by another birder on a whistlestop tour of the northeast who pointed out an interesting 1st winter gull in the river. At first glance it looked a candidate for dark Kumlien's/Thayer's and I took a few reocrd shots. Subsequent perusal through the scope rather suggested a very pallid herring gull due to large size and hefty beak. I moved on to the harbour where I saw another three Iceland gulls plus some kittiwakes and 3 bull grey seals.
My final port of call was the Ythan where I had spectacular views of the drake king eider down to less than 20m. The whole eider flock was remarkably confiding except for when dogs were present (often, as plenty of people were there to see the large gathering of common seals). Two sandwich terns completed what had been an outstanding day out.
Rob