Please send the record to the North East Scotland Biological Records Centre (NESBReC), www.nesbrec.org.uk
There are proposals (nothing certain yet) for a mammal atlas for the region to be produced in the next few years so they would be especially happy to receive any mammal records.
Had a great start to the new year yesterday - didn't manage to leave the house till past 12 but still saw 71 species before sundown! Including Bean Goose as a lifer
Happy New Year everyone
Danny
Hi Danny,
Out of interest, and assuming they were in the region, where were/was your Bean(s) yesterday, and how many were there? The numbers seemed to have dropped off dramatically from those before Christmas, suggesting that many may already have moved back across the North Sea.
All the best,
Hugh.
Hi Hugh,
It was a single Bean Goose in a mixed goose flock (Greylag, Pinks, Barnacle and the Bean) of c.2000 individuals just 100-150m from the Rattray Road.
I reckon it was a tundra, not a taiga, bean; but as its my first Bean Goose I could be wrong.
I also had an interesting sighting of a leucistic Pink-foot in a mixed Greylag, Pink-foot flock of c.250 birds near Pennan. There was also a greenland white front in with them. It was a weird thing as it was totally washed out so was completely light brown in colour. I say it was a Pink-foot, it could have even been a Bean Goose as the colours were so weird.
Cheers
Danny
Welcome to BirdForum Mark. It sounds like you're visiting a lot of the best places in the area already, though you might also try Loch of Skene or Meikle Loch for geese. The former is also a good area for Red Kites. Strathbeg have regular 'goose watches' so it might be worth going on one of those. I think the geese tend to come in close to sunset, or a little after, but they can stay out all night in a full moon.
For bird news at Girdle Ness, you may find this thread interesting:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=97045
Ken Hall, a local birder, died recently, but his wife has kept his website activated. You will find some helpful details athttp://www.thenatureofnortheastscotland.com/section295030_97732.html.
You will find lots of geese between your house and Cove, at fields on both sides of the road. Local water bodies nearby are Rigifa Pool, the puddle in the left hand field on the coast road to Cove from Findon and Loirston Loch on the left side of the dual carriageway into Aberdeen.
Helping you with Raptors is difficult, as even the mention of the subject gets people thinking that you are making up a list of nests to plunder.8-P
Take a walk round Girdleness, you are likely to see weird characters equipped with telescopes, binoculars or large lens cameras, perhaps all 3. It will likely be one or more of the people on these forums. Stop and chat,we'll be happy to talk to you, unless there's a recent page about a rarity, then you'll have to wait.
I briefly stopped by Loirston Loch on my way into Aberdeen today and was amazed to see an Otter swimming around in broad daylight at 1pm!
This is only the second time I've bothered to stop and look at Loirston LOch and having got Slavonian Grebe the first time I'll definitly be stopping again!
Had a pleasant walk up Clachnaben this morning. On my way back through the forest/wood closest to the car park, falling pine cones alerted me to the presence of Crossbills. I have never seen them before and had a pleasant half hour lying on my back, looking up at the tress and watching them feed. I assume they were Common but wondered if anyone enlighten me on to tell if they were Scottish (if they are likely in this area). Cheers!
White-winged gull paradise today
Most likely Common Crossbills, but Scottish Crossbills do occur in Glendye and even Parrot Crossbills have been recorded there, apparently. Do you know what sort of trees they were feeding in?