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Birds fae Torry (1 Viewer)

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment
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Opus Editor
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Scotland
WOW!!! You sure didn't waste that opportunity Andrew!! Cracking action pictures.
 

Stonefaction

Stuck in Dundee.....
Scotland
This is the one I got:
I think it's possible to get cheaper ones, though maybe not much below about £500. The prices will, I suspect, come down in the medium-term. This one seems to be about the cheapest:
It has a more limited detection range compared to the one I've got though.

Rob, I recently bought the HikVision 15mm (roughly the same price as the one Andrew got). I've managed to 'see' 2 Tawny Owls and 4 Foxes and a number of Roe Deer using it so far - though I'm limited for places to try it while being rather stuck here in Dundee. I think it could also have been useful for the Siberian Thrush at Kilminning - being able to detect a bird moving among a tangle of branches/leaves then using bins to watch, rather than having to rely on it popping into view in a gap that I happen to be looking at. I can see me carrying it with me whenever I'm out birding as it does pick out birds sitting doing nothing in bushes/trees that would be easy to walk past. Hawfinches at Scone, Grasshopper/Reed Warbler at Tay Reedbeds and skulking migrants in Denburn Wood etc all might be easier to find using it than relying on eyes and bins. Hopefully I will get the chance this year to see if it does work.
 

Ben Nevis

Registered User
Supporter
Scotland
A morning walk In sub zero conditions with Angus Falconer this morning,provided some lovely sightings of some of the birds In St Fitticks Park.I started at the concrete bridge,which provided me my best ever sighting of Water Rail there.One particular bird was showing well,at the edge of the Pool,while two others were skirting around.Two Teal were on the burn and there were 8 Bullfinch on the larches on the north side of the burn.14 Siskins were flying around,without settling anywhere In particular.A feeding party of Tits,comprised of Blue,Coal and Great with at least three Long tailed Tits were also around.Add to that,the usual Mallard,Moorhen,Magpies,Rooks and Robin made the walk a pleasant one.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
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Scotland
Quite an icy weekend here but with pleasant, sunny weather. Yesterday I had a good look around St Fittick's. Water Rails were showing well, both in the main marsh and the reedbed. Eight Snipe were roosting in the marsh and there were also three Teal, four Bullfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The headland was quiet, but a pair of Stonechats were again seen on the south side.

Today the headland was still pretty quiet, but 16 Long-tailed Ducks and four Common Scoters could be seen distantly in Aberdeen Bay. I took a walk along the River Dee up towards the railway bridge, hoping the icy conditions had brought in some interesting waterfowl. The best was a drake Goldeneye. 110 Mallards along the river was a pretty high count.
 

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Cucurrucucu

Cucurrucucu
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Quite an icy weekend here but with pleasant, sunny weather. Yesterday I had a good look around St Fittick's. Water Rails were showing well, both in the main marsh and the reedbed. Eight Snipe were roosting in the marsh and there were also three Teal, four Bullfinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. The headland was quiet, but a pair of Stonechats were again seen on the south side.

Today the headland was still pretty quiet, but 16 Long-tailed Ducks and four Common Scoters could be seen distantly in Aberdeen Bay. I took a walk along the River Dee up towards the railway bridge, hoping the icy conditions had brought in some interesting waterfowl. The best was a drake Goldeneye. 110 Mallards along the river was a pretty high count.
Did you see Perfect Planet's eider duck footage - diving for mussels? (I want a pet Metasepia pfefferi!)
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
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Scotland
Did you see Perfect Planet's eider duck footage - diving for mussels? (I want a pet Metasepia pfefferi!)
I've not seen it. Will maybe have a look for it.

I had a quick wander round St Fittick's today but it was generally the usual stuff e.g. three Snipe, two Water Rails, a Bullfinch etc. Lots of feeders up at the moment, attracting plenty of tits.

Also, a quick plug to readers of this thread for the new Torry Ecomuseum Project:
 

Ben Nevis

Registered User
Supporter
Scotland
I have put some feeders up Andrew.Not expecting anything unusual on them,just doing a wee bit to help the birds ln these colder days and adds something to my walks.
 

