Montrose Basin and the surrounding area (2 Viewers)

[delia todd]

Oooh!!! Thanks for the reminder of that Bash Barry.... a good day that. Can't believe it was so long ago though. Think that would be the last day I was in Arbroath.

Wonder if it's time to organise another Bash... I've been missing them?

 

[MJB]

The 'bash' when we tried for Ring Necked Parakeet in Arbroath, back in 2016?

https://www.birdforum.net/threads/autumn-scottish-bash-2016.331240/page-3#post-3476263

0344 : Birdforum "Bash"(29/10/16)

stonefactionbirding2014.blogspot.com

...and I thocht it wuz the Provost in his regalia...!
MJB

 

[delia todd]

Thanks for your advice Burnie, sadly I knew immediately I surfaced this morning that I wouldn't make it. Think my body is reacting badly to the cold weather!!

A shame too, as the high tide time was just about perfect and I've been wanting to go for months now.

We'll try again, perhaps when it's a bit warmer.

 

[burnie]

Out again taking advantage of the dry weather, a trip to the local forest, a bit warmer but windy, but so different from the last visit, birds calling and lots of activity. Blue, Coal, Great and Long tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Creeper and Brambling amongst the visitors to the feeding station, nice trip.
Here's a short video with some woodland sounds and no commentary.

 

[burnie]

Todays field walk was in the sunshine, but the wind was bitter blowing off the snowy hill tops, so less active today(both the wildlife and me). There were good numbers of Skylarks calling on the fields, not singing in flight yet though. We had a Song Thrush, several Robins and a pair of Wrens dived into a hole in the drystone wall. Chaffinch, Blue Tits and a cackling Magpie in the distance. The Buzzard pair were on the wing calling to each other and the Rookery looks very busy now. Jackdaws looked to be gathering nesting material with sticks in their beaks and finally a Greenfinch was singing it's heart as we walked towards our gate.

 

[burnie]

Sand Martins and a Swallow reported at Rescobie Loch

 

[burnie]

Daily walk was in the southerly side of the village, quite a lot singing despite the early frost, at least half a dozen singing Skylarks on the fields, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Wood Pigeons, Carrion Crows and Rooks all making a racket, saw a Yellowhammer and a Wren too. Looks like we have Dunnocks, Robin, Wren and Blackbirds nesting in the garden hedges this year.

 

[burnie]

The Ospreys at Balgavies near to Letham are busy nest building, after the near disaster last year when the nest snapped the tree and fell into the Loch, the sterling work of the volunteers to build a more substantial platform seems to have paid off.

 

[burnie]

Still confined to barracks back in hospital again next eek, but just sat in the garden with fields close but the bird song list is quite impressive, apart from the regulars like House Spadgers and Starlings, Wren, Sand Martin, Skylark, Buzzard and Dunnock close by.

 

[delia todd]

Still confined to barracks back in hospital again next eek, but just sat in the garden with fields close but the bird song list is quite impressive, apart from the regulars like House Spadgers and Starlings, Wren, Sand Martin, Skylark, Buzzard and Dunnock close by.

I hope the in-patient stay sorts your out Burning and you come home raring to go!!

 

[burnie]

Spotted Redshank reported at the Basin this morning

 

[burnie]

I've been gardening and was looking up to see where the calling Curlew was, then a Buzzard called, it was then I spotted the Starling in next doors tree, they are such convincing mimics

 

[delia todd]

I've been gardening and was looking up to see where the calling Curlew was, then a Buzzard called, it was then I spotted the Starling in next doors tree, they are such convincing mimics

They sure are Burnie... I seem to have had one come here in the early Spring the last several years. He/she/them only use that call for one, or may be two days.

Talking Starlings... I still have an awful lot here. Numbers usually drop as they start to breed. Not sure what's going on.

 

[kawwauser]

There used to be a garage on Cleo road that had no doors the starling came in and roosted at night one of the birds managed to mimic the owners landline phone perfectly it was funny at first but I think he got fed up of it pretty quickly

 

[burnie]

Had my first decent walk half way up the field track hoping to find Whitethroats and Warblers, but none seen or heard, 2 male Yellowhammers were sat on the wires and although difficult in the swirling wind I think at least 10 Skylarks singing. 3 Swallows, sadly since the knocked down the derelict barn they have no where to nest.

 

[burnie]

Quite rare round here but getting more widespread a Magpie flew over the car park whilst waiting outside the Montrose medical centre.

 

[delia todd]

Spent a few hours at the Basin yesterday. Sadly the pictures were rather rubbish due to the very dull conditions.

A nice pair of Shelduck on the pools outside the hide.

A mixture of Sand and House Martins flying under the bridge at Bridge of Dun, tried to see if there were Swallows with them, but couldn't pick any out.

 

[burnie]

The work on the old "salty dykes" is bringing in rewards already, some nice shot of an Otter were taken there the other day.

 

[burnie]

A Whooper Swan filmed at the Lurgies today, this seems to happen most years where a few stay for the summer, guessing they must be non breeding youngsters.

 

[delia todd]

The work on the old "salty dykes" is bringing in rewards already, some nice shot of an Otter were taken there the other day.

Where's the "Salty Dykes"?