Tayforth Birding (2 Viewers)

[Mark Tulley]

Trail camera surprise

I'm not sure if a trail camera is part of bird-spotting, but I had a rather exciting (for me) record from last week. I have my camera watching a hole in the sheep-fence close to the River Isla. I have many records of various animals, and an occasional bird (crows, pheasants, even yellow hammers). However, a pair of brown/grey birds with long red bills plodded along the trail and a friend has confirmed they were Water Rail. I have not heard or seen them in this area before, so very pleased. The photo is a screen-grab from a 10sec video, so rather poor quality.

 

[delia todd]

What a great record Mark.

Look out for the chicks then... they're round black blobs on long stilts, quite adorable!

 

[Ian Bell]

Great stuff,Mark. :t:
Just goes to show,you never know whats around you

 

[burnie]

Had a Goldcrest in our Garden, that's two this year, never knew we had any in our village.

 

[delia todd]

Oh how lovely Burnie. I've not seen one for ages.

 

[burnie]

The quiet of lockdown has definitely helped bird life round here, we seem to have more baby birds in the garden and the village in general. We've had Wrens, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Starlings and House Sparrows breed close, if not actually in our garden this year, there were Dunnocks in Spring, but I've not noticed any youngsters. What seem to be in lower numbers are Swallows and House Martins, the Swifts turned up, but not sure if they have bred in the village this year. Buzzards have chicks about to fledge, but I haven't seen much of the Kestrels or Sparrow Hawks lately. We also seem to have good numbers of Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle bats around the village too.

 

[burnie]

Mediterranean Gull in Arbroath

 

[burnie]

Cycle ride round the village, saw good numbers of youngsters on the hedgerows and gates, including Sedge Warbler, Linnet, Skylark and Yellowhammer.

 

[Ian Hay]

At least one Quail heard in fields by Tannadice heard yesterday evening

 

[burnie]

A short sea watch at Lunan Bay, no Terns around, but good numbers of Gannets diving into the sea feeding.

 

[burnie]

Had a walk round Forfar Loch in the middle of the day and again saw an Otter, becoming quite a common site here, even with folk walking around. Great Crested Grebe with a chick, Lapwing, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Blackheaded Gull, Herring Gull, Swallow, Magpie amongst the sighting's.

 

[burnie]

Spent a couple of hours at Fowlsheugh on the sea cliffs, rather late in the season as pretty much all of the young had fledged, just one jumpling Guillemot, a few adult Razorbills and 8 Puffins. A lot of juvenile Kittiwakes still on the cliffs, looks like it has been a good breeding season for them.

 

[mummymonkey]

Late swifts last Wednesday (26th August). Kinloch Rannoch village.

 

[delia todd]

I'm so glad you've found your way to this thread MM.

I've not seen a Swift round here for about 3 weeks now.

 

[mummymonkey]

I'm so glad you've found your way to this thread MM.

I've not seen a Swift round here for about 3 weeks now.

Yes, long gone from Perth town centre too. I have some pics I've taken locally I can stick them up later.

 

[delia todd]

I'll look forward to seeing them MM.

 

[mummymonkey]

Some common birds, seen in Perth town centre. Either on Tay Street, Norrie Miller Gardens or by the lade.

 

[mummymonkey]

Cont.

 

[mummymonkey]

A little further afield. Egret was Loch Leven, the rest Kinnordy.

 

[delia todd]

Oh nice!!!! Really jealous of the Bullfinch, I hardly ever see them here.

And would you believe Magpies are just about twitchable round here too... had one in the neighbour's garden around Christmas time and saw one up the glens a month or so back.

Super pictures Graham. It's would be lovely to see some of your images in the Gallery too.