Cucurrucucu

Cucurrucucu
Supporter
I've not seen it. Will maybe have a look for it.

I had a quick wander round St Fittick's today but it was generally the usual stuff e.g. three Snipe, two Water Rails, a Bullfinch etc. Lots of feeders up at the moment, attracting plenty of tits.

Also, a quick plug to readers of this thread for the new Torry Ecomuseum Project:
Help with ID please. Last November I collected up some feathers left after a kill (maybe a fox - very bloody and chewed quills). It was on the western edge of St F's - the Tullos pitches on the other side of the fence. I'd just flushed a snipe. Were the feathers from one not quite so fast to react? 21,1,25 feather from deaded bird .jpg
 

Cucurrucucu

Cucurrucucu
Supporter
Help with ID please. Last November I collected up some feathers left after a kill (maybe a fox - very bloody and chewed quills). It was on the western edge of St F's - the Tullos pitches on the other side of the fence. I'd just flushed a snipe. Were the feathers from one not quite so fast to react? View attachment 1366092
Also, found a robin in the garden today fluffed up, eyes closed and panting, almost choking. Found a dead one on Boxing Day. I know they have a high turnover, even a high murder rate. But two noticed in a month is a bit worrying. I gather the bird flu effecting waders doesn't infect the little things.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
Help with ID please. Last November I collected up some feathers left after a kill (maybe a fox - very bloody and chewed quills). It was on the western edge of St F's - the Tullos pitches on the other side of the fence. I'd just flushed a snipe. Were the feathers from one not quite so fast to react? View attachment 1366092
I'm not that good on feathers (maybe try the ID section of the forum) but that looks too big for a Snipe. I wonder if it might be something like a Mallard or maybe a Pheasant.
 

Cucurrucucu

Cucurrucucu
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I'm not that good on feathers (maybe try the ID section of the forum) but that looks too big for a Snipe. I wonder if it might be something like a Mallard or maybe a Pheasant.
If whatever deaded it had just left the head, beak, just a foot, there might have been more evidence. So inconsiderate!
I do have many more feathers. Seemed to have a buff to whitish front.
Been using Feather Base (https://www.featherbase.info/ru/species/Gallinago/media) but you have to have some sort of idea what's where, how big etc. WALK 20,11,22 feathers from MURDER! (snipe?), The Avenue >St F's>Tesco 1.JPG WALK 20,11,22 feathers from MURDER! (snipe?), The Avenue >St F's>Tesco 2.JPG Might it just be a herring gull? (https://www.featherbase.info/nb/species/larus/argentatus)
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
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Scotland
If whatever deaded it had just left the head, beak, just a foot, there might have been more evidence. So inconsiderate!
I do have many more feathers. Seemed to have a buff to whitish front.
Been using Feather Base (https://www.featherbase.info/ru/species/Gallinago/media) but you have to have some sort of idea what's where, how big etc. View attachment 1366220 View attachment 1366221 Might it just be a herring gull? (https://www.featherbase.info/nb/species/larus/argentatus)
A young Herring Gull might be a possibility. I suspect it's something approaching that size at least. It looks like it's probably been dead a long time!
 

Cucurrucucu

Cucurrucucu
Supporter
A young Herring Gull might be a possibility. I suspect it's something approaching that size at least. It looks like it's probably been dead a long time!
Not so much "dead a long time" as "dead on a path" so walked on and rained on. Took me a while to decide to collect what was there.
Doing the Big Bird Watch. Do I skew the stats by starting the hour-long count when I have seen something interesting or when the numbers are up? (Like drawing the target around the shots in the board to get the best result.) Do they want to know everything or are they really wanting a timed sample? Do I use the pictures on the wildcam as well? Have I already skewed numbers and species by putting out a bird table with different seeds? Usually only have hanging peanuts + fat balls. Now black sunflower whole+hearts, safflower, nyger, flaked maize, suet pellets. No interest in the millet sprays at all. But the female blackcap was delighted with the rest of the Smörgåsbord. Big Bird Watch 21,1,30 blackcap 2.JPG
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
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Scotland
Not too much to report lately, but I'll summarise the week below.

