Montrose Basin and the surrounding area (3 Viewers)

[burnie]

Had a walk to Lunan Bay and back, lovely bright day, 10 Yellowhammer on the way and nothing much on the beach, 8 Oystercatchers, Herring Gull and Black H.eaded Gull, 1 Magpie, at least a 100 Jackdaws, approx 60 Rooks and a dozen Carrion Crows on the fields on the way back.14 Black Tailed Godwits close to the village on a ploughed field and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker next to the railway yard.

 

[burnie]

Daily walk round the village fields produced the usual bunch of Yellowhammers and a couple of corvids, a lot more going on in my garden including 5 Tree Sparrows, always nice to see them visit.

 

[burnie]

Walked to the Redcastle fields and back, quite a few Curlews on the recently ploughed fields along with a large flock of Skylarks, pair of Red legged Partridge's on the edge of the village, a very cold wind blowing. There was a small predator after the larks, but couldn't id it at such distance, could have been a Merlin the way it hunted, but unsure.

 

[burnie]

Put a feeder full of sunflower hearts in the garden and we were mobbed with a dozen Tree Sparrows, always nice to see.

 

[burnie]

A walk round Balgavies Loch, very quiet apart from Greater Spotted Woodpeckers drumming, Spring must be close then.

 

[burnie]

We have a Magpie in the front garden, that's a first.

 

[delia todd]

Careful.... you'll be attracting some twitchers LOL.

Long time since I've seen one here. I sometimes get a visit in the winter.

 

[Ian Bell]

Careful.... you'll be attracting some twitchers LOL.

Long time since I've seen one here. I sometimes get a visit in the winter.

Come to Aberdeen,Delia.They're almost as common as the Herring Gulls

 

[burnie]

See them at my daughters in Perth and round Forfar Loch, but rare here.

 

[burnie]

A walk round the village fields, Skylarks singing, Buzzards displaying and Woodpeckers drumming, you'd almost think it was spring until you note the temperature out there!

 

[burnie]

There's an Avocet in Montrose basin, not seen it myself, but I've seen some pictures.

 

[burnie]

Quiet in the forest today, the strong wind might have been the reason, Frogs spawning in the ditches, Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and this Siskin posed nicely for it's picture. Also a Vole(I think a Bank Vole) came along for a free feed too.

 

[burnie]

Had a trip to Murton farm park and nature reserve by Forfar, watching 3 Lapwing chicks being protected by some very aggressive parents, everything was chased away. Redshank, Widgeon, Mallard, Little Ringed Plover, Shellduck, Coot, Mute Swans sat on nests x2, Oystercatchers sat on nests x2, Magpie, Jackdaw and Sedge Warblers on view.

 

[delia todd]

You know I very nearly went there yesterday after getting my jab. But I'd got some frozen food in the car so thought I'd better head back, just calling in at Kinnordy for a short time.

Seems you had a grand time there - thanks.

 

[burnie]

The Garganey had gone sadly, was hoping to see that.

 

[delia todd]

Mmmmm... they don't seem to hang around very long!

 

[burnie]

On our way home from Arbroath saw a Melanistic Pheasant, seen them in Aberdeenshire before but a first for Angus.

 

[burnie]

A Ruddy Shelduck photographed at the Basin today, also still a Whooper Swan kicking about.

 

[burnie]

Dropped in at Balgavies on the way home, 3 Great Crested Grebes on show along with a couple of Tufties, Mute Swans and lots of Greylags. Osprey gave us a good show, could see one chick, not sure how many are in there.
20220620155128 by tigerburnie, on Flickr

 

[burnie]

Feeling sore I think I have been doing too much, the body takes a long time to recover it would seem, so a short walk close to the village, a lot of brambles and gorse along a ditch, full of nests and singing birds. Yellowhammer, Blackcap, White Throat and Sedge Warbler today, I might take the movie camera and a chair and see what I can get.
Sedge Warbler by tigerburnie, on Flickr