Monday at St Fittick's: 3 Snipe, 2 Water Rails and a Teal.
Tuesday at St Fittick's: 3 Teal, 4 Water Rails, 2 Snipe and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Wednesday along the river: a female Goldeneye.
Friday around the headland: a male Stonechat on the golf course near Greyhope Bay.

This morning St Fittick's was fairly busy. Water Rails were conspicuous in the icy conditions with six different birds being seen, including four at the same time from the concrete bridge. Also around were four Teal, four Snipe, a male Great Spotted Woodpecker and 20 Siskins. Around the headland things were fairly quiet. 196 Purple Sandpipers were roosting. A Long-tailed Duck went north offshore. A Harbour Porpoise was the first I'd seen for a while. The Rock Pipit flock on the golf course had risen to 18.
 

Ben Nevis

Registered User
Supporter
Scotland
I had a quick walk round St Fitticks Park this morning,In freezing conditions.Water Rail were heard but remained unseen near the concrete bridge and a minimum of 6 Teal were on the burn,between the bridges.I went and topped up the feeders and nothing was around.Within minutes of them being topped up,Blue,Coal,Great and Long tailed Tits were soon on them,while a Dunnock and 3 Robins waited for spillage underneath,with the Robins having a right bickering for prime position.To be honest,It was a bit cold for me to stand around.I must be getting old.Roll on a bit of warmth and the return of the Warblers :)
 

Ben Nevis

Registered User
Supporter
Scotland
I had a brisk walk In St Fitticks Park this afternoon,with Angus Falconer,meeting and having a quick chat with Andrew along the way.The cold,easterly wind and frequent snow showers made birding quite difficult but on arriving at the Feeders,there were 6 Long tailed Tits and a couple of Great Tits.Also showing Interest was a Great spotted Woodpecker.Off the Middle Path was a single Siskin and at least 3 Goldcrests.On my way home,I walked along the burn,where a single Teal was and finally a fantastic view of a Water Rail from 10 yards away,In the open,from the concrete bridge.
 

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening
Staff member
Supporter
Scotland
It's a while since I've posted, so I should update things over the last week. It perhaps goes without saying that the weather has been pretty bad since the middle of the week and it's not really been possible to get out every day.

Sunday 31st: St Fittick's was okay. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen on the way down near Victoria Road and presumably a different bird was along the railway embankment. Ten Redwings were also along Victoria Road. Otherwise, three Teal, three Snipe, three Water Rails, 25 Siskins. The headland produced a Stonechat and 248 Purple Sandpipers. Looking north into Aberdeen bay revealed 12 Long-tailed Ducks and 11 Red-throated Divers.

Tuesday 2nd: A wander along the River Dee was largely uneventful but there was a flock 15 Siskins near the boat club. There was also a colour-ringed Black-headed Gull. After reporting it I found that it was ringed in northern Germany in 2013 and seems to return to this area every winter.

Wednesday 3rd: A windblown headland produced very little except for a Stonechat.

Saturday 6th: Very hard work around St Fittick's. Two Snipe and 14 Curlew about the best of it.

Sunday 7th: The weather was a bit better today, although there were still regular snow showers, leaving us with a fair covering by the end of the day. It was very cold. Birds were clearly moving. At St Fittick's a group of eight Fieldfares came in off the sea and settled by the marsh, before reappearing later on Tullos Hill. Five Redwings were also about. A Woodcock was flushed from the scrub north of the marsh. Six Meadow Pipits were probably recent arrivals too. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers appeared together briefly - I think the first time I've ever seen two at the same time here. Also breaking new ground were a patch-record group of eight Stock Doves on Tullos Hill. Other stuff include two Teal, two Water Rails and six Snipe.

The headland was pretty windblown. My first Kestrel of the year was flying around the golf course. A male Stonechat was on the golf course near Greyhope Bay along with eight Skylarks. Another Woodcock came in off the sea and hurtled over towards Walker Park, persued by a crow.

The Water Rail photos are still a work in progress.
 

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